Beyond Parenting

I am a woman of dichotomy. I like to move, but I can be a sloth in a heartbeat. I enjoy vegan and organic food, but could drive through a McDonald’s without a blink. I meditate, journal and yoga regularly, but also need deep house or funk music to take my body to...

The age of an empty-nester seems to align with turning 50, a birthday worthy of festive jubilee! Over the past two years, I have attended several 50th birthday “events,” including my own, and I’ve come to the conclusion that turning 50 is very similar to turning 21....

She used to walk with us into the woods daily. I’d sit at the sliding glass door and wait as patiently as I could, but body wiggles always gave away my excitement. My brothers and I would clamor on top of one another to be the first to exit after she slid the door...

Every now and again, reminders of all she has given come streaming back. The clouds clear and small reels of life are revealed. Late nights waking with a sick child—all the worry and fretting. Hours searching grocery aisles for healthy lunchbox options, dinners and...

I used to bust out paints and crafts for my daughter when she was younger. Our kitchen table covered in newspaper was a creative frenzy of happiness. Paint bottles strewn about alongside used brushes, markers, paper and scissors. Prior to a creative session, we’d...

I thought I was prepared for this past holiday season. Presents were purchased, holiday parties calendared, and Christmas Eve and New Year plans all in place. Then my two college-aged children arrived home and I was sent on an unexpected journey. For approximately one...

There are few surprises in life anymore. Access to the world gives answers in a snap. We can track family members via location apps, view vacations or gatherings from a Facebook or Instagram post—moments we aren’t involved in, which can leave the heart heavy. So much...

Without having to watch water for possibly drowning children, vacation pools have taken on a whole new definition for me. While visiting my daughter at college in Hawaii, I had several peaceful days to lounge by a pool, undisturbed. Due to my curious nature, I am...

I collapsed in a sobbing heap on a bench outside his dorm building. Not because I would miss my youngest as he set out into the world. Not because he’d be living 1700 miles away for the next nine months. Not because my nest is officially empty. The visceral reaction I...