Category: Parenting
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Decision fatigue
I woke up with this phrase that truly defines why I feel so tired. Today both girls start going to school and I’m most excited that they won’t ask for my permission or opinion about anything. For 4 h/day each, they will ask someone else or listen to someone else. Yesterday mid day j asked…
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Reset talk
I spent one weekend morning pouring my heart in my journal. It was cathartic to sort it all out. A few hours later Conrad asked me if I’m ok. I said I’m not. And we had a lengthy deep clarity giving conversation. I had started shutting down in the recent weeks. And it is dangerous…
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Living offline
I had snapped a few cute pictures of my girls. The perfect light, their clever smile, with the house key adorning their neck, a sign of independence. I wanted to post it on insta as we played basketball in front of our house. We also had a street party. Everyone was having a good time.…
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Respond. Don’t react.
While overthinking is my downfall (as i get lost in it, in a storm of emotions, spiraling) reflecting calmly and purposefully on a challenging aspect of my life has granted me insight and helped me devise a plan to overcome shortcomings. The new one on my plate is grasping the difference between reacting and responding. …
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Fruit of the spirit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I saw this verse from Galatians on instagram and I felt convicted in my heart. My tree is dry and bare. It has a few low fruit hanging. But it is not lush with joy, peace, forbearance, gentleness.…
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Tata turns 70 tomorrow
My parents celebrate their birthdays one after the other. Mama is a year younger than Tata. And they are 30 years older than me. We find ourselves at the turn of the decade, enjoying a slow pace of summer. August is hot and sluggish. And not pretentious. Reflecting on the gifts of my parents, I…
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Two weeks away
My parents stepped up to the plate. When we left the kids with them for three days they coasted together, without firm boundaries, letting us catch up from where we left, with the routines of rest, food, washing. This time they had to rise to the challenge and not wait for us, but actually make…
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A week of service
“I appreciate everything you do for me. I know sometimes it doesn’t seem so, because I am a kid, but know that I see how much you do for us.” Said Jackie at dinner time. We woke up early, I did at least. Jackie slept in and it was good for her. I made some…
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Resourcefulness
I didn’t know I poses a certain creativity when it comes to solving problems. Asking questions was frowned upon when I was a kid. So I learned to find out answers and solutions. I did it out of necessity. But I think I also like it. I loved the success. The independence. I got good…
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Fair competition
When and how should kids learn about equal opportunity and fair games? Early on we lower our standards, and we don’t use our full capacity to win against our kids in games. I let ivy catch up with me when we swim. Only in the pool she blatantly asked me to let her win. I…
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Writing yourself in a book
Now both Conrad and I are published writers. Even if you don’t write yourself in a story, even if you don’t publish an autobiography, writing is vulnerable. For some reason blogging doesn’t feel so dramatically final. Maybe it’s the false impression that I can take it back, shutting down the blog. I am fully aware…
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Întrebări indiscrete
Uneori se repetă, alteori sunt doar invazive, și nu o data, întrebările indiscrete au fost puse de față cu copiii noștri adoptați. “O cunoști pe mama lor biologică? Sunt de etnie? Cum sau de ce au fost abandonați? De unde vin? Cum au ajuns la voi? I-ați ales voi? Ceva in noi se crispează la…