Category: Parenting
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Funk transition
I’m in a creative funk. Being social for me takes some creativity, some lightness of mind and heart. I would much rather put my head down and plow a field, work hard. Quietly. I am a storm of tidying up in my house and sometimes I enlist the help if others, as my drive is…
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The practice of humility
I know the theory. Too well. But my stubborn heart has a hard time embracing humility. I know I’m mostly right (in my eyes) and I won’t budge. Except today. It’s Friday. I have a lot on my plate. I registered jackie for music school in the morning. We moved the drier from the apartment…
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To love, to forgive and to need
Have you noticed how your feelings warm up towards the people who occasionally ask for your help? They show vulnerability and they elevate your position by asking for your help. A parable comes to mind: a man forgives the debt of two debtors. To one he forgives a little. To another he forgives a lot.…
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ART
Chiseling is messy.The beauty of the sculptureis vaguely in the artist’s headWho ought to trust their own CreatorFor how a sculpture will turn out. Painting is messy.Stains and splashesCloudy murky waterFingerprints aroundthe apron of life. The final paintingHas a life of its ownThe shapes and shadowsThe light and the voice in itIt speaks, it sings.It…
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Friendships ebb and flow
A few years ago I was left hurt and confused by a friend’s constant cancellation of plans last minute. At some point I reached out to a mutual friend considering an intervention to help her gain perspective and support for a better work life balance. It’s been tried. I was not the only one worried at…
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Idealizing the past
I visited ivy’s foster mom this week. I promised to stay in touch and I’m a woman of my word. This year has been busy with the new house, with medical appointments and with school, online and in person. I don’t know when and how much time flew by. Ivy even forgot to ask to…
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The journey of an introvert into leadership
I don’t long for a stage. Mastering public speaking skills was a dream of mine in my 20s because captivating an audience with words is a form of art that fascinates me. I got to practice facilitating workshops at Apple. Workshops create a different type of engagement with the audience. I calculated some 600 hours…
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Peninnah
On Empathy Night I shared part of my story of forgiveness. I frankly couldn’t think of any story of reconciliation in my life, well-defined enough to make sense. But as we heard about what forgiveness is, a journey, a decision, it is not for the other person but for our own freedom. Forgiving is not…
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Grumbling in the desert
Nothing like a dose of humility served with ingratitude by your daughter in front of all your friends. As we give her the stage (because she like to talk or be the center of attention, but she doesn’t have all the filters in place, because she is still a kid, she is still 7, going…
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The order of things
What comes first? What base relationship influences all the others? The way we related to our parents or to God? Subconsciously I still relate to God the way I related to my parents before I could articulate my opinion or preferences. I feel seen, safe, and I am obedient. I don’t take Him for granted,…
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Experience by the Sea for our kids
To bring or not to bring your kids on a fancy vacation? If not for them, for whom do we invest time and money for? The boundaries of rest and self-care do not apply to extraordinary making of precious memories. The fuel that we’ll keep us going in the seasons of drought and dark winter…