Category: Travel
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Like butter
We mingle with family like butter on toast, making the crunchy bits less loud, salty and appealing. Last night we had a best game of find and seek with the grandparents. We were all exhausted by evening time, or maybe just Grammie was most tired, as she spent the morning with all the granddaughters making…
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Not a burden
I remember my grandma saying she didn’t want to be a burden. She put wird’s to s feeling I grew up with. I never felt I was a burden. Though I tiptoed around the house the days my parents were resting before or after their night shifts. I wasn’t loud. I kept to myself. Before…
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Into the new year, in Austin
Having children pushes us out of the childish mindset, of being taken care of and instead taking he role of a care giver. It’s a rite of passage into maturity. On the other hand, it teaches us to play again. Not for our sake, but to please another, to serve, to forget yourself into play,…
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A stretch of anxiety
As I sat too long in a heightened sense of caution, of outward and inward stimulation, even getting close to the cliff of worry makes me nervous. I used to thrive in the intense seasons. I felt pumped, keenly aware, driven, motivated and able to accomplish a lot. My footing is unsure now. A short…
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Simplified engaging American style
We went to church. It’s Christmas week, and quite the experience for ivy. Though initially they were going to go to Sunday school, the kids had a christmas pageant and our daughters stayed with us in second row center. It’s a Presbyterian church mom and dad go to. it was an engaging morning, with carols…
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Do you like having kids?
We were driving to a quaint Texan town down South. I was in the back with the girls, mom and auntie Halie. We were talking about the challenge of bedtime, that all parents struggle with. The hostage-like situation. The delay. And the obvious difference between how long it takes a dad vs. a mom to…
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To keep you safe
That is the prerogative of parents. It can be used a a safety rail in setting any and all relevant boundaries of time and space. parents don’t need to lie to protect their kids. Most of our decisions could fall under the safety category. And we can be honest about it. “I’d love to grant…
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Home and hospitality
I grew up in a small apartment. But my parents seemed oblivious to the lack of abundant space and resources, so when we hosted people for meals or overnight, we gave everything we had without overthinking it. I just wish our one bathroom was more posh than it was. Anyway, we were oblivious about the…
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Visiting Family
For many reasons, I felt no draw to travel to America the past two years. The logistics, the pandemic, the cost, the physical and mental exhaustion, managing emotions and luggage… We put off even thinking about it. Two years have gone by. Lots has happened meanwhile. Even throughout a lockdown and living lightly. We adopted…
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My experience was different
And there’s no better time to speak up than when the balance seems tilted in my favor. To be honest, in High-school I’ve witnessed the sexual harassment of my colleagues. The perpetrator was a teacher. Somehow I’ve dodged that bullet. Frankly I can easily pull off and mean look. I can easily give that vibe…
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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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Faithfullness
Growing up, my church community and Hollywood presented conflicting messages about romance and dating. The tension at least provided me with a broader view. And I felt I could forge my own path. My inexperience flirting during adolescence has saved me a lot of grief later in life. I didn’t like games. I still don’t.…