Here’s some Good Stuff for your weekend… nine links and two books.

But first, a question… “Can you ever really forget about that one time you were weird in 2008, or 1998, or 1988??” … maybe…

1. Anyone else feel like they can’t escape the perimenopausal influencer/industrial complex??? This conversation on women’s fitness had me feeling sooooo validated! (Culture Study Podcast)

2. Thank you, coffee shop, for reminding me how much I love this song!

3. Maggie Smith is asking questions and learning to listen for the answers (For Dear Life)

   If you whisper to someone, doesn't it make sense to stay quiet and wait for them to whisper back? If you tap someone gently on the shoulder, don’t you wait for them to turn towards you?

4. When in doubt, save the tree! (The Noble Try)

5. When it comes to Film, there is no one smarter than Ira Maddison III. He centers this one on the Odyssey discourse, but it’s really about art and why we engage with it at all. (Frank)

6. Cheryl Strayed writes grief so well. She lost her beloved husband Brian back in May. (Cheryl Strayed Writes about Things)

   “And the truth is, I am hanging in there. Of all the many shocking things about the wretched turn my life has taken over these past several months, the fact that I’m functioning like a normal human is among the most shocking.”

7. Nick Lewis reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously when it comes to design.

8. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is so ubiquitous in storytelling it’s hard to remember what the thriller genre looked like before 20212. This breakdown had me wanting to take that wild ride all over again. (Zero to Well Read)

9. Never have I ever added a novel to my TBR so fast!

Recent Reads

Go Gentle by Maria Semple

The fact that I can't say for certain if I liked this book or not says it all. Another reviewer says it better than I can: "This book was as if the author had three different ideas for a book and couldn't decide which one to write about, so she smushed them all into a single book."

First, there's the main character who is trying to put together a "coven" of older single women who live in the same building and support each other and share expenses (I was VERY into this). Then, there's the back story of the main character as a comedy writer for an SNL-type show and how she becomes interested in philosophy and the Stoics (liked this part as well, though didn't see how it connected to the "coven"). Then there's some art-heisty, terrorism, rich people stuff that reminded me of ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes, with a romance plot thrown in for good measure. (kinda got lost here with the characters, probably could have/should have been its own book)

It was clearly written, fun at times, and interesting. Maybe the author was just trying to take a big swing by putting all these things together; usually I like that, but here it didn't quite land, and I think it will annoy a lot of readers. One last thing... For some reason, the main character was really mean to her teenage daughter, smirking and laughing when she cried, belittling her interests in a way that I found unforgivable. Had the author forced the main character to take accountability for her behavior, I might have come around, but the more I think about it, the angrier I get.

American Fantasy by Emma Straub

The cruise ship, American Fantasy, hosts an annual 4-day cruise for rabid fans of a 1990s boy band, Boy Talk. Both the boys and the fans, now middle-aged, are hanging on to the past and/or trying to move forward. Calamity ensues. Slow-burn plot, well-developed characters (even side characters). It's easy-breasy fun, and I enjoyed all of it. If this were a straight romance, I could imagine a full series on each character. Gorgeous cover.

In Case You Missed It

Last week I signed up for a short story writing class through UCLA, and as my 13-year-old daughter would say, “I’m nervey.” Here’s a quick story about pennies and lost words.

Until next time, Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

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Holy cow! Where did July go? I played Uber driver with the older kiddos to their various sports and the occasional trip to the beach or downtown. For the last two weeks, we were in Washington for my daughter’s softball tournament. We had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I swear a girl can experience every emotion available in a dugout.

Humble brag…

Here’s some Good Stuff for your weekend… six links and two books.

But first, the randomness of life…

1. Napoleon Dynamite is the most darling movie ever! (You are Good Podcast)

2. I rewatched Ozark. It’s still very good, and I’m still furious at the ending. Even the most depraved group of people need a moral center…They need a hero.

3. Ahhhh… The 90s (McSweeney’s)

4. “Can I be mean for a second?”

5. In the age of censorship and book banning, maybe we should all be taking another look at Ray Bradbury’s Ferenheight 451 (Zero to Well Read Podcast)

6. If I do one thing, I hope to raise my kiddos to be lifelong readers, so naturally when The Atlantic asked Is the Age of Reading Over? I kinda freaked out. (Radio Atlantic)

7. Maybe not… Gen Z’s reading habits might just be different, but not less (Book Riot)

Recent Reads

Heart the Lover by Lily King

Lily King writes the kind of literary fiction I love to read and wish I could write. Clearly written sentences that break your heart open. "I am so in love with him it is hard to take a full breath, I write in the journal. His absence feels like losing a lung."

This book takes place both before and after WRITERS AND LOVERS, but I don't think you have to have read the first book to enjoy this one. The love triangle features a manipulative, borderline toxic relationship with one guy and a seemingly good relationship, but the guy is too unsure of himself to commit.

The narrative jumps from past to present, each informing the other. The main theme I latched onto was "What makes for a successful life?" When the characters are young, it's all about outward success, but when you juxtapose that with their present grief and regret, all of the accolades fall away and they realize what's really important.

There is a long, satisfying tumble to the end where most, if not all, of my questions are answered. I cried more than once.

Whistler by Ann Patchett

I reserve five stars for books that may have been written by aliens... OR for books that so obviously could only have been written by THIS particular author. Whistler feels like Ann Patchett has been writing it her whole life. All of the events in the book are made up, but they are written in a way that feels like a memoir. No wonder the author chose to read the audiobook herself.

The commentary on family, forgiveness, and grief is stunning.

I have one problem. Ann Patchett gives fantastic writing advice, but she is famous for believing that not everyone can sit down and write a novel; yet, this book might suggest otherwise.

Also, there is a horse on the cover, but it is not a horse book.

In Case You Missed It

More than two years later, and run club is still my favorite way to watch the sun rise.

Until next time, Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

Subscribe now

Here’s some Good Stuff for your weekend… seven links and two books.

But first, my American Dream.

1. Never Give Up celebrates America 250!

2. In the mood for a wild ride? … May I introduce you to a true crime podcast about a woman who fakes pregnancies to “trap” men into staying with her, and that’s just the beginning… It’s like Munchausen’s, but instead of a medical illness, the person is addicted to legal chaos (Love Trapped)

3. My nephew, a very smart, motivated kid who just finished his first year at UCSB, told me he couldn’t imagine being successful in his classes without AI… Makes you wonder what is a human for if all we want to do is farm out our critical thinking to a robot? (Offline Podcast)

4. I’ve been following the #MidYearBookCelebration (formerly #MidYearBookFreakout) for years, and thanks to Kristin T. Lee and her easy-to-use Canva template, I’m finally participating.

   

5. I very rarely read interviews on the page as I prefer to hear the ums and ughs and pregnant pauses, but Traci Thomas ALWAYS makes these kinds of things more interesting. (SJP Lit)

   What’s your favorite place to browse for books?
   I love going into a used bookstore if I have the time and don’t have my kids with me. I especially love the ones where the books are just barely organized, and the staff has no clue what they have in store. It’s hard to be surprised these days, but disheveled used bookstores provide.

6. Ten years ago, the publishing industry predicted the end of the cookbook, but today they are more popular than ever. (Taste)

7. In celebration of America 250, listen to a very interesting conversation on The Constitution. While you're there, check out last week's episode on Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential. The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that he will be remembered as one of the more influential Americans of my lifetime. (Zero to Well-Read)

One Not Good Thing

This effing guy…

Recent Reads

Yesteryear by Claire Caro

I'm rating this four stars, not because it's a great book. It’s actually a hot mess. Poorly researched, a saggy middle, and problematic storylines; namely, a flippant description of spousal rape. BUT man, did it get me thinking... There is so much discourse around this book; it forced me to think deeply about what makes for a good story. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of the discourse around American Dirt. Both page turners written by white ladies that caused a HUGE ruckus in the book world, but that the average white lady reader picked up and probably enjoyed just fine… me, being one of them.

A TON has been said about this book that I won't repeat, but one thing I don't see people talking about is the wisdom and what I'll call "bullshit" detector of an adolescent girl. In both timelines, the eldest daughter becomes the truth-teller and mirror her mother cannot escape. I wanted more of this. I have a 13-year-old, and she can cut me with one look, and she is almost always right on the merits even if she is completely wrong in delivery.

Also, I am fascinated by influencers who involve their family in their online business. There will always be grifters and abusers, but I feel we are at a breaking point. At some point, their adorable toe-headed toddlers in a "rainbow of neutrals" will grow up and have a story to tell. I think we are in for a real treat when the adult children of influencers start writing their tell-all memoirs. I'm here for it!

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman

A sweet cozy. Clearly written fun characters with distinctive voices. Goes down easy.

I’m reading a short story collection by Lippman as part of my Short Summer reading project, so I thought it would be interesting to read one of her novels as well and compare how the author treats the different formats.

In Case You Missed It

This week, I shared a Bittersweet birth story.

Until next time, Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

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I love this story because it gave me a reason to recall a memory of our family from the before times. Before chemo and surgeries and doctors saying, “I’m so sorry.”

February 16th 2018

“Would you like to induce tonight?” my OB asks.

A list of things I’d planned on getting done before the baby comes rolls over me like a tidal wave, and in the length of a breath, I’m exhausted. This is my third pregnancy, and each time it’s the same:

First, I convince myself that at any moment, I will go into labor and not know it, and the baby will just fall out. Three weeks before, I asked in a Facebook group what I should do if I go into labor while driving. One of the members is a 911 dispatcher, and he very kindly replied, “Unlikely, but in the very rare case it does happen, pull over and try to cover myself and the baby with towels to keep warm and call 911.” I kept beach towels in my car for the rest of my pregnancy. And second, up until the moment the baby is laid on my chest, I’m certain I’m not ready. I could field a softball team of children3 and still not feel up for the enormous task ahead.

I called the sitter and Nick, and I checked into the hospital that night.

The next morning, while laboring, I had a panic attack. I spun myself up so much that I nearly passed out and needed oxygen. Physically, I was safe, the baby was safe, but mentally, I couldn’t stop thinking about all the things that could go wrong. I don’t know if I let myself take in a full breath until Nick told me we had a boy, the nurses laid him on my chest, and I looked into his bottomless blue eyes.

Meanwhile, our two older children were home with the sitter. My daughter (5 yrs) spent the day wiggling a loose tooth until it came out. It was her first. And my oldest son (7yrs) spent the day solving a round “Rubik’s Cube”- like puzzle. We’d had that toy for years, and he’d never so much as looked at it, but on this particular day, he posted up on the couch and didn’t move until he was done.

It dawns on me now that if I had been worrying for weeks about my uterus spontaneously emptying onto the sidewalk, what had they been thinking? How weird is it to send your mom off to a hospital and come home with a baby when you really have no context to understand what that means, or what could happen?

I’m guessing they didn’t think about it much until they woke up the next morning and saw that I still wasn’t home. They busied themselves with a loose tooth and a puzzle because they must have registered that something was happening, even if they didn’t know exactly what.

I’d like to leave it there, but I can’t. I wish I could go back to the before times, but a loose tooth and a Rubik’s Cube have a clear completion; grief does not. A good life filled with love is hard, and all my stories feel unfinished if I don’t bring them forward.

It’s been a long time since I’ve felt the piercing pain of those first few days and weeks. A little less time since I’ve felt its white-hot rage. Most days it’s a dull ache, and I feel joy and gratitude more often than not. But still there are those days when, “There’s something about keeping your hands busy when your brain feels broken.” I write, Nick coaches, the older kids play sports and video games, and who knows how Tatum will cope with this very big thing that happened to her family before she came into this world.

Epilogue

January 15nd 2023

I’m lying on a table in my obgyn’s office, warm gel on my very pregnant belly. I’m looking over my right shoulder at a greyscale image on a monitor projecting down like a street lamp after dark. Nick and I relax to the steady whooshing and thumping coming from the ultrasound machine and smile when we recognize a hand or spine or tip of a nose.

“Your fluid is a little low, so I think it’s time to move things along.” The doctor says as she stands, casually wiping my belly. Nick and I nod, waiting for her to tell us what she means. Move along? To where? She cocks her head in a way that’s barely on the respectful side of, You do know how this ends, right?

At once, Nick and I straighten up and laugh it off, “Oh yeah, the baby.” This is actually happening, like… right now.

Some things never change…

This is where I am today. Thank you for listening.

xoxo

Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

Here’s some Good Stuff for your weekend… nine links and two books.

But first, no matter how much time has passed, it’s ok to miss her…

1. Happy Father’s Day, Coach! We love you!

2. Rich Roll is trying to be a counterweight to “looksmaxxing.”

   “Your attention is all you have, so live your life accordingly.”

I would love to see him take his message into other spaces in the wider manosphere. (The Rich Roll Podcast)

3. The podcast that started it all is out with another season. This one is about trying to prove Texas’s most notorious serial killer is innocent. (The Last 12 Weeks, Serial Productions)

4. How to design an analog room (Martha Stewart)

5. How to stay married… haha (Bitches Gotta Eat!)

6. Knicks joy… put it in my veins!

7. Ezra Klein interviews the author of the 2010 dystopian novel, "SUPER SAD TRUE LOVE STORY,” where characters walk around with devices that constantly rate you on things like attractiveness and credit scores (sound familiar???)They discuss how it foreshadowed our current world and how we can return to joy. If nothing else, you’ll come away with a few more books to add to your TBR. (The Ezra Klein Show)

8. Peter and Mike discuss the massive hit, The Body Keeps the Score.1 As always, they call out the good, the bad, and the ugly… Still on the fence if I want to read it. (If Books Could Kill)

9. A guide to author-owned bookstores (AP), I would add Nowhere Bookshop in San Antonio, TX, owned by Jenny Lawson

Recent Reads

Brawler by Lauren Groff

This collection has everything I’m looking for in a short story. Clear writing, a little weird, endings that drop some kind of bomb or change in perspective that sends me back to the beginning wanting more. I read this collection on the page as part of my summer reading project, SHORT SUMMER.

Kin by Tayari Jones

A challenging story that goes down so easy. Complex characters and plot. Feels so true that it reads almost like a historical account from real people. Gorgeous writing. There will never be another Morrison novel, but I feel so lucky to be reading at a time when Jones is sharing her beautiful stories.

In Case You Missed It

A summer syllabus

Until next time, Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

Subscribe now

Good Stuff is coming to you mid-week with a special edition. Rather than share the usual links, books, and news, I thought I’d share some details on SHORT SUMMER, a reading project I’ve been hinting at in the last few weeks.

But first, some wisdom on habits.

If you’ve been here a minute, you know I love a creative project.

This summer, I’m tackling a reading project I’m calling Short Summer, where I read a short story or essay every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I took a chance and reached out to Anne Bogle, the queen of book recommendations, for guidance, and last week, I was a guest on her podcast, What Should I Read Next.

Listen to a few episodes of What Should I Read Next and your TBR will grow exponentially. Each guest shares three books they love and one book they don’t and Anne’s talents lie in digging into the particulars of why a particular book worked, or didn’t for a specific reader.

At the start of our conversation, I was in a hurry to tell the whole story of my reading life that when Anne asked me to slow down and talk about what makes me, me1, I stumbled.

In the episode, I describe myself as a mom of four, but when I list my children individually, I mention the 15-year-old, the 13-year-old, and the three-year-old. I don’t like to lie about the number of children I have, but depending on the situation, revealing that one of my children died tends to take over a conversation.

The other person wants to show compassion, and I understand the impulse, but sometimes it’s hard to get past it and I wasn’t prepared to be that vulnerable. Anne was completely professional and breezed right over the discrepancy2. I wonder if the audience will notice?

Anne Bogel and her team were so gracious, expertly guiding me through our conversation and helping me tease out the why, what, and how behind this reading project. Thanks to editing, I sound much more interesting than I actually am.

The goal of the project is to build stamina for daily reading on the page. It might mean reading less but reading deeper in stolen moments throughout the day.

I’ve put together a loose summer syllabus for reading short fiction and essays that mashes together recommendations from Anne, contemporary collections, and a few of my college-era anthologies I found while cleaning out the garage last week3.

Brawler by Lauren Groff (reading now and LOVING it!)

The Best American Short Stories, 2024 Editied by Lauren Groff

The Longman Pocket Anthology R.S. Gwynn

Seasonal Work by Laura Lippman (WSIRN Recommendation)

10th of December by George Saunders

The Pedestrian by Ray Bradbury (WSIRN Recommendation)

The Red Convertible Louise Erdrich

Essays

Small Town Girls by Jayne Anne Phillips (WSIRN Recommendation)

How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee

On Morrison by Namwali Serpell

Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion

In case you missed it

Here are a few past Bittersweet Weekly projects.

During the pandmeic some people baked sourdough, I ran every street in Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara Independent)

The two years I was an MLM Hon for Beachbody. One of these days I’ll share that story here.

In 2023, we embarked on a full demolition and remodel of our home.

My first syllabus from 2023 and Last year’s summer syllabus.

The Bittersweet Weekly is in itself a project.

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Until next time, Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

Subscribe now

Here’s some Good Stuff for your weekend… eleven links and three books.

But first, some self-forgiveness.

1. How to display art in the kitchen. (Cup of Jo)

2. I always appreciate Robin LaVoie's stories about caring and advocating for her adult son with autism. (It’s Like This)

3. A few weeks back, I shared a link about a not-so-shocking report that the majority of what we see on the internet is actually advertising. This week, Chelsea Devantez breaks down the whole Fake Feed article… Warning… could cause you to yell at your phone/ make you want to delete all your social media. (Glamorous Trash)

4. I think about Pedro Zamora at least once a week. “He changed the minds of millions and millions of people.”

5. Eliud Kipchoge is the reigning GOAT of the marathon and still has time to cheer on his wife during her first marathon in Cape Town (Runner’s World)

6. A run is the best place for a good cry. (Runner’s World)

7. Did I know that I wanted to know this much about mold? No, I did not, but this is very entertaining. (Sophia is Voracious)

8. How did unsolicited/annoying/scammy messages end up being named for canned meat? (Merriam Webster)

9. “Crime fiction is the punk complement to literary fiction” (Crime Reads)

10. Have you ever read a book that changed your life? I’m not sure I can point to a single book, but rather scenes or lines I think about regularly. Some examples include the description of child loss in Hamnet (This American Life)

11. I would like to read every one of these 21 books out this week (LitHub)

One Not Good Thing

In a surprise to no one, the Jan 6th rioters pardoned by Trump and future recipients of taxpayer money, kept on criming… child molestation, domestic violence, drug possession, and more… cool. (New York Times)

Recent Reads

Everyone in This Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

The fourth book in the series still does not live up to the first, BUT I keep reading them, and they are always fun. I like Ernest and his obsession with golden age mysteries. I like how the rules of fair play mysteries are woven into the dialogue and plot. The audio narrator strikes a perfect cocky/snarky tone. But like all series featuring an amateur sleuth (Anthony Horowitz, Finlay Donovan), I keep wonderng why they don't just walk away, especially if there are life-or-death situations or they keep getting hurt. All that said, I'm looking forward to book #5 when it comes out.

Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton

I wouldn't say this is a memoir in a straight sense because I don't feel like I understand the author and her motivations any better than before I started, BUT it's a beautiful piece of nature writing in the tone of BRAIDING SWEETGRASS by Robin Wall Kimmerer, but much smaller in scope. The research on the hare and the history of its coexistence with humans was very interesting, and I appreciated the activism to improve farming policy. I had to put aside my huge objection to bringing the hare into her home in the first place, but she does an ok job acknowledging the issue in the end.

The Many Lives of Mama Love: by Laura Love Hardin

You will not like this woman. Her choices will enrage you. You might even think that she didn't suffer enough for her crimes and doesn't deserve redemption. I listened to this book on audio and towards the beginning Hardin's voice cracks more than once when she talks about what she has done and what she's put her kids through... That's enough for me. That, and the fact that she's still sober.

Reads like a page-turning novel. The commentary on the "justice system" and the impossible hoops people are expected to jump through is compelling. I found the sections after she got the job with the literary agent less compelling than what came before, but she did a good job weaving in and making her whole arc relevant. A story of a woman finally becoming who she was always meant to be.

In Case You Missed It

I wrote a about what you can expect this summer at The Bittersweet Weekly.

Until next time, Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

Subscribe now

S.S.H. often talks about the various virtues in pitfalls of the first day of the month falling on a particular day of the week, Monday being the best, followed by Sunday, and Tuesday1 being the worst day of the week to start a month.

I’ll see that, and raise you that it’s also important to factor in the actual month when considering the best day. For one, I think January 1st is best when it falls on a Thursday, because that means Christmas Day is also on a Thursday, and Thursday to Thursay is the best configuration for Twixmas, a.k.a. the best week of the year. It feels like having two four day weekends in a row.

June is the first month of Summer, and it feels right to begin a new season on a Monday. My kids still have a week and a half of school left, but the school year is basically over.2

So, to answer the question: What will I do with the energy of a Monday on the first day of June? How about I give you a rundown of what you can expect this summer, here at The Bittersweet Weekly?

1. I was interviewed for a bookish podcast… EEK! I’m pretty sure I come off like a pick-me try-hard3, but it was super fun, and I got some great ideas for my “Short Summer” book project. In an effort to read more with my eyes4, I’ve challenged myself to read a short story5 on the page every day between Memorial Day and Labor Day. So far, I’m loving it.

2. I’m working on a personal essay where I use a post I read about a Rubik’s Cube6 as an excuse to tell a story about my boy, Aiden.

3. I’ve got a post about short stories and why they’re so awesome and why you should read more, especially because your favorite authors likely have a collection from their MFA days, and it’s fun to read the work of famous people from before they were famous, kind of like seeing a Tom Cruise in a commercial for breakfast cereal. Not sure where it’s going yet, but stay tuned

   

4. Returning to my role as a modern Homemaker, I’m working on a post about how there is a representation of a frog in nearly every room in my house, but the Washington Post says it’s okay because every room needs something weird

5. I love a listicle and this one is about a to-be-determined number of books with the theme, “Did I know I wanted to read about 'some weird topic7'? No, I didn’t, but this book was really cool.”

I’m also supposedly working on a novel, but I have a short story idea about a book-ish 20-something woman whose life is a mess, and she is somehow raising axolotls? The scenes won’t leave me alone. Am I procrastinating the novel because it’s hard?8 Or should I consider learning how to write a beginning, middle, and end of a short piece of fiction first, before breaking off something as intimidating as a novel?9

In any case, life is a little hairy around here. The youngest is three and has decided she’s afraid to be in her room alone, so I’m spending about an hour a night, half-asleep, in a rocker. Thank goodness I snagged a friend’s fancy and very comfortable rocker, otherwise my back would be more of a mess than it already is.

I’m hoping to make these narrative posts more of a regular thing, like I used to. I love my roundups10, and those will still be coming on Fridays or Saturdays, but I miss sharing personal stories with you all, and I’m looking forward to putting the Bittersweet back in The Bittersweet Weekly.

This is where I am today. Thank you for listening. Hugs, Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

Subscribe now

Here’s some Good Stuff for your weekend… ten links and zero books.

But first, What’s Up!

1. Linda Perry is a legend! Should you be in a beautiful mood, here’s the song… Gets me every time.

2. My writer friend Caroline is an archivist and has the best stories. (Talking to Myself)

   I work with archives. Or maybe “work with” is too gentle a phrase. I spend most of my life thinking about preservation. What gets saved. What gets lost. Which stories become fixed and which begin to fray at the edges almost immediately.

   And the truth is, the archive does not feel neutral to me anymore.

   Sometimes it feels miraculous.
   Sometimes it feels violent.

3. This guy traded his iPhone for a landline for two weeks and lived old school. Before we remodeled the house, we had a landline. I would like one again. (NY MAG: The Strategist)

4. Megan Falley, partner to poet Andrea Gibson, shares her every changing journey through grief after losing Andrea to cancer. I can’t always read her posts, it’s just not where I am, but this one’s title got me good, “The Goal Is Not To Miss You Less” (Things That Don’t Suck)

5. We are all Kathryn.

6. I could talk about youth sports all day!!! (The Nobel Try)

7. A list of “Words We Don’t Say” from an editor at the New York Times is making the rounds again, and it has my snobby language-loving heart full. What would you add to the list? (Cup of Jo via The New York Times)

   Aside from “guac,” short for guacamole (barf), I had a writing teacher who hated the use of the word “frame” to describe a person’s body. As in, “I wanted to crawl inside his large frame and hide.” When I see it now, it grates on me, but I’m stubborn, and I’ve been trying to make the sentence work for five years. The “he” builds things, literally… I have to make it work somehow.

   

8. I love a book within a book, and if you’re in the mood for a spicy romance, check out number two on this list. (Modern Mrs Darcy)

9. Hayden Panettiere’s memoir sounds intense. (Glamorous Trash)

10. This excerpt from My Bad: a Personal History of the Queer Ninties and Beyond by Hugh Ryan had me from word one. There must be something biological that happens in your mid-40s because I’m increasingly obsessed with re-evaluating the messed-up way we treated each other in the 90s. (Electric Literature)

    If there’s one thing that growing up queer in the Nineties gave me, it’s an antenna for danger, and it tells me that bad days are here, and worse are coming.

Recent Reads

This week I listened to a fun mystery, and I’m halfway through a really compelling memoir that’s NOT by a famous person! I’ll share my thoughts next week.

Also, in an effort to read more on the page, I’m embarking on a project I’m calling Short Summer, where I read a short story or an essay every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day. So far, so great! I’m not quite sure how I will share my progress. Should I share after finishing the whole collection or story by story? What if I don’t read every story? Also, I plan on skipping around in a few different collections so the stories don’t start to meld together… Quality problems, I know, … Anyway, stay tuned.

In Case You Missed It

A favorite of mine and yours… If you’re new-ish to this space, this one pretty much sums it up.

Until next time, Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

Subscribe now

Until next week, please enjoy this little bit of Gen-X comedy. (I Mom So Hard)

Here’s some Good Stuff for your weekend… eight links and two books with great covers.

But first, some truth.

1. There’s nothing like Writing Class Radio!! Allison is a beautiful writer and fantastic editor, and I was so lucky to be in her class. (Writing Class Radio)

2. Grateful that in the age of AI SLOP, real art with human hands, bodies, and imaginations is still possible.

3. Tradwiffery has never made it into my algorithm, but man, do I find their them fascinating (Culture Study Podcast)

4. I haven’t seen the “coming of age menace” of a movie, Thirteen, since it came out in 2003, and I think I’m still recovering. (You Are Good)

5. News flash, your feed is fake! A whole industry is popping up around paid posters, with hundreds of accounts posting seemingly authentic content in an attempt to make a song, movie, or politician go viral. CAUTION: Will cause outrage! (Vulture)

   Clipping just puts an artist in front of more eyeballs; narrative campaigns tell those eyeballs what they’re seeing. Chaotic Good co-founder Jesse Coren explained the idea to Billboard at South by Southwest. “A lot of what we do on the narrative side is controlling the discourse,” he said. “Most people see a video or see something about an album that came out and it’s like the first thing that they see, or that first comment that they see, is their opinion even when they haven’t heard the whole album.” In other words, in a world drowning in information, nobody has the time to form an opinion from scratch anymore, so they check captions, comments, and quote tweets to see what people who seem like them have to say. And if everybody is outsourcing their first impressions to the crowd, why not just manufacture the crowd? … BARF!

6. Humans of NY gets it right every time!

7. Is Kim Kardashian the icon of our time?? I scoffed at first, but this conversation changed my mind. Also, I’m a sucker for a book that takes pop culture seriously. (The Stacks)

8. Should you need a good cry. Cheryl Strayed shared a beautiful tribute to her husband Brian Lindsrom, who passed away this week from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Cheryl wrote the memoir WILD and is a fantastic writer and literary citizen.

Recent Reads

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

This starts as your average mystery but quickly turns topsy-turvy, taking the unreliable narrator to the next level and ending in a very sinister place. Not every twist made sense, but I didn't care. Overall, a very enjoyable ride.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

Men are a-holes, but it's ok and/or it's somehow the woman's fault.

I don't think that's the message the author was going for, but that's what I got. Nearly all the relevant conflict was left off the page, and when we returned to the characters, things were miraculously resolved. Even when a man tried to apologize for his abhorrent behavior, the female character would wave it off as nonsense. I was literally shouting at my audiobook! Some of the characters were a hoot. I loved both Charlotte and Bitsy the best! The ending was one big tidy bow.

BUT the author did make me think hard about what life was like for women in the era where they couldn't open a bank account or go on the pill without their husbands' consent. Made me admit we've made some important advances in gender equality, but that we're not much better now. Made me wonder how close we are to returning to that kind of power imbalance?

In Case You Missed It

Check out one of my favorites from last August where my older daughter accedentally gives me one of the best complements I’ve ever recieved.

In our FINAL LUNCH DATE Sarah and I wrote about our ideal day.

Join us for our final LUNCH DATE as we write about what or who makes up a perfect day.¹

Check out a little preview of my response. Paid subscribers get the replay and the full essay.

What do I want for Mother’s Day? Well, I’ll tell you what I don’t want: brunch. I never need to go to brunch on Mother’s Day. This is not to say I am low-maintenance; I am absolutely not. I love being celebrated. I just don’t want to be celebrated on a day where everybody else is being celebrated at the same time, and the wait staff and massage therapists are overworked with sore feet and haggard hands.

My ideal Mother’s Day is exactly what I did yesterday. I sent my husband, Nick, and my 3-year-old to do the weekly grocery shopping. (He does a much better job getting everything on the list than I do, and when the two older kids woke up, I made them take me to the bookstore; it was perfect…. READ MORE

Until next time, Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

Subscribe now

Join us for our final LUNCH DATE as we write about what or who makes up a perfect day.1

Check out a little preview of my response. Paid subscribers get the replay and the full essay. Subscribe as an “Editor” and get access to the LIVE workshop as well as feedback on your writing from me!

Of course, the questions we always ask are, “What drew you in?” and “What do you want to know more about?”

What do I want for Mother’s Day? Well, I’ll tell you what I don’t want: brunch. I never need to go to brunch on Mother’s Day. This is not to say I am low-maintenance; I am absolutely not. I love being celebrated. I just don’t want to be celebrated on a day where everybody else is being celebrated at the same time, and the wait staff and massage therapists are overworked with sore feet and haggard hands.

My ideal Mother’s Day is exactly what I did yesterday. I sent my husband, Nick, and my 3-year-old to do the weekly grocery shopping. (He does a much better job getting everything on the list than I do, and when the two older kids woke up, I made them take me to the bookstore; it was perfect.

Then I watched my older daughter and her softball team play their hearts out in a very competitive softball game.

Read more

Here’s some Good Stuff for your weekend… nine links and two books.

But first, some truth.

1. Kylie Kelce reveals what moms really want for Mother’s Day. “It’s my turn to pick.” (Not Gonna Lie)

2. Amy Goodman delivers the news you’re not getting (The Weekly Show)

3. I was 15 years old at the time of the Oklahoma City bombing, and all I remember is that the daycare was hit hardest. This documentary lays out what happened with 30 years of perspective. Chills and tears, and not one person said, President Clinton went to a “red state’ to comfort the scared and grieving. Reminded me that no one said George W. Bush went to a “blue city” after 9/11. I’d like to say we can come together again.

4. A professional organizer takes listener questions on What do we do with all this stuff? (Culture Study)

5. NOPE!

6. Tick tock! If you don’t know the story of Kristen Smart, run, don’t walk, to the Your Own Back Yard Podcast

7. A whole lot of people are talking about YESTERYEAR. This interview with the author is pretty interesting/ I think I want to be her friend. (Radio Atlantic)

8. Some very good recommendations for moms, dads, and grads (Book Riot)

9. I love a list of backlist favorites. (Modern Mrs Darcy)

Recent Reads

Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett

A sweet, weird little book. Reads fast. Characters felt new and distinct. The story is told in the first person from the POV of a 12-year-old girl, Elvis, struggling to accept the death of her mother. You get all the grandiosity of a child who thinks she is at the center of everything, and her motives and actions make sense. The relationship between the main characters, Elvis, her sister Lizzie, and their father is heartwarming. Personally, I'm looking for a more mature reflection on grief and family, so I would have preferred the story be told in close third, but overall, I liked it.

The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave

All writers have a tic, and Laura Dave’s is repetition. Repetition that distracts from the story. Repetition that keeps on repeating. I remember liking the first book, and The Night We Lost Him was good too, but I really struggled with this one.

In Case You Missed It

a favorite from 2022

I’ve been thinking a lot about the movie Toy Story. Woody is Andy’s favorite toy, and he takes his job very seriously. He feels his sole purpose is to be there for his child in whatever way he needs, and that includes being packed in a box and left in the basement.

I think about Woody when I look at the bins in the garage marked “toys.”

Just before Aiden was diagnosed, we pulled out the Thomas the Train set. Owen and Peyton were long done playing with it, but Aiden had just hit the age where he was ready to roll Thomas along his track.

Owen helped lay down the track on our back patio, and Peyton pulled out all the trains, breathing life into the old hand-me-downs.

But then Aiden got sick, and a month or so later, I packed up the train set, and no one has played with it since. I wonder if Thomas and the other trains were confused…read more…

News

Join us as we write about celebrating even in the face of an uncertain world.

So much to celebrate and at just the right time. I’m so discouraged and disillusioned by the state of the world that I worry I’ve turned cynical. So this excuse to celebrate is exactly what I need.

What I really want to talk about is youth sports and the value of play and competing, learning to be a good winner and a good loser. Heartbreak and joy. Managing multiple personality types and getting along… Supporting someone through hard things. It’s all there. Read more…

Become a paid subscriber to have access to the replay and read my full response.

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Until next time, Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

Subscribe now

Join us as we write about celebrating even in the face of an uncertain world.

Check out a little preview of my response. Paid subscribers get the replay and the full essay. Subscribe as an “Editor” and get access to the LIVE workshop as well as feedback on your writing from me!

Of course, the questions we always ask are, “What drew you in?” and “What do you want to know more about?”¹

So much to celebrate and at just the right time. I’m so discouraged and disillusioned by the state of the world that I worry I’ve turned cynical. So this excuse to celebrate is exactly what I need.

What I really want to talk about is youth sports and the value of play and competing, learning to be a good winner and a good loser. Heartbreak and joy. Managing multiple personality types and getting along… Supporting someone through hard things. It’s all there.

My 13-year-old daughter had a big weekend. On Friday, she won the lower division championship in flag football, and on Saturday, she played three softball games, catching every pitch and winning the rec league championship. I nearly lost my voice.

Read more

Here’s some Good Stuff for your weekend… nine links and six books.

But first, hope.

1. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were the biggest band of my youth. This documentary is beautiful, but not nearly enough. I learned a lot about how their groundbreaking sound came together and cried multiple times, moved by how young (like babies) and tragic they all were, but it basically ends at the beginning. Founding member Flea wrote a memoir in 2019. I haven’t read it, but heard it only focuses on those early years and ends when Blood Sugar Sex Magic comes out. I love this band and hope that one day, we get the full story.

   A few of my favorite RHCP songs. Enjoy!

   1. Behind the Sun

   2. Soul To Squeeze

   3. Higher Ground

   Flea also just released a solo jazz album and was interviewed on Fresh Air.

2. The top TWO finishers at the London Marathon ran 26.2 miles in under TWO hours. The winner ran mile 24 at a 4:12 pace! (Runner’s World)

3. Nadia Boltz-Webber offers up a “shitty little prayer” for our world-weary souls. (The Corners)

4. Jake Reiner, son of Rob Reiner, who was tragically murdered along with his wife last year, penned a beautiful tribute to his parents. The end really got me. As someone who has been through some hard stuff, I’d say to him, “Sometimes there are no words for a reason.” (Jake Reiner)

5. What it was really like in the 90s. Ha! (McSweeney’s)

   You want to know what I was like in the ’90s, kids? Take a deep breath and imagine Snapchat doesn’t exist, and the only way to find out who’s having a party tonight is to press *69 on a landline phone and ask someone’s mom.

6. Lost and found on a New York subway (Curbed)

   

7. Traci Thomas shares a little rant on how too many novels are written in first person. (Unstacked)

8. I read and loved JAMES by Percival Everett, but this breakdown from the people at Book Riot made me love it even more! (Zero to Well Read Podcast)

9. Michael and Peter break down/takedown GRIT by Angela Duckworth. By the end, I was left contemplating my central problem with the entire self-help genre. I still want the promises of the book. I want “passion and perseverance for very long-term goals." I want my kids to have grit. But, the “science” and anecdotes offered are mostly b.s., and it’s very disappointing.

Recent Reads

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

This is my first go with Climate Fiction, and there is a lot to like here. We spend a lot of time in the characters' heads, which is good because you always know what they are thinking, and McConaghy writes pretty sentences, but sometimes it's frustrating because the central problem could be solved with one conversation. Still, the writing is beautiful, and Dom is such a good dad; it's easy to root for him. I had a hard time figuring out the weather. I felt like the characters should have been colder than they were, if that makes sense.

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

The people at Book Riot called this a "Swiss Army" knife of a book. Great for almost anyone who just wants a good story... Not so great for me. The setting in Prague was great, and I came away with a few cocktail party facts and a further questioning of the ethics of secret government projects, but the novel itself is formulaic, and the one big reveal is my least favorite trope in all of literature. I get why people like these books, but for me, it felt a little like watching an episode of Scooby Doo.

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

I'm probably not being fair, but I read KING OF ASHES, BLACKTOP WASTELAND, and RAZORBLADE TEARS before this one and liked them so much more. Still great writing and pacing, good characters, and takes on masculinity, but I just didn't love the central problem of the book. A school shooting with religious undertones and torture of children??? too much for me.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I loved this book! Beautiful sentences and all the earnestness you want from YA. Death, of course, has the best words: “His soul sat up. It met me. Those kinds of souls always do - the best ones. The ones who rise up and say, "I know who you are and I am ready. Not that I want to go, of course, but I will come." Those souls are always light because more of them have been put out. More of them have already found their way to other places.”

It's hard to read the scene where Liesel's father is beaten for trying to help one of the Jews the Natzi's are marching through town, and not compare that situation to the current situation with I.C.E in 2026.

Good Reads added a DNF (Did Not Finish) shelf that doesn’t count toward your total books read. I thought it would be interesting to share mine from time to time. Quick note: the value of tracking a DNF is to better understand why a book didn’t work for me and decide whether it’s a “not right now” or a “not ever.” I don’t give star ratings to books I don’t finish.

Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash

I love a weird book, but just can't with this one right now. Way too much chaos and terrible decisions. Love the cover.

Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon

Thriller? Romance? The tone wasn't consistent, and I couldn't figure out what kind of book I was reading.

In Case You Missed It

News

It’s been a while since I’ve published a straight essay, but this project has me brimming with ideas, and I can’t wait to share them all with you!

This week, I offered up my favorite prompt from Anne Lamott in BIRD BY BIRD, school lunches!

Of all my mom duties, packing lunches is my least favorite. I could fold laundry all day, probably because that’s the only time I watch TV. I can change diapers, I don’t mind being the family taxi driver, I loved nursing all four of my babies, but packing lunches is the worst.

Is this story even interesting?… read more

Until next time, Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

Subscribe now

This is one of my favorite prompts from one of my favorite craft books, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.

I did quite a bit of throat clearing, but eventually got to what I really wanted to say.

Check out a little preview of my response. Paid subscribers get the replay and the full essay. Subscribe as an “Editor” and get access to the LIVE workshop as well as feedback on your writing from me!

Of course, the questions we always ask are, “What drew you in?” and “What do you want to know more about?”¹

Here goes,

Of all my mom duties, packing lunches is my least favorite. I could fold laundry all day, probably because that’s the only time I watch TV. I can change diapers, I don’t mind being the family taxi driver, I loved nursing all four of my babies, but packing lunches is the worst. Each week, I’d cross my fingers, praying they would choose hot lunch, but they rarely did. Maybe it’s the pressure of coming up with new healthy meals they will actually eat. It feels pointless when the cutie I pack comes home untouched every day for a week. And then there’s the need for variety. My oldest was happy eating the same meal every day for years. At first, it was peanut butter jelly, and then a quesadilla (Yes, he will eat them cold). My daughter, however, was constantly asking for new things. She went through a phase of chicken noodle soup, and at one point, I was tossing Caesar salad.

Read more

Here’s some Good Stuff for your weekend… ten links and still no books, but I gave a hint as to what’s coming.

But first, Independent Bookstore Day is TODAY, Saturday, April 25th!

1. Hauntingly accurate. (Talking to Myself)

   Maybe it’s the end of civilization.

   Or maybe it’s just the end of certain kinds of effort. The unremarkable skills that used to sit underneath everything: remembering, spelling, paying attention, tolerating a moment that isn’t immediately interesting.

2. Conversations with those we love after they are gone. A daughter processes her complicated relationship with her father. (Searching for Enough)

3. E. Jean Carroll asks the best questions (Ask E. Jean)

4. I’m not giving up my audiobooks or podcasts anytime soon, but I do wonder what all that noise shuts out. (Wallflower Chats)

5. Ahh, how good it is to hear from those who have been here a while and know a thing ot two… (The New York Times)

   Now that I’m deep in my 80s, I’d like to stay here forever, and I’ll certainly try. I enjoy being here. The decade is the October of aging. And October is a lovely month, don’t you think?

6. Forests are cool. Nature is weird. (Radiolab Podcast)

7. It’s Berryman season on the Central Coast! I am on a first-name basis with the very nice woman who sells these beauties! 30 strawberry recipes. I’m looking hard at the strawberry, watermelon, and burrata salad and the strawberry pretzel ice cream cake (Half Baked Harvest)

   

8. The existential question facing every reader who shares their opinion on books… Do I have bad taste? (Reading Glasses Podcast)

9. Should you need a smile, here you go. A treasury of book dedications (The Life and Errors of Molly Young)

10. What Your Favorite Classic Novel Says About Your Decorating Style. A couple of things: 1) I don’t think I have a favorite classic novel, 2) This absolutely doesn’t matter. 3) In a world where everything feels like an emergency and the stakes are so high, I think we could all use a little frivolity. (Homes & Gardens)

One Not Good Thing

Recent Reads

Ok, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel on this reading rut… I’ll have some good titles for you next week! HINT: I’ve got a YA novel narrated by death, crime fiction with creepy religious undertones, an allegory for grief as an island disguised as climate fiction, a DNF that had too much going on, and the latest in a blockbuster series of secret societies, code-breaking, and symbology.

Any guesses??

Leave a comment

In Case You Missed It

This post came up in conversation the other day, so I thought it would be fun to revisit it now. I had a smile on my face the entire time. Also, Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson is such a good book!

News

Sarah and I made a friend!

Check out a little preview of my response. Paid subscribers get the replay and the full essay. Subscribe as an “Editor” and get access to the LIVE workshop as well as feedback on your writing from me!

“You never cried” is the story she was told. A chubby pink frog of a baby just out of a hot bath. Her older brother laughed as he told her stories of the things she did before she had memory. Her mother fawned over how “easy” she was.

“You never cried,” she heard the echo of this story most often when she was crying. Older now, but still a child. No longer chubby, but the same curly hair, finally coming online to the hole in her family of origin.

“I don’t have a dad,” she told the schoolyard when they played house or squared up against each other, saying, “My dad can beat up your dad.” Her admission often shut the taunts down. Maybe they realized it was no longer a fair fight.

“I don’t have a dad.” This must have broken her mother’s heart to hear her say. She hopes she never did. There’s so much more to say…

Until next time, Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

Subscribe now

Sarah led us with the writing prompt, rebellion.

Check out a little preview of my response. Paid subscribers get the replay and the full essay. Subscribe as an “Editor” and get access to the LIVE workshop as well as feedback on your writing from me!

Of course, the questions we always ask are, “What drew you in?” and “What do you want to know more about?”¹

“You never cried” is the story she was told. A chubby pink frog of a baby just out of a hot bath. Her older brother laughed as he told her stories of the things she did before she had memory. Her mother fawned over how “easy” she was.

“You never cried,” she heard the echo of this story most often when she was crying. Older now, but still a child. No longer chubby, but the same curly hair, finally coming online to the hole in her family of origin.

Read more

Here’s some Good Stuff for your weekend… eleven links and zero books (again, more on that below).

But first, a description of one of the earliest spelling contests: part play by play, part poem.

1. Jaw on the floor the whole time! (Trust Me: The False Prophet)

2. A personal encyclopedia? One man sets out to archive old photos of his grandmother’s wedding and ends up using Claude to help people create Wiki-quality encyclopedias of their whole lives, then he created a website so you can make one too. (Whoami)

3. Every mother I know has a nursing story that involves tears. Some are harder than others. (Will it Ever)

4. The perfect poached egg. (LitHub)

   It’s no wonder that the average poached egg fan is, apparently, an optimist.

5. My city looks pretty cool in the fog.

6. A deep dive into the National Spelling Bee, complete with poems about “spelling duels” in frontier America and a micro history of the Simplified Spelling movement. (You’re Wrong About)

7. I finally finished The Idiot, a podcast about a man who put a hit out on his ex-wife. It was very good and everything I’ve come to expect from the storytellers at Serial Productions. (This American Life)

8. These boys are very funny.

9. This deep dive into non-fiction imprints is so interesting. Even for the casual reader, knowing the “vibe” of a publishing imprint will go a long way in helping you find your next favorite read. (Unstacked)

10. A very rich and well-connected woman stole a story of sexual abuse from her middle school classmate and wrote a bestselling memoir claiming the story as her own, and that’s not even the half of it. (The Inevitable Substack)

11. A sweet little post for National Poetry Month about What Rhyme Does. (Poetry Unbound)

One Not Good Thing

It’s impossible to pick just one.

Recent Reads

I gotta be honest here, I’m in a bit of a reading rut. It’s part “I’m distracted by the state of the world” part, “I’m trying to read more on the page, and it’s slow going” part, “there are so many beautiful things to read, and not all of them are books.”

Currently, I’m halfway through The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (it’s lovely), and I have Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash, Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, and On Earth We Were Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong on deck. If you’ve read them, let me know what you think in the comments.

Leave a comment

In Case You Missed It

I think this is the best idea I’ve ever had, and I want it to work soooo badly. I absolutely LOVE the act of creating a syllabus for my creative life, the lists and timelines, and sheer optimism about what I can do in a 24-hour period, but the day-to-day follow-through is tough.

A syllabus is “pragmatic document covering contact information, required reading, meeting times, and schedule.” He says it’s dense and hopeful, a “ ‘hallowed artifact.”

Bonus

Lunch Date is a six-week workshop in writing and creativity. Watch and write along with Sarah and me as we talk about what scares us about storytelling.

Check out a preview of my response. Paid subscribers get the replay and the full essay. Subscribe as an “Editor” and get access to the LIVE workshop as well as feedback on your writing from me!

Until next time, Emily

In an era where you have access to every word ever written, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to read mine.

Subscribe now

Check out a little preview of my response. Paid subscribers get the replay and the full essay. Subscribe as an “Editor” and get access to the LIVE workshop as well as feedback on your writing from me!

Subscribe now

Of course, the questions we always ask are, “What drew you in?” and “What do you want to know more about?”¹

All right, I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for almost 15 years. While my peers were building careers, I built towers out of blocks and constructed obstacle courses. I became fluent in toddler, and an expert at making up games to teach the colors of the rainbow and letter sounds. I’m a good listener and can often figure out what my child is trying to say even before they have the language to say it. I am very good at writing meal plans and grocery lists, though I almost always forget at least one crucial item. We end up getting takeout more than we should because I forgot to take the chicken out of the freezer to thaw.

To be honest, I think I would have been a really good English teacher, and I regret not giving it a shot. There was a very small window around 2003-04 where I had my sights set on graduate school, but that door closed, and here I am. Most days, I’m happy with my decision.

I have two teenagers and one threen-ager. I was volunteering at my oldest’s track meet and making small talk with another mom. She commented on the age gap…

Read more