Expressing (wanna-be Chinese) motherhood
Since I’ve been on the road a lot this summer, I haven’t had enough time to write. So, in the mean time, here’s a personal story I read at the “Expressing Motherhood” spoken word shows at the Lillian Theatre in Hollywood in January 2011. I told a story about my lame attempt at instilling […]
Make new friends, and keep the old
My children had more play dates than usual this summer. Part of this is because my son is entering kindergarten; his school has encouraged parents to have play dates to ease the transition, so that the first day of kindergarten feels is smooth and full of friendly reunions rather than tears. It makes sense, but […]
In Praise of Divorce
Several years ago I wrote an essay called “In Praise of Divorce” on a website that’s no longer active. This is an updated version of that essay. I was reminded of this topic when I read Lisa Belkin’s New York Times piece today on staying in an abusive marriage: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/23/staying-in-an-abusive-marriage/?src=tp I had just turned 16 […]
Talk talk
About eight years ago, I lost my best friend. I don’t mean that she died. I mean that she and I weren’t friends anymore. How did it happen? I can’t explain it in short form. What I think happened is that we were both slammed with the paradigm shift that is having your first child […]
Bossypants vs the book I can’t name
So I just read two books in the last month, both by 40-ish women authors, both nonfiction, both at least somewhat about what it is like to be a working mother of small children. One was “Bossypants” by Tina Fey. The other I don’t want to name because I have been a fan of the […]
Celebrated Summer
So my husband asked me why I call this blog “Celebrated Summer.” And here’s the answer: it just popped into my head. But the reference is to the Hüsker Dü song by the same name, first released in 1984. Here’s the info if you want to listen to it or read about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrated_Summer When […]
Endorphins for the endomorph
Note to my future selves: if ever I want to skip my mandatory exercise, don’t do it! Within 20 minutes of the walk I don’t want to take, particularly if I spent the afternoon riding the white horse of milky espresso drinks trying to catch that elusive happy buzz, I feel amazing! It might be […]
Every day in every way
Here’s a sad and funny story. You know what got me to finally stop smoking? (I mean, other than taking a very strong dose of a prescription drug that had an off-label use for smoking cessation.) Yellow teeth. I was about to start a graduate program in public health, and I had accidentally quit smoking […]
The Dad Thing
Those of you who know me well know that my father was not a daily figure in my life. But he played a bigger role than his monthly visits for most of my life would suggest. He’s been gone just over ten years now. And my thoughts on Father’s Day are now almost completely about […]
