Latest Posts
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Before I Move Forward, One More Thing…
Dear Mom, Last week’s letter about compassion got me thinking about the ways in which we as a society tend to move on from the ugliness of our history. I’m pretty sure that many people would love to simply erase… Continue reading
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The Complexities of Compassion
Dear Mom, You have been dead for nine and a half years. With every day it feels like what you have missed multiplies exponentially. It can feel shocking at times. As if you wouldn’t even know me if you passed… Continue reading
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Finding My Sober Identity
Dear Mom, Today I am starting my letter to you with a story. Stop me if you’ve heard it before. Once upon a time, there was a teenager who had a bit of a drinking problem. On the eve of… Continue reading
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Can I Take Responsibility and Still Question Everything?
Dear Mom, Yesterday morning at breakfast, Idris asked me how I could send you letters if you’re dead. Good question, right? My answer was that I am not sending the letters anywhere. I’m simply writing them. In the hopes that… Continue reading
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Let’s Talk About Sex
Dear Mom, As promised, I’m writing to you today to talk about sex. More specifically, I want to talk about the flaws in the sex education I, and most of my generation, received. The sex education that was heavy on… Continue reading
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The Duality of Vulnerability
Dear Mom, When I first started writing these letters to you, I opened myself up to criticism that made me deeply uncomfortable. Similar to the themes of last week, getting criticism, especially criticism about my writing and ultimately my feelings,… Continue reading
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Self-Sabotage, Imposter Syndrome, and Substance Abuse
Dear Mom, For much of my life, I have been truly successful at being mediocre without taking full responsibility. If you could respond right now, you’d probably say I’m not mediocre. I’m wonderful. But really, I could have been much… Continue reading
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Mothers and Daughters
Dear Mom, It’s not lost on me that I waited until after your death to ask you the big questions. That I am actively choosing to ask you because you can’t answer. I realize now that there were many times… Continue reading
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Can I Ask You Something?
Dear Mom, As I begin to explore the true source of my insecurities, I have one big question for you. First, I want to put it out there that I’m not blaming you. I know that my problems are my problems. I… Continue reading
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I Need You, Again
Dear Mom, It’s been over four years since I last wrote to you. I’m sorry. I could come up with a bunch of excuses. Life got in the way. I took a break from writing nonfiction to focus on my… Continue reading
Sober Letters to Mom 