life
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The Moments In Between
Dear Mom, Did you ever feel like you lost complete control of your kids? That your authority as a parent simply vanished? I mean, I know that happened when I was around 13 until around 22. But how about when… Continue reading
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Clearing My Clutter
Dear Mom, It feels like, for the last few years, my life has been cluttered. There are always too many things going on at the same time. Juggling that ever important work/life balance. Raising kids while also still in many… Continue reading
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And I Pivot
Dear Mom, Sometimes, life gets in the way of our plans. With kids at home, this happens often. Last weekend, I traveled to DC, which threw off my writing schedule. When I left town, I told myself it would be… Continue reading
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Olympic Dreams
Dear Mom, What makes an Olympian? What makes a person able to see a sport being played at the highest level and say, “I’m going to do that one day.” What separates that person from all of the rest of… Continue reading
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Because I Said Yes
Dear Mom, I asked the kids today what it feels like when I say no to them. Scotland said, “It feels like I don’t get ice cream. Like a beautiful parrot gets trapped in a bird cage.” Idris said, “It… Continue reading
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Therapy Room
Dear Mom, I’ve been looking at your old journals again. I found an entry where you spoke about all the things you did during your day to keep your mind off your diagnosis. Particularly in the end after the tumor… Continue reading
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Unpacking My Layers of Regret
Dear Mom, When I was a teenager, you told me that I too often surrounded myself with broken people. That I’d seek out friends who needed help. Who needed to be fixed. Did it ever occur to you that I… Continue reading
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Learning Together
Dear Mom, The last few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want my life to look like. Not my ‘in 5 years’ goal. Not my ‘at my deathbed’ goal. Rather, my ‘right now, today, tomorrow, in the… Continue reading
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See You Next Time
Dear Mom, We did it. We went to Chicago. We had a wonderful visit, but I can’t seem to kick this feeling that I failed you. That it wasn’t enough. I dreamt of this trip to your city. Envisioned taking… Continue reading
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See You Soon
Dear Mom, I’m flying my kids to Chicago this week. It’s been a while since I’ve spent time in the city. Since I’ve come home. Chicago still feels like home to me. My birthplace. Your birthplace. Both of my kids… Continue reading
Sober Letters to Mom 