On Capacity for Care

Back when I worked in the animal shelter, I encountered a new concept: sometimes, when someone who frequently fostered animals in their home reached out to see if they could foster another, we'd talk about their "Capacity for Care." Meaning--did that person have the time, space and energy to properly care for an additional responsibility? … Continue reading On Capacity for Care

On Foregoing a Nursery

Note: I wrote this post while pregnant with our first child, L. It's funny to look back on it years later, with three children sleeping upstairs and an overflowing toy bin in the next room. We've continued to try and be somewhat minimalist in our philosophy about stuff for kids, even while our lives are … Continue reading On Foregoing a Nursery

Hollis and the twinkly lights

Tomorrow will mark one month since the newest member of our family, baby Hollis, was born. When Linden was born, we went simple--we packed our bags with the bare minimum, and forewent many of the items that were listed as necessary on the hospital bag lists that I found. This time around, we knew what … Continue reading Hollis and the twinkly lights

On Being Raised by Two Developmental Psychologists

When I was eighteen, my dad invented something called "slack leashing." Slack leashing is a sport involving one human, one dog, and a leash. You clip the leash on the dog like you're going to go for a walk, but instead of the human setting the pace, you have to allow the dog to set … Continue reading On Being Raised by Two Developmental Psychologists

On Being a Working Mom

My first weeks with L were blue skies and rainbows and sunshine. I loved everything about our life together under the roof of our little brick house--the midnight snuggles, wispy baby hair, long, lazy mornings all curled up in bed as a family. But there was a storm cloud looming on the horizon--I only had … Continue reading On Being a Working Mom

On Giving Birth

[Written about two weeks after L was born. Warning: this post is kinda graphic. Like mucus-plug graphic. Read at your own discretion] I’m sitting here with a snoring baby on my chest. He is warm and soft and heavy—the sort of soft, warm, heavy that is meant to be snuggled close. It’s one of the … Continue reading On Giving Birth