Bring On Lemons

Usually the end of March is a very sad time for me. March 24th marks the anniversary of my dad passing away. I was still a teenager when cancer took him from me and even now, nearly 30 years later, the cut is deep and raw. This March I had such conflicted feelings about him being gone. Even before the cancer, my dad had a compromised immune system, a chronic cough, and he was never really well. I'd like to add that he never complained. As I watch my mom struggle with not being able to hug her grandchildren during the Wisconsin #SafterAtHome Covid-19 social distancing, I just think about how I would feel if my dad WAS still here. I am protective of my mother but she's overall healthy for her age. I could probably still go visit and bring the kids, but it's not worth the risk. I don't want her to get sick and I certainly don't want to be the one who caused the problem. I worry constantly about whether she is doing alright physically and emotionally. How would I fe...

Everyone has an opinion about what other people should or shouldn't be doing. This statement is unbelievably obvious when it comes to parenting. If you are married, they want to know when you are having children because "they'll bring so much joy". If you have one child, they encourage you to have two, "so they have a friend". And if you are 40 and having your sixth baby they want to know if you have lost your mind because apparently in 2017 it's got to be insanity causing you to procreate. About a week ago someone at the grocery store asked how many children we have and after I replied, she said "I'm sorry"... I SHOULD have said "do you know how this happens?" or "I wish I knew who the fathers were" or something equally clever. Instead, I looked at her in disbelief and said "I'm not - we are absolutely blessed". Then I loaded up my groceries, filled the 4 carseats in the minivan, and went on my merry w...

You don't necessarily have to work more to have more - my definition of success has been completely changed. Previously I would have told you that the summer heat didn't bother me (because I was inside from sun up to well after sun down), I also would have told you that someday the hours would be worth it because I would have a comfy retirement or a larger home, etc... I was putting things off until retirement. I pictured retirement like this: *9am coffee at a quaint little shoppe *10am walk on the beach to clear my thoughts *11am do some reading and writing, play the piano to let my creative juices flow *noon lunch (outside whenever possible) *1pm nap *2pm coffee and a snack *3pm time for family and friends - cocktail in the yard *6pm dinner *8pm glass of wine *9pm off to bed I wonder why I thought I had to wait until I was in my 60's to enjoy my life? I thought being a stay at home parent would be torture but yet there's nothing in my retirement plan so...