As I write, I'm in bed where I will be even longer than if I hadn't pushed. So today I'm going to pull back the curtain and explain the difference between my baseline and being in a flare.

All women are mothers, each and every one of us. Some are blessed with it by biology, but many, many more of us mother by how we walk lovingly through our world.  We just love more intimately.

Ian came to my bedroom, carefully leaning against the door frame (he was smart to keep a safe distance) and said, "MOM, just because I don't listen and act like I don't like you... You do know deep down, I mean really deep down, I really love you."

Every morning, each of us has a choice.  Pull the covers over our heads and hide, or start our day and do the best we can. When the most important job you will ever have is, “taking care of your family”, really the choice is already made. You pull on your big boy pants and you do what you have to do.

I have started and deleted three or four posts on my sweet Jeffrey since New Year’s.  I can’t seem to put on paper what his presence in my life means; it’s too vast.  Jeffrey is a simple man; and for a very complex girl, it’s hard to understand his willingness to step back, to be the nurturer, to simply and quietly move in the world.

How often do we say, “I’m fine; really,” to friends, family and loved ones alike?  I say this expression constantly and got called on it twice in one week. 

As we wind down the school year, I realize our family is at a crossroad...