-
Forgotten
Did you know, that after you said goodbye, I quit sleeping? On the hot summer nights in my bunk I thought of you. I tried to talk to the God who claimed you for himself, but it hurt so deep that my words just came out as silent tears drowning in the nightly chorus of screaming crickets and cicadas. I watched as she changed. We rarely spoke of you, but you were there. In each circular conversation as her mind…
-
The Professor of Poop
Let’s all do the group groan… yes, you knew it was bound to come at some point – Wookie’s first poop story. My number one job is mom, but my number two job (bahahaha) is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Bio and Ag Engineering. Several weeks back I was approached by one of my students to serve on her graduate committee, and after hesitating and throwing the “I have a baby and toddler” excuse, she told me just to bring them…
-
We Have a Truce
This is the other female in our house. Isn’t she pretty? She is the sweetest and most gentle cat I have ever met. After she suffered the wrath of my pregnancy and postpartum disgust (yes I found another PPD, and no I did not abuse her), we have now made amends and are on friendly terms again, the truce being that in return for quality lap time, she pukes in her bowl to make disposal easier on me, otherwise she…
-
Under the Waterfall – Postpartum Drowning
Husum Falls, Joe is front left, I am middle left. This is our raft, and I am fully submerged at this point. In the summer of 2006, Joe and I took a rafting trip down the White Salmon River in Washington. Two-thirds of the way down the river, we took a dive off a 14 ft waterfall, Husum Falls, a class 4+ rapid. The raft stood on edge and was close to flipping just before I rolled over the side…
-
Motherhood: The Measuring Stick – Part 2
Yesterday after reading my post, my sweet and thoughtful friend Eileen questioned me on my use of Jesus as a measuring stick – her concern being not only I was setting impossible standards but was attempting to attain the same position as God, something that got the Archangel Lucifer booted from Heaven. I don’t believe that godliness (a term often used in Christian circles) means deeming oneself to be like God or on the same level as God. I believe…
-
Motherhood: The Measuring Stick – Part 1
By nature, I am a student. I love the entire process – the initial curiosity, the exploration, finding answers, applying the answers, and the evaluation. When I finished my PhD back in 2007, I found myself at a loss. I switched to the role of teacher and suddenly the only measurement of my work was if I was kept employed and student feedback. Typically the students that give you feedback are the disgruntled ones. As a mom I feel it’s…
