Because she still fits in the crook of my arm, tucked right beneath my chin. Because I love watching her rub her blankey on her cheek, blinking her eyes, as she relaxes into me. Because she asks me to. Because it's the only time she holds still all day. Because I can breathe in the... Continue Reading →
Ten Ways to Stop Being a Writer
Open your computer to a blank Google Doc and then decide now is a good time to update all your photos. Google: What’s the best photo storage website to use? (But really. I need help with this. Amazon Photos is acting weird all of a sudden. Please comment below.)Read a few essays you wrote two... Continue Reading →
Woman At-Large After Trying to Put Pants on Her Toddler
Chouteau County - A central Montana woman allegedly tried to put pants on her less than two-year-old daughter on Monday morning. The suspect was last seen fleeing the scene wearing slippers and a baseball cap. It appeared she had a book in her hand. The suspect is Stacy Bronec, 38, said Sheriff Joe Busybody. “This... Continue Reading →
Where I’ve Written: An Incomplete List
At my desk, in the laundry room. At the kitchen table, surrounded by Legos. In the car, using talk-to-text because I know I'll forget by the time I get to where I'm going.In the barn, watching a newborn calf navigate the world for the first time. Driving a combine (don't tell the farmer). This is... Continue Reading →
A Part of Who I Am
“I was a high school counselor before I got married.”“I have a master’s degree." Years ago, I sometimes found myself trying to drop these sentences into conversations. I wasn’t necessarily trying to brag. But as a new mom in a new place who no longer worked full-time—I worried what people would think about me. I... Continue Reading →
Moms Say Sorry, Too // On Coffee + Crumbs
This is my first summer as a mom of three, and I feel like I’m failing. The smell of burnt hamburger fills the room, intensified by my baby’s sobs from the playmat on the floor. My shoulders rise; the tension is palpable. “I know, Nora, we’re past your naptime. I’m sorry,” I say, but her... Continue Reading →
After Dark // A Love Story
I walk into the half-lit room, a soft glow from one single bulb. The only sound I hear is my bare feet sliding across the hardwood floors. I hold my breath, not wanting to wake the kids. Inching closer, a familiar scent fills my nose. When was the last time we were alone? The house... Continue Reading →
The Best Kind of Surprise
“Do you know what you’re having?” My friend asked as she pushed her stroller along the path. Gripping my stroller, I looked over at her and said, “A girl.” “A girl?! Aren’t you so excited?” She exclaimed. Two years earlier, with my belly swelling, I sat eating cake at my baby shower. “Well, I think... Continue Reading →