“Dad, you’re never home!” My son, Rhett, cries, burying his face in his hands. Then he throws himself on the kitchen floor. “You’re never here at dinner, and I just want to be with you!” I glance out the kitchen window, the sky is still dark, but there’s a hint of red on the horizon. … More Both Can Be True
“Let me quick take your picture,” I say, shuffling Nora up my hip while posing Allie on the bus steps. She smiles, her hands tucked nervously under her chin. My nose burns, but the tears don’t fall. My eyes catch the bus driver’s gaze—the skin around his eyes crinkles—how many moms has he waved to, … More All the Kindergarten Feelings
The knife slices through the potato, the sharp edge hitting the cutting board with each chop. Thwack. Thwack. It’s not quite noon, but I want the mashed potatoes made now, so all I have to do at 4 o’clock is pop the pan into the oven. Glancing at the meal planner for the week, I … More The Harvest Meals You Didn’t Ask For
For weeks, people on social media have been excited about spring. More light! Longer days! My cranky side thinks, Yay, more hours for my husband to be gone! My stomach turns in knots in the weeks leading up to the next busy season. I begin to feel anxious, knowing what’s to come. (And worried at … More Sometimes I’m an Idiot Sandwich
The school supply list has been printed off and sitting on my desk for the last month. I’ve been a little excited about getting to shop for two kids this fall for back-to-school. Partly because I felt like Allie would be excited to pick things out, while Rhett doesn’t seem to have any preferences. And … More A Little Bit Nervous
Recently, a fellow farm wife asked me, “Was marrying a farmer what you expected?” I thought back to the summer before my farmer and I were married. In the evening after work, I would drive out to the farm, park my car, and hop into the buddy seat of the combine. Butterflies popped up in … More Marrying a Farmer Isn’t What I Expected
Mediocre • / me·di·o·cre/ˌmēdēˈōkər/ adjective: mediocre 1. of only moderate quality; not very good. // Since I became a mom of three, most days, I would describe myself as mediocre. All the other moms in my life appear to have more patience; they do fun things and have kids that follow the rules. Last summer, … More On Baby Teeth, Rejections, and Mediocrity
Last week, I set my phone downand went for a walk.I put one foot in front of the other—the earth solid beneath my feet.The crunch of gravel rang through my ears,instead of the noise of strangers.The heaviness of the stroller under my palmspulled the weight of the world from my shoulders.The air was cool on … More Something I Came Back To