I am an assistant principal in a middle school (grades 6-8). When I have to search a student's cell phone, I often get sick to my stomach at what I find. It gets worse and worse every year.
When I first received the Down syndrome diagnosis for your brother, the first coherent thought I had was, “Poor him”, which quickly turned to “poor you.” I exited the present and started living in your futures.
"I was, admittedly, nervous that having a child might throw some of that off-kilter—that, perhaps, adding another human being in the mix might strain our connection and closeness. And you know what? It did."
"Listen, mamas — you can be both the momma who doesn’t want to blink, but who still freakin’ blinks because she needs those brief breaks from her empowering yet fatiguing journey as a life guide for her children."
"The next time you feel the urge to pinch an adorable baby’s cheek in the checkout lane, please think back to this article and admire from a distance. Mom’s everywhere will thank you.”
"My daughter is speechless and her eyes begin to glass over. I LOST MY MIND. I had a literal, physical reaction. I put my hand up and said 'STOP! She is 13'..."
It was that tense, harried persona that was the norm for a busy, chaotic life. My four-year-old had come up behind me quietly, and I didn’t even realize she was there until she spoke. “Just breathe, Mom.”
I never want to forget how to appreciate each moment for what it is, a passing morsel of time that tics away far too quickly, a moment that could fall away and be forgotten if I don’t take the time to look and lock it away.
