TIME Healthland: Mother, Protector

Monthly Archives: August 2012

TIME Healthland: Mother, Protector

August 31, 2012 – 11:57 pm

I’m thrilled to share that TIME is going to occasionally feature some of my essays in the Healthland section of its website. My first one was posted today and you can read it here. Check it out! “Writing is both mask and unveiling.” —E.B. White

By kara | Posted in All | Tagged mothering, parenthood, protect, softball, Sophie, storm, time, tornado | Comments (3)

On Necklaces and Blacklisting

August 31, 2012 – 12:56 am

My mother-in-law, Jill, makes beautiful jewelry. During a recent visit to Jill’s house (more on that later), Jill helped Sophie make a lovely necklace. As such, Sophie has been on a necklace-making kick lately. Her creations have included scrap fabric and paper, seashells and twine, and plastic pop-beads. She’s always thrilled with her results and […]

By kara | Posted in All | Tagged andy, cell phone, Grandma, James, lost, necklace, parenting, Sophie | Comments (1)

On This Sort-of Rainy Afternoon,

August 27, 2012 – 2:57 pm

while the boys nap, Sophie is spinning around and around and around. I’m counting the number of times she can spin (38 is the number to beat right now) until she falls down, drunk on dizziness. We really need preschool to start. “If there were no schools to take the children away from home part […]

By kara | Posted in All | Tagged boredom, parenting, preschool, rain, Sophie | Comments (1)

Summer Happiness

August 24, 2012 – 11:30 pm

dinner alfresco Sophie solo kite flying for the first time apple picking throwing bad apples in the cornfield teaching the art of swinging a baseball bat James to Pop Pop: “Hat, please.” He wore it for the entire game. “Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well.” —George R.R. Martin

By kara | Posted in All | Tagged apples, baseball, dinner, family, kite, Nini, Pop Pop, summer | Comments (0)

The Sentences I Hear Myself Say

August 24, 2012 – 10:05 pm

I recently heard myself say the following five sentences, in this order, with nothing else between, in a time span of about two minutes. “Sophie, don’t do pirouettes on the stairs.” “James, no, you can’t wear Sophie’s winter boots outside.” “Slow down, Tucker! You’re going to knock the kids down!” “Sophie, please go put pants […]

By kara | Posted in All | Tagged James, parenthood, Sophie, tucker | Comments (1)

Closed (Because of Us)

August 19, 2012 – 4:05 pm

Andy left for Gen Con with friends Wednesday night. He’s due back in an hour or so. I’m ready for him to come back. The kids woke up at 6:30 this morning. By 10am we needed to get out of the house. The weather’s beautiful today, so we went to the park. Not yet ready […]

By kara | Posted in All | Tagged accident, crestview, dillard's, escalator, James, Owen, parenting, Sophie, worry | Comments (3)

A Summer Day With Family At My Grandma’s House

August 19, 2012 – 2:55 pm

Our visit with extended family continued the next day, at my grandma’s house. The children drew pictures on the patio with chalk. My mom gave Emilie and Wendy each a handmade lap quilt, which you can read about here. The children ran through the “sprinkler” (ie the garden hose). There was porch fun and … […]

By kara | Posted in All | Tagged chalk, family, great grandma mangan, Nini, quilt, sprinkler, summer | Comments (0)

A Summer Day With Family At My Parents’ House

August 10, 2012 – 11:21 pm

Earlier this summer my cousins Emilie and Wendy, and Wendy’s children Makenna and Mavvie, visited Ohio from their hometown in Kansas. We see them so rarely—their visit was a treat. And we spent a wonderful summer afternoon at my parents’ house. Sophie, Makenna and James jumping on Nini and Pop Pop’s bed Mavvie, James, Sophie, […]

By kara | Posted in All | Tagged baruth, family, great grandma, home, mangan, Nini, Pop Pop, summer | Comments (1)

Welcome, Emma Louise Den Herder!

August 8, 2012 – 11:40 pm

Our friends Christine and Mark welcomed beautiful baby Emma into the world May 23. Christine is a wonderful mom. I know these first few months probably weren’t always easy but every time I’ve seen her she’s seemed so relaxed, laid-back and super-active with her son Connor. She inspires me. “Every child begins the world again […]

By kara | Posted in All | Tagged baby, friends, welcome | Comments (0)

Welcome, Alice Lillian Turner!

August 8, 2012 – 11:11 pm

Our friends Alan and Melissa welcomed their beautiful baby Alice into this world March 15 at 2:55 pm. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz and was 20.5 inches long. At John and Corie’s wedding, we finally got to meet Alice—and spent much of the next day visiting her. Alice Matt and Quinn friends Sophie and […]