Steam shoots into the air as the ball of noodles hits the boiling water. My daughter’s eyes dance, following the cook as he performs his choreography, accompanied by a cacophony of hisses, sizzles, and splatters. He is an artist; a simple white bowl awaits his creation. I stare at my own masterpiece, savoring the strokes of blue in her eyes. A stranger once said to me, … Continue reading Noodles
It’s not rational to believe that the omission of her name on an envelope is a true attempt at erasure. And yet, it is hard not to feel its prick, hard not to know that there are parts of her that have slowly evaporated…goals and dreams that have disappeared, parts of her identity that have been shuffled around and set aside. Sometimes it seems like a name is all that remains, and she must hold to it until her knuckles are white; she must cling to the snippets that remain of the person she was. Continue reading Endangered Species
I keep my sunglasses on when we enter the building. To remove them would reveal my red, swollen eyes to the world, and I don’t have the energy to fend off empathetic looks or questions. Not today. It’s my daughter’s fifth birthday, and we’ve brought treats for her class: 14 little hedgehog cupcakes. My daughter leads us down the basement hallway; she’s nearly running in … Continue reading Sunshower
The face of a wristwatch stares at me from its case, frozen at 8:15 a.m. Tattered backpacks, left behind by children on their way to school, wait for their owners to claim them from this post-apocalyptic lost-and-found. A tricycle, now rusted, joints stricken with gout, spent 40 years underground before it was resurrected for exhibition. It belonged to a boy named Shin, and grief gnaws … Continue reading Origami of the Heart
I am naked in a room full of strangers. I glance around the room, careful not to let my gaze linger for too long in any one place. I spot several open showers at the far end of the room, and I carefully walk over and perch on one of the stools. I set down my white washcloth, not sure if I am supposed to … Continue reading To Rise Like the Waters
This year at home with mom might be a little blip on the timelines of my kids’ lives, but the bonus time with them has been an unexpected blessing (and challenging time of refinement) for me. Continue reading Last Day of School
We heard the footsteps before we saw her come flying down the stairs. “What is it, sweetheart, what’s wrong?” I asked. It was not normal for our oldest to be out of bed. She jutted out her jaw and responded without closing her mouth fully to form the words. “I was wiggling my tooth and tasted blood in my mouth,” she said, making her way … Continue reading Milk Teeth
10. Anything, as long as it’s completely different from what their sibling received. That way, they can compare and claim “it’s not fair!” that someone else got a better gift. 9. Stickers. Lots and lots of stickers. It’s the gift that keeps giving as you find them stuck to your carpet year-round. 8. Something expensive that is bound to get colored on with permanent marker, … Continue reading Top Ten Gift Ideas for Kids
No forks. No spoons. Just hands. These are the rules of Goop Night. When my husband was in medical school, one of his classmates told us how his family had regular “Goop Nights” on which they ate dinner completely with their hands – no utensils allowed. My husband and I have joked about instituting our own version of Goop Night since having kids, but we … Continue reading Goop Night
10. You’ve never liked to craft, but a thoughtful relative sent you a link to a project they thought you might enjoy doing alone with your kids. 9. You have a rainy day fund that you’d love to devote to a bunch of craft supplies that will end up in the trash. 8. Home décor that relies heavily on toilet paper tube sculptures is something … Continue reading Top Ten Reasons to Craft with Your Kids
Melissa Kutsche 