“Is this for the shower?” Emma asked.
I was going through my morning “get ready” routine while she and Devin waited patiently for me to take them to school.
“Yep,” I replied.
“What’s it do?” she asked.
“It takes your hair off,” I told her.  And causes chemical burns like a motherfucker, I thought.
“Ohhhhhhh,” she nodded, impressed with her [...]

Dear Devin,
You told me over dinner that Grandma has taken you to Chuck E. Cheese like a million times.
You lamented the fact that I have never taken you to Chuck E. Cheese’s since we’ve lived in Florida.
“Yes, well, Grandma is clearly a better parent than me,” I told you.
“Can I move in with Grandma then?” [...]

Dear Baby Boy,
I already know the name that your parents are going to call you.  I’m saying it in my head now as I think of you.  I’m hearing the way your mother says it, and wondering if I will ever be able to make it sound half as beautiful as she does when I [...]

My mom says it’s just a phase.
My jaw muscles say it feels like this phase has gone on forever.
My back teeth are being worn into nubs from the constant attempts to not. lose. my shit.

I’m pretty sure I’m the world’s worst mother.
I’m also pretty sure that the most annoying, frustrating, brain bleed inducing [...]

I have to be honest with you.
I’m really behind from the quick trip down to Miami and my head is… well… fucked, at the moment. A good friend has finally made the decision to accept hospice care, and it’s difficult not to think or write about everything through the murky film of that news.
It’s [...]