Author – The Durango Herald

When it comes to this life: ‘Each day, each hug is a gift’

After my last column detailing Col’s concussion, I received many kind emails. Thank you. One comment flew, express-delivery, straight to my heart: “These children we are guardians of are a g...

DATE: Oct 19, 2013 | CATEGORY: Adventures in Motherhood

There’s nothing in the world more important than our lives

It’s the sun’s last curtain call. The sky is pinking up. Rose sits on our swing, munching an 8-inch green bean. Chickens swirl like water around her feet, flowing into their coop for bedtime...

DATE: Oct 5, 2013 | CATEGORY: Adventures in Motherhood

A key to parenthood is learning the yoga of letting go

We’re at the river beach, the one we’ve trundled down to for six years, each summer the kids inexplicably one year older. I watch, bewildered, their long legs propelling them to the shore, a...

DATE: Sep 14, 2013 | CATEGORY: Adventures in Motherhood

Late-season trip to mountains: This life is all I ever wanted

Driving to the mountains to celebrate our wedding anniversary, wild mushrooms and late-season ripeness in the high country, Rose suggests putting on a record (the Luddite doesn’t fall far fr...

DATE: Aug 31, 2013 | CATEGORY: Adventures in Motherhood

Striving to work on freely, unconditionally loving summertime

Summer has been so good in that way you absolutely know it’ll be. Its tagline is freedom, and everyone feels it. I like watching the kids mill around the yard, circling their own...

DATE: Aug 17, 2013 | CATEGORY: Adventures in Motherhood

On river trip, going with the flow helps clear the mind

Way back in spring, we were invited on a San Juan River trip. And though we’re terrestrial types who don’t much aspire to leave the county, the multi-night river trip seems like a rite of pa...

DATE: Aug 3, 2013 | CATEGORY: Adventures in Motherhood

Simple trip to the high country shows power of family ties

Dan must have free reign over our Sunday if we’re switch-backing up a steep, rutted, cliffy gravel road at 8 a.m., bag of bakery goods sweating greasily in the front seat, truck pointed towa...

DATE: Jul 20, 2013 | CATEGORY: Adventures in Motherhood

When children’s games become an exploration in autonomy

In June, while Dan, Rose and I planted potatoes in our front yard, Col decided to build a fort in our cottonwood tree. He hauled up some random boards from our woodpile while Ros...

DATE: Jul 6, 2013 | CATEGORY: Adventures in Motherhood

Gender: Unraveling difference between truth, fiction

Rose has chosen the Disney book, Cinderella, from the library, the version in which Cinderella “always tries to please her stepsisters,” despite their verbal and psychological abuse. And eve...

DATE: Jun 15, 2013 | CATEGORY: Adventures in Motherhood

As kids grow older, camping is almost a leisure sport

It’s the same song I sing to myself every time we go camping: “It’s a lot of damn work, but soooo worth it,” as we schlep all our necessities from the car into our weekend home of pine needl...

DATE: Jun 1, 2013 | CATEGORY: Adventures in Motherhood

Birthday nears with realization that we’re going to be just fine

We’re at the kitchen table, eating breakfast. Rose’s face clouds with panic. “I forgot about the four squares of chocolate!” She clanks down her oatmeal spoon, zooms ...

DATE: May 18, 2013 | CATEGORY: Adventures in Motherhood

Why not love winter? It amplifies the joy of springtime

Theres a house finch singing outside our window, sounding like the very ambassador to spring. Sometimes she says, Holy holy spring, kneel down and kiss this earth. Other ti...

DATE: May 4, 2013 | CATEGORY: Adventures in Motherhood