Fighting for Cricket

Brian pulled the schoolroom desk into the girls’ room and set up the computer as I tucked blankets around weak girls and filled water bottles. It didn’t take much tucking or settling. Both girls were feverish and lethargic, the misery of sickness already well established. Even so, it didn’t dampen their excitement that the evening […]

Trading “power rage” for peace

“NOOOOOO. Not again!! Please???” Muffled grunts and a loud, “MOMMYYYY!!! NO POWERRRRR!!!!” The day my child raged at the fan was an eye-opener. Later she told Grammy she loves the outside of our new house, but the inside is “funky.” I’m sorry… what??? Funky?!? What is funky about the house we poured so much energy, […]

The day Rey chose Ray

The bright red numbers on the clock didn’t lie and the deep stillness that accompanies the minutes between night and morning, unsure which they want to be, all told me it was much too early to get up. It was going to be a long day and I should sleep. I rolled over sure I […]

Illicit haircuts

I could see Ray sliding by out of the corner of my eye. That she was guilty of something was clear as day. What exactly, I was less sure of. We were in the middle of quiet time and I couldn’t imagine what she was trying to keep from me. She crab-walked towards the kitchenette, […]