Life has been an emotional roller coaster lately. For the past two months at least. One thing after another. Just when I think the chaos and conflict is over, it starts again. Just when I start to breathe, the choking feeling returns. My problems are no more important than anyone else’s. In fact, they’re nowhere […]
I completely shocked myself this morning. While I have become increasingly vocal in sobriety, my voice still lives mostly in my writing. Unless, of course, I’m barking orders at my family. Or presenting strategy to clients. In groups of other parents, I tend to sponge up what everyone is saying, bite my tongue if I […]
I’m going to put some ugly stuff on here tonight because it’s still fresh and sometimes I think I make my recovery look too pretty. It’s not. Just so you know. But it’s mine. Recovery can be such a roller coaster. Even as I approach 600 days (sometimes I have to count – just to […]
One day at a time. I say it often. I believe it. I trust it. But, just like a casual “I love you,” saying and writing “one day at a time” has simply become habit for me, a hashtag that definitely has meaning but isn’t necessarily meant every time it is used. I always mean […]
My baby girl is 10 years old today. My sobriety is 18 months strong today. A year ago, I started to think about how I will always share this special day with my daughter. Every year, as we celebrate another year of her life, I will quietly rejoice in another six months of sobriety. Every […]
Dear former lifeguard: I hope the high was worth it. Worth getting fired. Worth any embarrassment. I’m sorry if I got you fired. I assume I did. I’m sorry if I ruined your summer. But, I’ll never be sorry for stepping up and making sure someone sober stood watch over hundreds of beach goers whose […]
What a difference a year makes. Last year, on May 31, I was a hot mess. Kind of. Completely lost, looking for something that was supposed to be right in front of me but wasn’t. That day should have been my one year soberthday. But, I had relapsed almost seven months into my first long-term, […]
Two years ago, I could’ve easily dined on a wheel of Brie like it was a cookie and washed it down with a glass or two of Malbec. In fact, I did. More than once. I’m sure of it. I loved Brie. Alone. On crackers. Paired with French bread. Baked in a puff pastry with […]
In addition to the writing I do here on the blog, I am a contributor to the TODAY Show’s parenting community. The incredible editors issue regular “Challenges,” topics about which contributors are invited to write and share their experiences as parents. The most recent challenge was “Life Changes” focusing on how life changed when we […]