Perspectives in Parenting

It sometimes happens very unexpectedly. You wake up, begin your normal morning routine, and then you feel it. A very slight, hardly noticeable, ever so subtle “something,” call it a feeling, in your stomach. It’s not a pain, just a small ache. It could appear after some long weeks of parenting or working or both … or long nights of waking up with an infant. Sometimes it is not even a feeling that is desired … but it is still there, present enough to, for a brief moment, take your thoughts away from the tasks of the day ahead. Then this thought or feeling, given the slightest opportunity to be entertained, makes itself more present, but still whispers to...

Growing up, I was taught that family comes first, always! It wasn’t until I had my own family that I knew what that truly meant. I never knew how to truly love a person so much until I had my own child, and yes I’m sure a lot of you parents know what I mean. You look at this human, and you realize this person you’re in charge of. You have to keep this human being alive somehow. Yeah I know that sounds kind of crazy, but it’s true. I went through so much as a child and until I moved out of my family home, I never knew what true love was until that crazy magical day happened. I...

A Single Mom in Law School’s Point of View: When I decided to go to law school, my first thought was how it would negatively affect my parenting, as I have a toddler. I would be in class three nights a week with loads more to do.  The experience has been quite the contrary. Law school is different from any other kind of degree program out there. It has, in its own way, made me an even better mom. After only one semester of law school, there is a lesson that has hit, or rather punched, me the hardest: If you enter a season where your plate will be full for an extended period of time, you must accept that you will...

  A Thanksgiving Like no Other November 24, 2011, we woke up to an ordinary Thanksgiving day. My sister and I each at our own homes busy packing and preparing food to bring to mom's house. The turkey breasts were roasting in my sister's oven and two trays of cornbread dressing sat in the back of my car ready to be baked at mom's. We assumed mom was also busy at home putting the final touches on her green bean casserole and infamous yellow cake with chocolate swirl. Little did we know this Thanksgiving would be one like no other.  As my family and I made the drive from Baton Rouge to Thibodaux, we learned mom was not answering the phone. I...

Dear Mama, I need you more than I ever thought I would at 41-years-old. I need you to tell me it’s going to be okay, even though you may not be so sure yourself how it’s going to end up. I need you to build me up and support me. I need you to tell me all those things you used to tell me about how strong I am, how special I am, and how smart I am. I need you to remind me where it is I come from. I miss being able to call you and dump all life’s problems on you, so that you could minimize them all by making me laugh so hard my stomach hurts. I...