The MotherVerse Blog: mothering out loud

The other night, we had mushrooms for dinner, along with sausage. The mushrooms were delicious- marinated in vinegar with onions.
My daughter willingly ate the sausage, even the onions.
She stopped at the mushrooms, looking at them warily.
What’s the matter, I ask? I know you like mushrooms!
She gave me the most serious (and disgusted) look I have […]

We’re now in the 18th day of Ramadan. The moon has started to wane as we are approaching the end of the lunar month. Soon, Ramadan will come to an end; a bittersweet thing, and another year of waiting for it will ensue.
So far this year,  I haven’t had to cook in the kitchen so […]

Here’s a Be Heard! interview from Jenn Lawlor, Alaska.

We want to hear about your life as a mom…
Fill out an interview yourself and send it to be included on the blog!
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Your Name: Jenn Lawlor
Where you’re from: Sitka Alaska (Southeast Alaska)
Where you’ve been: Here and there
Kids? Blake (5) and Nate (1)
Significant other? Zach
What you’re thinking about: […]

Just as spring is the time for cherry blossom-viewing in Japan, autumn is the season for moon-viewing.  My daughter came home from school a couple of days ago wanting to make dango (rice balls) in anticipation of the full moon.  I had no idea how to make them, but Obaachan (her grandmother) was prepared.  In ten […]

My friend Angie and I were talking on the phone tonight about the pillaging of women’s bodies via childbirth.
“Did you know that the rate of c-sections is nearly thirty percent?” My friend Angie asked.
“I don’t doubt it,” I responded.
Both my babies were c-sections–one was emergency and the second one was planned. I have always mourned […]

I am weary tonight. Not just the usual tiredness but the deep in your bones weariness that consumes you like a fever. I know I don’t get enough sleep but mothers rarely do. My two darling angels fill my days as well as my nights.
“Night wean the two year old!” Well meaning friends advise me. […]

My son Bruno has strawberry blonde wispy hair like the color of a starfish. It spikes up and sticks out in different directions, like the arms of a starfish laid out on a sandy beach. When he goes to sleep at night in his crib, Bruno is on his back and his […]

One evening, a few weeks ago, my 8-year-old son was playing his toy flute.  My Japanese husband said, “If you play a flute at night, the ghosts will come.”
I rolled my eyes.  Just what the kid needs, when he’s afraid to go down the hallway to the bathroom by himself.  “There’s no such thing as ghosts,” I assured him.
Yesterday, […]

Now that his sister is off at college, my son is coming out of his shell. Rather, out from behind his sister’s shadow. My daughter was the classic oldest-child-over-achiever: great grades, good at sports, in all the plays, a ton of friends, hard worker, and dedicated volunteer (the list goes on and on.) While […]

Remember that post where I ranted and raved about the ‘experts’ and other people’s well-meaning advice? The one that was inspired by a fabulous book I was reviewing?

Well, there it is. I was so excited to review this book! It seemed at every turn, there was something that made me scream out: YES!…. Finally!…. Other […]