The MotherVerse Blog: mothering out loud

Family meals are important to me. When our blended family first blended, I wondered how long it I’d have to wait to enjoy family meals again. Children complained about the food, asked questions about future meals and commented about meals they’d rather be eating. I was surprised at how gathering around a table could create […]

I always worked hard to make our home a safe haven for the family members in the rat race of life. I wanted my kids to feel “at home” and safe when they crossed the threshold of our home. I felt successful at this goal in my first marriage.
I have the same goal for our […]

Is there such a thing as a good divorce?
There are several book titles with both the words “good” and “divorce” printed on the glossy book jackets.
When I began telling people that my first husband and I were separated and planned on getting a divorce, most of my friends and family didn’t think it was “good”.
A […]

I’d like to pin a badge to my shirt that reads, “I rode in the passenger seat with two 15 year old drivers today”. My son and my step-daughter both got their learner’s permits from the state Division of Motor Vehicles during the past two weeks. Today I was blessed with the courageous task of […]

“You’re not finished cleaning your room,” I stared at my twelve year-old daughter sitting on her step-sister’s bed.
That was yesterday so I can’t recall exactly what was said next, but it was all delivered in cranky tones from both of us. Sixty seconds later, she brushed past me, uttered something in a huffy tone about […]

I’m celebrating one of those uncomfortable anniversaries. My mother died on March 2. Some years I’ve been so involved with my family that I didn’t recognize the anniversary. As I grew older and developed more self-awareness, I would notice a few days after the anniversary. My conscious awareness usually followed a subconscious awareness. I would […]

Shaken, not stirred? Tossed lightly? What best blends a blended family? Often it feels like those days when I don’t have a dinner plan. I gather odd items from the cupboards and throw a meal together. It has the essentials of a meal, but not in any combination I’ve ever served before.
I embarked on the […]