The girls still slept upstairs while I sat at the dining table, relishing a few minutes to read, think, and pray. I scrawled 2 Corinthians 4:10 in my journal, a significant verse for me in that season with a newborn: "We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of [...]
This phrase has steadied my mothering lately, a gentle reminder that nature isn’t providing much in this season (at least not overtly): We’re growing. When my littlest is set down from her high chair and fusses to be held, and I tell her she needs to go play for a few minutes while I finish [...]
It’s an unofficial house rule: my toddler is not allowed to touch the indoor plants. Several live on high enough surfaces to avoid curious hands. But the ficus tree in the family room continually tempts her to grip the edge of the pot, stir the dirt with one sticky finger. One afternoon, I peered over [...]
For months, Amelia would not nap longer than 45 minutes. I did my part: I watched the clock, studied her tired eyes and her number of yawns, darkened the room, established the routine, turned on the white noise. Still, most naps were short. I'm embarrassed by how much this irked me. I begged for the [...]
Dear Amelia, Happy first birthday, sweet love! It’s been a precious, soul-filling, challenging, emotional, reflective, and joyful year with you. Your dad and I prayed for you for a long time. There’s a reason we tell you that you’re a joy, a delight, and a dream come true. One day you’ll hear more about that. I’ve thought [...]
It is approximately 4pm.With Amelia on my hip, I rifle through the pantry to get a jump on dinner. The measuring spoon occupying her curious hands drops to the floor for the fifth time in three minutes. Breathe. I bend low and return it to her tiny palm.And while it seems so trivial, another part of me feels the significance of that decision to [...]
Maternity leave is a weird time to start something new (for obvious reasons). So is the month of December, with all her festivity and glow. But there comes a point when you realize that, actually, there is no good time, and if you don’t step into the thing now, you might not ever. – Amelia came [...]
Mallory R. Manning 