Mapping Each Season
or pretending you have a handle on the freight train called Spring
Hello Friends,
The other morning while walking into school, I was commiserating with another mom about the laundry list of to-do’s and responsibilities we had in the day ahead. She smiled and said, “I’m looking forward to Spring Break.”
Peyton piped up in the way kids do when you think they aren’t listening, but really they are hanging on every word. She said, “I can’t wait for Summer Break!” I told her she had a few months to go.
The other mom said summer would be here before we know it. She said, “The rest of the year will just tumble down.” I felt a little panicked at the thought, especially since I just put my New Year's cards in the mail yesterday!
Later, I read this about planning ahead to remain present.
This season is busy and filled with so many reasons to be excited. I'm working on my book. Both kids are finishing up one sport and starting another; I'm going to Arizona next weekend with my brother. We are planning a trip to Northern California for Spring Break, and in April, we are going to Disneyland.
Oh, and we are remodeling our entire house! More on that another time.
I fear I will be so stressed trying to get everything done that I will miss all the fun. This weekend, I will set aside some time to map out this next season of life with intention. I'll let you know how it goes.
This is where I am today. Thank you for listening.
xoxo
Emily
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On the Blog & Elsewhere
Cringe-Worthy Thoughts at 4 am
Remember that one time you were awkward, and you tried to laugh it off, but it made it worse, so you just kind of slinked away wishing you had an invisibility cloak or whatever Jim Carry had in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to go inside a person’s brain and pluck out any memory you ever existed? (read the full post)
Read This Week
BIG reading and listening week this week!
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
I enjoyed this book. It has many things I love: mother-daughter conflict, trauma, impossible choices, and missed opportunities. It is a sweeping family saga with dual timelines, WWII Russia and the contemporary Pacific Northwest.
Ultimately, this is a story of women who wanted to do things/ say things/ be things but don't (more)
I'm working my way through some of the recently banned books. All I can say is it should be a crime to restrict access to a work of art like this.
I will be thinking about this book for the rest of my life. Like the title says, the book is heavy in the subject matter. Laymon chronicles his experience with violence, sexual assault, racism, gambling addiction, and disordered eating. The story is compelling enough on its own, but the writing takes it to a different dimension. (more)
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
This book was so much fun!
When Thea kicks her husband, Gavin, a professional baseball player, out of the house, he turns to his buddies for help to win her back. They bring him into their secrete book club, where a group of men reads romance novels to understand their partners better. (more)
Links to Ponder
Eight books to better understand what's happening in Ukraine (USA Today)
Big brothers are the best (Goodnews Movement)
Say what you will about The Governator; this conversation with Arnold Schwarzenegger was fascinating. (The Tim Farriss Show)
Love this joyous episode of Op-Docs about the women of Mardi Gras (New York Times)
Five audiobooks I can't wait to listen to. Especially Hayley Mills. So many of my childhood memories are tied up with her movies. (Lit Hub)
I love it when a short piece of prose ends with a punch to the gut (River Teeth)
A sweet story about acceptance and a mother's love (Literary Mama)
My favorite debunking podcaster Michael Hobbs made a video about cancel culture. If you want more of his deep reporting, check out this one about The Chicks vs. The Iraq War or this one about the Girl Wash Your Face Lady (Michael Hobbs YouTube)
I'm working on a book about processing the loss of my son while running every street in my city during a global pandemic. The thing I'm struggling the most to write about is running. This essay about writing and running, and knitting helped. (Lit Hub)
What if you took your diary from the last decade and put the sentences in alphabetical order? You might get something as interesting as this. (New York Times)
What are you reading or listening to this week? What have you created that wasn't there before? Post your response in the comments below or tag me on Instagram @emilykathleenwrites