Midlife Madness

The harder we try to impress people, the less impressed they are. I do not remember a time when I did not feel insecure about how others perceived me. When I was young, I was too shy and too quiet. When I got older, I was too independent and too impatient. As an adult, I am too opinionated and too loud. My expectations and standards are always too high. According to my mom I am too much like my dad. According to my dad, I am too much like the Hollands (my mom’s side of the fa

"...people’s intentions reflect their character, therefore we should not overlook them." A couple of years ago, I made a comment that my daughter took the wrong way and as such it hurt her feelings. When she told me what I said had hurt her and she felt it was insensitive, I apologized and said I did not intend to hurt her. I explained she misunderstood my comment, and that I would never intentionally say something rude or hurtful to her. In response to my apology, she said t

One of the biggest challenges I have faced as a mother is the feeling that I could not be honest with other mothers with my thoughts about parenthood. From the moment I first shared I was pregnant, I felt I had to fit into the mommy mold. “All” pregnant women love being pregnant, “it’s wonderful.” We “glow.” We must accept strangers touching us and commenting on our body shape and size. Childbirth and the pain, fear, exhaustion that accompany it are neatly swept under the car