Minnesota Mom

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Where were you?

by Filed Under: Cultural Commentary, Current Affairs, Minnesota Me 19 Comments

Has it really been eight years? I remember September 11, 2001 as if it were……well, as if it were the horribly inauspicious day that it was.The morning dawned bright and sunny here in Minnesota. I went for a walk while the rest of my family slept, and brought home a caterpillar to show the children. Its fuzzy little body was cradled carefully in my … [Read more...]

Photography by Jem

by Filed Under: Jem, Minnesota Me, Our Children's Gifts 9 Comments

Sounds like a studio, doesn’t it?My 10-year-old son has definitely taken a turn for the artistic, and I love that he loves taking photos because he will often run to get the camera when the “main” photographer is otherwise preoccupied.He’s gotten some great shots of Anthony that way.Many great shots of Anthony.Many, many great shots of Anthony.A … [Read more...]

Where There’s Smoke…

by Filed Under: Hearth & Home, Keeping It Real, Minnesota Me, Motherhood 11 Comments

We’ve been putting out some fires lately, in ways many and diverse.Take our most recent family meal as an example.Dinner was fairly late last night—around 8:00 p.m., I guess. (We strive to be like the Europeans in this house.) I was as busy as a mother always is this time of day—passing the fussy baby from sibling to sibling and trying desperately … [Read more...]

The First Meet*

by Filed Under: Growing Up, Joe, Minnesota Me, Motherhood 15 Comments

The photo is blurry because the photographer was crying.And that’s what an emotional sap I’ve been.Where are you going, my little one, little one?Where are you going, my baby, my own?Turn around and you’re twoTurn around and you’re fourTurn around and you’re a young [boy]Going out the door.Nanci Griffith (“Turn Around”)How come no one told me that … [Read more...]

Even More Refrigerator Wisdom

by Filed Under: Hearth & Home, Joe, Minnesota Me, The New School 30 Comments

How do moms with multiple kids at multiple schools do it? I’ll tell you, the past week has been crazy, what with car pools and early morning risings and after school practices and oh! Did I mention that Joe has his first cross-country meet this afternoon?At least his sports are getting me outside.Consequently, whatever “schedule” I might have had … [Read more...]

Refrigerator Wisdom

by Filed Under: Growing Up, Minnesota Me, Parenting Leave a Comment

Question: Why Do They Do the Things that They Do?Answer: Because They’re KidsI have a magnet on my fridge—several, actually—and I imagine you do, too. They come and go and get dinged up...Such is the humble lot of a refrigerator magnet.One of my magnets, though, I have hung onto for years. I like its message very much, and I think that you will, … [Read more...]

Service

by Filed Under: Current Affairs, Minnesohta, Minnesota Me, My Boys 15 Comments

~ For Michelle ~ Yesterday we spent part of the afternoon on a service project for Boy Scouts.I have to say, it was probably my favorite one so far.Have you ever ordered popcorn from a local Scout? Have you ever checked the box to donate popcorn to a soldier? We handed (some of) those boxes out yesterday!One small handful of local Scouts.And around … [Read more...]