At thirty-four, I'm officially off my timeline for motherhood. Here's what I learned about grief, biological clocks, and the difference between being broken and being a woman.
Family
The Birthday I Realized I Was Living in Two Columns
At almost thirty-four, I'm straddling two lives: one where Charming chooses me and I leave Hampton, one where he doesn't and I stay. Here's why that compromise is slowly killing me.
Foster Care, Teenage Rebellion, and the Prayer That Changes Everything
Watching my future sister-in-law's foster daughter at a Wizards game, I saw myself—the rebellious teen who once told her mother "I hate you." What if the common thread that heals all wounds starts on our knees?
When Reality Refuses to Follow the Script You Wrote at Twelve
My imagination gets me in trouble—always has. Snow days with Mom watching Anne of Green Gables taught me to expect magic. But first dances come with mohawks, not dance cards. Now I'm learning that unscripted moments with Charming and Super Mario might be richer than any story I could have imagined.
Introducing Charming to the People Who Loved Me When I Was Dead Inside
Joanie and Bob met me when I was a fallen woman hiding in my childhood bed after divorce. They loved me anyway. This Christmas, they finally met Charming—and emailed that he's 'handsome, delightful, and perfect' for the restored woman they always knew I'd become.
The Ring Bearer Pillow I Can’t Throw Away
My aunt embroidered butterflies and my wedding date into a pillow for my failed marriage. Years later, at another wedding, I understood why I still keep it—scars and all.
Twin Birthday Cakes and Tiny Carrots: What My Garden Taught Me About Raising Humans
My niece's eyes lit up when I pulled a carrot from the soil like magic. As I frosted two different cakes for two different girls, I realized: we know what we're planting in gardens, but children? They come without labels.
What My Italian Grandfather’s Garden Taught Me About Love
Grandpa Rubbo grew tomatoes with the same devotion he brought to Sunday dinner prayers. Here's what I learned about family, food, and the legacy of love when I planted my first vegetable garden.
When Charming Met My Family: Finding Joy After Years of Empty Chairs
For years there was an empty chair at family dinners where my partner should have been. Then Charming came home with me for Mom's 65th birthday, and everything felt complete.
Making a Home for One: How Friends Helped Me Build My Love Bungalow
Preparing my backyard for my nieces' first birthday party, I realized I'd made a house into a home for one. Then I discovered what really makes a house a home—it's not the furniture, it's the love.
Writer's Growth 