Category Archives: motherhood

A new tattoo to illustrate the ineffable

Posted on April 12, 2020 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

“Wow, you had a tattoo before it was cool to have a tattoo,” said Mike, the guy planning my inking session said. He clarified, “Okay, tattoos are cool no matter what, but 20 years ago, there were only a couple … Continue reading →

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Where the children play

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

One of the joys of childhood is the freedom to swing high enough to touch the sky. I wonder, though, just how often kids are allowed this kind of freedom when I see articles about Helicopter parents who have traumatized … Continue reading →

Posted in children, experience, motherhood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Prom, 1984

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

In 1984, I was a senior in high school, and prom was looming on the horizon.  Yes, I was planning to go to college (at least until my mom suggested in frustration that I stay home, marry Terry, and have … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, experience, family, motherhood | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Whoa, there!

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Not to be redundant, but Gorilla Girl is amazing.  She has been interested in horses and riding them for a few years now, perhaps because two of her cousins ride, and has been astride a horse only a couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in children, family, motherhood, summer | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Monkey Girl: the super kid formerly known as Gorilla Girl

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

I must have known when I started writing here about Gorilla Girl that she was gifted with talents I could neither imagine nor predict. I’ve noted here her artistic flair, but have continued to stand in awe at her physical … Continue reading →

Posted in children, family, motherhood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Raiding the cookie jar in 2013

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

When we were kids, back in the stone age, we’d sneak cookies or whatever snacks we could find around the house.  I suppose all kids do this, and always will.  But there is a new twist to the desires of … Continue reading →

Posted in children, family, humor, motherhood | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Double chocolate and banana tart: putting the pieces back together

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

For once, I thought I’d easily conquered not only the tart dough on round one, but also the entire multi-step process without incident, aggravation, mistake, or calamity. Surprisingly, despite the fact that I had to make an appetizer and the … Continue reading →

Posted in children, family, food, mistakes, motherhood | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

“oh antic God” By Lucille Clifton

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

oh antic God return to me my mother in her thirties leaned across the front porch the huge pillow of her breasts pressing against the rail summoning me in for bed. I am almost the dead woman’s age times two. … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, family, loss, motherhood | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Building nests: nighttime comfort and belonging

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Monkey Man and Gorilla Girl have, for the last several months, even for the last couple of years, been traveling in the middle of the night from their beds to ours. We have developed several theories about why they insist … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, children, family, motherhood, night time rituals | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Why we must stop for death, dear Emily

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

My students are working on Civil War projects, and obviously, the subject of death has been part of the discussion.  The Civil War is ancient history to them, and even to me, Matthew Brady’s intense images of the dead on … Continue reading →

Posted in death, experience, family, loss, memory, motherhood, photography, rituals | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments