::I posted this on social media but I think it belongs here as well.:: When I am asked about the repercussions of having a baby from this particular body — if I am aware that I might be dooming my child to a life like mine, this is how I respond: First, this is the…

Today I took my daughter out into the garden. She loves smelling the mint. We saw a black tailed swallowtail lay an egg on our lemon tree. I immediately retrieved it and put it in a mason jar with one of my daughter’s dresses as a lid. You guys are prolly on a yacht. But…

Elro was a moth and I was a host plant, which feels right on the money because my body is still not recovered from the pregnancy. I’m explaining this not to complain, but because I didn’t know you could have problems 6 months after you give birth — so if you’re in the same boat?…

  Four roses drinking from a blue vase. The first one I name Moment of Gladness, the second, Wresting Beauty from Fear. All year I watched my beloved disappearing, the sweet fat of her hips, her laughter, her will, as though a whelk had drilled through her shell, sucked out the flesh. Death woke me…

Barbie does a lot of great work in the world. You may know her as a flight attendant or a ballet dancer — but I have a better Barbie to introduce you to. This one is actually CHANGING LIVES by being exactly who she is. Bipolar Barbie, or @the_bipolar_barbie on Instagram, was kind enough to…

I just flew from San Diego to Boston, then from Boston back to San Diego, with a 5 month old, and lived to tell about it. Here are some tips: Dress your baby up really cute. This way even if/when your baby cries, people will think, “Gah, that’s annoying…but that baby IS adorable.”   2.…

Holy, holy   I was never looking for a personal g-d not even in my poor and spiky childhood. I was always looking for the experience the knowledge, the sensation of holiness.   Something beyond my self.  Not lightning or the whirlwind but powerful and still at once.  I thought of strong light. I thought…

I was 5 months pregnant and agonizing over the decision to breast feed or bottlefeed. A poster on my doctor’s wall stated that if you breast fed your baby, she would be smarter than a bottlefed baby. I was scared that if I didn’t breast feed my baby she would inherit my mother’s asthma. But!…

I’m not capable of a lot of things, but if there is some sort of end of the world type situation and we have to all pile into the car and drive-drive-drive to some sort of safety? I nominate myself as driver. I don’t have to sleep. I will just turn on the engine and…

::This is a poem written by one of my absolute favorite (strong, independent, wildly talented and unrelentingly lovely) women in the entire world. Lisa! Albright! Ratnavira! It’s called “I love women…” and this is the poem we need right now in this crazy ass world.:: I love women…. I love women who write letters in…