He’s a little Napoleon. He belts out orders, negotiates with authority figures like parents and teachers, and wields his voice like a sword. He craves control (just like his mama). He came out of the womb feisty, and I rejoiced. He has a physical issue, a thing that could slow him down. In hospitals, they…

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The ottoman was covered with playing cards as the boy and the girl sat across from each other on the floor, giggling. The youngest bounced on the couch, watching, interjecting, and sneaking cards out of the pile. “Oh man! You got my king!” she lamented. “Wait a minute. I’m going to swap that card. Here,…

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We crowded around the foot of the tree, all giggles and energy, as our group leader climbed up to a platform at least three feet above our heads. “Catch me” she said and turned around to face the tree. Really? We are supposed to catch a falling adult?  I watched everyone else with their arms…

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I waddled across the gritty downtown street, simultaneously pushing my daughter’s wheelchair and leaning on it for support for my aching back and baby-heavy belly. My husband carried her backpack and held our son’s hand. We cut across a parking lot, angling towards our van, parked in one of the few handicapped spaces available downtown.…

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I’ve participated in The Gypsy Mama’s Friday writing prompt “Five Minute Fridays” numerous times over the past year. She gives a prompt and then we write, unedited, for five minutes. Then publish it. This post, on the prompt “deep breath,” is my favorite. P.S. I made a hilarious error writing it so fast. Can you…

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Today is Five-Minute Friday, hosted by The Gypsy Mama. She gives a writing prompt and we just write, no editing, for five minutes. Then post. This week the prompt was “Grow.” *** She was so small. The laws said that a baby can’t face forward in a car-seat until they weigh 20 pounds, and most…

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