So much good stuff here—saving til naptime. Thanks for sharing my piece on where I’m at w feminism! I also loved Sarah’s thoughts on the village! That’s a conversation I’d like to expand for sure.
The quote from Mary Oliver made me weep a bit. It’s going into my next art journal page.
I’m a 67 year old mother of two adults. Neither are married or have children. I appreciate you articulating why children are making these decisions. I especially appreciate the statement that it is difficult to articulate what joy is like. Much to ponder.
Loved this line, especially - "Joy is also all about the universal - there is something of the individual that is lost in true Happiness." Would love to read that essay when it's done steeping.
Thank you Fran! I really appreciated your thoughts - they resonated a lot as I've always tried to mostly be *just a person in an authentic relationship* with my children, but the marketing campaigns would have otherwise. Important conversations to be had.
"In the greatest and most profound moments of life we are bound to lose our identities to grander and older titles, even archetypal ones, - Lover, Wife, Mother, Friend." This stopped me in my tracks, as it resonates with something that has been swirling in my thoughts. I've been reading Catherine Pakaluk's book "Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth" and so thinking about the reasons I have chosen to have more children than most women do, and when I read your lines, I realized that one of the main reasons is that I wanted to enter more fully into these archetypes. I lost my mother when I was young and I have longed since then to have a mother in the family. I'm hoping to restore that to my nuclear and extended family for the next generations.
Thank you so much Dixie. I think maybe I share that desire with you - with an often absent mother (and now truly so, having died a decade ago) I wonder how much comfort I am actually giving *myself* in becoming the mother I hoped for? Well, move aside Dr. Freud, lots there. But really I think there is something beautiful in losing ourselves a bit in the eternality of these archetypes that mean so much to as on very primal, foundational levels as human beings.
Oooo lots of goodness here. I just submitted a draft review of Family Unfriendly as well, so your thoughts relate to what I’ve been thinking intensely about the last few days. :’)
(Also, hearing Paul Kingsnorth speak last fall here in Wisconsin was such a fun experience. At one point during another session, his family sat directly in front of my husband and I. His son was legitimately reading a sci-fi novel during most of the talk, and even part of his dad's which amused me to no end. Kinda cool to be reminded that he and two kids and wife are just..... real people. Niche "celebrity sighting" I know. lol)
Thank you for including me in this beautiful and uplifting Easter post, Katie! But really all credit must be given to Susannah Darwin for being such an inspiration. I love all your suggestions here and the beautiful photographs too.
What a fabulous coffee break this made! Reminded me of the poem:
At lunchtime I bought a huge orange—
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave—
They got quarters and I had a half.
And that orange, it made me so happy,
As ordinary things often do
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park.
This is peace and contentment. It’s new.
The rest of the day was quite easy.
I did all the jobs on my list
And enjoyed them and had some time over.
I love you. I’m glad I exist.
— Wendy Cope
I love this so much Brooklyn! Thank you for sharing! This captures it all perfectly.
Amazing!
From beginning to end, I found myself smiling and thinking “Yes! She nailed it!” Fantastic read and recommendations!
Thank you Jeanine!
So much good stuff here—saving til naptime. Thanks for sharing my piece on where I’m at w feminism! I also loved Sarah’s thoughts on the village! That’s a conversation I’d like to expand for sure.
I related to so much of what you wrote, Amber - and Abigail Favale's book was a key part of my own shift in thinking as well.
The quote from Mary Oliver made me weep a bit. It’s going into my next art journal page.
I’m a 67 year old mother of two adults. Neither are married or have children. I appreciate you articulating why children are making these decisions. I especially appreciate the statement that it is difficult to articulate what joy is like. Much to ponder.
I'm so glad this gave you so much to ponder, Mary. Thank you so much for reading!
Thank you for sharing! That’s so kind of you! ♥️
Where’s the Pope BXVI quote on joy from? Need to read more!
It's from Salt of the Earth: The Church at the End of the Millennium- I always need more Pope Benedict!
Loved this line, especially - "Joy is also all about the universal - there is something of the individual that is lost in true Happiness." Would love to read that essay when it's done steeping.
Thank you so much Mary!
Thanks for the mention!! Really enjoyed this entire piece.
Thank you Fran! I really appreciated your thoughts - they resonated a lot as I've always tried to mostly be *just a person in an authentic relationship* with my children, but the marketing campaigns would have otherwise. Important conversations to be had.
Thanks for the shoutout re: my article about Oppenheimer's composer!
Really appreciate all your writing about Katherine - it's important!
"In the greatest and most profound moments of life we are bound to lose our identities to grander and older titles, even archetypal ones, - Lover, Wife, Mother, Friend." This stopped me in my tracks, as it resonates with something that has been swirling in my thoughts. I've been reading Catherine Pakaluk's book "Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth" and so thinking about the reasons I have chosen to have more children than most women do, and when I read your lines, I realized that one of the main reasons is that I wanted to enter more fully into these archetypes. I lost my mother when I was young and I have longed since then to have a mother in the family. I'm hoping to restore that to my nuclear and extended family for the next generations.
Thanks for sharing my review!
Thank you so much Dixie. I think maybe I share that desire with you - with an often absent mother (and now truly so, having died a decade ago) I wonder how much comfort I am actually giving *myself* in becoming the mother I hoped for? Well, move aside Dr. Freud, lots there. But really I think there is something beautiful in losing ourselves a bit in the eternality of these archetypes that mean so much to as on very primal, foundational levels as human beings.
My oldest turns five at the beginning of April! The coming of spring has been more poetic and rich ever since she was born.
Happy near birthday to your daughter Krista! It's a beautiful season for a birthday :) I couldn't agree more.
Oooo lots of goodness here. I just submitted a draft review of Family Unfriendly as well, so your thoughts relate to what I’ve been thinking intensely about the last few days. :’)
(Also, hearing Paul Kingsnorth speak last fall here in Wisconsin was such a fun experience. At one point during another session, his family sat directly in front of my husband and I. His son was legitimately reading a sci-fi novel during most of the talk, and even part of his dad's which amused me to no end. Kinda cool to be reminded that he and two kids and wife are just..... real people. Niche "celebrity sighting" I know. lol)
I love that Haley! I just listened to his interview that came out today on Bari Weiss' Honestly podcast. Truly such a fascinating person.
I'm looking forward to reading your review PS!
Hi, Katie! I know this comment is a little late, but I think my LOTR creative type is Treebeard.
Thank you for including me in this beautiful and uplifting Easter post, Katie! But really all credit must be given to Susannah Darwin for being such an inspiration. I love all your suggestions here and the beautiful photographs too.
Absolutely, Sarah - you have me a lot to think about!