The Ordinary Glory of Marriage
We were married 24 years ago today. It’s really hard to find words to convey the gratitude and wonder I feel, not only when I think about getting to be…
I’m Not the Mom for Prom…
Here are some things I’m good at as a mom: listening to our kids asking questions making sure they get enough sleep, as toddlers and as teenagers showing up for…
June Introductions
Hi! If you’re new around here, I’m Amy Julia (double name–I also go by AJ). This lovely little corner of the internet continues to grow, so I wanted to say…
Small Talk Is Available as an Audiobook
Are messy diapers, loads of laundry, and sleep deprivation part of your life right now? Nine years ago, Small Talk was published, and I just got to record it as…
Image courtesy of Canva Pro
What Would You Say to Your Teenage Self?
People ask me all the time what I would say to my teenage self. I was a hyper-driven achiever with a severe eating disorder that resulted in multiple hospitalizations and…
Seats That Money Can’t Buy at the Taylor Swift Concert
We ended up in seats that money can’t buy at the Taylor Swift concert last Saturday night. It started in March when we received two tickets at reasonable prices through…
I Want Our Kids to Accomplish Things, Not Achieve Them
I don’t want our kids to achieve much. I want them to accomplish a lot. At least, according to the way Adam Gopnik distinguishes accomplishment from achievement, this is what…
When We Talk for 20 Minutes
Here’s what happens on a sunny afternoon when I insist on Marilee taking twenty minutes to talk with me about her day. She tries on some dresses for upcoming events.…
Our Daughter Doesn’t “Just Happen” to Have Down Syndrome
I used to describe Penny as a girl with light brown hair and big green eyes, who loved reading and dancing. And then I would write something along the lines…
Photo courtesy of Canva Pro
Making Hard Decisions With Love, Not Fear
Every day brings with it little hard parenting decisions. And every day I’m not sure at all that I get them right. Recently, I’ve decided to let Marilee bring her…
