Dear Sarah, I love this essay. It really gave me a window into your experience as a parent during COVID, heartwrenchingly so. I can't stand it that your kids might never experience the world you did growing up. But I love your suggestions for entertaining hope--they helped old me, too. Much love to you.
Thanks Prajna! In some ways, even though I'm not rich in hope, I think the world they're growing up in is better. Is nostalgia just for its own sake? It's so hard to tell.
Wow, this one took my breath away. Sort of reminds me of Far From the Tree. Every generation has to reckon with the gap—progressive or apocalyptic—between parents and children. It makes the little ones most intimate to us feel like they live now and will forever in a strange land. So disorienting. So scary. Maybe so freeing?
Oh, God, I LOVED Nightbitch. I don’t know if love is even the word. I felt it inside my ribs. I loved how it explored the ferality of motherhood. The grossness, the rage, and also the freedom and wanting to rejoice in the animalness of your body and this relationship.
I appreciate your response! Now I’m working on replying to Courtney Martin’s “10 reflection questions for the end of your year” in her latest Newsletter from the Examined Family. I’m eager to read the answers that she invites, including yours!
Really loved this one. Keep writing keep writing. Please. Okay, a couple of things. First, I have always been a sucker for lemonade stands. Could never pass one by without getting a cup. Sometimes puckering sour. Some nauseatingly sweet. Sometimes the most perfect thing at the moment and everything seems right. Then there’s hope. The feeling these days that maybe we should lower our bar for hope is a feeling that has always been there I think. The world is never living up to what we feel it could be. But I say aim high. Whose to say what a quirk of fate might bring. Like a perfect glass of lemonade on a perfect day. Happy new year!
Well said! I just found out after posting this that my grandparents apparently met at a lemonade stand when they were kids. My great grandfather gave my grandfather a whole quarter instead of a nickel and he vowed to marry the wealthy daughter of this generous man.
Happy Holidays Sarah and all your devoted readers! Momspread is a miraculous source of ever flowing inspiration for this 83 year old grandfather.
My main hope is for peace! Since I was born, my country has been at war or preparing for it. When I implored us not to continue such conflict in 2001, the U.S persisted in making war on Afghanistan. As with the Vietnam war, it was senseless and after inflicting many thousands of causalities on innocent civilians, we lost. This was a catastrophe for all involved.
My earnest hope for our children and theirs is that we all strive to learn from these tragic conflicts and stop! Peace, Dennis Dalton (DD)
Thanks Dennis! Yes there are so many difficult things people live through and still remain hopeful, harder than what I'm experiencing for sure. Here's to peace!
Dear Sarah, I loved reading This. It’s also a “most entertaining and truthful way to learn about great parenting” Please tell Max that a proven prime spot for a lemonade stand is on the corner of Wendell and Oxford, just a stone’s throw from his Grandparent’s house. Zandy had a big sign that read “last chance to get a refreshing drink before Harvard or Porter Square.” It worked!
Hoping that 2022 lets in more light through the cracks, Xx, Betsy
I love your essays' quips that I chuckle at heartily while sneaking reads between child bedtime #1 and #2. You touch on such familiar lived experiences in various genres and incarnations of my own life - portraying them as edgy, hilarious, filled with irony, meaning, or ridiculous superficiality all at the right times. Yet I feel this essay is my favorite in it's poignant punch. You inspire me to lean into this grief for the world my children will not know. Thank you.
I heard this phrase early on in the pandemic, that I can't accurately source at the moment, that we are constantly "moving in and out grief" now and need to accept and allow for that. it's really helped me be compassionate to myself and others.
Dear Sarah, I love this essay. It really gave me a window into your experience as a parent during COVID, heartwrenchingly so. I can't stand it that your kids might never experience the world you did growing up. But I love your suggestions for entertaining hope--they helped old me, too. Much love to you.
Thanks Prajna! In some ways, even though I'm not rich in hope, I think the world they're growing up in is better. Is nostalgia just for its own sake? It's so hard to tell.
Wow, this one took my breath away. Sort of reminds me of Far From the Tree. Every generation has to reckon with the gap—progressive or apocalyptic—between parents and children. It makes the little ones most intimate to us feel like they live now and will forever in a strange land. So disorienting. So scary. Maybe so freeing?
yes i think in some ways this is an old story in a new world. maybe we need to consult the elders more on this one?
Oh, God, I LOVED Nightbitch. I don’t know if love is even the word. I felt it inside my ribs. I loved how it explored the ferality of motherhood. The grossness, the rage, and also the freedom and wanting to rejoice in the animalness of your body and this relationship.
Well said!
I appreciate your response! Now I’m working on replying to Courtney Martin’s “10 reflection questions for the end of your year” in her latest Newsletter from the Examined Family. I’m eager to read the answers that she invites, including yours!
Happy New Year! Peace, Dennis
Really loved this one. Keep writing keep writing. Please. Okay, a couple of things. First, I have always been a sucker for lemonade stands. Could never pass one by without getting a cup. Sometimes puckering sour. Some nauseatingly sweet. Sometimes the most perfect thing at the moment and everything seems right. Then there’s hope. The feeling these days that maybe we should lower our bar for hope is a feeling that has always been there I think. The world is never living up to what we feel it could be. But I say aim high. Whose to say what a quirk of fate might bring. Like a perfect glass of lemonade on a perfect day. Happy new year!
Well said! I just found out after posting this that my grandparents apparently met at a lemonade stand when they were kids. My great grandfather gave my grandfather a whole quarter instead of a nickel and he vowed to marry the wealthy daughter of this generous man.
This was absolutely beautiful. It's just that I really, REALLY hope that we don't live here now
haha yes. i do like some things about "here" though. but could do without others :)
Happy Holidays Sarah and all your devoted readers! Momspread is a miraculous source of ever flowing inspiration for this 83 year old grandfather.
My main hope is for peace! Since I was born, my country has been at war or preparing for it. When I implored us not to continue such conflict in 2001, the U.S persisted in making war on Afghanistan. As with the Vietnam war, it was senseless and after inflicting many thousands of causalities on innocent civilians, we lost. This was a catastrophe for all involved.
My earnest hope for our children and theirs is that we all strive to learn from these tragic conflicts and stop! Peace, Dennis Dalton (DD)
Thanks Dennis! Yes there are so many difficult things people live through and still remain hopeful, harder than what I'm experiencing for sure. Here's to peace!
Dear Sarah, I loved reading This. It’s also a “most entertaining and truthful way to learn about great parenting” Please tell Max that a proven prime spot for a lemonade stand is on the corner of Wendell and Oxford, just a stone’s throw from his Grandparent’s house. Zandy had a big sign that read “last chance to get a refreshing drink before Harvard or Porter Square.” It worked!
Hoping that 2022 lets in more light through the cracks, Xx, Betsy
I love your essays' quips that I chuckle at heartily while sneaking reads between child bedtime #1 and #2. You touch on such familiar lived experiences in various genres and incarnations of my own life - portraying them as edgy, hilarious, filled with irony, meaning, or ridiculous superficiality all at the right times. Yet I feel this essay is my favorite in it's poignant punch. You inspire me to lean into this grief for the world my children will not know. Thank you.
Thanks Jennifer! Grief is appropriate, especially at bedtime :)
I heard this phrase early on in the pandemic, that I can't accurately source at the moment, that we are constantly "moving in and out grief" now and need to accept and allow for that. it's really helped me be compassionate to myself and others.