Writing, Parenting, and Working in the Mess: Authentic Spirituality and Social Justice

Tonight S and I saw the most recent Shrek movie. I don’t remember if I’ve seen any of the other Shrek movies--but I decided to suggest the outing because I’d spent all day in the garden, and it was starting to look gloomy outside for the first time since morning, and I was tired and craving an opportunity to turn off my brain and sit still. Also, all day long S and I had been bickering about little things, and while we hadn’t blown up, I knew that might happen if we either avoided each other or tried to talk. Watching a movie together, while not exactly bonding, was a good middle ground. I can’t believe I’m going to say this, especially since I’m critical of the movie industry and how much money is spent creating movie after movie with the same basic plot line and more and more special effects (though at least I see my movies at a small town co-op theater, which makes me feel a little better about seeing silly movies), but I felt 100% better after seeing the movie. Don’t read any furt...

Last weekend was a crazy, whirlwind weekend. My first cousin/aunt C, whom S considers her “yiayia” or grandma (because she raised me and was a mother figure to me) was visiting. The weather shifted from 40s and rainy to 70s and sunny, and graduation was outside, as it ought to be, and included a good old-fashioned protest against the graduation speaker (our university system’s president, who after three years of lobbying has yet to ensure that clothes with our college’s logo are made somewhere other than sweat shops). It was a beautiful day in every way. Afterwards, S’s college buddy K, her fiancé, and their families came over, and we drank homemade rhubarb wine (made by K’s parents) and awkwardly tried to find a way to say goodbye. Then other graduates and students descended on our house, and the party went on. Finally, late at night, after everyone was gone, K returned after cleaning out her horse’s stall, weeping, and we sobbed together and talked about how much we’d miss her. Poor...

I'm still here--just incredibly busy. But some beautiful things have happened recently, so I'm just going to list them. 1. S hasn't figured out how to stop doing impulsive or violent things, but she does seem to be better at apologizing soon afterward. 2. S finished her research paper today, which was due months ago and was one of a handful of assignments that threaten her completion of 10th grade. I think the other ones will also get done. 3. I started writing again, finding a way to revisit a project I'd started five years ago, thanks to the encouragement of a writer who visited our campus. 4. S's college buddy K and her fiance asked me to marry them; I know this will be one of the most meaningful weddings I'll ever have the pleasure of officiating. 5. The campus finally had a memorial for my friend Gremmels, and it helped me to find closure. 6. I finished an online parenting class and learned a lot about how to better deal with my daughter's trauma; I als...