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Health, Mom July 25, 2020

The Pandemic and the Undercurrent of Anger

My husband was picking up takeout last night. He was surprised to see that the restaurant was packed and no one appeared to be concerned about social distancing. COVID-19 cases are exploding in our state, … Read More

Mom, Writing June 17, 2020

If Ghosts Could Write

When I was little, my mom was editor of The View, a community newspaper in our California hometown. Today I came across a photo of us marching together in a parade in April 1982. I … Read More

Perspective, Worry May 26, 2020

In the Fog

One morning in the not-so-distant past, I went for a run. A thick blanket of fog hung in the air, obscuring all but the few yards directly in front of me.

I ran a familiar … Read More

Family, Perspective April 13, 2020

It’s Okay If You’re Struggling

On day #1,467 of sheltering in place, I was watching my daughter participate in her regular dance class, now delivered via Zoom videoconferencing. We’d created a makeshift dance floor in our kitchen by pushing the … Read More

Health, Perspective, Worry March 30, 2020

Inordinate

Inordinate. This word has been on my mind lately because of a show the kids discovered on NetFlix, “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” Based on the books by Daniel Handler — also known as Lemony … Read More

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I’m Gina, a mom and freelance writer in the Midwest. I love sharing caffeinated ramblings on motherhood, loss, mental health, and more.

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Watched the livestream Princess Bride reunion last Watched the livestream Princess Bride reunion last night. So cool! The first time I saw the 1987 movie was during a middle school slumber party, but its messages are surprisingly relevant today. (There’s even a line about masks spoken by @caryelwes aka Westley, “It’s just they’re terribly comfortable. I think everyone will be wearing them in the future.” 😷)⁣ ⁣ During the Q&A afterward, I loved hearing @mandypatinkin (aka Inigo Montoya) talk about some meaningful lines from the film, like this one that his character utters near the end.⁣ ⁣ ⚔️ “I have been in the revenge business so long, now that it's over, I don't know what to do with the rest of my life.” ⚔️ ⁣ ⁣ Patinkin reflected on the fact that revenge doesn’t ultimately fulfill us as we think it will, but leaves us empty inside. Instead, we must focus on taking care of each other. The phrase “As you wish,” repeated throughout the movie, suggests this caregiving orientation and desire to help others.⁣ ⁣ What a lovely message — now I’ll have to rewatch the original film. 😀⁣💜 #princessbridereunion
When people ask why I got involved with @abcdafter When people ask why I got involved with @abcdafterbreastcancerdiagnosis, my answer is always: “Because of my mom.” At the time of my mother’s diagnosis in 1998, ABCD was only in its infancy. Decades later, when I moved to the Milwaukee area and learned about ABCD’s mission of providing free, customized emotional support to anyone impacted by a diagnosis, the proverbial light bulb clicked on for me. ⁣ ⁣ Throughout her illness, my mother had top-notch medical care, yet something was missing. I know our whole family would have benefited from the non-clinical, 1:1 peer support that ABCD’s professionally trained volunteer Mentors provide so skillfully. ⁣ ⁣ Mentors get it. They provide the hope, compassion, and comfort that only someone who has walked in your shoes can give. Mentors can be matched not only with patients, but also with family members and friends. ⁣ ⁣ Because of my mom, I’m committed to helping ABCD continue to provide support to others facing similar experiences — from patients directly impacted, to daughters and other family members like me who struggled with their own worries while supporting a loved one. And as someone at higher risk for breast cancer due to family history, I personally want to ensure ABCD sticks around for a long, long time. ⁣ ⁣ If you’d like to learn more, please consider joining me at ABCD’s first ever virtual celebration, Date With a Plate, on Thursday September 3 at 7-8 PM Central.⁣ ⁣ ✨To register (free), click the link in my bio. ✨⁣ ⁣ Swipe ➡️ for more information about the event and ABCD. I hope to see you there!⁣ ⁣ #DWP2020
A hummingbird saying hello at the kitchen window f A hummingbird saying hello at the kitchen window feels like a hopeful sign on this strange first day of virtual school. #pandemiclife #birdsofinstagram
Sitting in the driveway with coffee definitely cou Sitting in the driveway with coffee definitely counts as self-care. 💗#coffee #pandemiclife #saturdayvibes
“In parenting and chicken keeping, my mom was th “In parenting and chicken keeping, my mom was the same: loving, unfussy, and equipped with seemingly endless affection...She was happiest when surrounded by her brood, and my brother, sister, and I were its inaugural members.” 🐓🐓🐓Click the link in my bio to read my piece, “Mother Hen,” at @entropymagazine. Many thanks to @lindableckillustration for creating the beautiful artwork to accompany this essay. 💙💚💜 #chickens #motherhood
For my latest piece with @goodhousekeeping, I spok For my latest piece with @goodhousekeeping, I spoke with middle and high school teachers about how they’re preparing to cover the 2020 election with students. This fall they’re ready for anything — even if learning must be online and from a distance.⁣ ⁣ How do teachers cover politics at a time when emotions are running high? Here are some creative approaches they’re using. ⁣ 👉🏻 Teaching students how to respectfully disagree with each other. Kids learn to use phrases like, “I see your point” before launching into a counter-argument. ⁣ ⁣ 👉🏻 Emphasizing media literacy in a season when we’re getting bombarded with (often misleading) political ads⁣. ⁣ 👉🏻 Encouraging students to do excellent, thorough research on a topic before taking a position. ⁣ ⁣ Here’s hoping lots of young people take this guidance to heart and are inspired to vote this November. 🤞 ✔️ #election2020
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