On being a parent Archives - Elin Stebbins Waldal

The Act of Noticing

Jan 16, 2015 By elinwaldal 20 Comments

For years I had been in the habit of carrying a notebook, a catch-all where I collected bits and pieces of things that interested me — quotes, observations, facts — all notations that begged me to return to them. Then I read The Memoir Project, A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text for Writing & Life, written by Marion Roach […]

Books and Memories

Dec 9, 2014 By elinwaldal 14 Comments

Books and memories…for me they go together in a way that elicits feelings of love. When I look back as far as my mind’s eye will take me, I can’t see a period of time that didn’t include books. According to my mother, my first favorite was Pat the Bunny. Mom had a story, which by all appearances was […]

Protecting our children

Nov 10, 2014 By elinwaldal 30 Comments

When my first child was born I remember thinking I would be able to protect him from harm. Then, in less than two months of being a mother, I dropped my baby. Thankfully the only harm that was brought to him was the concussion he suffered. It was among the most terrifying experiences of my life. I vividly […]

Halloween is Over

Nov 1, 2014 By Elin Stebbins Waldal 28 Comments

Halloween is over, it’s over in the literal sense because it’s November 1st and it’s also over in the metaphorical sense because my three kids are all well past the ages where their costumes made my heart sing. We could hear them as they approached last night. Little feet slapped the sidewalk as if the […]

Protecting Our Children

Feb 5, 2014 By Elin Stebbins Waldal 4 Comments

There are moments when I wish I could protect any one of my children–step in their shoes, take on their pain, fix their hurt–but I can’t. Not long ago my daughter was the target of unkind words said about her. Words stated, not by a fellow teen, but by an adult. The words the individual […]

Perspective: Day 1

Feb 1, 2014 By Elin Stebbins Waldal 5 Comments

It’s February and the theme for BlogHer’s National Blog Post Month where blogger’s post daily is Perspective. Although I swore off posting daily after completing the challenge of NaBloPoMo last November, I changed my mind when I read the theme…so once again I am diving into the waters of blogging daily, only this time I […]

Giving Tuesday: Stand with Aaron

Dec 3, 2013 By Elin Stebbins Waldal 8 Comments

From Thanksgiving through the New Year, no matter what traditions you celebrate, it is a time when people come together and give thanks. It is a time when loved ones unite. It is a time when many of us pause and take stock in all that we have to be grateful for. Over the […]