It’s a beautiful thing to see your child getting his bearings in his own life, getting his feet set solidly on firm ground, and begin to explore. Nicholas has always been a child with a really strong desire to be close to his parents—close in a physical way. He always wants to be touching me,…
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First Communion Day
Nicholas: Sous-Chef
Last Monday, I had a great plan for dinner. It was quite relaxing. It involved leftovers and a microwave. And bar cookies made from a box cake mix. (Totally not my normal modus operandi for cooking, but y’know.) At 4:20, Nicholas arrived home from Chess Club and came into the kitchen. “Did you make the…
Read MoreBeing part of something bigger than me (reflections on music)
Occasionally, someone asks me when I’m going to record an album. I always hesitate to answer, because even though I know I’m not a good enough singer to record an album, it seems kind of…ungracious…to contradict people who obviously think otherwise. But there’s another reaction that I never quite know how to explain—a deep, visceral…
Read MoreSeeking the Best (instead of expecting the worst)
I was on the hunt for little boy dress shoes when I discovered the tight bundle of clothes wadded up and shoved behind a storage bin in the boys’ closet. In that bundle I found a pair of khakis and a school uniform fleece that I had given to Nicholas less than twenty-four hours before…
Read MoreThe Hazards of Living In A Musical Family, and other Updates on my Babies
Alex After the LEGO movie a couple of years ago, Alex started singing “Everything is awesome” all.the.time. Woe was me. Then, knowing I loathed the song even more than I loathed the movie, he started teasing me by singing “Percy Jackson ro-ocks!” on the same tune. Then he got tired of Julianna’s obsession with Frozen,…
Read MoreParents, Kids, and the Other R-word: “Respect”
You know that thing about kids? That thing where they act like angelic beings, floating above a river of serenity and sweetness, any time they’re in public, and then as soon as the rest of the world turns its back, they grow horns and a forked tail? Yeah, that. Six people watched my children while…
Read MoreFamily Business, Round 2: Julianna, Nicholas, Michael
More family tidbits today, to hold my place until we get back from the Adirondacks. Up today: Julianna, Nicholas, and Michael. Julianna Oh, Julianna. She has been showing interest in Barbie dolls and imaginative play at last. But it’s causing me a little trouble, because I can’t figure out how much she understands about reality…
Read MoreNicholas Asks About Adam And Eve
When I was a freshman in college, I was required to take a writing intensive class. Being kind of stupid, I assumed all the classes were the same, so I just picked the one that fit my schedule best. And thus I spent my first semester of college sitting in a classroom with a guy…
Read MoreWhy You Should Never Play “Nurse” With A Child Who Wields A Light Saber
On the tail end of a three-way after-school light saber duel, Nicholas runs up to me. “Mommy, will you play a game with me?” Stifle a groan. “What kind of game?” “I’ll be the nurse, and you come tell me what’s wrong and I’ll fix it.” “Okay.” “My office is up here.” “Okay.” He climbs…
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Kathleen M. Basi 