Behind the Mask(s)

September 16, 2020 by Heather Reid in COVID, adultlife, family, fashion, friends, kids, momlife

Masks are the most depressing fashion accessory of 2020. In March, when it became clear that we were all going to be wearing them for the foreseeable future, I sewed a few for my kids and me.

The Bird Who Lived

April 26, 2020 by Heather Reid in adulting, adultlife, family, in memoriam, love, memories, momlife

I Googled what to do when a bird hits your window. Make it comfortable, the Audubon site says, leave it alone if it doesn’t seem injured. If it does seem injured, contact animal control. There is no information about what to do if a bird hits your window during a global pandemic.

Gonna’ Make You Sweat (Or Not)

April 20, 2020 by Heather Reid in adultlife, fashion, home, momlife

I am okay with the idea of sweatpants: Loose, soft pants that you throw on over workout gear, on the way to exercise or in transit on the way to a post-workout shower. In my mind, they are purely transitional, not actual clothing. Not workplace attire.

Resolve Beyond January

January 10, 2020 by Heather Reid in adulting, celebrations, finding quiet, holiday, momlife, work

Welcome to the New Year! Time to get off the couch and back to the real world where you are expected to wear pants and function in society once again. This year I’m setting goals through seasonal themes to keep me motivated beyond the New Year’s burst of enthusiasm. This structure offers a chance to check in throughout the year, rather than going out in a blaze of glory when Oreo launches a new flavor in January. (Side note: Chocolate marshmallow? That hardly seems fair.)

Are You What You Eat?

November 16, 2019 by Heather Reid in adultlife, education, family, food, home, kids, momlife

I have always had my doubts about people who don’t like to eat. Is my son one of those people? Someone who eats the same, monotonous thing every day, for his whole life and doesn’t think twice about it? Who never takes risks, never tries anything new, ever? Someone who eats McDonald’s in France?

The Best Seat in the House

October 16, 2019 by Heather Reid in adultlife, celebrations, family, home, kids, momlife

Friday nights have long been associated with good times: Happy Hours, date nights, movie premieres. Through the years I’ve looked forward to events like those, but lately, my Fridays are more about popcorn and pajamas than pomp and circumstance.

In our home, Friday nights are reserved for movies with my boys, and it’s my favorite thing.

The Hand-Me-Down Blues

September 16, 2019 by Heather Reid in adulting, fashion, home, kids, memories, momlife

My kids have so many clothes.

I’d like to blame my Rockstar-shopping Mom, but she’s really miraculous to behold. If I happen to mention to her that the kids would use an extra rash guard shirt or some variety of pants - like clockwork - a package appears on our porch with said items, and extra treat or two and some paper green anacondas. (That’s a whole other story.)

What's in a Name?

August 24, 2019 by Heather Reid in adulting, adultlife, family, feminism, momlife, memories

At one point in my life, I used my maiden name as my middle name, and my husband’s last name as my own, but then my middle name disappeared. I remember seeing my ‘new’ name on some official document and I found it disorienting and unfamiliar.

Where was my name? Who was this? Where had I gone?

The Best Worst Vacation

June 30, 2019 by Heather Reid in adulting, celebrations, family, holiday, in memoriam, memories, momlife

In my life I have been lucky to have the opportunity to travel around the world and across the country, but in my heart, none of them will ever come close to the vacations my family took when I was growing up.

Revenge of the Hair Bear

May 13, 2019 by Heather Reid in adultlife, family, fashion, momlife, memories, awkward

My poofy hair was what I had to deal with and although my brother tortured me by calling me Hair Bear for years, I managed to get through that time with as much awkward grace as I could. And a whole lot of mousse.