Smathews

Back in May, I wrote this blog about my child's scoliosis diagnosis and the surgery that followed. Today, my 13 year old is here to give their own perspective along with some advice on how not to mis-gender someone and what to watch when you're in excruciating pain. The following was written on an iphone…

"So, you do have scoliosis; in fact, you have pretty severe scoliosis. Your scoliosis is the kind where we recommend surgery." I can still hear the medical resident's voice perfectly as he said these words to my child last summer. We had been shopping a month before at Donna's Dress Shop in Kansas City where…

Brace yourselves, a retrospective is coming. Last year, I wrote this piece describing what time had been like in our home after two months of "lock down." As it turns out, I'm home again although for a different reason. For the last month I've been on leave, taking care of my child who is recovering…

Let me just get this out of the way and say that crafting a blog right now is kinda hard. Who knows how different our world will be between this writing and when it's published. We witnessed a literal attack on our democracy just a few days ago. Hallowed halls were defaced and defiled, 5…

Work, school, pandemic life, pets, screen time, health challenges... I hate it when people say, "During these unprecedented times..." but, for real, during these unprecedented times, my family started feeling a little disjointed. Every weekend seemed to bring some new way for us not to spend any time together, even though all we've been doing…

Lawrence, I miss you.  I miss your bustling sidewalks and seeing friends I know every block or two. Remember when every 20-something's bright and shiny maskless face wasn't cause for alarm? Now I see a person I might know, but... wait.... is it really them? Should I even bother saying hello? We can't even get…

"Animal Crossing is as important to me as my actual future. I want you to know that," my daughter, Alice, brazenly utters to me on our 51st day of being home together during quarantine. 51 days we have walked these halls (well, hall — we just have the one — it sure is a small…

The first thing I learned when I quit drinking was that no one knew what to do with me without a drink in my hand, including me. As a self proclaimed party girl

Ever since Baby Yoda stepped on screen sipping his soup and stealing the hearts of anyone who has never seen a Mogwai-- YEAH, I SAID IT-- I've been thinking about my favorite Christmas movie of all time*: Gremlins. Honestly, I am always thinking about Gremlins, Yoda baby or not. But seeing Gizmo's over-sized ears, fluffy…