Suffering is optional.

I’ve been studying religion of late. I’m currently taking a course about Christianity. I remember more than I thought. There’s also much I didn’t know. I just finished day seven: “Death and resurrection, violence, suffering, and justice.”  These topics were not emphasized in Sunday school. There is darkness in the Bible. There’s violence, pain, and a great deal of death. I have questions about what … Continue reading Suffering is optional.

The fridge is bursting.

The fridge is bursting. There’s too much food in the house. Definitely a problem of privilege. I’m aware of that, yet my problems are my problems, real and difficult for me; other people’s different problems don’t negate my reality. I’ve had this issue before. I don’t do it to myself – I’m careful about the quantities I maintain – so the stress-inducing over-capacity isn’t my … Continue reading The fridge is bursting.

Do the structural work.

People like to say we start out perfect. “Look at that perfect baby.” I remain unconvinced regarding the accuracy of that statement. If nothing else, positing “perfect” as the default position is unkind. Having met babies, it’s also, I believe, inaccurate. Parenting teaches you that kids are imperfect no matter how cute. It also teaches you that they come, to some extent, factory hardwired. As … Continue reading Do the structural work.