Nov 20th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
stuant63
Licensed under Creative Commons
I've been working through the 12 Steps again, more slowly this time than my last time through. This week, I worked through an exercise where I looked at patterns of compulsive behavior in my life and I was struck (again) by how powerfully my life is dominated by fear [...]
Nov 5th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
Big Grey Mare on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
"Honey?" Mark has been putting the kids to sleep. I thought he'd fallen asleep with them, but now he pops his head into the living room. "Austen says his stomach hurts and he can't get to sleep. Can you come take a look and [...]
Oct 25th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
Esther_G on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
Eight years ago, in spite of the fact that we were both exhausted by caring for our infant son, I found that my husband Mark was staying up later and later at night. He had to be up at 5 a.m. to get ready for work, [...]
Oct 8th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Art by
hellvet2000 on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
"Worry Brain, your mama's so ugly, she makes onions cry!" I found myself saying after I got off the phone with my husband. I had to hang up the phone because I'd burst into tears, and now I was trying to beat back the anxiety that was [...]
Sep 30th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
samzie2006 on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
I woke up this morning, muscles clenched like a fist and throat tight with anxiety, wanting to grab my son and never let him go. I crept to where he was sleeping and ran my fingers through his curls, reassuring myself he was there and safe. [...]
Sep 28th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
boxercab on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
Last Monday I walked through the grocery store feeling like a weight was crushing my chest, a tight lump in my throat the only thing between me and tears. And part of me wanted to self-indulgently sit there on the linoleum floor under the flicker fluorescent [...]
Sep 27th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
indoloony on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
A few months after I first met Mark in college, we ran into each other in a campus dining hall. As we chatted, he admired my high school class ring. I held my hand out to let him see it more closely, and peering down [...]
Sep 9th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
codepo8 on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
Most kids (at least those who grow up in safe, middle class, American neighborhoods) don't see every new face at the front door (from evangelists to pizza delivery guys) as a potential threat. But Austen is not most kids. Unless they come bearing an Amazon.com box with [...]
Jul 31st, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
limonada on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
A few years ago, I was visiting my friend Ellie and was a guest in her house for the first time in my life. I had just taken a shower and was standing in her bathroom, a wet towel in my hand, at a loss for what [...]
Jul 10th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
Frank Peters on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
I shared in a meeting recently about my fear around my husband's business trips and how that fear is a reminder to me to connect with my Higher Power. After the meeting a newcomer asked me what I'm going to do now: I mean, he's [...]