Published in About Me Stories·PinnedMember-onlyAbout Me — Jessica LuciaMy dream world includes sunshine, boats, and endless chocolate — In my dream world I run in the mornings, near a beautiful body of water, where I take my son to swim. Some days are for adventure; others are for reading and writing. I enjoy vodka and club or a glass of Valpolicella while eating my nonna’s meatballs and gnocchi. …About Me2 min readAbout Me2 min read
Published in The Motherload·2 days agoMember-only3 Feelings I Wasn’t Prepared for when I Became a MotherAnd why we need to talk about them. — After having a child, women go through myriad physical, mental, and emotional changes. Often, new mothers expect to feel love, joy, and maybe even post-partum depression, but when I had my son, I struggled with these unexpected feelings: Loss of identity I knew motherhood would change my life; what I didn’t realize was…Motherhood4 min readMotherhood4 min read
Published in A Parent Is Born·Mar 18Member-onlyBoiling PointA snapshot of solo parenting. — “Mommy, I want juice!” Vincent demands. I turn from the stove to face him. “I just got the milk you asked for. Drink that.” I turn back to stir the rice and beans. “No. I. Want. Juice.” He bobs his head as he annunciates each word. “Then why did you…Motherhood4 min readMotherhood4 min read
Published in Tell Your Story·Mar 11Member-onlyFirst NightThursday, September 15th, 2016 — “You’re going home today, I see,” a nurse chirps as he rummages through the paperwork on his clipboard. Technically, I wouldn’t be going home. I had moved out of my apartment three months earlier, and Josh was still splitting his time between Fort Drum and his duplex near Vermont. …Creative Non Fiction4 min readCreative Non Fiction4 min read
Feb 25Member-onlyBad date series, story #3“Kewl” — I met Aaron at a bar after my brother’s surprise 30th birthday party. His perfect jawline, seductive smile, and styled hair made him look like a boy band member on the cover of a magazine. When I approached him, he told me that his friends had left earlier and he…Date6 min readDate6 min read
Feb 17Member-onlyBad date series, story #2Nathan — October 2022 I sat at the U-shaped bar, sipping on a vodka and club. Though I had a clear view of the parking lot from the second-story window, I didn’t know what kind of car he drove. As of right now, he was only a few minutes late, but I had a…Dating4 min readDating4 min read
Feb 17Member-onlyBad date series, story #1Justin — Where is he? I looked out my large, second-story window for headlights. It was dark, so he wouldn’t necessarily see the number 5 on the house. He told me he would pick me up at 6, but it was nearly 6:15. I started texting him when my phone rang. “Hi…Dating4 min readDating4 min read
Published in Tell Your Story·Feb 7Member-onlyThe Final RevealApril 1st, 2016 “Can you open this before we eat?” I ask, handing my dad a white box. He takes the box out of my hand and looks at it, curiously. “Oh. Yeah,” he says. My stepmother, brothers, aunt, and uncle are also gathered around the table. My brother, Lance, had arranged everything…Family4 min readFamily4 min read
Published in Tell Your Story·Feb 1Member-onlyBaby…carrots?When the unexpected doesn’t go as expected “I wanted to tell them at Easter dinner,” I explain to my brother, Lance, over the phone, “but Aunt Oddie is also having her in-laws over, and I don’t want to announce it in front of all those people.” “You could just do it the night before,” he suggests. I…Pregnancy6 min readPregnancy6 min read
Published in Tell Your Story·Jan 26Member-onlyIn LimboTuesday, February 9th, 2016 I peek into my former boss’s office. She’s in her regular early-morning position — legs out, one foot crossed over the other on her desk, a newspaper opened wide in front of her. If you’re going to talk to someone about this, it should be Mary, I assure myself. Since…Pregnancy9 min readPregnancy9 min read
