Motherhood & Words

Alexandra is another one of those amazing writers who came to me through the Interwebs. We were in contact a few years ago about her possibly taking my online class, but somehow it didn’t work out. I would pop over to her blog when I could, but it was only this summer when I left my day job and I had a bit more time to scroll around that I began reading her work in earnest. She writes Good Day, Regular People, and she’s hilarious and heartfelt and just, well, lovely. And she’s a fantastic writer. Her dear mother passed away this summer, and the way she writes about their love and the rawness of her grief just blows me away. So please read some of those posts. And this post, which I LOVE.

Alexandra lives in Eastern Wisconsin, and this morning while I was getting ready for my run, I thought, Well, that’s not far. We could have coffee for heaven’s sake. I’m actually going to be on a Madison public radio show on November 27th, and I thought, What if I drive to the studio? And then Alexandra and I could meet for lunch afterward? Okay, I was getting a little carried away, but that’s how fun it would be to sit across from the real Alexandra and talk and laugh and talk and laugh. And maybe even cry a little.

Alexandra also suffered from preeclampsia and delivered her first baby early. That pregnancy was followed by two more early pregnancies and NICU stays. So I knew I had to invite Alexandra to be a part of the blog tour. Because I knew she would see herself in the pages of my memoir. I knew she’d get it. And she did.

Alexandra writes:

We are braver and stronger than we know, but how comforting to have a mother lighting the path ahead for us, on a trail she’s blazed before, turning around and offering us her lamp, whispering with encouragement and assurance, “Here, find yourself in my words, let me walk with you through these long days and nights, you have me and I know, I know, just how very hard these steps are.” This is why Kate wrote Ready for Air, because she remembers the path when it was dark and long, and those that shone a light ahead for her.

Please check out Good Day, Regular People, my friends. You’ll want to visit often, I promise. And thank you, Alexandra, for being part of the book tour! I’m grateful!

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Kate

I have been teaching creative writing for almost twenty years. Reading about other women’s lives and experiences has expanded my world. To be able to walk in someone else’s shoes, whether it’s for a moment or an hour or a few days, is an incredible gift, providing me with insight into the human experience. It takes courage to write your truths, especially if it doesn’t seem as though anyone cares, as though anyone is listening. Let me tell you: your stories matter, I’m listening, and I’m here to help you find the heart of those truths, to get them down on the page, to craft them, and to send them out into the world. Together, we will change the world, one story at a time.

8 Comments

  1. Alexandra on November 1, 2013 at 9:57 am

    Your book was catharsis, Kate. I had long ago stopped thinking of those days… they were like someone else’s life, but that didn’t do justice to the dedication, devotion, work, hope, prayer, unceasingness of those times for my family. Reflecting gives honor, and acknowledges the fiber of who we are: your book did that for me. You took something I had pushed way way down and brought it to light… like a crown on my head. THANK YOU. Going to enter St Joseph’s NICE for the drawing of a donated copy, where they took care of my three babies.

    Thank you, for so much, Kate.



    • Kate on November 1, 2013 at 4:59 pm

      Oh I love this, Alexandra. This just makes my day!



  2. Sue on November 1, 2013 at 1:27 pm

    The passage of Alexandra’s brought tears to my eyes as it captures the generosity
    of your book. As moms we sometimes feel we walk alone, and we do not need to.



    • Kate on November 1, 2013 at 5:00 pm

      Thank you, Sue. So much!



  3. Alexandra on November 1, 2013 at 2:08 pm

    Thank you, Sue. I”d love to know you.

    Human nature, our urge to protect, makes us push away what is almost unthinkable. The days of a baby clinging to life… certainly, something that felt unsurvivable to me. And I did it. Through Kate’s book, I saw how to close that door, didn’t honor how I held on, the rock I became, how my baby fought for me as hard as I fought for him. I no longer shut that door on those memories… because I am a survivor. Kate’s book is amazing. I’d love to see it used in therapy also… from the ashes, we arise… and we acknowledge the amazing in us. It was an honor to be included in this book review.



    • Kate on November 1, 2013 at 5:01 pm

      This is so lovely, Alexandra. And you and Sue need to know each other! Definitely!!



  4. Cecilia on November 1, 2013 at 9:46 pm

    I’d love to take the credit for playing matchmaker for you two (did I remember correctly, Alexandra??) I’m thrilled at what a small world this is and that you two have connected like this. It’s been great reading all these wonderful things about you. Thanks so much again for sharing your story with us. I’m very much looking forward to reading. xo



    • Kate on November 2, 2013 at 11:20 am

      You WERE the matchmaker, Cecilia! Thank you, my dear! You get full credit! xox