Motherhood & Words

Donny and I arrived home from San Francisco this morning in time to pick up the girls at my mom’s house, feed them breakfast, give them their gifts (think glass figures and shell-dotted bracelets), and get them on the bus. Donny then had to go straight to work and I started laundry. But then I got tired, so I decided to lie down “for just a little bit.” Imagine my surprise when I woke up four hours later. Bye-bye work day! (I’ll make sure to downplay the length of my nap to Donny because it’s just not fair that I slept for four hours and he didn’t.)

It was a wonderful trip, and Donny and I had an idyllic day yesterday, biking over the Golden Gate bridge, having lunch in Sausalito, then biking on to Tiburon before hopping on the ferry back to the city, where we ate and drank more before heading to the airport late last night. It’s was a glorious trip, but as always, it’s even better to come home. Stella hugged me so tightly when we walked in the door this morning. I am happily putting our small house back in order and settling into my tiny office once again. I love that.

What I also love is this post by my friend Kara Thom. Today the blog book tour is stopping at Kara’s wonderful blog, Mama Sweat. I met Kara seven years ago in my very first Motherhood & Words class (then called by a different name). I quickly realized she was not just a wonderful writer, but an amazing athlete (think Iron Man). In the middle of that first class, I actually ran my first (and only) 1/2 marathon. I hadn’t trained properly and it was extremely hot that day, so it wasn’t a super fun experience for me, but I was hooked on running by that point. Kara quickly invited me to join her women’s track night, and I spent one evening a week that summer running much faster than I thought I could around a track, trying to keep up with Kara. (Of course I couldn’t.) And that was just the beginning of our friendship, which spans writing and exercising and parenting and everything in between. Kara is the author Becoming an Ironman, the children’s story See Mom Run, and most recently the co-author of Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom. All of Kara’s work encourages women and girls to take pride in themselves and their abilities and to live healthful lives.

Thank you, Kara, for being such a wonderful friend and writer and for encouraging me always to make fitness and health a priority. Friends, please check out Kara’s blog!

 

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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.

6 Comments

  1. Sue on October 21, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    Glad you & Donnie had a great time away. I now feel like I am getting to know him as I work though your book. I can see him, the book is so visual. I have an urge to rush through it, but I am holding back as part of me also feels the need to savour it as I do not want it to end. I am highlighting phrases like a fool as I go.



    • Kate on October 21, 2013 at 8:54 pm

      Oh Sue, that is the sweetest thing ever. Thank you for reading and savoring. That it even warrants that in your mind makes me so happy. xoxo Kate



  2. Kate Edenborg on October 21, 2013 at 8:57 pm

    Love reading about both you and Kara. You guys are my writing inspirations!



    • Kate on October 22, 2013 at 11:00 am

      Oh thank you, Kate! And I know, isn’t she fabulous?



  3. Claire Hennessy on October 21, 2013 at 9:19 pm

    So pleased you and Donny managed to cycle The GG Bridge finally. Wonderful to meet you properly (and Donny too) and you were fantastic at Litquake. Hope to meet you again in the future sometime. I will definitely check out Kara’s blog, but she sounds like Superwoman!



    • Kate on October 22, 2013 at 11:04 am

      So great to see you again, Claire, and to meet Mark! And thank you! You were so fabulous, as well. Your piece will make me laugh for many months!