- Tuesday, January 11, 2011
- Posted in family,motherhood

{me in angela’s room at the farmhouse. yet another kissy photo}
I’m here. I promise.
I arrived home from my sister’s farm the night before last. I feel like I have been living out of a suitcase for the past month. We are settling in. Unpacking slowly. Laundry. Deep breathing. Restoring with sleep. And nurturing a very emotional boy. His two year molars are coming in (ouch!). He also has had a lot of change over the last four weeks with travel to and fro. Change can be hard for Toddlers. Being at the farm was healing for him in that he is SO crazy-loved by my family and of course that just makes a mama’s heart swell to bursting. I remember my sister saying to me and my marmie “Cedar coming into our lives was the start of so much change and healing”. I welled up with tears. I felt blessed and in awe of the gifts he shares with my family.
I apologize for being quiet here. I am exhausted and in need of restoration. There is so much whirling around in both me and my husband’s hearts and minds. So much transformation ahead of us with preparing for our move and starting a whole new life. I wonder how I can fit it all in over the next 6 months. We have so much to declutter. I would love to arrive in Washington with a simpler idea of what will fill our home.
I was chatting with another blog friend yesterday. She is so beautiful and creative and earthy and crafty and an awesome mama to her children. I was teary while texting “how do you do it all?” and she replied “i don’t. i feel messy. i am right where you are”. Then we continued for an hour spilling our stories. This is what happens when we reach out. We begin to not feel alone. I wondered if I was somehow not doing enough or being enough. I have ONE toddler boy and yet my energy towards other loves/passions in my life is barely there. I give him so much because he needs it and I give it willingly but what is left of me at the end of the day is not a whole lot. I am told that this age is a lot…a lot to breathe through. An age where children discover their separateness from you and are full of emotions and energies that need to be explored and released. Another dear friend of mine wrote that she drove around in her car for two hours in her pajamas just to center herself away from her children. I told her it made me fall more in love with her. We need to do this, mamas. We need to let it out and have no shame in the hard parts. For me, adding humor to them is what helps me cope. I wonder what helps you cope?
When I put Cedar down for a nap today, I went out and laid on our livingroom floor pretending I was him. I threw myself back in a tantrum, kicking and throwing my limbs about, saying “Nooooooo!”…just to see what it felt like in his body. It felt AWESOME. Now I get it. ; )
I will share more images from my visit to the farm soon. Oh, and come back Wednesday. I will have a YUMMY giveaway for you all!

{cedar in my sister’s almond orchard}





















January 11, 2011
The rawness in which you are real in this space continues to touch me. To the point at which yesterday I used the words “trying to be gentle with myself” in a text to my therapist. How’d you get all up in my head Denise?
Thanks for showing us the gentle side of being human.
January 11, 2011
Blessings.
Welcome.
I had forgotten about the journey.
Take your time, breathe, follow your heart.
You are a beauty of a soul.
Cheers!
EA
January 11, 2011
Yeah, your all back!
That book i told you about will make you see things in such ways that just really help your heart and soul kn not only yoursrlf but ALL around you.
Your tantrum makes me laugh. hailey went tnru a stage where she talked non stop and i mean NON STOP. I had to ask her to give momma a little break and tried to explain i needed just a little quiet time, she said ok, and then started talking again. i had to go inthe other room while i put on a cartoon and yelled loud ( she couldnt hear me though)”shut up” i know that sounds so harsh but i was crying and everything. I got myself together and listened to her little chitter chatters for hours upon hours and days upon days and was fine since i let my tea pot blow its top that day. Oh the joys of parenting,its so worth our mad hatterness at times
Xoxoxxo
So glad your back
January 11, 2011
Your third paragraph really touched me. Although I am not [yet] dealing with the stresses of motherhood, I understand the need to step back from all of reality and rest my own spirit and heart. I am glad you recognize your needs and I hope you tend to them.
January 11, 2011
I think all good parents have allowed them self to have a baby tantrum that way ~ you just gotta let it out some how/ Take care denise and Soak in this special family time, ~
January 11, 2011
YAY – you’re back! We’ve missed you!
I hope you had the most amazing, refreshing time with your family – having great conversations, laughing your guts out (that what happens when I get around my sister…), and regrouping.
January 11, 2011
seeing an update from you made my heart happy… i literally said it out loud, too, while sitting with my best friend and mama… “BOHO! ohhhh, my heart. is so happy.”
you are gorgeous in red, what a dreamy little photo. and ohhh, how i wish i lived in an orchard. it’s a funny little dream of mine.
i am sending prayers your way. calming, peaceful, floaty, swirly thoughts and vibes. i wish i could buy you a cup of chai and sit under a tree and chat. but for now… i’m sending love. xo.
January 11, 2011
love to you and your family in this tender time xo
January 11, 2011
That kid has got swagga! Keep up the good work!
January 11, 2011
Good, I am glad you are back, you are a little ray of light in my day.
January 11, 2011
This is my first post on your blog. I stumbled across your blog a few months ago. I remember sitting the first night and spending hours reading through it. I was inspired and moved. I felt your beautiful soul resonate through my screen. I have been hooked on your blog ever since.
I love the life you live. It sounds so peaceful and free spirited, the two things I yearn for in my life. I check everyday for updates (sometimes twice a day). I missed your posts during your short absence.
Thank you for sharing your life with us.
xoxo
January 11, 2011
Denise,
Welcome back. Embrace yourself because every age has it’s challenges. I would welcome the 2-3 year old’s back into my life any day over the 8 and 11 years (and the 18 and 22 are tough too) … It is so hard NOT to mold into one big unit when we are a family. Boundaries, and individuality are so melted. You are doing everything right.. just remember to always look through a gentle lens — but make sure you focus it upon yourself at times. Cedar is your world — but I think you have lost a large part of yourself. I see her on occasions — when she goes to the canyon and has picnics with friends and takes amazing photo’s. Take time for you .. Cedar will only benefit from this, because you will come back more whole than before. You will come back RE-charged and Alive.
Just a thought…
Also, light a candle for your soul. Put on music for you.. and just let yourself have 5 minutes.
Hugs to you tender momma.
January 11, 2011
Thank you for sharing and being so authentic! It’s true. Mamas gotta get real with each other, share, and ask for support. I may try the tantruming bit… being a toddler’s mama can be hard work!
January 11, 2011
I am right where you are. My two-year old son is the most trying part of my life right now and I would have never imagined it could take so much out of me. I am only able to cope because of my loving and supportive husband, who absolutely sympathizes and understands that I need time to just be me, not just Jack’s mommy. I’ve been getting up before Jack in the mornings and working out which really gets my day off to a great start. I am making healthy lifestyle changes for myself and my family and hoping that it gives me enough energy to keep up (or at least not fall so far behind) with my boy and all the other things that need to be done.
Where in Washington are you moving? I have been a Washingtonian all my life (living in the Seattle area, Spokane and now Yakima).
My heart goes out to you, sweet lady and just know that you have so many people who love you and are sending positive thoughts to you and your family!
January 11, 2011
Posts like these are what keep me coming back to read your words. It’s just my husband and me (and our two cats), but I feel the same need for space and grace. I am working to birth a project, which is nothing like caring for a child, but it demands long night, intense attention and all my spare energy. This on top of my full-time job and blogging. I’ve chosen to step back from blogging, because although I love it, something had to give.
Thank you for creating a safe space for sharing like this. Sometimes it helps just to pour it out.
January 11, 2011
No apologies needed gorgeous! Ahhhh, the red dress. Is that the red dress ( as in note to self)? So glad to see you again in your virtual home. I love that you threw a tantrum. May have to try this as soon as I get the kids down for a nap. Driving helps me center too. And alone time in my house or studio. Love it. I promise you will have more time the older Cedar gets. Molars, owwwww. I am sometimes amazed at the length of time my two go sometimes without saying mommy. Like twenty whole minutes sometimes.
One Love.
January 11, 2011
LOVEly photos!
blessings,
erika
January 11, 2011
I am in a similar place as you right now. I have a 1.5 year old daughter and a 3 year old son and I struggle daily…with patience, finding balance (which I think I’ve given up on), housework, time for me (which rarely happens), etc. It is SO hard, and so easy to feel alone in this season. So it really helps me when I read about other mamas struggling too, not because I want them to be struggling, but because I realize it’s normal for things to be this way, and that I am not alone. So, thanks for being so real and honest with us.
ps. I’m going to get dreads done by the Dread Goddess soon and I can’t wait!
January 11, 2011
Beautiful. This real depiction in a day in your life is so true for many mothers. Right now my daughter is 17mnths old and cutting molars as well along with discovering her independence. There are days that are what my father likes to call “character building days”. if only a mite sarcastically.
I wish you all the love, healing and patience with your precious family and yourself.
You are so lovely and inspire my everyday.
January 11, 2011
Do you mind if I share a little of myself here? I hope not.
You posts on your motherhood journey are always touching my core.
I felt so lonely recently and experienced even pangs of jealousy of all my friends that can be together and share the ups and downs of motherhood. Motherhood has recently been so hard and I want to talk to someone about these difficulties openly. Every evening I sit down and write about how I can better approach my daughter and what boundaries I wish to set the next day. Every evening I tell myself that tomorrow is a new day.
We move every two years and have recently arrived here in Las vegas. So far I haven’t managed to find deeper connections to others mamas. When you shared your experience about reaching out I teared up. I often feel undeserving or something and feel fearful of reaching out. I am fearful that I won’t be accepted or heard. Why is it so hard sometimes to be with other people and so lonely without them. I am a true introvert.
My daughter is 22 month and we are both such similar souls. It breaks my heart to see her with other children. She is so different from other children in her gentle and cautious approach, intense observance of others, and her sensitivity regarding others emotions. I can see it clearly in her and it helps me to understand now why I often feel so misplaced in groups of people. Unless I can connect deeply to another being I feel lost, lonely and soooo different.
I am hurting at the moment and it feels safe to share this here with you under the cover of anonymity. It lets me think that someone out there hears and maybe understands me.
Motherhood has been such a lonely experience for me so far. I have hoped and still hope that this would actually have been the time to connect with other women on a deeper level.
This year I have chosen to reach out more. I know I will find these women I wish to have in my live at one point, but it still feels like such a long road ahead.
Love from Eva
January 11, 2011
Oh my, you are just such a gorgeous creature. You are lovely, lovely in red.
Being a momma is hard and beautiful and messy and soul wrecking and amazing and, well so many words beautiful. It has been my best teacher ever. I am a recovering perfectionist about EVERYTHING. Being momma has, thankfully, stripped that away from me. All that neatness and organization was just mind number sterility. It is mess and chaos my mind, heart, and soul has bloomed. Through it I am becoming a person I really love.
Being gentle with myself. I so love this. Not only do I use this in my speech but it has seeped soul deep within me. I am learning to live it. It is a blessing.
So blessings, love, and warmth to you and yours. It is a wonderful journey that often makes you cry. And that is beautiful too.
January 11, 2011
A beautiful post!
I’m also on the verge of a big change – a whole new life. Not sure when exactly, but sometime this year. So I’ve been in the process of living a decluttered life to the best of my ability. It’s difficult!
I love the photograph of your son. He is truly adorable.
- Lauren
Ladaisi Blog
January 11, 2011
Sweetness,
When we moved here to TX the overwhelmingness ( is that a word?) took over and we decided to sell everything….Everything means everything that didnt fit into a 5×8 U-Haul trailer and our car. It was scary and excited, a bit nutty as we traveled across 5 states crammed into our car with all we owned in the world like college students. Unpacking was a breeze and it has been fun really thinking about the things we choose to put in our home.(It took me 6 months to decide on a chair ) Also, when we were deciding what to part with I realized that alot of what I had was just stuff,the most important things in the world were moving with me, Kev and the kids.
Exciting times you are in my friend..and scary…and wonderfully stretching.
Love reading about your process and appreciate you sharing….you <3
January 11, 2011
Happy 2011! Wow the red dress is stunning. Please come back to facebook, even just to linkyour fab blog posts.
Children are like dreadlets, sometimes they are well behaved, sometimes they are quirky, often they need TLC, or need to do their own thing. They are are individual and loveable. We must remember to mother ourselves too and allow ourselves to misbehave, discover, balance with healing love and kindness. Just like you are!
Blessings x
January 11, 2011
So glad you are back…..I have missed your beautiful posts. You are such a beautiful soul…..I am a mother of 2 daughters….one is 22 and one is 9……so I have been where you are….being a mother takes a lot out of you……and gives you so much all at the same time……like so much of life does……and you really do need to be gentle with yourself and nourish your soul. LOVE the tantrum…..it is so FUN to act like a kid again! Sending you light and blessings.
January 11, 2011
Yay… you’re back! I need to sleep so I’ll keep this short but what centres me in the middle of my crazy busy life as a mama of four under 8 is this:
cups of hot, fresh coffee… burning scented soya wax candles while washing dishes… taking a walk by myself… creating something – anything!… and enjoying -just soaking up and revelling in- stillness. Pretty red dress by the way… and wow, grown-up Cedar!
January 11, 2011
denise, i love both these photos. cedar looks like such a feisty fella!
to eva, i can’t say i understand your situation because i am not a mama, and i am not constantly moving towns. however, i don’t open up and make friends easily, either. sending you a cyberhug, and i hope your hurt eases xx
January 12, 2011
Hey, forgive me for being selfish but I do miss your posts when you are not around and wonder if you are all okay…glad to see you are although you have heaps going on and feeling a bit bewildered by it all. You will come good.
Eva, hope you get out there and connect with your soul mates.
January 12, 2011
I was just talking with a client about this~ I’m a postpartum doula & it’s amazing to see first hand how hard mamas are on themselves. We usually only see the little glimpses of others lives that they choose to share, and so often feel like everyone else has it all together… sharing our tender truths brings us closer together. Being gentle with ourselves makes it easier to be gentle with others. I recently wrote a blog post that I’ll sum up very briefly here~ when we’re having a hard time handling things the way we’d like to, the key is to sidestep any harsh criticism of ourselves and instead to ask what we would need in that moment in order to handle things differently or better. Not what we want or what is wrong, but what do we *need*? Sometimes it’s as simple as a private tantrum while the cherubs sleep.
January 12, 2011
You are an amazing mother and I hope someday to be as well rounded as you! You inspire us all. Thank you for sharing your deepest of feelings. It helps us all in this virtual world feel less “not enough” and alone.
xo
January 12, 2011
i am loving his expression. yes-HUMOR. and loads of it. with a five and almost two, it’s the only thing that gets me through. oh, and early bedtimes and leaving the house in any clothes at all-pajamas are a step up here. and standing in the pantry munching the things i don’t bust out during the day because it would be an all out screaming sweetfest in this house. glad to have you back, gypsybo. xoxoxo
January 12, 2011
Hey gorgeous mama, just keep being you and enjoy that scrumptious boy of yours. Oh I so LOVE that red dress and tried to order one for myself but they dont ship to UK
Blessings and mwhaaaaa
Sue xx
January 12, 2011
I do believe that it suddenly gets ‘easier’ at two and a half. It did for me and many of my mummy friends. suddenly I noticed I could be in another room for more than 2 minutes and it would be fine. Like their brain grows and is more self aware of danger…..and they are more involved with their toys and games and play happily for minutes, and this length of time gets longer and you find suddenly that you are more relaxed and you can do stuff small normal things, like wash up or put plates away without it being a massive stress….
January 12, 2011
So nice to see your face again. Cedar is growing up sooo fast. ..sigh…
January 12, 2011
Oh what a place your sister´s almond orchard! Lovely! Welcome girl! I missed you! Please, share some more pics! Big hugs from Argentina, Buenos Aires
January 12, 2011
welcome home! So good to have you back, but holding with such understanding that your life is very full right now with the upcoming move, a joyful toddler and so much more. I think you are so right, it is of such importance to share the messy side of motherhood – so much main media makes out that all mothers are totally together, holding down jobs and juggling multiple commitments and still being perfect. What I have learned is that is as unrealistic as sci-fi – those do-it-all are using childcare (paid or family); are feeding the family take-out or microwave meals; the crafty mama’s with the beautiful blogs hide the mess and the unwashed laundry out of shot etc etc – none of which is wrong, but none of us is perfect and will all make our choices as to what matters to us most – for you, it’s being present with Cedar, for someone else it might be a career, or a picture perfect home, but something somewhere has to give, and we need to be honest about that.
The other thing I was going to add was that, although you recognised it’s a period of re-adjustment for Cedar after being around family for nearly a month, it is for you too – it’s easy to become used to and take for granted having other adults around 24/7 – even just someone to amuse the children while you go to the bathroom or make a cup of tea, someone to share a moment with, good or testing, and it always takes me a while to adjust to being on my own again in the days – when you add to that the fact the child (ren) are making the same adjustment – being used to hustle and plenty of playmates, old and young, it is bound to take some settling down time.
Be easy on yourself, sending you love, light and huge big smoochy hugs
PS You look HOT in that red dress!!
PPS While you’ve been gone, I’ve had a change around – I have always commented as julielittlejoys before but am establishing a new blog and a new name for the new year and a more authentic and open me.
January 12, 2011
Eva- I wish I could go hug you and bring you tea and cookies! Keep reaching out. You are worthy!
January 12, 2011
Glad to have you back. Even if you feel you’ve got nothing left to give, you should recognize how much you do so through your blog. It’s quite an inspiration.
January 12, 2011
Welcome back and I so feel what you are saying..big hugs. Changes of any sort are stressful and with kids changing so rapidly, it’s hard to keep up. I feel out of my mind some days and my kids are 4 1/2 and two are 19 and 20. You nailed it about centering ourselves away from our children. I desperately need to do this because they have become my everything and I have left huge parts of me behind. not cool. for me or them.
And Eva- huge hugs to you. I so hear you.
January 12, 2011
Oh my gosh
Cedar has grown up so mucch. I cannot believe.
he is the most handsome guy ever.
January 13, 2011
i feel much of what you describe, even as not-a-REAL-mama. it’s an aching in-between…the nurturing side loving on all the ones in my heart and yet…and yet…
thank you for the update.
from personal experience, i know boundaries can mean the difference between emotional life or death…be true to what you and your family need.
January 13, 2011
Ahhhh you speak some true, true words. I’m not even to the “twos” yet. My daughter is approaching one but some days I just feel like there’s nothing left by the end of the day. For me, some days it’s this chaotic, and at times frustrating, combination of love and complete and total immersion and devotion mixed with personal feelings of inspiration (projects to be done, art to be made, books to be read). And I feel like, too often the inspiration parts are set aside. I think that’s a part of motherhood, but the big steps are how we find ways to take time for ourselves, create, think, relate; and still be the best mama possible. Still learning this for sure. I have a feeling the learning on that never ends. The word that I try to remember when it feels too chaotic is “balance”.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Wishing you space and peace.
January 13, 2011
i feel the same way sooo often. sometimes i have to take a break from reading blogs that appear so perfect and idyllic. i am sure this is not the whole of their life and i appreciate the sentiment of focusing on the “good stuff” but it can be mighty perplexing to a struggling mind to see gaggles of children happily and joyfully making their own everything and living completely at one with nature. Heehee. All kidding aside, it’s a good reminder to be WHO I AM and sink into that deeper. I have my life and children who I wouldn’t trade anything for. Humor is one of my coping mechanisms too. Also deep breaths and getting outside when I can drag myself out there!
Hope you are all well and taking it moment by moment.
January 15, 2011
I hear you across the miles.
Eva, I hear you, too. Your honesty gives all of us permission to share our humanness. Loving a toddler is intense, isn’t it? The days I just relax into it are the best ones, but these little characters take centre stage, emerging eager and full. My own mother told me that “it’s not for the faint of heart”.
With or without children a move, friendships, striving to understand and to be understood, reflecting, letting go….those are all major emotional journeys.
I still think of my first year with my son as one of “light and shadow” so easy to love, and yet a challenge never to be alone. I wish I’d believed that it gets easier somehow.
Here’s to boldness, strength, to have others really ‘see you’ and to being able to be vulnerable together.
A wise friend told me that sometimes the days are long, but looking back the months and years fly by. I think about that in tougher moments. What we have is right now.
Thanks for sharing your journey and inspiring others to do the same,
Z.
January 16, 2011
It is amazing and beautiful what can happen when we reach out with honest raw emotions. It can be met with such deep understanding that swells our heart. It is truly a rare thing. It takes courage, but is totally worth it. I am so proud of you dear. Watching you as a mamma fills my heart with love.