Things in My Pocket - Adventures of a formerly reluctant parent

I was sure I never wanted to be a parent. I was happily single and child-free by choice. And now my pockets are filled with kid crap—a Lego head, a sticky gum wrapper, a crumpled up dress from an abandoned Barbie doll.

It’s Kate’s fault. I fell ridiculously in love with her the first time we met, on a blind date in the middle of a March snowstorm. Kate, the love of my life … who just happened to have a two-year old, and was hell bent on having child #2. It was a package deal, take it or leave it, all or nothing, you’re in or you’re out.

I agonized. I fretted. I abandoned my logical, rational beliefs and consulted a psychic–who told me it would never work. I ran away to Bali to get away from it all.

In the end, I listened to my heart.

Things in my Pocket is about the unexpected treasures I’ve found along the way.

Poetry and Other Life Stuff

awakening to our daydream

July 15, 2020July 15, 2020 Veronica Beck 1 Comment honoring Barbara

by Barbara Rose Waters The store happened because Marsha and I never stopped daydreaming. Every so often at school,

Parenting Poetry and Other Life Stuff

where kids breathed

May 11, 2020May 11, 2020 Veronica Beck 10 Comments corona virus, covid-19, poetry

I was browsing through recent journal entries when I was suddenly stopped short by a simple description of walking Etta to school. Wow, that’s right, we used to go to school!
In that moment grief hit me hard — for all we’ve been through and all we’ve lost and how quickly everything changed. This is the poem I wrote about it.

Poetry and Other Life Stuff

the voice that scares you

April 30, 2020May 2, 2020 Veronica Beck 12 Comments intergenerational healing, mental health, poetry

I often want to run away from my feelings. But when I hang out with them instead, a strange thing happens. This is a poem about not running away.

Parenting

Be the Pond: Adventures in Mindfulness Practice With My Kids During Corona Virus Time

April 12, 2020April 13, 2020 Veronica Beck 14 Comments corona virus, covid-19, mental health, parenting solution

“Etta, I don’t think you’re supposed to lie down during meditation,” Otto remarked, with a sideways glance at me. He was clearly hoping I’d make her come out from under the kitchen table and do it RIGHT. Etta was sprawled on the floor, petting the dog, who was enthusiastically lapping up spilled popcorn and bits of mashed potato …