Archive for ‘Middle Years’
Never Keep Secrets
My wife and I were expecting our third child. It was a very exciting time and to make it more special, I thought it would be best to keep the sex of the baby a surprise until delivery. I enjoyed going to the appointments when I could and made it a point to go to the ultrasound screening when that time came.
Not What We Planned
Michael’s alcoholism didn’t exhibit the usual signs. He didn’t lose his job or get arrested for driving under the influence. When Michael entered treatment in 1995, however, he knew that his marriage and family hung in the balance.
Little Miracles
Andrew and Anna, married for nearly 10 years, face one of the biggest challenges that any marriage can confront. In June 2006 their daughter Rose was born with DiGeorge’s syndrome, a serious genetic disorder caused by the deletion of a small part of a chromosome. Because the condition is rare – 1 in 4,000 – Rose’s prognosis is uncertain.
Lost Dreams
After almost 10 years of marriage, my husband decided to quit his secure government job and start his own business. I was scared. We had two children, ages 2 and 6, and could not maintain our simple lifestyle solely on my salary. Tom had no clear idea of what kind of business he wanted to start. He just wanted to be his own boss.
Hooked on Football
Our first home, an old ranch house, needed remodeling from the doorstops to the ceiling trim. We decided to do the job ourselves. Friends warned us of the dangers ahead. “The quickest way to divorce court is to hang wallpaper together.” “It was the biggest fight we ever had.” “I love my wife, but I [...]
Missing in Action
Before children, I remember feeling starved from never being ‘touched’ throughout a deployment. I longed for a simple hug or physical connection that reminded me I was more than a job-commuting and gym-frequenting being.
The Surprise
His plane was just taking off for a week long meeting in San Francisco when my husband’s secretary called me. She wanted to know who our family photographer was so that she could get a professional photo of my husband. A legal journal would be covering the news about his appointment as president of a national organization. I was stunned. What presidency, I asked?
The Promise
My son and his wife experienced a real challenge at a time that should have been their greatest joy. My daughter-in-law fell victim to post-partum psychosis after the birth of their first child. Through the year that followed both families supported the young couple as best they could. I came to help take care of the baby for a time.
Fist Fighting
I’ll never forget the look on my Dad’s face the first time he saw my husband, Joe, raise his fist at me.
