A complicated love story: me and my mom

I sat down to write an essay for the e-book “Stories I’ve Only Told my Mom” and I struggled.  I was aiming to document a personal experience between myself and my mother — one that was telling about our relationship. What could I talk about that wouldn’t overly embarrass one of us?

Hmmm, I stared at a blank screen for a while. Then I started writing. Little stories, big stories, emotions, stuff I totally wouldn’t share, and stuff that made me laugh poured into my tiny laptop.

Though aiming for a 750-word essay, I was now staring at 2,400 words. Oops. My two trusted editors, Alec and Whitney, helped me find the one funny, telling (but not too telling) story in the bunch.

My short story is about a very special day in eighth grade that I’ve relived over and over for years. And about my mom’s unwavering generosity and creativity. And yes, it’s less than 1000 words.

And now? Well now my little story, More Than a Bad Hair Day, is all grown up. It is part of a 16-essay anthology, compiled by Sarah Bryden-Brown, alongside amazing writers sharing their own poignant, thought-provoking, and occasionally hilarious short stories for their mothers.

Awesome, right? Please buy it for yourself, your girlfriends, and your own moms! For $4.99, you can get it on any digital platform or even print out the pdf and tie it with a ribbon. Or directly on Kindle.

Who else is in there? These fine women:

Laura Mayes  – Blog con Queso
Susan Petersen – Freshly Picked
Meg Keene – Practical Wedding, Reclaiming Wife
Katie Allison Granju –  mamapundit.com
Amber Doty – The Daily Doty
Heather Spohr – The Spohrs Are Multiplying
Catherine Connors – Her Bad Mother
Brittany Gibbons –  Barefoot Foodie
Michelle Horton – Early Mama
Meagan Francis – The Happiest Mom
Monica Bielanko – The Girl Who
Liz Stanley – Say Yes To Hoboken
Amy Thompson – Progressive Pioneer
Jane Roper
Erin Loechner – Design for Mankind

I’m very proud to be included among them. I hope my mama will be proud too.