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As a mom and a part-time teacher, I need summer break. I need to sleep later than 5:20 am, which is when my alarm goes off from mid-August through May. I need to have a more relaxed schedule and not be bound by the limits of the school day. I need to not have to […]

The life-work balance for mothers is often jagged during the summer vacation, especially in July. “Life is like a jigsaw puzzle, you have to see the whole picture, then put it together piece by piece!” ― Terry McMillan

When I consider the qualities a mother should have, my own mother serves as the template: she’s supportive, nurturing, still an open ear and a fount of gentle wisdom as I navigate my twenties. She embodies the warmth and comfort that society has long associated with—and demanded of—mothers, but not fathers. But when I read […]

When I became a mother in 2004, I had grand unrealistic expectations for myself and the new journey I was on. I completely bought into the notion that I would love every second of motherhood and that it would fulfill me in all possible ways. Even though I had watched my own wonderful mother experience […]

The myth of you eddiesat your arrival.If it’s trueyou could never drownno matter the riptideswirl of ocean or river.No nagging fearof the lake’s silent summer edge. But it’s winterwhen you’re born.A polar vortex hoversover the state and stays.The door knobs insidefuzz over with ice. The skyclear and too coldto draw water to itself. In another […]

April is National Poetry Month and of course, a great reason to celebrate poets who happen to also be mothers. The National Poetry Foundation has shared several poems highlighting themes associated with motherhood. Here are a few3 that resonated with me. I hope they are meaningful to you, too.   Toi Derricote’s “In Knowledge of Young […]

Thank you for participating in our “Mama And…” prompt series! Our February prompt was “Mama And … Relaunching”.   Check out our prompts each month, giving you the chance to voice experiences and thoughts on a whole range of topics related to being both Literary and/or a Mama. April’s prompt is: Mama And … Spring Cleaning […]

The Ides of March have been and gone and we’re heading onwards into spring. Here at Literary Mama we hope your month of March has held some enjoyable slices of time, perhaps in celebrating Mardi Gras, March Madness, International Women’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, or the Northern Hemisphere’s First Day of Spring.

What have your memorable March moments been this year?

Pen Parentis is hosting a Literary Salon on March 11, 2025 (7 pm ET/4 pm PT) titled “From Page to Screen,” and Literary Mama is invited! The Pen Parentis Literary Salon is a monthly series with multiple goals including shattering stereotypes about parent writers and promoting their creative work. The March salon features four parents–Trey […]

I watch you now, my son, and it feels as though time is playing tricks on me. You are the baby I rocked to sleep and the boy who pulls away from my touch, eager to prove his independence. How strange it is that you can embody both—the child I knew and the one I’m […]

Final weeks of this month might feel flustered as we remember all that we still need to do before February turns to March. In this vein, apologies for the writing deadlines in this month’s blog appearing to be last minute. There are some good ones though, so don’t click away yet.