Q03

Think about a major milestone that happened with your family this past year. How has this affected you?

My Aunt Pat passed away this May. Even though I knew it was coming, it tore away the scabs around the loss of my own mother. It is one more woman of an generation above me who is gone, one less place to look for for comfort. On the other hand it has brought me closer to my cousin, which is a good thing and would make both of our mothers proud.

My daughter started kindergarten, and my son moved to a new daycare along with her. It's been an adjustment, and my wife and I can't believe the time has gone so fast. But everyone's happier, and it's been amazing to watch them both thrive.

I got pregnant and gave birth to my baby boy. We tried and had two miscarriages and then I finally got pregnant and thought holy shit what have I done. Especially when my husband got busy with work. I was afraid I would be on my own again to care for a baby. But he has really really helped me out this time. Through pregnancy and with the little guy. I am so grateful. I am relinquishing control to him and in regards to breastfeeding so I feel freer even with the responsibility of having a baby to care for.

I realized I can take space from my family and that I can choose to not allow them to overstep my boundaries, and they will still love me. We get along really well now.

My son's bar mitzvah has forced me to transform as a parent; an increasingly independent person, requiring me to step back and change how I parent.