Monthly Mercies: May
Books about middle age, spring uniform, and doctor's office stickers for moms
Hello, friend.
Yesterday, I took my three year-old in for some lab work. Phoebe is generally averse to all things medical, and blood draws are a clear standout for her least favorite medical activity. I gathered her up into my lap and held her tight as our very kind phlebotomist talked Phoebe through the process.
I am not a squeamish person in general and don’t mind needles, but it turns out that blood draws for Phoebe are a standout for least favorite medical activity for me as well. Sitting in that big chair with my quietly crying girl, I couldn’t wait for the procedure to be over.
One of the hardest things for me as a mom is witnessing my kids’ pain or even discomfort. Blood draws are rough. Broken bones break my heart. Relational strife at school just about does me in. I don’t always bear those burdens well with my children, but I am learning that it is actually a privilege to carry heavy things alongside them. I gain perspective on their resilience and strength in a way I don’t see quite so clearly when it’s all smooth sailing.
As Phoebe finished the blood draw, the phlebotomist handed her two stickers, smiling as she said “One for you, Phoebe! And one for Mom!”
I proudly gave Phoebe a hug. She gave me one right back. Because we both were great.
What a mercy.
April Reads
The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict
The premise of this novel was so much fun—Dorothy Sayers joins up with four other mystery writers (including Agatha Christie) to create a secret club called the Queens of Crime. What starts as an effort to prove themselves formidable against their male author counterparts turns into a real murder investigation where the ladies must put their murder-research skills to the test. I enjoyed this twist on a murder mystery and found myself googling often to see which pieces of the story came from real events.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld
I had been eagerly awaiting this new collection of short stories and it did. not. disappoint. Show Don’t Tell is a collection of stories about mostly middle-aged women, navigating the ups and downs of their lives, marriages, art, and friendships. The highlight for me was the story that re-visited Prep’s protagonist, but I loved the wit and depth of the entire collection. Also there was a story set right in my neighborhood!
My Goodreads rating: 5/5
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
This was my book club’s April pick and had been on my TBR since it came out! This novel follows Lady Tan, a 15th century woman in China, throughout the decades of her life. She is born into an elite family, is married into another elite family, and is a physician trained by her grandmother. Much of the book is about Lady Tan pushing boundaries of societal norms as she seeks to practice medicine while also trying to meet the expectations for women at the time (which mostly means giving birth to a son). I loved that the foundation of the book was the importance of the female relationships in her life and found the history pieces to be fascinating, which is very similar to how I felt about the other Lisa See book I’ve read, The Island of Sea Women.
My Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars
Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping [On a Dead Man] (Vera Wong, #2) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
The follow-up to Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers I’ve been waiting for is here! Vera is a 60 year-old tea shop owner in San Francisco’s Chinatown who has a knack for inserting herself into murder cases. In this installment Vera is digging into the death of a social media star while also managing to bring everyone with an attachment to him under her wing. I love Vera. She’s meddling, hilarious, and is constantly winning people over with her delicious cooking. These books delight me.
My Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars
Tilda Is Visible by Tara Jane
Tilda is in her fifties, has been divorced for five years, and one day she suddenly starts…disappearing. It begins with her hand, then her nose quickly follows suit. Though she runs a successful business, is a devoted mother to her adult children, and has close friendships, Tilda is diagnosed with invisibility, a condition that affects many women of her life stage. Tilda embarks on a journey to try to reverse her illness that requires her to consider much about herself and how she views the world. I’d never read anything quite like this novel before and I think it would be great for a book club discussion!
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
April Bakes
April Words
I shared my poem from Issue 22 of Part-Time Poets on Instagram in April. Shoutout to all the broad-shouldered girlies. Read the full issue here!
April Favorites
Phoebe and I have been listening to Ellie Holcomb’s new spring album on repeat lately. We also got the accompanying picture book for Phoebe’s Easter basket and it’s beautiful.
Speaking of spring, you know I love a seasonal hand soap. This hydrangea scent is my current favorite.
This reel compiling some of the bookmarks that have been left in books in the Glasgow School of Art Library is the exact kind of content love. And apparently I’m not alone in this, because they made a part two due to popular demand!
I bought this vintage-style t-shirt in blue and then wore it *several* days in one week, wishing I had more of them. Realized we have Old Navy rewards for this purpose so I ordered it in three more colors. This is my spring uniform now. No ragrets.
Speaking of no ragrets, we got Ollie this tiny waving tube man for his birthday and he is just the most delightful little guy.
Maybe too early to say this, but I think this might be the beer of the summer.
🎶This month's newsletter was written while listening to:
Sounds from the Heart of the Woods- Kasey Musgraves
I'll see you back here on the first Friday in June! Until then, you can find me on Instagram.
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I hope your May is full of new mercies. Take care of yourselves, friends.
Love how you’re owning that sticker 👏🏽
I keep checking my Libby, hoping I’m moving up in the Show Don’t Tell waitlist. I can’t wait to read. And Go Phoebe! And her mom. Way to be strong! ❤️