kelly corrigan

Kelly Corrigan writes about motherhood with such acute wisdom. She illuminates the joy and heartache, the mundane and magic. Her books are meditations on what matters most. As I read them, I laughed out loud in recognition. I cringed, cried, and felt deep gratitude to the way she captures the emotional landscape of family.

Inspiration from the Global Village

“My default answer to everything is no. As soon as I hear the inflection of inquiry in your voice, the word no forms in my mind, sometimes accompanied by a reason, often not. Can I open the mail? No. Can I wear your necklace? No. When is dinner? No. What you probably wouldn’t believe is how much I want to say yes…I am your mother, the first mile of your road. Me and all of my obvious and hidden limitations. That means that in addition to probably wrecking you, I have the chance to give you what was given to me: a decent childhood, more good memories than bad, some values, a sense of a tribe, a run at happiness. You can’t imagine how seriously I take that – even as I fail you. Mothering you is the first thing of consequence that I have ever done.”

Kelly Corrigan, Lift

film friday: emily rapp

Emily Rapp speaks about her son Ronan and her new memoir...

emily rapp

Emily Rapp's book, The Still Point of the Turning World, is a haunting and inspiring memoir about one woman's reflections on motherhood, from a mother whose young son is dying. Her words are poetic, focused, tender, grief-soaked and poignant. There are heart-piercing insights on profound and meaningful ideas: loss and love, life and purpose, science and religion, now and forever. I encourage you to read this truly beautiful book.

Inspiration from the Global Village

"This desire to pack the days full of meaning and memory was another kind of ambition: there was always something more you could say, do, become, always a reach for the 'what next?'. Sitting with Ronan on the couch, I often thought, How can I make this moment more precious? and then I'd realize with a sense of panic that no additional meaning needed to be sought or found. This was all there was."
Emily Rapp