by Beth Woolsey -

Nothing is better than a mommy.

Today, I’m privileged to be guest posting in honor of Mother’s Day at Medical Teams International. 

I work part-time at Medical Teams International because their mission – to demonstrate the love of Christ to people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty around the world – owns my heart. In a world where atrocities exist, where people hurt each other, and where the very Earth can heave and buckle and betray the people who depend on it, I am honored to be part of the amazing work of healing the sick, caring for the poor, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. This is part of the life to which I’m called and a glimpse deep inside my heart’s desire. ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

The Kid Who Doesn’t Sleep

I’m sitting in bed right now…

(OK, I’m not actually sitting in bed right now, because it’s 5:30 in the afternoon. I mean, I wish I was in bed right now, but my kids expect me to involved and aware and stuff. Their expectations regularly and seriously cut into my more natural lazy tendencies. Kids are, like, extrinsic motivation personified. ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

Riding the Wheel

“Count Leo Tolstoi, the Russian novelist, now rides the wheel,
much to the astonishment of the peasants on his estate.”
Scientific Amercian
April 18, 1896

Gosh, I know how those peasants feel.

Riding a bicycle balances risk and accomplishment on the very fine edge of a blade, and to send our small children intentionally down that path feels a lot like parenting, condensed. ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

The Velveteen Chair

I often sit in my 5-year-olds’ room at night while they fall asleep. I think about the day. And then I write. To you. To them. To God. To me.

Being here soothes my boys. That’s my excuse.

But being here soothes me, too.

One of my twin boys rockets to Land of Sleep so quickly I’m always stunned he doesn’t give himself a concussion when his head hits his pillow with such force. He doesn’t so much fall asleep – which implies a process – as he becomes sleep. The switch flips, and he is enthusiastically done with his day. ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

The Kindergarten Interview

Nine years ago, I took my eldest to her kindergarten admissions interview.

Abby was four years old, and she wore hot pink capri pants with sweet embroidered yellow flowers, white sandals, and a crisp white shirt with eyelet cap sleeves. Her hair was pulled back, half up and half down, and tied with a yellow ribbon the exact shade of the flowers on her pants. She was shy and darling and reluctant to answer any of her prospective principal’s questions, and it was hard to tell whether she or I was more nervous. Over and above everything, though, I remember thinking about what a miracle it was to see so much potential packed into a tiny 40 pound body, and also what a marvelous privilege it was to bear mama witness to yet another beginning in my baby’s life. ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

How to Catch the Common Cold

Guess what’s fun?

Writing while hopped up on Nyquil!

Who’s with me?

No one?

Fine. I’ll write this myself, then.

I suppose it was inevitable, with five kids at four schools, that I would catch the crud. And, as much as I like to think that I’m realistic and hard as nails the 3-day-old fossilized Cheerios that are probably permanently adhered to my kitchen table, apparently I’m a Pollyanna when it comes to illness. ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

No, I don’t have it figured out. YET.

I don’t know how the two 5-year-olds snuck huge battle sticks (read: tree limbs) into our van without my knowledge.

FYI, I also don’t know how those chunks of granola bar found their way into my undies that one time, either. While I was still wearing them. So I guess life is full of little mysteries.

But anyhoo…

I didn’t know I had two stick-wielders in my van until we were on the road and the battle began. ...  read more