• Motherhood

    The Day my Heart Multiplied

    “How am I going to do it?” I cried “I don’t think I can handle it!” It was the night before delivering my second child via C-section. Doubts and fears flooded my mind as I held my two-and-a-half-year-old girl. “What are you talking about?” asked my mom. “How will I be able to divide my heart in two now?” I responded. My mother smiled and placed her hand over mine. “Honey, the love in a mother’s heart doesn’t get divided, it multiplies!” Peace invaded my heart and calmed my restless mind. Early the next morning, I walked into the hospital with newfound confidence and calm. A few hours later, I…

  • Lecciones de Vida

    ¿Sabes Descansar en Movimiento?

    El cielo azul se confundía con la cristalina agua marina en el horizonte. Mi amiguita y yo subimos a la lancha cargadas de toallas, anteojos de sol, bronceador, y cámara para captar cada momento de tan esperada aventura. Era la primera vez en mis trece años que mi papá me dejaba pasar el fin de semana con mi mejor amiga y su familia. Su papá era un ávido pescador, y esa invitación a pescar en alta mar era una experiencia imposible de rechazar. Nos acomodamos en la punta de la lancha como estrellas de cine. Cerré los ojos, disfrutando del aire marino golpeando suavemente mi cara. Deseaba que ese día…

  • Life Lessons

    HELP

    “Grandma, why did you do that?” Embarrassment sent heat to my face and punched me in the pit of my stomach. “What?” she responded. “I just wanted to look at the baby.” “You can’t just stop a stranger in a store to look at her baby and then tell her that her baby looks interesting!” I tried to reason with her. “Well, I was just being honest,” she declared “You know newborns are ugly and I didn’t want to be rude!” “But grandma, you need to be careful with what you say,” I pleaded. “Remember yesterday?” “How was I supposed to know that the gentleman at the restaurant was having…

  • The Other Side of Medicine

    Carla’s Rollercoaster Ride

    “Thanks for picking me up, again. I need a new car,” Carla grumbled as she got in her friend Alex’s car.” “Luckily all I have in my agenda today is a boring appointment with my dentist.” Alex offered to wait outside so they could go to lunch afterwards. “I’m so sorry, Carla,” the dentist said as he held her hand. “But that is not a cold sore on your tongue. It’s cancer.” Carla’s chair turned into a monster roller coaster that turned upside down and flipped around. She gripped the arm rests to keep from passing out. “You need surgery to remove it. Additionally, you might require chemotherapy and radiation.…

  • Life Lessons

    Are You a Back Seat Rider?

    “Tell me another story Gigi!” the girls asked with praying hands. One of the things they enjoyed the most was getting tucked into bed by one of their grandmothers and hearing stories about their mom and dad as children. “Your mom always wanted to ride in the front seat,” my mother said as she settled in the sofa. “This was before seat belts or car seats.” The girls covered their open mouths with their little hands. “She urged your granddad to pass all the cars because she wanted to get to our destination quickly. And she never stopped asking “Are we there yet? How much longer?” My youngest one shook…