My Mother Called Me “Damaged Goods” at My Sister’s Baby Shower—Then My Five Children Walked Through the Door

question caught me off guard.

“Yes.”

“You sure?”

I looked around our kitchen.

Crayons covered part of the refrigerator.

Ava’s drawings hung from cabinets.

Someone had left a stuffed dinosaur in the fruit bowl.

Life surrounded me.

Messy.

Loud.

Beautiful.

“Yes,” I said.

“I think I finally am.”

Three days later my father called again.

This time I answered.

Silence filled continue reading …