Family Archives | Word & Sole

peaceful woman arms above her head, de-stress this holiday season

8 Ways To De-Stress When The Holidays Get Overwhelming

By: Marisa Donnelly December 27, 2018

Family, Holidays, Self-Carede-stress this holiday season, how to beat holiday stress, tips for stress free holidays, tips to avoid holiday stress, tips to de-stress, tips to de-stress this holiday seasonLeave a Comment

Find a ‘safe haven.’

lessons in 'parenting,' being a mom, mother holding child by beach

9 Beautiful Lessons I’ve Learned ‘Parenting’ Someone Else’s Child

By: Marisa Donnelly December 11, 2018

Family, Momish'parenting', being a 'mom', boyfriend has child from previous relationship, how to be in a relationship with someone who has a child, how to parent someone else's children, parenting someone else's children, parenting someone else's kids1 Comment

‘Parenting’ has been one of my big journeys, and in the ups, downs, and moments of celebration and chaos, here are 9 things I’ve learned.

Remembrance

By: Marisa Donnelly March 30, 2018March 30, 2018

Family, Home, Spilled ThoughtsFamily, Home, Memory, moments, reflection, remembering, remembranceLeave a Comment

When I think of home, I think of how the sounds and emotions of a place become natural, so much so that anything else feels foreign at first.

I Know If Your Mama Was Still Alive, She Would Be So Proud Of You

By: Marisa Donnelly February 27, 2018April 1, 2018

Death, Family, Homeaccepting death, Death, Home, losing a loved one, loss & death, Love, mama, mama's love, Marisa Donnelly, mother's love, understanding death

I know she is looking down on you, and beaming with pride.

I Thought Of My Nana Today

By: Marisa Donnelly April 29, 2016March 27, 2018

Family, HomeFamily, grandma, grandmother, memories, Nana, Pain, reflection, thoughts2 Comments

I was reminded, suddenly, of my late grandmother. One whom I can only remember from pictures.

An Open Letter to My (Not So Baby) Sister as She Heads Off to College

By: Marisa Donnelly December 21, 2015June 18, 2018

College, FamilyCollege, Family, little sisters, saying goodbye, siblings, sistersLeave a Comment

Did you know that the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do was say goodbye?

family goofing around in front of Waldorf College sign

Thank You For Being You: An Open Letter to My Mom & Dad

By: Marisa Donnelly December 10, 2015June 18, 2018

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Last night I sat at a desk in the local library, my computer open to a spreadsheet titled “Budget” and tears streaming down my face. The true definition of adulting.

What I’ve Learned From My Father’s Tears

By: Marisa Donnelly August 10, 2013April 1, 2018

Familyemotional men, father, father-daughter relationships, heart, Love, men that cry, Pain, sadness, sensitive men, Strength, tears, women raised by sensitive fathersLeave a Comment

It breaks me to watch my father cry. Men crying has a way of making me feel tender, making me feel just as vulnerable and afraid. But watching him, I can not associate crying with weakness. He cries because he is strong; because he is so strong that only some things can break him. Broken, yet not weak.