The Loyalty of Water: Alphabet Fridge Magnets

Editor’s note: Kristina was one of the first people I asked to join this project (full disclosure: we were college roommates), and I was thrilled when she said yes, mostly because I know just how busy full time work can be. She’s also got a toddler. I wasn’t expecting anything of great length, but as anyone familiar with her writing knows, short forms have never held her back. So I was, I'll admit, expecting greatness. But I wasn’t expecting what I did get, however, which was a very excited text suggesting that we curate her Facebook posts. I was in love with the idea immediately.

As you’ll get to see, Kristina makes the most of tiny spaces and snippets of time. Everything you read below was a status update, no editorial privilege exercised beyond curating the collection. It was a pleasure to work with her to create this snippet of 21^st century writing in a time of motherhood.

Alphabet fridge magnets make me feel very much a mom. 8/26/13

In my last decade I learned to love ideas -- the complex, subversive, utopian kinds. Thus far, the present decade invites me to ground those ideals in the love of people -- the real and particular kinds. May my heart accept this invitation without restraint. 10/17/13

how can such a tiny, bright, funny, charming, loving, gorgeous creature instigate such a tremendous amount of exhaustion for her progenitors? 11/9/13

I was asked to write a personal mission statement: "I act now--no matter what--to cultivate a safe, inspiring, and happy world." What do you think? 11/21/13

Someone has learned to say "I love you." Heart melt. 12/4/13

It occurred to me yesterday that Mak's occasional tantrums present beautiful opportunities for us to communicate that it's ok for her to feel a full range of emotions, to try out her own little strategies for soothing discomfort, and to come to us for help when needed. Feeling excited, even inspired, by this fierce phase of life and the foundation of emotional safety we will (hopefully, more or less) help her build. 12/9/13

Eze on the imminent holiday: "woohoo, we're gonna have fun! I have some goat meat to cook!" Married to a Nigerian... 12/23/13

Bless you, toddler, for teaching me tolerance (as she licks off the floor the rice she just dumped there). 1/4/14

Scotland YES! (and then also let me come back and stay forever, please) 1/7/14

Excited about the birthday gift I've gifted myself: three books by Joanna Macy! 1/9/14

Self-blessing as I contemplate my birthday: May my heart continue to grow and soften and my mind rest with ease and poise. May I greet all experience with interest and kindness, aware that each pleasure or pain is fleeting and allowing it to be just what it is. May I dwell less in the trance of craving -- to achieve, to be my own version of a rock star, to escape or cast out, to live in the world as I feel so certain it should be... When I am overcome, may I not harm myself or others by acting out of confusion. May I recognize confusion as a signal for investigation and compassion. May I recognize all beings as my true friends. May I live without resistance in the world just as it is. 1/10/14

Savoring the feeling of having found the next bend in my path. 1/14/14

Eze had to travel to DC today and I'm experiencing firsthand why he can never seem to clean the house and watch Mak at the same time. 1/16/14

...and today I want to move to Portland. Strange that my winter relocation fantasies have me heading to gray northern cities (the other being Glasgow, of course). Is it because the locals there know how to beat the winter blues? 1/22/14

The whole practicing right speech thing is sometimes really tough! 1/23/14

And today I feel held by the rabble rousers. The fierce truth tellers and gentle lovers who teach that to be radical is to dig for the root under this present ground. So whatever structures you are navigating now, may you feel the basic goodness of your own heart as it inclines towards light and life and union. May all be safe, heard and hearing, well cared for and well caring, free from all harm, joyous in this human life. 1/31/14

Setting an intention to think and talk about my body, as it is now, with respect and love, for my sake and Mak's. Please feel free to gently remind me if you hear otherwise. 2/3/14

"Little girls are cute and small only to adults. To one another they are not cute. They are life-sized." -Margaret Atwood 2/3/14

I'm sooooo not the mama I thought I would be. But I kind of love the mama I am. 2/6/14

Kristina Nell Weaver is a Charlottesville-based writer, community organizer and mama. A Marshall Scholar, she holds a PhD in English and Geography from the University of Glasgow, where she also studied Creative Writing. She blogs at http://waveandwater.wordpress.com/. 

Comments

[L.A. Kurth]

Oh, this is so lovely! I'm so glad I read it.

[Kim Haynes]

Wow, Kristina, you could have been posting about life with my almost 2 1/2 year old daughter (whose hair is almost as enthusiastically curly as your daughter's)! Your posts spoke to my heart!