Author Archives: Erin Moulton

I first wrote this little essay for a group of mothers on Friday afternoon, the last official day of Lent in the Eastern Orthodox tradition – the Christian tradition of my family and many of my dearest friends. It’s a reflection from my heart at that moment, as we look towards what is normally aContinue reading “On making memories this week”

In a muddle of both joy and sorrow, I raced to two stores last Friday afternoon. At the craft store, I made a beeline to the floral section and grabbed some wet foam. At my grocery I disinfected my hands at the door and found three dozen roses and some frozen shrimp for dinner. OneContinue reading “The tyranny of the unknown”

It’s March 17. It’s a day when most of the United States has big parties to celebrate St. Patrick of Ireland. Green clothing, green rivers, shamrocks, beer, soda bread . . . it’s a day to do all the Irish things. It’s March 17. For much of the Orthodox Christian world, it’s a day toContinue reading “Doing the crazy thing”

I love a beautiful table filled with rich, delicious food in a cozy home on a special day. I love almost everything about it – the extra labor of cooking from scratch, pulling out the good china and silverware, filling a vase with flowers, coordinating the colors, deciding who will have to sit in theContinue reading “On the agency of giving thanks”

Poetry is a big part of my parenting plan. We aren’t good about cleaning the bathroom, and we can’t keep matched socks in the drawers at all. But we do read and write poetry. We all have goals for our kids right? Hopefully those goals fall more in the category of lofty overarching aspirations likeContinue reading “Poetry sons”

For Wisława I prefer red shoes.I prefer keeping old friends.I prefer tea with honey.I prefer not holding a grudge.I prefer long conversations.I prefer telling it like it is.I prefer certain kinds of white lies.I prefer gold leaf.I prefer the ocean, even on a cloudy day.I prefer irises to roses.I prefer Rublev to Rembrandt.I prefer MalevichContinue reading “For Wisława”

If you are a mom of sons, you may recognize this story. It’s one that tends to repeat itself, at least in my life. In fact, it has repeated itself three times in the last two weeks for me – in three unconnected settings, with two different sons. Your son is out playing with aContinue reading “Big things”