Welcome! My name is Vanessa. Thank you for visiting Saturday Morning Coffee. If you’re a creative soul, an overtired mom, someone who feels things deeply or overthinks pretty much everything, I hope you may find value in, or least relate to, some of the content you’ll find here.
When the Sun Came Out Again
She was born during a snow storm in the middle of December in upstate New York, where the winters are long and grey. Returning home with her from a week-long NICU stay was the start of one of the most trying times in my life. I was relieved to have her home. Relieved that she was... Continue Reading →
The biggest writing mistake I’ll never make again…
Urban Dictionary defines a "troll" as someone who deliberately pisses people off in an online newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption, argument, or to get a reaction. Seasoned writers know to avoid interaction with these people at all costs. However, I'm fairly new at this. I recently had a personal essay published... Continue Reading →
My dear hyper-sensitive daughter, I feel for what you’re in for
My dear baby girl, I see it starting. When I put your jacket on and your sleeve bunches up and you scream and shake your head. When I walk away from you for a brief moment and your bottom lip curls under and tears well up in your eyes. When the laughter of others around... Continue Reading →
But, I Don’t Dance Like you Dance
How was I the last to know? I must have been so engulfed in the sleepless nights of a two month old that I missed the memorial Facebook posts and mournful tributes to your life. There were thousands of miles and year's worth of living between us, but after hearing of your passing almost a... Continue Reading →
Christmas — Filled with Fortune, Fraught with Guilt
🎶"It's Christmas time."🎵 The first line of a Christmas classic by charity music group 'Band Aid 30' rings through the car speakers. I fight the urge to change the station even though I know that dreaded verse is coming... "And the Christmas bells that ring there, are the clanging chimes of doom. Well tonight thank... Continue Reading →
When You Think You’ve Got it Together, but Nope
I didn't write the book on "the new mom feeling of failure". It's not a new concept by any means, but the past few months I've been extremely hard on myself. Like, way worse than normal and should be acceptable. I basically feel like an epic mess in every aspect of life and motherhood. Dog... Continue Reading →
Mondays Hurt
"You shouldn't live your life for the weekends", they say. But right now, I do. When I arrive at my office on Monday mornings, a giant void fills me and I'm already counting the hours to 4pm. It's not because I hate my job. It's not because my nights and weekends are filled with spontaneity... Continue Reading →
The Hole in my Heart Where Home Used to Be
— *at home 1 : relaxed and comfortable : at ease This morning, Facebook reminded me that exactly one year ago was the last time I set foot in the house I considered home for nearly 30 years. Two years after my parents put it on the market, the sign on the lawn now read... Continue Reading →
A letter to Grandpa, in Heaven
Originally written in Cocoa Florida, April, 2012 A rainy day in a place where you spent so much of your life seems like a good day for reflection. One of my deepest sorrows in life is not having gotten to know you longer—to have shared more of my life with you. All I really have... Continue Reading →
Tiny Human
I stand leaning over the side of your crib, forearms resting on the hard plastic frame. At least I think it’s plastic—or some other man-made material that they texturize and paint to make it look like wood. Because nothing is actually made from real wood anymore—at least not anything that new parents can afford. Real and... Continue Reading →
