On my morning walk in town, I see a man on

a fire escape, smoking a cigarette next to a giant

turquoise pot holding a sprawling plant. His

hair is unkempt, and his feet are bare, and I

wonder what he’s doing up there. Other than

smoking, of course. Because it’s wild to me

that even though we know smoking is terrible

for you, he perches, like a gargoyle, puffing

on that white cancer stick. And I wonder,

what terrible thing must have happened to have

him abandon his health and his body, to inhale

the smoke? Is he heartbroken? Is his anxiety

spiking? Is there something about this ritual

that helps him get dressed and get out of bed

and go to work or wherever there are people

waiting for him? And I wonder what his story

is. And I wonder, what it is that he’s carrying.

And I wonder, how many of us stop to think

about that when we encounter one another? 

What would this world be like if we did?

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Hi Friends! Are you ok out there? Staying cool, I hope? It’s a casual 98 degrees as I write this, and I think I melted as I took my son to swim lessons this morning when I was walking in the parking lot. We are quite lucky to live close to beaches, and both my parents and my sister have pools, so we’re staying cool. But I hope everyone else is, too. Heat stroke is no joke — so be sure to take precautions, and drink even more water than you already do!

Last weekend, we went to Chicago and Lake Michigan to visit some family, and it was an absolute delight. This ocean gal was pleasantly surprised by the wonder and the beauty that is Lake Michigan, and I do say, we’ll be back again! The vibes of lake life are ones I can get behind during the summertime: laid-back, lots of laughter, and a go-with-the-flow attitude are where I’m at.

But, that’s enough about the Lake and the heat, let’s get into this week’s Friday Five:

1. YESTERYEAR, by Caro Claire Burke is one of the greatest books I have read in a long, long time. I brought it with me on the plane to Chicago (Friday), and finished it the day we returned to New York (Monday). And I have a four-year-old. And plenty of deadlines. But still, I was up till an ungodly hour getting to the end of the book. It’s that good. For those of you who don’t know, Yesteryear is a book about the life of Natalie Heller Mills, a tradwife raised in Idaho, who then decides to buy a farm with her husband’s inheritance, have nine children, and pretend to live off the land, even though they have no idea what they’re doing in regards to farming. Natalie is rooted in an evangelical upbringing and is, more often than not, her own worst enemy. It’s enthralling, it’s upsetting, it’s intriguing, and it’s a phenomenal capture of not only the “tradwife” movement, but what happens when women grow up in communities where there is no choice. No permission slip to live the way you want. No picture of what it means to have a different life than the one your mother and your grandmother chose. Now, I don’t want to tell you anything else about the book, because I want you to read it. But I’ll leave you with this — if you read the reviews, you’ll think you’ll hate her. But really, at the end of the book, she broke my heart. I felt bad for her. And that’s a testament to the writing of Burke, creating a character that’s layered. I’d encourage you to buy the book via Bookshop, as it supports independent bookshops everywhere!

2. This Tubby Todd Sunscreen Stick was a hit this trip! It fits in your bag, and it’s good for kids and adults alike, and it’s a mineral brand! We’re very particular with sunscreen in our household, as everyone has sensitive skin. I rounded up all my sunscreen favorites on ShopMy, which you can get here.

3. This essay by about opting out of all the things that we’re somehow trained to think we should do as mothers is fantastic. The line about the nightly reset was one that I applied to my own life last night. My kitchen counters were, in fact, cluttered this morning. But you know what? My husband and I had a cup of tea, cuddled on the couch, and watched a brilliant episode of The West Wing (Jed Bartlett for America forever!) There are currently dirty dishes in the sink as I write this, but instead of clearing them when I’m finished, we’re going to have a movie picnic in our living room as we eat sushi for dinner. (10/10 would recommend!) I don’t know where we learned this idea that we’re supposed to do the more difficult thing in motherhood, but I appreciate the way Courtney illuminates how we can choose what to pour our energy into, and what we say no to, and not have a single shred of guilt about our decisions. (I, too, would opt for the snack bar!) Read it here.

4. DSW is having an epic sale - and I picked up two summer sandals that I’m lowkey obsessed with: these sandals from Vionic, and these flip flops from Aerosoles. (And yes, I’m in my, I need cute footwear that also won’t kill my feet era. I’m not mad about it.) Everything was on sale — so don’t miss out!

5. This piece by , “Whose Work Wins,”is something I feel like I could’ve written myself. I feel like she was listening to my inner thoughts. It felt like she was sitting at my dining room table. (Spoiler alert, she was not!) But the thing is, as someone who is the default parent, as someone who has work that more often pays in potential than dollars, this resonated with me more than I can eloquently explain. She speaks to something I think about often: there needs to be more space, more conversations, more thought about the women who want to continue building their careers and who also like being hands-on with their children. We’re taught that they cannot coexist, that one is either a stay-at-home mother or a work-outside-the-home mother, when, really, I think more people fall into a grey area. More mothers who feel like they don’t want to pick a side — and who could use a little more support from where they stand in the middle. The moral of this little blurb? Be sure to check out .

That’s it for this week! Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend.

xo,
Megan

Is there good news you want to share? Art/music/television/essays that made your week a little bit better? A toy/recipie that the kids love? A writer that could use an extra dose of applause? Share them in the comments, I’d love to read all about them.

As always, thank you for being here. If you liked this poem, consider sharing it. Or hit that ♥️ button. Or become a free or paying subscriber. (Or you could do all three!) All of those actions help others find their way to this corner of the internet and support this work.

There are affiliate links throughout this piece. I stand by the fact that I will never recommend something that I don’t already have/love. If you purchase something through these links, I do get a small commission, at no cost to you! And if you too want to get into affiliate marketing, consider making a ShopyMy account, you can start today!

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I have hair on my big toe. Yes, that is the most unsexy thing I have ever written in my life — but alas, it’s true. And when I was old enough to realize that such a thing was deemed unattractive (a la, in middle school), I started shaving my big toe.

One summer, when we were at the beach, my best friend looked down at my toe, and marveled in horror - Oh my god, do you shave your toes?

I don’t remember what I said, as it was over twenty years ago. But even writing this memory, I remember feeling utterly embarrassed. I wanted to run away into the ocean, or somehow sink into the sand, or both. I felt ugly. I felt othered. I felt confused as to why my friend, whom I adored, would exclaim such a thing that she could’ve kept to herself.

Recently, one of my friends told me that her daughter doesn’t like her thighs. She says they’re too big. She says she wants pants that hide them. She’s ten years old and probably ninety pounds soaking wet. Another friend told me that her daughter came home and declared that she no longer liked her brown, curly hair. That, in order to be pretty, she should have straight, blonde hair. She’s eight. Eight.

When I heard these stories, I thought of my hair toe. I thought of how I was embarrassed about my bigger breasts when I was in middle school, so I would use a wired bra with a sports bra layered on top to make my chest seem smaller like my friends. (Insane, I know.) I thought about how I also wanted blonde hair when I was younger, and at one point, I tried Sun-In. But then my mother saved me from a head of orange hair and said, “Absolutely not.” She told me my hair is stunning and that one day, I’d appreciate it. She told me that I was blessed, and that one day, I’d appreciate my boobs, too.

And, yes, she was right.

But that doesn’t mean comments from others stopped when I was an adult. It just means you get better at filtering them out. But has anyone stopped to think about why that is a skill that we have to perfect? Why can’t we, especially as women, get better at cheering one another on? Why must we try to illuminate one another’s imperfections?

I wish I had a neat and tidy answer for you, I really do. All I know is that even though we’ve gotten better about being less horrible to one another, we still have a long way to go.

It makes my head spin knowing that I have nieces in my life who are already criticizing their appearance. Their thighs. Their hair texture. Color. The size of their jeans.

And they’re some of the lucky ones, as they have families and friends and people in their lives who champion their brilliance. Their humor. Their wit. And yes, they are also told they’re beautiful, just the way they are.

But even still, I think we need to be better to one another. I think we need to champion our friends in their successes, and be an ear to listen when they’re having a rough time. I think we should stop caring how other people mother, or what they do in their downtime, or how their marriage works, and spend more time worrying about what’s going on under our own roofs. I think that we need to mention our friends in a name full of opportunity, even when they’re not standing in it. I think we need to remind our daughters and our sons that what matters is their heart. That they should lead with their love. With their compassion. With their empathy. With their hope.

I think we need to teach our children that a person’s character is never based on how they look, but rather on how they make others feel — and I hope we strive to raise a generation that makes others feel seen, heard, and loved.

To leave a person a little bit brighter after they have left your presence? There’s just infinite beauty in that.

As always, thank you for being here. If you liked this poem, consider sharing it. Or hit that ♥️ button. Or become a free or paying subscriber. (Or you could do all three!) All of those actions help others find their way to this corner of the internet and support this work.

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We’re all just trying to get the kids to school

on time, & afford those blueberries, & make dinner

& tackle that laundry pile. We’re all just trying to

drink more water & get more exercise & eat more

protein. We’re all just trying to make more art &

write more poems & do the kind of work that will

leave this world a better place. We’re all just trying

to touch more grass & read more books & spend

a little more time with the people we love. We’re

all just trying to keep the promise we made to our

children, to our spouses, to our younger selves.

We’re all just trying to let go of the weight that

we have been carrying for far too long. To show

up. To let our softness be something to celebrate.

To love one another with our shadows & our light.

We’re all just trying, trying, trying to figure it out.

As always, thank you for being here. If you liked this poem, consider sharing it. Or hit that ♥️ button. Or become a free or paying subscriber. (Or you could do all three!) All of those actions help others find their way to this corner of the internet and support this work.

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Hi Friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful week. School is officially out for summer in New York, and we are deep in the throes of summer vacation! I’m talking pool days, beach days, park days, chalk days, sprinkler days, and going to the movies on rainy days. I’m talking barbecues, and lazy mornings, and easy crafts, and library reading challenges! (I love a library reading challenge!)

We’re currently heading out of town to visit some family in Chicago, so I’m excited for a little rest and relaxation this weekend, but really, I’m trying to hold onto that theme throughout the whole summer. Yes, of course, there’s work to do. But I think we (read: society as a whole), schedule ourselves within an inch of our lives. We fill every minute of every day, so much so that we forget to make room for living. For what we want. For spontaneity. For the twists and turns that life will inevitably bring. So, this summer, I’m trying to leave a little more white space in my calendar.

Now, let’s get into this week’s Friday Five:

1. There were a lot of rainy days this week, so I decided to take my son to Toy Story 5. Friends, it is a masterpiece. Yes, I said masterpiece. I was a little skeptical about how the franchise would manage to pull off yet another movie without making our eyes glaze over, but they did it! Toy Story 5 introduces “Lily”, essentially an iPad/tablet that our beloved Bonnie is using. It highlights the very real ways that technology stunts social growth, how we can often age our children prematurely when we hand a screen to them, and how the use of technology cannot come at the expense of being a well-rounded human. Yes, it’s important to learn how to use a computer, but that cannot come at the exclusion of knowing how to read. To write. To think beyond what the computer is telling you to do. To engage with a human, face-to-face. 10/10 would recommend Toy Story 5 — for kids and adults alike.

2. I purchased my son a little Grab & Go Sensory Dough from YOUNG + WILD and Friedman, as a gift for his preschool moving up ceremony, and I don’t know who likes it more, me or him. The Play-Doh is perfection. The little themed toys that come with each bundle are fantastic (we went with a dinosaur/jungle theme), and it TRAVELS. What’s not to love? I can’t wait to buy another bundle!

3. Last week, I announced the eleventh volume of one of the cabaret series that I produce, DUETS: The Concert Series, wherein future Broadway stars sing with their Broadway idols, people who have inspired them to join, and/or stay, in show business. Tickets are now on sale, and you can get $5 off your main dining room and bar rail seats here, with the code DUETS5. Stay up to date with cast and creative announcements by following along on Instagram @duetsconcertseries.

4. My FAVORITE SHEETS are on sale. I am constantly on the hunt for products that are both organic and functional — I started buying Boll and Branch when we purchased our home six years ago, and I’ve never looked back. And they are so fantastic that I’m only now just needing to get a new set. And that’s got nothing to do with quality, and everything to do with a preschooler who sometimes will walk around the house with remnants of food on their face. #iykyk. Use the code SUMMER for 20% off, with select styles up to 40%. They’re pricey, but they’re worth it.

5. is the Nora Ephron of the book world, and I will die on that hill. I’m about 50 pages away from being done with Great Big Beautiful Life, and let me tell you, you must read it. It’s delightful. It’s a little spicy. It’s thoughtful. In it, Alice Scott is competing with Hayden Anderson to write the biography of Margaret Ives. But it’s so much more than that. It’s about love, in all its forms. It’s about the legacies we leave and the stories we tell about the ones we’ve lost. It’s about the stories we tell ourselves about the experiences we’ve had. It’s a BEAUTIFUL depiction of what it means to be, not only a storyteller, but a human. 10/10 would recommend.

That’s it for this week!

xo,
Megan

As always, thank you for being here. If you liked this poem, consider sharing it. Or hit that ♥️ button. Or become a free or paying subscriber. (Or you could do all three!) All of those actions help others find their way to this corner of the internet and support this work.

There are affiliate links throughout this piece. I stand by the fact that I will never recommend something that I don’t already have/love. If you purchase something through these links, I do get a small commission, at no cost to you! And if you too want to get into affiliate marketing, consider making a ShopyMy account, you can start today!

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.

I was going to write an essay today about summer joy with preschoolers. With children. With yourself. I wanted to talk about giving yourself grace during these sunshine-filled months, and about finding ways to relish the white space in your calendar.

I wanted to write an essay about jumping in puddles after summer rain, and having movie picnics on your living room floor, and drawing with chalk until you and your children are covered in a rainbow of dust.

But then I read about how, earlier this month, the Texas Republican Party approved a non-binding platform resolution calling IVF “destructive” and focusing on “protecting” fetal life (read: controlling embryos). Now, let it be known that a non-binding measure is not law yet, but it provides a roadmap to make such laws happen. It opens the door. It pushes the conversation along.

And in this case, it’s alarming.

Considering that I am an IVF mother and someone who has a deep and personal understanding of what it means to undergo this process, the actions of the Texas Republican Party angered me to no end.

So, instead of an essay about summertime goodness, I wrote the following poem instead:

The good news, or rather, what is deserving of your (see what I did there? 😉), are the people who are already on the ground, working to make sure that this is just some fever dream of the GOP and does not actually become law.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• RESOLVE is the National Infertility and Family Building Association. They’re a 503b that’s been around since 1974, and they aim not only to provide emotional support to families looking to grow their families but also to provide credible information, and they fight anti-IVF legislation through advocacy work. They’re the best. Learn more here.

• writes : essays about IVF and infertility and what it all means, and she’s a journalist, so you know that she’s fact-checking like it’s her job. Because, well, that’s part of her job. And, on a personal note, as someone who has experienced quite a bit of embryo loss after the birth of my son, stories like Emma’s, where the seventh transfer worked, make me breathe a little easier. Maybe that’ll do the same for you, too. Maybe not. Either way, her essays are worth a read.

• writes , something everyone who thinks people who are willy nilly being callous and careless with embryos (let me assure you, they’re not), should read. And yes, you should read it too if you’re on the IVF road and want to pull over and find a new way of living (if it didn’t work out). And yes, sweet readers, sometimes, it doesn’t work out.

• is written by and , both journalists, and while they are both mamas, they are also both members of the infertility club. They cover a whole host of women’s health issues, and what it means to be doing IVF, IUI, and all that jazz. How beautiful it is that two friends who were under so much stress managed to make a business out of it? Talk about finding purpose in the pain! I’m in awe.

IVF is not for the faint of heart. I write about it quite a bit, because since starting out on the IVF road, I’ve experienced some crazy stuff. Lots of egg retrievals. Lots of transfers. Lots of loss. Lots of joy, too. And when I wrote about it online, I started getting hundreds and hundreds of messages from strangers and friends alike, thanking me for my words.

In reading my story, they felt a little more seen and a little less alone — and that, for me, is a reason to keep writing about all of this.

So, if you are grappling with infertility and IVF, and if you are worried about Republican legislation, I leave you with this: know that you are not alone. Know that you have every right to pursue the family of your dreams. Know that there are so many women who have walked this road before you, and a lot of them, I mean a lot of them, are happy to help and guide you in whatever feels right. Know that your relationship between you and your doctor is not Uncle Sam’s business.

Know that even though this feels unbearable at times, you are being made into something beautifully uncommon. So give yourself grace when you need it. And step away from the hamster wheel if you need a minute (or two or a whole year) to regroup. Whatever you do, make sure it’s what you want and what’s right for your family.

The rest of it? The political talking heads and the people with opinions who should leave them to themselves, and everyone who’s telling you to “just relax” or “if it’s supposed to happen, it’ll happen”? They’re white noise. Chaos and chatter that you should block out.

Because if you’ve never been down this road, you cannot get it.

And you, my IVF reader/warrior friend, get it. So surround yourself with people who understand it, too.

Do you have an IVF resource you want to share? A tip? A trick? A way of making this whole process a little easier for someone else? Feel free to share them below.

As always, thank you for being here. If you liked this poem, consider sharing it. Or hit that ♥️ button. Or become a free or paying subscriber. (Or you could do all three!) All of those actions help others find their way to this corner of the internet and support this work.

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Go back to school. Take the gap year. Travel to Italy and
stay with your family, who have been living abroad. Start
the side business, save more money than you spend,
leave your job in the corporate world, and then write that
book that you’ve been dreaming about. Say “no” to the 
proposal that doesn’t feel right. Wait for the one that does,
even if all your friends are getting married. Even if you go
to one too many parties by yourself. Even if the loneliness
feels like it's going to swallow you whole. Have the kids if
motherhood is calling you. Stop worrying about how old 
you are, and pay more attention if you want to take care
of a tiny person. A teenager. If you want to advise an adult.
Change your job. Your home. Your place on this globe.
Resist the notion that just because this is always how it's
been, that this is how it has to stay. Resist the urge to hold
onto whatever ghosts are haunting you from your past 
mistakes. Resist the urge to think that it’s too late to build
the life that you’ve always dreamt of. Did you wake up this
morning? Are you breathing in and out all day long?
Then it’s not too late. Then it’s about time you start.

As always, thank you for being here. If you liked this poem, consider sharing it. Or hit that ♥️ button. Or become a free or paying subscriber. (Or you could do all three!) All of those actions help others find their way to this corner of the internet and support this work.

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Happy Juneteenth, Friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful week thus far. Are you still floating because of the Knicks’ win? Because I am.

My best friend, my soul sister, is something of a superhuman. She brought my nephew to the parade this morning, and let me tell you, I was living vicariously through them as I feverishly tried to get some writing done. Next to my own mother, she’s someone I constantly look to for advice and guidance on how to mother. She is both firm and loving. She is both spontaneous and scheduled. She is the one who taught me about flexibility within structure, and she is the type of person who practices what she preaches. She is brilliant in her career, and in how she cultivates the strengths in each of her THREE children. I often tell her that when I grow up, I want to be just like her.

When she texted me a picture of her and my nephew at the parade yesterday, I wanted to weep with joy. His face was pure bliss, and hers was, too. It is most certainly a core memory that neither one of them will forget — and I’m just thrilled I got to witness it.

Life is beautiful, isn’t it?

Other than floating on a cloud of orange and blue, we’re settling into our summer rhythm. Lots of sleep. Lots of cuddles. Lots of time spent outside in the sun. We’re eating dinner outside on our little patio. We’re letting the small stuff go. We’re taking time for long walks and long conversations. We’re reading a lot of books. We’re painting, playing tag, and finding adventures in our own backyard.

And in the middle of all of that, I’m carving out time to write. To work on some shows I’m producing. To figure out affiliate marketing on ShopMy. To read (currently LOVING Great Big Beautiful Life, by Emily Henry). To learn how to straddle the balance of taking care of myself, and my son, and my marriage, and my friendships, and, and, and…

You get the picture. But I made a promise to myself this summer to find flexibility within structure, and enjoy the ebb and flow of what this season means, and to give myself heaps and heaps of grace when my perfectly planned summer day goes awry. And I hope you do the same for yourself, too.

Now, let’s get into this week’s Friday Five:

1. CHALK. Yes, chalk. Give me all the chalk. I want the drugstore chalk, the dollar store chalk, the Crayola chalk, all of it. Chalk is such a great way to spend time outside with your little ones. We play Tic Tac Toe. We draw pictures. We’re trying to learn hopscotch. I am never without chalk in my household, especially during the summer season, and if you have kiddos under eight, I suggest you get some chalk in bulk, too. Just trust me.

2. This podcast episode featuring on The Armchair Expert Podcast is a must-listen. For everyone. And yes, I mean everyone. It is heartfelt, it is raw, it is an honest conversation about so much of the drivel that dominated our news cycle in the 2024 election season, and what it means to be an addict. To love an addict. To have one in your family. It’s a story of resilience. Of courage. Of humility. Stream it right here.

3. You all know I’m a huge fan of the Good American brand. Their Summer Sale starts TOMORROW (and it ends July 5th), and my beloved yellow cardigan is 25% off with the code SUMMER! And so are my favorite wide-leg jeans. The entire site is 25% off until July 5th — don’t miss out.

4. We’re in summer mode here, and my son LOVES Uno. I’ve recently discovered the joy of UNO Splash, wherein you play UNO, but the cards are waterproof! (And it’s currently on sale at Target.) Perfect for the pool, the beach, and the picnic table, where your little ones will inevitably spill something. And they’re weighted a bit, so if it’s a little windy outside, they don’t fly away. And there’s a fun little travel clip that comes with them, so they’re perfect to put in your mama bag of tricks — #iykyk.

5. My friend wrote this beautiful piece about the NY Knicks, and what it means to be a New Yorker by transplant. And what this city has been like for the past couple of years, especially as a Jewish mom post October 7th. And it’s absolutely beautiful. And it’s heartwarming and heartbreaking. And it will leave you feeling like you just had coffee with a really good friend, because that’s the kind of energy Leah brings to everything she does. And yes, it does end with a poem that I wrote, which was quite the compliment. But it’s also another thing that I want to call attention to — it takes nothing to elevate the work of the writers/artists/creatives in your life. Or even the ones that you admire from afar. Sharing their work (and crediting them) means so much. It’s helpful not only to their spirit, but also to their livelihoods and their careers. So the next time you’re moved by something — be like Leah, and share it!

Till next week!

xo,
Megan

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As always, thank you for being here. If you liked this poem, consider sharing it. Or hit that ♥️ button. Or become a free or paying subscriber. (Or you could do all three!) All of those actions help others find their way to this corner of the internet and support this work.

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School is officially out for the summer. At least for my son’s preschool. And while I am thrilled about the white space on our calendar, and the ability to sleep in and linger around the coffee table as we do a puzzle over hot coffee and milk, I’m also simultaneously having a bit of an existential crisis about the fact that soon, my boy will start Kindergarten.

And by soon, I mean in over a year.

Because he’s not even eligible for kindergarten in the upcoming school year.

And yet, this mark of summer vacation is sending me into a little bit of a tailspin. Cause right now, he wants to play with me. With my husband. Right now, all he wants to do is build. And play soccer. And draw with chalk on our patio. Right now, he comes into our bed when he wakes up in the morning, and wants to snuggle.

Right now, we’re the most important people in his life.

And school changes that, just a bit.

Now, I’m not saying that we won’t always be at the top of his importance list. Both my husband and I love our parents. We hang out with them, not out of obligation, but because they’re fun to be around. They make life brighter. They’re good company.

I hope our boy always feels that way about us — but before we’re hanging out as adults, he’s going to want to hang out with friends. He’s going to go to parties that we’re not going to be invited to. He’s going to have first loves, and first heartbreaks, and a whole host of experiences that are not meant for us.

And that’s ok. It’s a beautiful part of life.

But oof, my stomach does a bit of a somersault, and my heart clenches just a bit when I think of him out in this world on his own. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t rehearsed a speech to give to him when he’s reeling from his first heartbreak. Or if kids are mean. Or he’s feeling a little lost. And maybe you’re reading thing, nodding your head, remembering when your little ones started to grow up. Or maybe you’re reading this with your newborn on your lap, fearful of the days when they don’t need you as much anymore.

Either way, parenting is a trip.

Either way, this season of graduation stirs something up in me that I don’t think we talk about enough. Yes, summer is beautiful. But there’s a bittersweetness to it, too, as it’s a punctuation in our timeline as parents. Another year of school has gone by. Another step closer to adulthood. Another season where we shed our layer of winter, and figure out what happens when we give into the carefree summer sun.

Another step closer to when your children need you a little less.

So, if you, too, find yourself a mixture of emotions at the end of this school year, this poem is for you:

Are you a mama or a dad who is feeling the emotions of the end of the school year, too? Let me know in the comments. Let me know how you’re processing all these emotions, too. And if you’re an older parent reading this — encourage the younger ones who are spilling their hearts out. We’re in this together, ok!?

Many thanks to + for the prompt that inspired this piece (and poem). If you’re looking to deepen your writing practice — I’d highly encourage you to sign up for “The Practice”, which is their writing cohort.

As always, thank you for being here. If you liked this poem, consider sharing it. Or hit that ♥️ button. Or become a free or paying subscriber. (Or you could do all three!) All of those actions help others find their way to this corner of the internet, and support this work.

Lastly, in this spirit of the KNICKS BEING NBA CHAMPIONS, I’m hosting a special subscription offer for the rest of the month. $5 for the whole year — offer expires at the end of June.

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Whenever my husband and I are traveling, and someone asks us where we’re from, we say, without missing a beat, “We’re from New York.”

My mom is from the Bronx. My dad was born in Brooklyn. My father-in-law also grew up in the Bronx, and my mother-in-law is from Washington Heights. I did my graduate work at NYU. My husband went to law school in Brooklyn. We currently live an hour outside of Manhattan, but still, there is a deep sense of pride that comes with being a New Yorker.

Now, let’s talk about the Knicks.

I am, by trade, a Broaway person. I used to dance in high school. I am not what one would call athletic, yet I still love basketball. I’m 5’9”, and if I had a nickel for every time someone asked me if. I was going to play basketball, and I’d have quite the cushy bank account. I grew up in the era of Jordan. Ewing. Pippin. There was something about the game that seemed magical.

There was something about it that always felt joyful, too.

This week, as you know, the KNICKS WON THE 2026 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP. New York City is abuzz with delight. As are the suburbs. As are Knicks fans across the globe. Driving home the other night, I saw several houses adorned with blue and orange lights.

There were watch parties on sidewalks, in parks, in bars, in homes. Strangers wearing jerseys would greet each other with hugs on the streets. People in grocery stores told the cashiers, “GO KNICKS!” Group chats were abuzz with excitement.

Knicks nation was, and still is, in full effect.

The final game was Saturday, and yet, I’m still basking in the excitement of it all, and I know others are, too. There’s a collective joy to it all —the happiness, the exuberance, the hope. It’s as if the air is alive with something bigger than ourselves. It’s as if the little things don’t matter. It’s as if we are finally able to take a deep sigh of collective relief.

New York City has been through a lot over the past ten years, and this game reminded us that New Yorkers are made of the strongest stuff. That determination, coupled with grace and kindness, is the recipe for greatness.

That, together, great things are possible.

So, in the spirit of the Knicks, and celebration, hope, and collective joy, here’s a new poem:

What’s the greatest moment of Knicks joy that you’ve witness ini your community? In your social cicles? On your social media feeds? Tell me in the comments!

As always, thank you for being here. If you liked this piece, consider sharing it with a friend! Or hitting that ♥️ button. Or becoming a paid or free subscriber! Or all three. Each way is a wonderful way to help others find their way to this corner of the interent, and support this work.

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Hi Friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful week. Preschool is officially out for the summer where we live — so summer mom mode has been activated. Give me all the morning snuggles, and pool days, and popsicle snacks, and painting projects. Give me the library challenges, beach walks, and concerts in the park. I. Am. Ready!

But with all of the hoopla that summer can bring, I’m also making sure that we don’t get so wrapped up in the bucket list of it all that we forget to rest, too. I’m reminding myself and my family that some days, we will get up early and go to the beach and read a book and make dinner from scratch, and I will do all the writing and work I need in little pockets of time, and then there will be other days when we wake up at 10, and watch cartoons and lose track of time as we do an art project, and order pizza for dinner.

Both situations are ok.

Both situations are the mark of a beautiful summer, too.

So if you, too, are staring down the barrel of summer vacation, I hope you make your bucket lists. But I hope you give yourself a little grace to have some days of ease, too.

Let’s get into this week’s Friday Five:

1. The Tony Awards were last weekend, and while I wasn’t there this year, I’m still always moved by the joy of it all. At the celebration of it all. In the way the theatre community comes together to shine a beautiful light on our art form. So many friends and colleagues were at the show this year, and it was wonderful to see them dazzle the crowd at Radio City Music Hall. It gave me goosebumps knowing that theatre kids across the country were being inspired not only by their performances but also by their words of wisdom as they accepted their awards. Theatre is an art form that is truly in a class of its own. It is a collective storytelling experience. It is different every time you go to the show. It is a shared experience that imprints upon us for the rest of our days. There are so many wonderful shows to go see this season, and I hope you see them all. I’d start with Two Strangers (who carry a cake across New York), Ragtime, and Cats Jellicle Ball — but be sure to check out tickets on TodayTix and TDF.

2. When we were in Maine, we learned how to play a game called Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza. It’s quite silly, but absolutely delightful and something the whole family can enjoy. We recently picked up the poolside edition — the cards are laminated, so if you play them by the pool or at the beach, it’s ok if they get wet! Absolutely brilliant. Pick up your copy here.

3. The KNICKS ARE IN FIVE! Which, even to a theatre kid like myself, is so exciting. Being a New Yorker is something I take great pride in, and yes, even I enjoy watching basketball from time to time. I grew up in an era where basketball players were something akin to demigods, so it’s wonderful to see the joy of this all come full circle. I think that we, as a country, are in need of some collective joy, and so watching the Knicks excel has given us that. Naturally, I wrote a poem about the joy and the hope of it all on Instagram, which you can read here.

4. Speaking of the Knicks, my favorite fashion/beauty/lifestyle guru, over at , wrote a really fun piece about the Knicks, complete with some orange and blue-inspired fashion. Be sure to check it out!

5. I’ve written about this several times in the Friday Five Roundups, but I am deeply obsessed with Tower28’s SunnyDays Tinted SPF30, which not only provides good sun protection but is also approved by the National Eczema Association! Additionally, it offers good coverage and is cleaner than most other brands. It’s currently on sale on the Tower28 website, so needless to say, I’ll be stocking up for summer!

That’s it for this week!

xo,
Megan

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I hope you wake up to sunlight, to freshly brewed coffee, to when your body has had enough sleep. And if you wake up to the tiny pitter-patter of feet, and a pair of hands that grab your face and whisper not so softly, “Mama, are you up?” I hope you laugh. I hope you giggle. I hope you scoop them up into your bed and cuddle until you feel like making breakfast. I hope you find the time to read. And I hope the books are filled with words that make your heart happy. A little more inspired. A lot more alive. I hope you teach your kid to ride a bike, and I hope you take the time to dust yours off. I hope you stand in the sun, but I hope you use sunscreen. I hope you stop counting calories and count the types of fruit you’re going to try. I hope you eat the French fries, the oysters, and drink the champagne if it makes you happy. I hope you let yourself be happy. I hope you forget about your hustle and focus on your friends. Your family. Your beloved. I hope you have a barbecue on a Tuesday, if only because the weather is beautiful and the grass was just cut, and it would be a shame not to celebrate such a glorious summer evening in the company of the ones you love. I hope you write because you want to, not because you feel like you have to. I hope you take time to consume more art. More joy. More rest. More hope. More salt air. More sun. More peace. May you relish the season. May you remember that this, too, shall pass. May you be present for all of it.

I am staring at the beginning of summer, as my son just finished his preschool program today. And even though he has an entire YEAR before Kindergarten, the fact that we’re even at this juncture has me quite weepy. Like, wasn’t he just fitting into the crook of my arm five minutes ago? Wasn’t he just babbling in his high chair? Weren’t we just taking him home from the hospital?

The speed at which they grow never ceases to make my heart ache. Naturally, I wrote a poem about it, which you can find here.

All these mushy feelings have made me want to grasp time with both hands. And so, I am trying to work without the chatter of the internet in my ear and pour a little more into the bliss of summer (and life). Nobody exemplifies creating without that chatter in one’s ear more beautifully than Ashlee Gadd, who is one of my favorite writers and a motherhood hero. Read her stuff. Buy her books. Hire her to take your photos. She’s the real deal.

As always, if you liked this piece, please consider sharing it with a friend. Or hitting that ♥️ button. Or becoming a free or paying subscriber. Or all three! Each way helps others find their way to this corner of the internet, and, in turn, supports me and my work.

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We are driving to the beach in Portland, Maine, when I pass a school that has a marquee that reads: “We put the KIND in Kindergarten”, and my heart skips a beat. My breath catches. I immediately panic at the thought of you going to Kindergarten, even though you’re still too little for that. Even though I still have another year of PreK with you. Even though I don’t have to let go just yet. And still, you see your older cousins at the big school that you will one day go to, and ask when it will be your turn. One day, you tell me that you will take the bus. I feign horror and say, “Noooo! You’ll stay home with Mommy.” And you smile and giggle and say, “No, mama! I want to go to school.” And I know that such a thing is good. And I am proud that you are happy to learn. To grow. To step away from me with confidence, if only for six hours. But goodness, when I look at you, I still see chubby cheeks. A little baby who once cooed at the sight of me. An infant who, at one point, was as big as my forearm. And then I blinked. And now here we are, and I understand what all the elders meant when they said, “Enjoy it, because it goes so fast.”

Thank you for being here. Truly. If you liked this poem, consider sharing it with a friend. Or hitting that ♥️ button. Or becoming free or paying subscriber! Or all three. It’s a great way to help others find their way to this corner of the internet, and support this work.

And if you’ve felt the pangs of watching your little ones grow up so fast — tell me one thing that makes you smile about having older kids.

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Hi Friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful start to summer. We’re gearing up for the end of the school year and bracing for a season of sun, sand, ice cream, and all the joy this time of year can bring. And sure, there will be chaos — but I’m choosing to see the chaos as a delicious part of this season of life, and just roll with it.

The Tony Awards are this Sunday, and it has me thinking about my time at the show last year. After years and years and years of working in the theatre industry, I finally went to the Tony Awards for the first time. And not only was it my first time, but I was also there as a nominee for my work as a co-producer on Operation Micnemeat. And not only did I get to attend with my husband by my side, but I also brought my brother, my mom, two of my very best friends who are champions of my work, and my Dad, who taught theatre at a public high school for over 30 years.

It was, and still is, one of the best nights of my life.

It was also something that didn’t happen overnight. I was 39 when I attended the ceremony, and I had been working in the theatre industry in some capacity since I was 22. That’s SEVENTEEN YEARS. Seventeen years of a lot of rejection, and heartache, and oh-my-god-what-am-I-doing moments. And maybe I should quit moments. s And maybe there’s a life for me as an accountant, moments.

But the truth is, I love the theatre. I love the entertainment industry. I have always, always wanted to tell stories. And so, I stayed. And I pivoted a time or two. And sometimes, I think about a quieter career. But then my husband reminds me that something like that wouldn’t make me happy.

And so, I stay.

Tony Award week is incredibly exciting. So many people have been working tirelessly to bring the shows you see on Broadway stages to fruition, and to have their peers acknowledge their hard work is a beautiful thing. And then there are shows that, for whatever reason, fall through the cracks. They’re not as well-received. They don’t get their time in the Tony spotlight — but they, too, are worthy of applause. And so to all the people making art this season, I applaud you. I salute you. I am honored to be walking this theatrical life with you. Because it takes guts to make something and put it out there in this world — and that is a feat that is always worth celebrating.

Now, that’s enough about the Tonys. Let’s get into this week’s Friday Five:

1. It’s no secret I’m a fan of the Armchair Expert Podcast. The most recent episode featuring (he’s a return guest, so this is a newer one) is something everyone should listen to. Yes, it’s about politics, but oh my goodness, it’s a breath of fresh air. A beacon of hope. Something to hold onto when the news cycle makes you want to scream.

2. I wrote about this in my Instagram stories, but I am slightly obsessed with this butter yellow cardigan from Good American. (They call it honey, but to me, it’s butter yellow). I threw it over a long maxi dress this past weekend for my cousins’ baby shower, and I loved the look. 10/10 would recommend.

3. My new friend Ana writes a weekly column about life, art, and motherhood, and she also shares six pictures she took throughout the week. (She’s a photographer). Photography is my favorite visual art form, and doing it well requires a keen sense not only of art but also of how to capture people and the tiny things in life we often overlook. Ana excels at it all.

4. It is summer season, which means it is curly hair season (because blow-drying my hair in the heat is often a fruitless activity), which means it’s time to restock on my beloved Ouidad Curly Gel. It is, by far, my favorite gel. It leaves my hair feeling smooth, my curls feeling bouncy, and I actually enjoy having my hair curly!

5. Lastly, my new favorite skin scrub is Caudalie Deep Exfoliating Cleanser. It’s great for sensitive skin, great for scrubbing off the sunscreen, great all around!

That’s it for this week!

xo,
Megan

Thank you for being here! Truly. If you liked this piece, consider becoming a free or paying subscriber. Or hitting that ♥️ button. Or sharing it with a friend. Or, if you’re really into it, you can do all three! It’s a great way to help others find their way to this corner of the internet, and support this work.

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It’s a Saturday morning, and my little family and I are in Portland, Maine. We are going for a hike (read: nature walk) on Macworth Island. We are, in fact, those people who like to hike. And walk around in nature. We are crunchy people who hate the word crunchy.

I wasn’t always this way — if anything, I was quite the opposite. Wh…

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Read the extra book at bedtime. Then read another. Take them to the park and lose track of time as you soar on the swings. Have pancakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. One day, they will eat a vegetable. Have a movie picnic on Friday night and a dance party in the kitchen on a Monday morning, and don’t freak out if Wednesday becomes a little messy. When their little arms wrap you in a hug, let them pull away first. You stay in that hug as long as they need you to. And when they ask you to pretend to be a dragon, be the best dragon they’ve ever seen. Take them on your weekend hike, and watch how they marvel at the birds. The flowers. The trees. It will take three hours instead of one, but it will be worth it as you behold their sense of wonder. Let them fall asleep on you. Look at their little hands grasped in yours for just a minute longer - cause one day, if you’re lucky, those little hands will hold yours.

I’ve always felt like the ideal summer schedule, or really, the ideal schedule for life, is flexibility within structure. Like, have a routine, but also, don’t have a meltdown if plans go awry. Be able to meet your needs, your family’s needs, your kids’ needs in that moment, and recognize that sometimes, the “to-do” list is going to go out the window — and that’s ok!

What’s one way you’re giving yourself a little more flexibility with your summer? Are you more Type A or B? As for me, I’m going for a B+!

Thank you for being here, truly! If you liked this piece, consider sharing it with a friend. Or becoming a paid or free subscriber. Or hitting that ♥️ button. All three ways are greatly appreciated, and an excellent way to help others find their way to this corner of the internet.

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Hi Friends! It’s been a week. We had a wonderful time in Portland, Maine — we were on the fence about taking the trip, because gas is almost five dollars a gallon, and IVF bills aren’t cheap, and we should probably do some planting in our yard, and spring, clean, and, and, and…

And the list never ends.

But as my wise friend says, “A weekend trip away will stay with you forever.”

So we did.

Traveling over Memorial Day Weekend and then being thrust into all the Maycember things is quite the whiplash. One moment, we’re having lobster rolls and walking along the coastline, and the next minute, I’m trying to figure out what to get for teacher gifts, and when the last day of sports camp is, and what time and how many tickets we get for our preschool stepping up ceremony, and oh-my-goodness, how is there another load of laundry?!

If you know, you know.

But, I remind myself that the chaos is both fleeting, and the stuff that I will remember when I’m 95.

So there’s that.

But enough about preschool stepping up ceremonies and parenting nostalgia, here’s this week’s Friday Five:

1. Our road trip was made easier with the following packable entertainment: UNO, a lightroom pad, and click markers. We also packed these books: Stumpkin, Piccolo, and I Spy.

2. One of my favorite new podcasts is Aspire with Emma Grede, and this week, Emma interviewed Gary Vee. Truthfully, and perhaps a little shamefully, I had never heard of Gary Vee prior to this episode, but oof, am I hooked. He’s awesome. He’s inspiring. He’s candid, and he’s smart, and when he told Emma that he believes that the future is going to be about being kind, empathetic, and a good person, I didn’t know whether to jump up and down and yell YEAH!!! Or cry. Or a little of both. I have always had a hard time with people who have millions upon millions of followers who make money off of being horrible to others, and it was both refreshing and encouraging to see a business tycoon and internet mogul advocate for being a better human. Stream Aspire with Emma Gredewherever you get your podcasts.

3. I love, love, love these new jeans from Good American. I know I wrote about them last week, but they’re so good that I’m still writing about them this week. I don’t feel compelled to take them off at the end of the day; they’re that comfortable. And they’re cute. And they’re flattering. There’s really nothing wrong with them, and if you’re looking for a funky pair of wide-leg jeans that you can both dress up and down, look no further! Get your own pair here.

4. This essay on AI by was phenomenal. Ashlee is one of the best parts of the internet, and her words are a balm for mothers (including myself) all over the globe. I love how she takes us into her thoughts on AI and its effect on the creative frontier of the internet.

5. If you’re in Portland, Maine, I’d highly recommend the following restaurants: Yosaku, Crispy Gai, and Tandem Coffee & Bakery (the jalapeño and cheddar biscuit is OUT OF THIS WORLD and worth all the gluten). Kettle Cove Creamery and Shack was equally top-notch. We also stopped for a drink at the Press Hotel, which also had a ton of board games for families!

That’s it for this week!

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And somehow I apologize to her when she says that.
Yeah, I know. Yeah, I’m sorry, yeah, you’re right. I'm sorry my
kid said/did that. I’m sorry, I’m so anxious. I’m sorry, I’m so
stressed. I know, I’m crazy. I know, I’m a lot.

How many women do you know who take up space
with apologies? You’re sorry you’re a lot of what? A lot
of fun? A lot of joy? A lot of worry for the people you love?
Every mother and woman should treat themselves with
a little more tenderness, given all that they hold.

Later that day, my son comes home from preschool and
flings himself into my arms. You're the best mama ever,
he says. For what? I ask. He giggles, as if I'd told him a silly
joke. For nothing, mama. Just because. Be a little kinder
to yourself, my therapist says. And maybe, just maybe,
pay attention to how the people who love you see you. Ok?

✨ Thank you for being here, truly. If you liked this piece, consider becoming a free or paying subscriber, or even sharing this with a friend. It helps support this work, and it’s a great way to make sure others find their way to this corner of the internet.

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Hi Friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful week. And if it’s been a Maycember week of chaos, just know that the end of the school year is around the corner, and give yourself permission to enjoy this long weekend. We’ll be celebrating Memorial Day Weekend up in Portland, Maine, part long weekend/part birthday celebration for my husband, so I shall report back on what to see and do in Portland for families with young kids.

But, until then, let’s get into this week’s Friday Five:

1. I was recently gifted several pieces of clothing from Good American. (LIike , am I an influencer now!? I don’t know, but I do love their jeans, so when I was able to choose three pieces from their spring line, I jumped at the chance, as I live in (and LOVE) their 90s-vintage black jeans. I picked the Vintage Wide Leg Jeans, the Weightless Wide Leg Jeans, and the Keepsake Cardigan in honey. I have to say, I love both of the jeans! The weightless really are weightless, and the recommendation was to size up if you want a looser fit, and that worked out for me. The vintage cut is a little more structured, so I went with my normal size 8. The keepsake cardigan is lovely from color to fabric, but the fit is a little snug in the chest, so if you want to wear it closed and not as an open cardigan, I would size up from there, too! All around, I’m thrilled with these pieces. (And you all know I never write about anything that I don’t like, so there you have it!)

2. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert aired its last show (with Stephen) last night. If you love Stephen, the show, the artistry he creates, and the leadership he exudes, I’d highly encourage you to read this piece by of about her time working with Colbert. Bring tissues.

3. There is nothing wrong with having artistic endeavors as a passion. A hobby. Something that is not tied to money or your mortgage or your rent or how you put food on the table. But if you want your artistic career to be your job, you need to make money — and that’s ok!! There’s nothing glamorous about being a starving artist. There’s nothing wrong about being ambitious, either. This article by explores tangible ways to make money while making your art, and this one encourages you to seek the dreams that are percolating inside your head and heart. I’d highly recommend reading them both.

4. Michelle Obama is an icon. We all know this. But her interview with Serena Williams on the IMO podcast is truly transcendent. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll find yourself nodding along in support and solidarity. Women everywhere, especially mothers, should listen to this episode. You won’t regret it.

5. The news cycle, once again, is insane. A new source of information to unpack legal jargon and explain it in a way that’s palatable for everyone, no matter what your educational background is, is Liz Oyer (@lawyer_oyer on Instagram). She’s a former DOJ Pardon Attorney. A public defender. Someone who is both measured and informed about politics and our judicial system. Be sure to check her out to get clarity on what’s happening in the news. Yes, it’s a little depressing, but also, she’s a voice in politics that deserves some good attention.

That’s it for this week! In the spirit of the holiday weekend, this edition of Friday Five is free for all subscribers. Consider becoming a paying subscriber so that you never miss a post — good attention is like a hug for your inbox. I promise. ♥️

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Recently, some dear friends reached out to me with questions about IVF. They have been trying for a second child for about three years and have experienced four miscarriages. Now that the tick of their biological clock seems to be getting louder, they are considering pursuing IVF and wanted to know if I could share some specific questions they have about my story.

They asked gently and softly, with the caveat that if I didn’t want to talk about it, they would completely understand, as they know it’s a sensitive and difficult subject.

As much as I appreciated their sensitivity, it made me laugh a little. I told them I’d be happy to talk to them, that I write about IVF and infertility online, and that the least I could do was talk about it with dear friends who came to my wedding.

But it made me realize how guarded we are about talking about the darker parts of life. The stuff that keeps us up at night: the worry, the heartache, the stress, the anxiety, the overwhelming grief, the feeling that you are unmoored, untethered, and without any clear idea of where to place your feet next.

I have been writing about IVF on the internet for six years now, partially because it’s what helped me figure out how to put one foot in front of the other while my husband and I navigate this journey, and also because once I started doing it, I realized how many people were craving stories about IVF, if only to remind them that they are not alone.

I get hundreds of messages about IVF from strangers on the internet. Women who thank me for putting their feelings into a poem. Mothers who tell me they’re going to send an essay to their daughter. Husbands who are grateful that there is a space for their spouse to go and gain a little bit of courage, if only for a moment.

Stephen Colbert will film his last show tomorrow, May 21st, and it’s a crime and a shame that this man will no longer be on the air. His take on life, his elevation of humor, intellect, and humanity, is something I believe is unparalleled.

I could wax poetic about Colbert all day, but that is an essay for another day.

What Stephen Colbert has done, as my friend so eloquently puts it, is make the hard parts of being human watchable. She writes about a realization she had while working on his show, after her mother passed away in a car accident, “Loss didn’t have to be hidden to be survivable. Talking about it didn’t diminish you. It deepened your understanding of others. And if you did it with the right beats and warmth, you wouldn’t send people running for the hills. You’d get an Emmy.”

That’s a line that will be reverberating around in my brain for the rest of time. Because I think the truth of it is something that we all must cling to. That we all must remember as we go about our days. Because we continue to hide our loss, our grief, our less-than-sparkly parts, we’re also hiding our humanity.

Everyone you meet is carrying something. Maybe it’s not the pain of IVF, maybe their parents just passed away in a tragic accident. Maybe someone in their family is ill, and they’re navigating a truly difficult season. Maybe they lost a job, and the promise of what they thought tomorrow would bring has blown up in their face.

Maybe their marriage is ending, and they’re trying to figure out how to navigate being a single parent and a single income while raising two children.

Maybe it’s something else entirely.

But the point is — stress, and loss, and heartache, and confusion, and anxiety, and depression, and sadness are not something to shy away from. They are part of life. And when we stop hiding them, maybe we all heal. Maybe we’re all a little more grateful.

Maybe we all remember that there’s a connective tissue that links us — the ability to feel. To smile when we see something that brings us joy and shed a tear when our soul feels as if it’s been punctured, and speak out when something is unequivocally wrong. And maybe, by doing that, we appreciate this life and one another a little more.

Maybe.

✨✨✨ Are you walking something particularly rough lately and want to share about it? Tell me about it the comments. And, dear readers, if you see someone’s story and it resonates with you, leave them a comment of kindness. A note that says — I see you. I hear you. I’m cheering you on.

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