Letters For Lucas

Wonders, Mishaps, Blunders and Joy.. commentary on my life as a mom in the form of letters to my son

  • Home
    • My Guest Posts
  • Letters For You

Holding On To Hope

Posted on January 21, 2013 Written by Tonya

So, I’m kind of freaking out.

In a good way.

I have been writing for the SheKnows Parenting channel for a few months and at the end of the year, one of my assignment editors asked me if I would be interested in writing a weekly column on infertility.

Immediately I was a ball of delight and nerves.

Interested?

Yes!

But also terrified.

I’m neck deep into my infertility journey and it is pretty much all I think about these days, but could I realistically come up with enough topics to sustain a weekly column? After mulling it over, discussing it with my husband and a few very dear friends and making a topic list that multiplied several dozen times over, I decided to go for it! Infertility is a topic that is too near and dear for me not to write about and if my story can help just one person, then I will be gratified.

Infertility does not discriminate and it is so important that for those who are fighting this battle to stick together. Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing my story on SheKnows and I hope that if you or someone you know is struggling with infertility or secondary infertility, you will read along, comment, ask questions and that we support one another.

My first post is up today, Holding on to hope during infertility and I would be so very grateful if you read it and helped me promote it.

Related Posts:

  • What Infertility Looks Like
  • Frozen: Six Options
  • Life After Infertility: Infertility Awareness Week 2014

Filed Under: infertility, SheKnows Tagged With: infertility, secondary infertility, SheKnows

My Best Of 2012

Posted on December 30, 2012 Written by Tonya

This time of the year is notorious for lists, round-ups, best ofs and worst ofs and like them or hate them, these lists tell us where we’ve been and show us where we’re going.

While I did launch my freelance writing career, which I am extremely proud of and grateful for, I didn’t write as much (only 125 new posts) on Letters For Lucas in 2012 as I would have liked and when I did, it was because I had to. My words needed to be expressed so that I might in some small way better understand myself, motherhood, my secondary infertility journey, the deaths of my parents, growing older, family dynamics, love, gratitude and the world around me. My favorite posts are the ones I write from the heart, edit like crazy and share with much trepidation.  

Here is a list of my favorite Letters For Lucas posts in 2012. If you missed one or are new to my blog, please catch up and be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments!

Also, I encourage you to read the 46 incredible letters shared this year for my weekly series, Letters For You. I am so grateful for my guests and appreciate them sharing their touching words here.

My Best of 2012:

January – Ashes To Ashes, where I contemplate what to do with my parents ashes, which still remain in my closet.

February – I’m Still In Shock, an unfortunate and very messy pre potty training incident that still makes me cringe. If nothing else, check this post out for the after photo! 

March – My Body, where I both praise and curse my body for it’s successes and failures. 

April – You Know You’re A Writer When…, an exploration of what it means to be a blogger, writer or both.

May – We Are Enemies, one of the grittiest posts I’ve shared about wanting to meet Infertility in a dark alley and kicking the shit out of it.

June – 40 Things To Do While I’m 40, a list that requires both some revising and additions or at the very least an update post.

July – The Good Stuff, a raw admission that parents are not perfect. 

August – This Time It’s Personal, a recap after a much needed blogging break, complete with photos.

September – Sound Off, where I stopped to listen and shared what I heard.

October – Beach Therapy, Lucas and my husband finally talked me into going camping and I had a blast!

Preserving Family History, with the help of my aunt and uncle, I share a brief history of my father and his family’s hardware store. 

November – For The Love (& Hate) Of Facebook, an ode to my favorite pastime waste of time.

December – Blur, where I describe almost buying my deceased father a Christmas present.

I loved sifting through my blog archives to find my best post(s) for each month of 2012 and I hope you found something that resonated with you.

Wishing all my readers a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2013! May the New Year hold all kinds of wonderful for you and yours. 

download

Mommy of a MonsterLinking up with Mommy of a Monster’s Best of 2012: My Favorite Posts of the Year.

Related Posts:

  • She Writes
  • Done! – NaBloPoMo
  • The Year That Was

Filed Under: best of, blog, list, SheKnows, writing Tagged With: best of, blogging, list, Mommy of a Monster, SheKnows, writing, year end

Sharing My Story

Posted on November 25, 2012 Written by Tonya

When I first saw the request for help, I ignored it.

Then my sister saw it and brought it to my attention again.

She said it might be healing to participate.

I hesitated, knowing full well she was right.

Then a close friend encouraged me to share my knowledge, claiming I might be able to help others.

Really?

Me?

Knowledgeable?

I thought, who is going to care what I have to say and why would I share the intimate details of one of the most difficult ordeals I have ever experienced? How can what I’ve been through possibly help others?

After much consideration I decided why not?

Even if I reach only one single person, one mother who is longing to be pregnant one more time, something I share might resonate with her.

Why wouldn’t I tell my story?

Why wouldn’t I offer what little knowledge I have to help ease her mind and let her know she is not alone.

And in the process and especially now, having seen the final piece, I am feeling empowered and slightly braver than usual.

Thank you, Sheelagh for giving me this opportunity and more importantly, the time I needed to gather my thoughts and express myself as openly as I wanted.

If you are struggling with secondary infertility or know someone that is, please read and share Sheelagh Daly’s article, Secondary infertility: What you should know on SheKnows Canada.

Related Posts:

  • Live & In Person
  • Shaking That Feeling: What Infertility Struggles Do To You
  • There Is Still So Much More To Share…

Filed Under: aunt leah, infertility, SheKnows, worry Tagged With: aunt leah, infertility, SheKnows, worry

Making Memories

Posted on November 13, 2012 Written by Tonya

Please tell me I’m not the only one in denial about it being November! Mid-November at that. WTH?

How is it even possible that Thanksgiving is a week away?

I can’t seem to get my brain wrapped around retailers promoting Christmas.

Christmas?!

Where did this year go?

After record heat for weeks, it is FINALLY boot season in Southern California!

My poor neglected blog has been a ghost town for days. All I have posted lately are letters for my weekly Letters For You series.

I’m never at a loss for ideas and have dozens of drafts started and should be working on my Thanksgiving gratitude posts and year-end round ups, but I’m not writing anything here.

Instead, I’ve been pouring my heart into articles for SheKnows, a new job that I am truly grateful to have. I am really proud of today’s post, Thanksgiving traditions to start now. I have also been…

basking in the glow of the Mumford & Sons concert my husband and I attended last Saturday night and…

celebrating three years of my Mommy & Me play group and two years of my husband and his partner opening EC on PCH and…

counting down to see Breaking Dawn Part 2 with my sister at midnight on Thursday and…

gearing up for a family vacation to Vancouver!

We leave in less than four days and my To Do list is beyond scary. I know it will all get done somehow and between now and boarding that airplane, I am going to make sure there will be moments to stop and savor like this:

 

Linking up with Galit (These Little Waves) and Alison’s (Writing, Wishing) monthly link up, Memories Captured.

Related Posts:

  • Reflections
  • Us
  • Spring Break 2012

Filed Under: EC on PCH, holidays, Letters For You, memories, memories captured, photos, playgroup, SheKnows Tagged With: EC on PCH, holidays, Letters For You, memories, Memories Captured, photos, playgroup, SheKnows

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2

Subscribe TwitterFacebook Email

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

My Parents

Photobucket

I was a Listen To Your Mother Cast Member! Click on image to view my reading:

I was a Listen To Your Mother Cast Member! Click on image to view my reading:

Proud to have my writing featured here:

Proud to have my writing featured here:
Blog Archive

What I’m Pinning

Letters For Lucas
BlogWithIntegrity.com

What I Write About

a mother's guilt annoyances aunt leah birthdays blog books challenges conversations with Lucas DMB exercise family friends grandparents gratitude grief guest post holidays KRA Letters For You list loss love mama kat's writer's workshop memories me time milestones motherhood MSA NaBloPoMo parenthood parenting photos praise pregnancy2 question quotes SAHM school siblings simple joys TBW TDA bio travel update writing

Creative Kristi Designs

Copyright © 2009- 2025 · Letters For Lucas · Design By Creative Kristi Designs