Author: joannaalizio

It’s 3 a.m. (again) and instead of writing, I’m sharing a few of my favorite shots from the Berm photoshoot. They are a beautiful and talented band. And, as if that weren’t enough, they let me pretend to be a photographer for an afternoon. It was really fun to adventure in Purgatory Chasm with this… Continue reading Getting stuck in purgatory

Some of my blogs allude to pieces of my memoir though I’ve intentionally decided to not reveal anything major from my book. It is a far-fetched and real dream of mine to become an author. Not an author on the side, not an author with a full-time job, an author author. I’m actively working on the dream as… Continue reading Vomit

R and A, you save me. You move me. You keep me afloat. You make mundane days into my favorite moments. You’re ten and five. I cry as I write your ages for you’ll never be these again. I want to keep you as you are: wrapped in wonder and joy and so much contagious… Continue reading Ten and five

I made myself one promise back in early August and it was this: You must feel everything.Under no circumstances would I allow myself to turn back into a stone. I made this promise to me now and to my 18 year old self. I don’t read articles on how to get through a divorce. I simply… Continue reading Both

More of me.My time, my generosity, my patience, my understanding, me.They want more.Then, they want it all. More and more and more until there’s nothing left of me to give.Like the Giving Tree, I start out as my whole self, beautiful and strong.I fade over the years, each “more” pulls me more away from me.… Continue reading More

I am reviewing our 42 page divorce agreement. It begins innocently enough with a few gut-punching lines about where we got married, the ages of our children and their birthdays. The first line mentions our anniversary date: Oct. 21, 2012. Surely the agreement had to begin somehow, but why did it have to start with… Continue reading Magnet

Unforeseen circumstances. Irreconcilable differences.  The polite ways to say shit has hit the fan. Every time I have to use and see these words to describe my current situation, it feels true and false at the same time. Were my circumstances really unforeseen? Or did I choose to ignore all of the red flags? Are… Continue reading Irreconcilable differences

Who am I when I’m not a mom?Who am I when I’m not planning the next phase of my life? Who am I? I know what everyone I’ve met has wanted me to be. I sensed it from their subtle and not-so-subtle clues and behaviors, and I morphed into the perfect version of me for… Continue reading Lean in

M is for matriarchy*The antidote to patriarchy. M is for mama.The gentle ruler of our magical kingdom. M is for moments of peace.We’ve been waiting too long for this day. M is for messes.We eat on the carpet. We spill food on our clothes. No one says a word.  M is for music.We take breaks… Continue reading M is for matriarchy

You don’t have to be jealous of me.You just have to be better. Tune in. Slow down. Enter their worlds full of magic and let their stardust fill you up. The less you can be an adult with them the better. Make a fart joke. Dance. Watch their faces carefully when they find magic in… Continue reading An urgent case for stardust