Remembering our “not a pet” German shepherd — When tragedy strikes in my life, my typical response is similar to that of an injured animal. I retreat to a quiet place, nurse my wounds in private, then resurface when I feel somewhat healed. I’ve tried with this one, really, I have. But I’m afraid the only way to…

Don’t worry, I put a stop to it — Shortly before the beginning of my freshman year of college, I broke up with my high school sweetheart. I wanted to allow myself the whole “college experience” without being tied down. Thanks to a new social media website called “The Facebook” I knew there were a lot of cute guys…

I don’t plan on telling him — “Kendra, I have something I need to ask you.” Shitshitshit. Don’t get down on one knee. Don’t get down on one knee. Shit, he’s down on one knee. As the four-word question spilled from John’s mouth, I imagined myself kicking him in the crotch with each syllable. “Get up, you’re…

After weeks of pain, I feel stronger physically and mentally — Having an intense headache for multiple weeks does something to a person. Every time I had to pry my eyes open with my fingers because they’d glued themselves shut from pain, I wondered how people with chronic illnesses cope. Just knowing my extreme discomfort had to eventually end brought me…

And my beloved dog, apparently — I took my daughters to the zoo yesterday— something I would have never done if my husband wasn’t across the country for work. He can’t step foot in a zoo. He thinks they are cruel. I tend to agree, but I am alone with two kids for three months and…

In roughly 6,205 days, I’ll be good as new — After seven days of an excruciating and relentless headache, I decided to go see a neurologist. Well no, actually I went to urgent care, they noted that my pupils were different sizes, didn’t believe me that this is normal due to all the eye surgeries I’ve had, freaked out, convinced…

The day my life changed forever — It was going to be one of those days. I knew it before my feet hit the cold wooden floor. If I were less ambitious I could have just spent my Saturday morning binge-watching The Real Housewives of Orange County like a civilized adult, but Monday was my Ultrasound Physics…

It’s the only explanation for this Medium feature — Dear Mom, Yes, I’m on to you. I know you were the one who used my referral link to find a way to get me that extra $2.18 a month. It’s sweet, really — or it was until you started single clapping my articles. I got over it though. My…

Then went Kung Fu Panda on the program director — My oldest daughter will be a threenager in a few short months and I’ve decided to enroll her in a pre-preschool program for a few hours twice a week. I tell everyone it’s because she’s wildly intelligent and needs more of a challenge. That’s half of it. If I’m being…