Sara Petersen

Sara Petersen - Writer

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When Shots are Not Optional

September 8, 2016 Sara Petersen

Sometimes shots are necessary. Shots are necessary on the morning before your wedding, when you wake up full of angry, twitchy nerves, darting snappy comments at anyone who dares look your way. They are necessary after getting your pubic hair ripped off in rural New Hampshire … [Read more...]

Musings booze, humor

A Husband’s Assessment of the Contestants on The Bachelorette

August 15, 2016 Sara Petersen

husband's assessment of bachelorette contestants

photo source Because it's been two weeks since the final rose, and obviously she chose the exactly wrong type of guy (the relationship is a carbon copy of the ill-fated Andy/Josh duo, and we all know how that ended, just like we all know the bachelor/bachelorette should always … [Read more...]

Musings comedy

Food Fails

August 4, 2016 Sara Petersen

Everything started out great. Two eggs from Wednesday’s Farmer’s Market, round and brown and full of potential. Nutty, grainy, bread, all set for the toaster. I give the first egg a tentative tap against my counter, and immediately realize it was a bad tap, too half-hearted, not … [Read more...]

Musings food, humor

18 [Equally Ineffective] Ways To Say “Stop Being An Asshole” To Your Child

July 25, 2016 Sara Petersen

“Let’s practice our patience.” “I can’t understand you when you whine.” “Use your words.” “Do you see Bobby’s sweaty, crimson, tear-smeared face? Can you hear his primordial howls of fury? How do you think he feels right now?” “Do you think that was a gentle touch?” … [Read more...]

Musings humor, parenting, toddlers

Creature Comforts

June 28, 2016 Sara Petersen

dorm room

So I was at summer camp for grownups this past week. Lots of writing, lots of drinking, very little sleeping. Going into the experience, I knew I’d be staying in the Kenyon College dorms (I had chosen tier 2 out of the three tiers, thinking the copper-roofed “cottages” looked … [Read more...]

Musings food, home, tea, writing

Playtime II

June 22, 2016 Sara Petersen

childhood in the 1980s

I experienced much of life at 10 Birch Drive as one half of a sister whole. Both of my parents are important influences, but in those days, they played hazy supporting roles. They were the lawmakers and peace brokers of our little kingdom, but Megan and I were its central … [Read more...]

Musings childhood, play, siblings, sister

Revisiting Childhood Haunts

June 15, 2016 Sara Petersen

hanging with the kiddoes

Even before I had kids, I was excited to bring them home, to my parents' house, the site of my childhood. What will they think of the pond edged with purple irises and dotted with inky black tadpoles? Will they brush Kirsten and Molly's hair with proper reverence? Will they be … [Read more...]

Musings childhood

Why Disney Classics Are Only For Grownups

June 6, 2016 Sara Petersen

disney movies and kids

Um, are there any Disney classics that are appropriate for sensitive almost four year olds? Sunday was rainy and dismal, and by 4pm, Brett's and my collective parental gas tank was at empty, and we had three hours of active duty left. Movie time. We’ve watched A Good Dinosaur, … [Read more...]

Musings childhood, disney, movies

Country Mouse

June 2, 2016 Sara Petersen

flowers country mouse

My husband and I met in New York City. For that reason, and for many others, I’ll always value my time there. But I was raised on 100 acres of field and forest, and the country is in my blood. It’s where I am my best self. For a year in our twenties, my husband and I moved … [Read more...]

Musings

Playtime – Part I

May 31, 2016 Sara Petersen

kids playing cute kids

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson Wren and Charlie like to vroom cars up and down the arms of the couch. They like to make heinous hacking sounds (and scare the shit out of their mom) to make each other laugh. She is almost two, and he’s almost … [Read more...]

Musings childhood, play

Charlie, Corduroy, and Heartbreak

May 25, 2016 Sara Petersen

kids books

During breakfast yesterday, Charlie suddenly looked up from perusing Corduroy (everyone’s favorite tale of a bear and his lost button), chin trembling, eyes welling up, and said, “Mum – why doesn’t Corduroy live with his mummy?” You know when kids are genuinely sad about … [Read more...]

Musings charlie, childhood, motherhood, toddlers

Negotiating With Toddlers

May 20, 2016 Sara Petersen

bossy toddlers

SCENE: INTERIOR OF A SUBARU STATION WAGON. TIME: 43 MINUTES UNTIL NAPTIME SARA: Ok bud, so what are we gonna do when we get home? CHARLIE: ummmm, wash our hands, brush our teeth, and pee! SARA: That’s right. So as soon as we get home, let’s head on up, ok? CHARLIE: … [Read more...]

Musings motherhood, toddlers

Best Shopping for Little Dudes

May 18, 2016 Sara Petersen

cute boy sweater

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a mother in possession of a daughter must have more fun shopping for baby clothes than a mother in possession of a son. I beg to differ. I’ve had countless conversations with friends and acquaintances and random pregnant people in … [Read more...]

Musings babies, motherhood, shopping, style, toddlers

11 Signs You’re Ready To Have A Baby

May 13, 2016 Sara Petersen

mother daughter love

1. No one is ever ready to have a baby. 2. Do you like sleep? Do you enjoy retreating to a cool, dark bedroom at a time of your choosing, snuggling deeply into the fluffy covers, and letting beautiful unconsciousness take you on a lengthy journey of 6-9 uninterrupted hours? If … [Read more...]

Musings

WANTED

May 11, 2016 Sara Petersen

kids passport pictures

WANTED Small criminal. Alias: Songbird Age: 4 months Appearance: Tiny. Last seen wearing a pink pony romper. Offences: bobbling around like a little pet, having the audacity to possess a passport, pronouncing “bye” like a southern belle, stealing laundry and thinking it’s … [Read more...]

Musings motherhood, parenthood, wren

Mum

May 8, 2016 Sara Petersen

mother's day

My mum is currently in the Cotswalds living out everyone's Bronte/Austen/Potter fantasy, and I miss her! I wrote this little piece about a rare moment in my adolescence during which I actually allowed her into my bedroom. And past the walls of angst and … [Read more...]

Musings motherhood

When Friends Have Babies

May 2, 2016 Sara Petersen

best friends

My friend Steph recently had her first baby. Steph and I lived together during our twenties, when we made similarly half-assed attempts to become working actresses in New York. We were both grossed out by discussions that involved the words “hone” and “craft,” and had little … [Read more...]

Musings food, friendship, motherhood

Serious Issues Involving Pasta

April 28, 2016 Sara Petersen

best pasta

One of my all-time favorite conversational topics is food, and under the food category, nothing makes me happier than waxing poetic about pasta preferences. My sister and cousins (and really anyone who's worth knowing) feel similarly passionate about this topic. Inspired by my … [Read more...]

Musings food, pasta

I Love When

April 27, 2016 Sara Petersen

cute stuff kids say

We're driving through the UNH campus (to say hey to both the wildcat and the cardinal statues - a critical part of our drive-home-from-preschool-routine), and Charlie says the following in between dainty bites of an egg salad sandwich: "That looks like a nice spot for a … [Read more...]

Musings i love when

Awkward thoughts at the Optometrist’s

April 26, 2016 Sara Petersen

awkward situations

There's something about being in uncomfortably close proximity to somewhat strange men that makes me think of sex. Not with any sense of desire, but just the fact that sex could be had, like, just the whole anatomical possibility factor. Hey random plumber - I hope you're an … [Read more...]

Musings awkwardness, relationships, sex

10 Ways Babies/Toddlers Can Cramp an Adult’s Style (And Why Style is Not So Important)

April 20, 2016 Sara Petersen

toddlers

Tiny Field Guide Sometimes I dread solo time with Wren. She’s the cutest little popple on the planet, but her vocabulary consists of “yeah,” “bye,” and “hi,” so she’s not exactly the best conversation partner. And she’s still a little closer to baby than toddler as far as … [Read more...]

Musings motherhood, parenting, toddlers, wren

Huffington Post – Yay!

April 17, 2016 Sara Petersen

potty training, babies, toddlers

You guys. So excited to see my little tale of parenting woe in Huffington Post. Couldn't have done it without this guy. … [Read more...]

Musings

I Love When

April 17, 2016 Sara Petersen

I LOVE WHEN I drink too much, and my husband talks me down from the I’m-so-drunk-and-my-hangover-tomorrow-is-going-to-be-pure-misery cliff while feeding me oyster crackers in bed. I drink too much the night before, and my husband brings me tea and a freshly baked [!] muffin … [Read more...]

Musings alcohol, food, hungover with kids, husband, i love when, kids, love, marriage, relationship

How to Choose Friends Based on Paint Color

April 13, 2016 Sara Petersen

OR I live with, laugh with, and love those who don’t stencil the same three words on their walls. I always choose a book by its cover (most recently, Lauren Groff’s Fates and Furies – those graphic waves). I always choose a bottle of wine by its label (Charles and Charles … [Read more...]

Musings books, decor, friends, interior design, moms, motherhood, style

Choices, Choices: Indecision at Cocktail Hour

April 12, 2016 Sara Petersen

booze

This can be filed under the heading: REAL ISSUES to get very worked up about. I've been having a serious problem with alcohol indecision lately. I blame both children and my age for screwing with my favorite time of the day. When I was 25, I gave alcoholic choices very … [Read more...]

Musings booze, food

Why I was totally ok with sleeping while my husband got up with the baby

April 11, 2016 Sara Petersen

A lot of articles have been written about egalitarian parenting, but this one is SO good, and it inspired me to share my own two cents about the issue. Erin Boyle (of the lovely blog Reading My Tea Leaves) hits the nail on the head with her post about the inherent sexism most … [Read more...]

Musings babies, fatherhood, feminism, motherhood, night feedings, parenting

I Love When

April 7, 2016 Sara Petersen

funny kids

My toddler takes my half-baked life explanations at total face value. When driving past some sprawling roadwork along the highway that's been going on for months (huge mounds of dirt, weeds growing out of manmade mini mountains), Charlie pointed out the window, and said, "Look … [Read more...]

Musings childhood, i love when, motherhood, parenting, toddlers

Dear Teenage Sara

March 30, 2016 Sara Petersen

teenage girl diary

Dear Teenage Sara,   I’m writing because I have some news – some bad, some good. Acne doesn’t magically disappear once you turn twenty. In fact, I’m beginning to doubt it ever really goes away, but as you age, it does lessen. And once you hit your sophomore year, … [Read more...]

Musings

Entenmann’s for the Win

March 30, 2016 Sara Petersen

entenmanns, dessert

When your father brings home an Entenmann's raspberry danish for Easter (he likes to have them for special occasions), the sugary, chemically, softly frosting-ed heaven is best enjoyed straight from the box. I like to leave a little fork in the box for easy access. I feel … [Read more...]

Musings

Photographer’s About Me Page

March 15, 2016 Sara Petersen

Photographer’s About Me Page: I’m Megan. I’m a bicoastal photographer making waves between Boston and San Francisco. My current home base is San Francisco, but I'm a New England girl born and raised. I’ve been smitten with Boston since my days as a student at New England … [Read more...]

Musings

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