Because I began motherhood late in life, a woman asked me why I bothered at my age. She said my world was predictably arranged. "Why invite chaos?" she scoffed. I cobbled together an explanation that probably didn't sound any more convincing than a beauty pageant contestant outlining how she'd achieve world peace. This November, the…

My daughter amazes me. Of course, I'm not the first mother to say that. Even my own mother thought so when she said, "Karen, I always knew you were an exceptional child, but you weren't nearly as outstanding as Maggie." I didn't take offense. I understood what she meant. Near the end of Maggie's senior…

Last Sunday I ripped my closet to pieces, looking for a scarf. I was getting ready for a farewell lunch with my friend Nancy and was determined to wear the gift she gave me at Christmas. I had finally bought a colorful blouse to match it because I haven't worn anything but black and white…

This is how I first saw Nan--bent over and busy. I only knew her as the blonde head among blossoms, clipping and trimming, garden debris flying behind her. For three years, I walked our dog Maria in silence past her house. So I was startled one morning when she emerged from her garage as I…

When it comes to elephants, children aren't afraid. Although huge, they seem approachable. Maybe it's because they don't have claws or fangs or scales. Maybe it's because that curling trunk and tail are odd but happy features. And who doesn't want to whisper into those enormous ears? A secret could be lost in there forever.…

My husband Cliff has been retired for almost a year now. He served forty-one years in elementary education at public and private schools. During that time, he taught everything from pre-school through sixth grade and spent half his career as a principal. Never once was he wrong about anything in a school. Ever. Cliff had…

I used to think I turned the pages of my life, but not anymore. Not quite at least. Now I believe circumstances and faces and objects steadily float past me, and the trick is learning which details have meaning and how to catch them. When we adopted Maggie from China, I became a stay-at-home mother.…

One evening Cliff delivered popcorn to Maggie, who had stayed home from school with a cold that day. Her first grade teacher had sent the treat. She cried. It took a while to understand her distress, but the popcorn signified a special reward party that she'd missed. The teacher kept a set of tally marks…

I know about parenting books. I've referred to them for things like teething, temperatures, and tantrums. Looking back, now that Maggie is in high school, I believe those were the easy times. The really big things that happen in the teen years are not so neatly covered. There's no easy way through these disappointments or…

Be honest. It's February, and those ferocious New Year's Resolutions have crashed. You haven't lost 12 pounds, exercised for 30 minutes daily or cleaned the closets. Me either. Change-worthy improvement, however, is still possible. I realized this at Starbuck's. If you stand there long enough, you'll find wisdom. On the cup sleeves beside me were…

The Chinese are credited with a valuable tenet about learning. Maggie's kindergarten teacher Ms. Spry practiced it perfectly. In her capable hands, education was an art form that proved the lasting worth of this quotation. In November, to help them experience the Pilgrims' Mayflower journey, each child was assigned to be a real person from…

I'm always searching for signs. When I can string together enough curiosities to see a pattern, I announce I've found a truth. When I looked back on the past year, I finally saw it. Inside my own head, I found a curious pattern, and, like it or not, I have to accept its truth. Twice…

Dear Everyone, The Chinese offer these important words: “May you be born in a time of transition.” You’re left to decide if it’s a blessing or a curse. Whichever, that’s squarely where we are at present—in transition, closing and opening doors. After 41 years in education, Cliff retired in June. In terms of teaching…

Tara Lazar invited me to write a post for her 2014 Picture Book Idea Month Challenge in November. Typically authors and illustrators offer helpful, encouraging strategies or as Maggie might explain: "magical-rainbow-universe stuff." I told my hard truth. An overwhelming 500+ people commented. So I turned out to have been helpful and encouraging after all. http://taralazar.com/2014/11/04/piboidmo-day-4-karen-henry-clark-gets-derailed-but-travels-on-plus-a-prize/ PICTURE…

I began with the best intentions when I walked Maria the other day. I cleared my mind of grocery lists, crabgrass removal, our daughter's mounting school deadlines. I strolled along and welcomed the day. That worked for a few blocks. Next thing I knew, I puzzled over dinner. Didn't I just make chicken and pasta…