VA Beach Naturals

03/31/2026

Last Call for Easter orders. Order by Thursday April 2 nd, pick up 9-11am Saturday April4, or Sunday April5th Nashua st, Milford,NH

01/29/2026

To the man who commented,
“this is what’s wrong with women these days”,
when I wrote of raising a daughter
who’ll be aware of her worth and unashamed of her fire,
I didn’t mean to frighten you.
I understand that strong women can be quite threatening
to weak men.

To the man who commented,
“no man will want her”,
when I wrote of raising a daughter who’ll have her own voice and the audacity to use it freely,
I’m sure that was hard to hear.
The thought of a woman proudly defiant,
who you can’t control or intimidate,
probably sent a shiver down where your spine’s
supposed to be.

And to the man who commented,
“sounds like a future cat lady”,
when I wrote of raising a daughter who’ll know
her value doesn’t need validating,
please don’t take it so personally.
The type of life she designs is for her to decide,
but I promise, it will be filled with love, regardless.

It’s obvious that you’re all hurting.
I’m sorry if I upset you or stirred something up inside.
Did your mother not hug you enough?
Did your father not allow you to cry?
Did your wife leave and take half of your decency, too? You’re not displaying masculinity.
You’re broadcasting insecurities.
Your values aren’t “traditional”,
they’re chauvinistic.

Many of the strongest men I’ve ever known have a woman just as strong standing beside them.
Their manhood isn’t assailed by their wife’s confidence
or outspokenness.

And not a single one of the powerful women I’ve known
were made “less” by being alone.
If anything reduced them,
it was acquiescing to impotent men.

The irony is that when I say I will raise my daughter to be bold and assertive, unflinching and fierce,
the ones provoked by that
don’t realize they’re the reason why.

J. Raymond

[✨From my book, The First Ten: Selected Poems 2015-2025]

01/16/2026

Jacob’s got some skills 🙂 His latest wood working piece.

01/16/2026

Who wants banana breads??

01/16/2026

Strawberry & Nutella crepes for a sweet breakfast treat for the kids

01/04/2026

Oatmeal cream pies

12/20/2025

Last call for Christmas orders. Orders close 8pm Dec21st

12/01/2025

11/29/2025

A few days ago, while talking to one of my college-aged daughters, I mentioned how excited I was to decorate the house as a family. "I'm glad we can keep that tradition going!" I said cheerily.

"Yeah, me too. Do you think we'll be done by 1, because my friends are going to meet up for lunch, and then I wanted to go shopping with G,, and then someone is hosting a party that night."

"Sure, whatever," I said. I was tired from a long week, but I was also a little hurt. I knew my daughter would want to spend time with her friends--many she hadn't seen since summer--but her words still stung a little bit.

The rest of our conversation felt a little terse and uncomfortable. I tried my best, and I'm not even sure if she noticed, but I was ready to get off the phone.

I knew this was coming, my desire to spend time with her and her desire to see her people, but it still hurt. And I've been carrying it with me this entire week. I've felt a little snappish, a little anxious, a little annoyed with everyone and everything.

Yesterday, as I took my morning walk and listened to a book (Build the Life You Want, the Power of Metacognition by Arthur Brooks with commentary by Oprah), I heard a line that (literally) stopped me in my tracks.

"Feel the feel, then take the wheel." It's nothing new, and I talk about it all the time. Our emotions are signals that something is going on, and it's our job to respond to them appropriately, but this is often harder than it sounds. And sometimes, no matter how hard I work, I forget.

The truth was, I was feeling ALL the feels, but I had been sitting with them, turning them over and over, letting them simmer like a chili that was going to be over-the-top spicy and might explode onto the ceiling.

I didn't want that. When my kids come home, I want to enjoy every second I have with them.

I needed to feel the feel, then take the wheel.

So, I finished my walk, headed down to the basement, and started pulling out all my holiday decorations. I put the trinkets throughout the house and hung up some bows. I switched out my wreaths. I put up my Christmas tree and turned on the lights. And then, I set out all the ornament boxes on the dining room table ready for my three daughters' arrival later this week.

The truth is, they don't usually help with ALL the decorating ever. We typically do the tree together, and even then, they start to fade out at the end. I created a false narrative in my head because I wanted them to be home and enjoy what I wanted to do. Parenting doesn't always work like that.

Now, they'll walk in and see all their favorites, and we can tackle the best part together, and then my kids can do some things that are just for them--as it should be.

I texted my daughter late last night, saying, "The house is ready for you to come home, and the tree is ready to decorate!"

She responded: "OMG, I can't wait to come home!"

Which is all we really want to hear as parents.

Last night, I sat with a cup of cocoa and looked up at Mrs. Clause, who is almost as old as I am. She sat on my Mom's mantle for so long, watching me come and go, and now she sits eyeing my life with my young adult kids. I hope she's proud.

Feel the feel with your teens and young adults this holiday season. Then take the wheel and put your energy into creating moments you can enjoy instead of stewing about how things have changed.

This is how we love hard.