Parents are often menders. We mend broken toys, nearly ruined dinners, scuffed knees and stuck zippers. The more dexterous of us may mend clothing and jewelry. Meanwhile, handy or ambitious parents will tackle a broken vacuum or a clogged toilet armed with video tutorials, rudimentary tools and a strong belief in the power of thrift. As we celebrate Mother’s Day, I’m reminded of the many mothers I know with a special gift to mend broken relationships and quell sibling fights with a blend of subtlety, compassion and creativity that seems almost magical.
Sometimes the right book finds you just when you need it the most.
I had not heard of Julian of Norwich before this past year, when her book “Revelations of Divine Love” was assigned for the Well-Read Mom book club, a national community with small groups all over the country (wellreadmom.com.)