Dina L. Relles

writer. editor. curious + common.

Going There I set out on the open road towards Salisbury, Connecticut, reacquainting myself with the Prius. My beloved beast of a minivan—my comfort, my crutch—had to stay at home with the boys. I know where I am in that van. I let my mind wander—sinking into the past as I stared intently ahead. My …

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We stood together on the stoop, the boys and I, peering out as the trash truck sunk its merciless teeth into my mother’s 50-year-old desk—the one I had used since college and painted pale yellow and slate blue during senior year. The one that always held my most cherished notebooks. It had only two drawers, …

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I resisted writing a post in honor of Mother’s Day; I really did. So many others are putting forth such beautiful words, like these and these. Why not leave it to these masterful writers to reveal the profundity, the meaning of the day? But I recently discovered letters my mother had written (on a typewriter, no less!) to …

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Beginnings are hard. I took a birth doula training session last week, and at times, I was acutely aware that I don’t quite fit in. I’m a former litigator. I’m feisty. I’m pragmatic. I’m not opposed to modern medicine. I’ve had three C-sections. And I’m at peace with that. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows over …

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