When my family goes canoeing (which isn’t often), I hear things like this:

“Nichole, sit down in the middle of the boat and I’ll push us out. Just…just sit down and remember to stay low.”

“Nichole, would you stop moving.”

“You want a turn rowing? OK. Hold on and let’s…no, no, wait!”

“Mom! Stop!”

“For crying out loud, Nichole! Are you trying to capsize us?!!!”

I guess some people were just made to rock the boat.

I was rocking the boat before I took my first breath. Babies who start out in a teenage girl’s womb usually do. Our very existence causes disruption, forcing issues and conversations no one wants to have: You did what? With who? Are you keeping it? How are you going to take care of it? Will you finish school? Get a job? Get married? Do you even love him? Who’s going to pay for all this?

I didn’t ask to ride into life on the wave of a storm I didn’t create. But it happened. I didn’t want to force difficult conversations and tough choices. But I did. Just by being.

Continue reading “How to Rock the Boat Without Drowning Anyone, Including Yourself” →