I always focus my blog posts on one of the three big B’s in my life: Books, Boys, and Bodies. (Books – because I’m a reader and a writer. Boys – because I’m the mother of a son and a former elementary school teacher. Bodies – because I live with an invisible disability.) 

This week’s post is slightly different. Because I realized those big B’s in my life, those central ideas that are so important to who I am and what I do and how I go about my days, can actually all be represented with an M — the month of March.

You could almost summarize my life just by taking a look at our current month. 

Let me explain.

March is the month of birthdays — my mom’s and my son’s (on the same day!) and mine.

It’s the month of anniversaries — my parents’ wedding anniversary, the anniversary of my first date with my husband as well as the anniversary of my last day of teaching (both of these life-changing events happened on the same date, just 16 years apart!)

It’s the month of special days — including Read Across America and the First Day of Spring.

It’s the month of important days — International Women’s Day and César Chávez Day.

It’s the month of awareness — Women’s History Month and Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month.

Of course I know I am more than the sum of these days. The first day I became a mother, the last day I worked as a teacher. 

But it’s quite a coincidence to have all these days happen within one particular month. 

And each year, I find I am becoming increasingly reflective, more emotional, and more surprised by how these days touch me. 

Dear Readers, do any of you have a month that means to you what March means to me? If you’re comfortable sharing, I’d love to know.