Karen Stewart
Karen grew up in the hills of Northeast Tennessee in the heart of Appalachia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology, a Masters of Public Health in Community Health and she is a trained massage therapist. Her public health career was spent working for universities, the federal government, and the Vermont state government. To keep it interesting (and flexible), she is now working as an office manager for a friend’s company and provides public health consulting and grant writing on the side. Karen enjoys writing personal essays, poetry, and blog posts for Vermont Mom. She and her husband have a son and daughter who keep them VERY busy. In her spare time, she enjoys quilting, sleeping, and catching up with friends on Zoom.
Poetry – Take Me Away! How Poetry Can Refresh Your Perspective and Bring Relief
The riveting performance of Amanda Gorman at the Presidential Inauguration somehow breathed new life into a literary form that is oftentimes overshadowed by fiction, history, mysteries, and memoirs.
I love words that move me, I...
When Should I Throw Away My Mask? Plus Great Mask Tips and Tricks
Some clothing items are optional but for now, in the age of COVID, a mask is a must! So, now that I am used to the mask mandate, I keep asking myself, "When should I...
Choosing Adoption as a Path to Motherhood – From Infertility to Adoption
I can remember being a child and thinking that choosing adoption was the most altruistic thing that anyone could do. That is, anyone but me.
You see, I didn’t set out to begin motherhood by...
Strawberry Season in Vermont: Memories and Where to Pick Your Own
Strawberry season is upon us here in Vermont and it’s one of my favorite times of the summer.
Fresh, farm-picked strawberries bring back a vivid childhood memory of my mother and me. I can see...
My Circle of Mothers: What Mother’s Day Means to Me
Mother’s Day has always held a special meaning for me.
As a child, I would anticipate Mother's Day by making a pretty card for my mother and trying my best to bake her a little...
The Constancy of Friendship: A Tribute to a Beautiful Mother
In April, I learned that one of my oldest and dearest friends had died. In between the surges of shock, of sadness, anger, and disbelief, I recalled how my friend and I would always...
Mommy Confessions: Secret Thoughts of a Tired Mother
As a single gal in Washington, D.C., I would leave work in the late evening and stroll through the streets window-shopping for hours, going into any store I chose. I would actually read pages...