I had to decide that taking a step towards my own wellness was worth the time, money, and effort. That it’s not selfish to prioritize myself, at times; that it’s a necessity. The culture of mommy-martyrdom needs to be put to death. Purposefully denying ourselves things that are good for us isn’t noble; it’s unwise. It doesn’t make us better mothers. It makes us unhealthy. Read More
Why We Plan Vacations Without Our Kids
When you’re giving all of yourself to raising your children, day in and day out, I believe it is both deserved and necessary to carve out extended time away so that you can focus on one another. We moms like to discuss the importance of self-care; Marriage-care should be right up there on the priority list, as well. Read More
Life in the Comments Section: Why Facebook Discussions Are Important
The internet exposes us almost immediately to swaths of people who aren’t in our immediate circle of influence. There is a greater chance of diversity; racial, gender, economic, political, religious, and otherwise. I truly believe that it could be, that it is, a way that our world can further come together in understanding and mediation, if we let it. Read More
Women, Why Do We Cut Each Other Down?
I would bet that there aren’t many of us who haven’t suffered at the hands of other women. Whether it be in the workplace, within your family unit, or in the preschool carpool line, I know that few are exempt from this behavior. I have vivid memories of bullying and intentional hurt that I still carry with me, even from nearly two decades ago. My guess is that this isn’t uncommon. Read More
4 Important Lessons I Learned Through Childbirth
I never expected childbirth– not actually meeting my child, but the physical act of bringing them into the world– to be one of my favorite, most defining life moments. I understand that many women don’t see it this way, and view it as solely a means to a beautiful end. That is okay! But as someone who is practicing finding teachers in the everyday, I realize that I learned a number of lessons in labor that apply to both childbirth and day-to-day life. Read More
When Our World Is Hurting (But Our Kids Don’t Realize It Yet)
I know that, in the not too distant future, her sheltered and perfect world will crumble, brick by brick. She will hear a racial slur, understand the context of the flaming aftermath she sees on the news, or learn that one of her friends’ parents isn’t here anymore. She’ll have questions for my husband and I that we can’t answer to her, or our, complete satisfaction. We won’t have the perfect solution. She’ll see us unsure and maybe even scared, too. Read More
How My Daughter Challenged My Perspective (After Embarrassing Me At O’Charley’s)
All I wanted was to get out of that restaurant alive. People were unabashedly staring, and even though that normally doesn’t get to me, it did that night. After we paid, I all but threw the kids in the car, kissed my mom goodbye (and thanked her for always dealing with our chaos gracefully!), and schlepped the kids home. On the way, images of tucking both kids quickly and seamlessly into bed danced in my mind as I fantasized about the day coming to a close. Read More
In the Midst of Tragedy, Why Are We So Quick to Throw Stones?
I tend to think that outsiders blame parents because, when they admit that it’s an actual accident, they are admitting that they and their loved ones are not immune to the very same circumstances. It’s acknowledging that there are things that are out of their control; that even the most caring parent can’t completely shield and protect their child. Read More
Laughter is the Glue That Holds My Family Together
It’s a universal language. Even at a very young age, for our kids to see mom and dad laughing, just like they laugh, is important. We want them to know that not only are we married, are we a family, but we like each other. Laughter is not just for the young. Read More
The Arduous Task of Putting Kids to Bed
It’s my thought that kids try to pack as many conversations, requests, grievances, and protests into as little time as they can during that magical half-hour we call lights out. It’s actually pretty incredible. While we, as adults, have learned the art of the wind-down shortly before it’s time to sleep (normally consisting of reading a book or watching tv, putting comfy clothes on, and just plain shutting our eyes!), it’s almost like the word bedtime invokes some Pavlovian response in small children; one that whispers, “game on.” Read More