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
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
Chris Hemsworth Bakes a Cake, and the Double-Standard of Parenting Becomes Apparent
One thing I want to clearly articulate is this: it’s my belief that this happens, in part at least, because of the way we cut down fathers and expect them to mess up. You know how we clap in an exaggerated fashion and exclaim “YAAAAAYYYY!” when our babies do something simple, like waving or throwing a ball? It’s almost like that’s what we, what society, does when a father involves himself in any aspect of child-rearing. Read More
To All Women, When Mother’s Day is Hard
The sad truth is, if you could survey the women in the room, statistically, you would find that there are very few who would be untouched by miscarriage, infertility, broken marriages and families, or death. So why is it so unheard of for these hurts to be acknowledged in the same breath as we acknowledge the amazing work of motherhood? My prayer is that we find a way to boldly acknowledge pain while still celebrating the gift of Motherhood in an intentional way. Read More
Slaying My Productivity Monster: Why I Don’t Want to be Busy
I say “no” to mom guilt. I have never given it a foothold in my parenting and won’t start now, with this. Busyness will not steal my joy, and I won’t stand for it robbing me of precious time with my family. And, most of all, I won’t let my actions teach my children that busyness is a status symbol or a value to hold dear. Read More
The Gift of Young Marriage
I don’t at all buy into the idea of needing something to compare your relationship to so you “know what you like”. When it is glaringly obvious that you make one another happy, that you compliment one another, and that you value similar things; When you seek the wise counsel of others in your lives who approve; count the gravity of your commitment, and count yourself blessed to have found someone worth pledging yourself to for life. Read More