I want to boldly confess something important that I’m learning as I grow: that what is more important than how I feel is being an active part of a community. I will continue to extend invitations to fill our guest room and table with those in our growing village. Although I may still have to fight the deeply ingrained cultural mindset that says if I’m uncomfortable then I won’t do it, I will do so because of the long-term benefits, for both my family unit and those who are a part of our lives. Read More
Back-to-School Shopping on a Budget
Now that the new school year is upon us, it’s time to buckle down and buy some school supplies for your kids. Read More
4 Tips for Turning Your Kid’s Online Blunder into an Opportunity
Every kid has a lapse of good judgement, both online and offline. These four tips will help you transform these missteps into learning opportunities. Read More
My Self-Care Secret Weapon: A Gym Membership
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
A 5 Step Guide to Making the Dentist Easier on Everyone
Parents everywhere understand that without prior preparation for a child’s trip to the dentist it often ends in tears, wailing, or… Read More
What a Decade of Our Marriage Looks Like
There’s soooo much trying in marriage, isn’t there? Trying times, trying to keep it together, trying to be together while trying to be separate, trying to be the best, trying just not to suck, trying to communicate, trying to be patient, trying to remember, trying to remember why we want to remember. 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
5 Strategies That Prevent Most Misbehavior
You can’t always prevent your child acting out, whether he’s a toddler or a teen. But here are the five best strategies for preventing misbehavior, and for helping kids shift course, for all age kids. 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
30-Something Things I’ve Learned In 30-Something Years
As I thought back on my last 30-something years, I realized there were a few things I’ve learned that have gotten me to this spot in life. Read More