Dear Dad,
You died 16 years ago tomorrow. I'm not sure you'd recognize my life now. I'm approaching an era in which I've lived more life without you than with you. After you died, I looked for you everywhere I went: in...
Tiny, newborn babies. What could be more adorable? More romanticized? More instagrammed?
“Don’t grow up!” we say to our babies.
“Always stay a baby!” we write as a caption to their pictures.
Indeed, babies are wonderful. What could be better than a...
"So, you're getting rid of them, right?"
When I was pregnant with our first child, I got hit with this question more times than I cared to admit. And every time I heard it, it shocked me more than the...
I couldn’t sleep Monday night; tossing and turning, I reached over to check the time on my phone, ending up mindlessly thumb swiping up through Facebook recaps of friends’ Mondays. They come and go, usually unwelcome, typically mundane. Just...
One morning this fall, I was sipping my coffee while driving my son to school and had the first of two eye-opening conversations with my 4 year old.
I told him Grandpa would be picking him up from school that day. He...
Suzie threatens Johnny with a time out. When Johnny's behavior does not relent, she places him in a corner, chair or zone for a series of minutes (often corresponding to his age), with no toys, no attention, talking or eye contact. If...
Besides the dog, I'm the only girl in the house. I'm a girly girl living in a house with three boys -- one big and two small ones -- all of whom register off-the-charts on the dude scale. When...
I have a confession. I'll be judged for it, I'm sure, but I feel like it needs to come out because there's got to be someone out there who felt the same way that's also processing the guilt.
I didn't...
We recently welcomed baby number two into our family. I've blogged before about the differences between my two pregnancies and how we tried to prepare our first-born for the impending arrival of her little sister. By the time the new...
When our first child was three months old, my husband and I decided to take a vacation together as a newly formed family. Thinking through the logistics and newness of traveling with an infant, we carefully chose an affordable...
A few years ago, I made a pretty major life change. I lost more than 100 pounds.
I learned, over time, to be healthier, to cook and eat better, and in general to embrace life. It led not only to a...
One of my most vivid parenting memories happened a short six months ago.
Our youngest, who was 10 months old at the time, was on the verge of taking his first steps. He would bounce up and down, standing holding...
Mornings. Begging your kids to stop screaming so you can make a quick cup of coffee. Bartering with your kids to get to play on the iPad for a few minutes before school if they get dressed. Rushing through...
Having a good babysitter makes all the difference in the world. It makes us mommies feel confident in the person we leave our kids with, and know we won't be coming back to utter chaos and disaster.
Here are 10 expectations I have for my...
Alright ladies, tell me: Is there anything better than figuring out a new system, tip, or trick that makes your life so much easier?! I know we’ve all got them, and they are different for each family and likely...
Your Guide To KC
Where to Trapshoot in Kansas City with Teens, Tweens
The rise of tweens and teens seeking sports outside the traditional football, soccer, basketball, volleyball route has been on a steady incline for the...
