Category: parenthood
That Awkward Stage of Motherhood
You know that stage of motherhood when your children are too old for mommy and me playdates, but you’re not quite ready to throw your lot in with the Empty Nesters Knitting Needles Group? When you catch yourself pointing out cows as you drive to an empty back seat, routinely pulling out grey hairs, and contemplating bangs to hide your wrinkles? That stage. The one when you send all your children off to school every morning and are so ready to spread your wings of independence, but are afraid to fly.
Ahh, the middle school years of motherhood. Minus the pimples… unless you eat an entire tray of brownies because you don’t have any children around to remind you that you’re supposed to be the adult. Please tell me this awkward stage passes quickly.
Stop the Hate
It breaks my heart that our most vulnerable, our most innocent are being drug into this ugly fight. That they are being used as pawns in a political game is so sad. We love to talk about the dangers of bullying, how it’s totally unacceptable. No one wants their kid to be the bully. But if we were to look at our own actions over the past weeks and months, are we not doing the very thing that we persistently preach to our children about?
Be kind. Please, just be kind.
Autograph
What if, as adults, we all saw these young, budding athletes, entrepreneurs, negotiators, builders, gardeners, jokesters, dancers, and dreamers as destined for greatness? What if all they needed was someone to believe in them, to encourage them, to smile at them, to give them a chance? The world has enough doubters, disagreers, haters, and just down-right grumps. Enough people find ways to tear kids down. I wonder what would happen if every child, just once in their life, could be asked for their autograph by an adoring fan. What kind of a difference could that simple thing make in their little world—and maybe even in ours?
Unsung Heroes
Happy Father’s Day to all of the amazing dads out there who do so much. We love and appreciate you!
Our Moment
With all the uncertainty right now around the world, I’ve been thinking about an experience my family had a couple months ago and how there really is so much good out there. This is our moment. Let’s exemplify humanity at its finest. Let’s add our voices to those that are struggling to finish the song. Let’s make this our finest hour.
I let my kids climb up the slide
In the last 11 years, I’ve spent endless hours playing with my kids at the playground. In every park we’ve explored, I’ve discovered that there are few crimes more hainous in parenting than that of allowing your children to go up the slide. Indeed,… Continue Reading “I let my kids climb up the slide”
What I’d Tell My Pre- 4 Kid Self
Long ago, while I was a mom to just one little boy, I had a friend. She had five kids, and had grown up with nine brothers and sisters. She made parenting seem like a cinch. One day while I was visiting with her,… Continue Reading “What I’d Tell My Pre- 4 Kid Self”
Famous Last Words–things we say as (or about) parents that maybe we shouldn’t
A couple nights back I was talking to a mom at my son’s 4th grade basketball practice. In the course of our conversation she asked how old my other boys were. When I told her that I have a middle schooler, her response was,… Continue Reading “Famous Last Words–things we say as (or about) parents that maybe we shouldn’t”
Bedtime Blues
Our boys moved bedrooms around a few weeks ago, and I’ve found that this change represented more to me than I realized. One of the hardest parts of being a mom is watching our kids grow and wishing we could keep them small. Change is never easy, but it always comes. And I’m starting to learn that what we gain is often far greater than what we leave behind!
Catching Crawfish 