We are headed into the final days of 2014. The heat is on for us to complete the resolutions we so determinedly put in place in December 2013 - or wait… you forgot what they were? Don’t worry - so did millions others who steadfast made plans to lose weight, change their ways, save more, eat less, be View Post
6 Tips to Create Family Traditions, PEACEFULLY! (Mother-in-law Approved)
I LOVE this time of year. The sense of familiarity and comfort that comes from honoring age-old traditions reassures us that all is well in the world. Today we brought home our family’s annual Christmas tree. We hung the handmade ornaments: the snowmen with all the fake snow worn off, the glass View Post
30 Truths About Motherhood! Lessons I Have Learned After Having A LOT of Kids!
I recently realized that I am a MUCH better and happier mother today than I was eight years ago when I was inducted into motherhood. Of course I am eight years older too, so there’s a certain level of maturity that has happened naturally. But I also think that having a lot of kids has redefined my View Post
Don’t Miss This: “Letter to the Mom…”
They told me to write from the heart, so I did. They also said to “write what you know” - I did that too. After blogging for a year, freelance writing for longer and generally enjoying word-smithing for as long as I can remember, I feel like things are falling into place. Slowly the pieces to the View Post
Parenting is Hard! – And Then These Things Happen…
I am just going to put this out there: PARENTING IS HARD! Ok, I said it - and I am sure you agree, unless you don’t have any kids yet (because then you confidently have all the answers and solutions). But if you consider any number of children yours by birth, adoption, default or surprise then you View Post
Pen > Paper > Heart: A Letter From My Adventurous Mom
As Mother Teresa once said: "a family that blogs together, stays together" - or something along those lines. With that quote in mind, here is a letter written by my mom to my sister and me! My mom had something to prove - to herself... and she did, with raging success! I am so proud of her - and View Post
Pen > Paper > Heart: Dear Neighbor
Dear Neighbor, When they say that having a child changes everything, it turns out they mean everything. Not just the obvious stuff—your priorities, your sleep schedule—but also unexpected things, including the way you relate to the people across the street. With that in mind, I’ve made you a View Post
Harmful Sibling Favoritism! Are You Guilty?
I recently read an article on NPR.org: "Kids' Perception of Parents' Favoritism Counts More Than Reality." Researchers found that when children suspect that they are the least favorite there is a higher chance of risky behavior such as drug use in the later teen years. They also determined there to View Post
Ten Steps to Living (a GOOD) Life in Between Doctor Appointments
Are you a parent with a sick child, a child with a sick parent, or a spouse with a sick partner? Chances are that you felt like you were drowning when the tidal wave of information and responsibilities of being a caregiver flooded your life. In the blink of an eye your world changed, tables might View Post
“My Other Ex” – A Book Review and A Personal Story
I was recently given the opportunity to read “MY OTHER EX: WOMEN’S TRUE STORIES OF LOSING AND LEAVING FRIENDS” edited by Jessica Smock and Stephanie Sprenger, before its release on September 15. As a woman, mother, sister, daughter - I am well versed in the intricacies of the female friendship - View Post
In Need of Time
Today I am writing without purpose. There is no intent, no advice to give… today my fingers are dancing across the keyboard looking for answers, strength and time… I really just need more time. Time with the kids, time with my husband, time to get things done, time to live, time to write, time to be View Post
How to Parent Your Introverted Child, Your Mini-Me
How to parent your introverted child, your mini-me. "How do you make someone’s journey smoother and easier, without changing the course of their dreams?" We sit together on the couch, my arms are wrapped around his long and lanky body. It’s been a long week, the first days back to school are View Post
Ten Signs That Your Facebook Friend Is a BFF!
Social media is transforming and shaping friendships every day. Busy moms no longer have to spend hours on the phone to stay in touch with our BFFs (Best Friends Forever), we can now text, chat, PM, and tweet - all while sitting bra-less on the couch in our yoga pants. We can juggle kids, cooking, View Post
When Work and Life Fail to Balance
(I wrote this Friday evening - so any reference to "today" is a couple days off) Today I failed to balance work/ life. Today I let work win, and I had to break a little boy’s heart. I did the one thing I had promised myself that I wouldn’t do - I missed out on something that was important to one View Post