A few weeks ago, someone in a Facebook group in which I’m a member, posed the question: “When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?” Throughout my childhood and into my high school years, when posed this question, I remember always bouncing between two things: a lawyer or an…
Category: Real Talk
What Messages Are We Really Sending Our Youth?
A hot topic I keep seeing pop-up across the Internet centers on sensitivity in the classroom. As an educator, I find the line between being tough and being sensitive to a students’ circumstances to be a fine one. There are clear cases where a teacher must be sensitive. For example, if a student has a…
The Long Road to Body Positivity
The first time I was called fat I was 9 years old. I was visiting my grandparents, and my grandpa was folding laundry. As he folded my shorts he held them up and commented about how large they were, and made a comment about my “huge ass.” I was sad, humiliated and felt disgusting. I…
Ban the Birthday Goody Bags
As a mom, you’re either going to think I’m a huge party pooper or you’re going to think, “Heck yeah! Right on, Mama!” when I make this proclamation: Ban goody bags. Just like balloons, presents, candles and cake, the goody bag is a term synonymous with birthday parties in the United States. But, why? Disclaimer:…
Advanced Maternal Age Beyond Pregnancy
Being an “Older” Mom I was born in December of 1972. I just turned 46 and I am the “older mom” of a 7 and 11 year old. Now you know how old I am. Write it down if you want to remember, because you’ll never again see me reveal my age. Why? Because although…
Raising a White Girl: One Mother’s Work on Becoming & Raising an Anti-Racist
I’ve never been big on New Year’s resolutions, but for the last few years I have taken some time to write some intentions for the upcoming year in the beginning of my planner. Most of the time they have been general – eat more veggies. Less screen time. Sometimes they have been more specific –…
How to Survive the 2019 Government Shutdown
Another Shutdown… Now What? Yep, it appears as if this is becoming something we, as government employees and families, can count on. Seeing as this is the longest shutdown on record, with no current end in sight, let’s talk about How to Survive the 2019 Government Shutdown. Regardless of your political views, or if you’re…
My Home Birth Story, Part 2: Birth
When you think about the birth of your children, would you describe labor as peaceful, relaxing, or comfortable? What about words like traumatic, excruciating, or intense? Did you go into labor scared or anxious? Or brave and confident? When I asked fellow moms to describe their birth and labor in a few words they used…
Lucky Number 7
7 Things I’ve Learned about Parenting (and myself), as my daughter turns 7… My first born baby turned 7 years old on January 13th. It is only fitting that I reflect, specifically on her “lucky” number 7 birthday, as she was born on a Friday, the 13th. I’ve learned a lot about parenting between my…
A Stay-At-Home Mom’s Christmas Wish List
Dear Santa, I’ve been a very good stay-at-home mom this year. I’ve packed all the lunches, washed and folded all of the laundry, prepared homemade dinners, bandaged cuts, kissed skinned knees, organized play dates, scrubbed toilets, made beds, found toys, food shopped on a budget, handled school pick-up and drop-off, scheduled all doctors appointments… and…