Kids are terrifying. They just are. Or rather, being a parent is terrifying because you never know what your kid will accidentally eat next, and whether you should call poison control. But there is a special kind of terror that comes with nighttime parenting....
September is a time of transition for most. For parents, it’s a time not only for recuperation, but also emotional and spiritual healing from the wounds of summer family vacations. Some say this period of healing lasts until the beginning of the next summer. This is...
When we first met, there was an instant connection. It was something I hadn’t felt in years. I was seen and known by an equal: a fellow survivor of public, postpartum, sneeze-induced bathroom breaks. But I was hesitant. Was I ready for this? Did I actually know how to...
If you’re a live-on-the-edge risk taker, then being in charge of small children at a water-related activity is perfect for you. Odds are you will definitely encounter waves of tears, you will probably run out of snacks and you might have to deal with what I...
Living in Texas during the summer means teaching your kids the importance of shade and how it relates to maintaining the layer of skin on the bottom of your feet. Popsicles, ice cream and just plain ice – basically anything frozen – becomes a major food group....
One of my coworkers recently announced she is pregnant with her first. She told me her husband is skeptical about the mysterious and mythical Pregnancy Brain. Apparently she is, too, and I had to smile blandly as she said, “I’m already eight weeks and I don’t feel any...
I’m not sure when it started – this trend of over-the-top extravaganzas for children’s birthday parties. Probably around the same time Pinterest turned wedding planning into a torturous dark journey of the soul. But the trend seems here to stay. Kids’ birthday parties...
I know the importance of modeling behavior for my children. I try to emphasize values like environmentalism and minimalism by taking once-a-week showers and wearing the same pants for extended periods of time. In an effort to underscore the importance of...
You may have noticed a recent trend on social media was to post a photo collage of your family at their best, along with a word to define the coming year. You probably saw words like “Restore,” “Cultivate” and “Whole 30.” I prefer a more grounded route, with words...
There are moments early in your child’s life that will define your family — forever. Like the time I discovered the sinister genius of children’s toy manufacturers. It started innocently enough. Our oldest had reached an age where he was remembering what he saw...
As a child, my holidays were a red and green blur of pure, unadulterated joy. As a young adult, I spent my holidays fielding questions about hairstyles and love interests. As a married adult, the holidays meant declaring a side of the family to spend Christmas Day...
“Do you feel different this time?” That’s the question I get most often from well-meaning strangers, as they steal a less-than-subtle glance at my baby bump, which is definitely NOT a baby bump. It’s just the result of gas and too many chips. What a loaded...
