Challenges

I remember the day we brought our puppy Marley home. I had a very bad day at work and came home crying into my husband’s arms. In the middle of hysterical tears and suffocating hugs, my husband said the...

I’m just going to say it: I’ve always had big breasts. I was a full C in high school and every year since they grew. I remember the good ole days when I was naive and gleeful about my...

Long ago, I was a carefree and fun-loving girl. My days were spent driving to the beach, hanging out with friends and working at a tanning salon (I cringe at that part now). I loved dressing up, putting on...

Saying “I’m sorry” is something I’m quite familiar with. So much so, that when I was in eighth grade, a mentor of mine recommended that I wear a rubber-band around my wrist and smack it whenever I say “sorry.” Suffice...

Mother’s Day is such a bittersweet holiday for me and it has been for the last 19 years, ever since my mother passed away. I have to be honest here and tell you the first few years of Mother’s...

There we were, sitting alone in a restaurant, laughing our heads off and playing with toys. We ate, smiled, and just enjoyed the one-on-one time. I was pretty oblivious to the looks we’d been getting, then I felt the...

As a parent in Arizona, we are facing some interesting times right now. Schools shutting down, teachers walking out, families faced with tough decisions in their daily life. I’m very thankful this doesn’t affect my day-to-day living but for...

Two weeks after I gave birth, I found myself checked back into the hospital. But, this time, my husband checked me into a psychiatric facility and my newborn daughter wasn’t allowed to visit me. Instead, my husband brought printed...

How often do your kiddos say?  It’s not fair! It’s driving me insane!!  All of the sudden, my two almost 7 year old daughters are saying it. ALL THE TIME. My normal response is usually,  Life’s not fair. But, that doesn’t really change...

As I write this, our state in experiencing the most historic movement in public education since…really, ever. With an affirmative vote of teachers from across the state, a walk-out has been scheduled to protest the need for increased funding...

I do not have a guest room, and I do not stay in guest rooms. This is bound to cause controversy and I’m assuming it may also bring out my fellow closeted non-guest room loving comrades, as well. Yes, you read...

Becoming a mom was never a part of the plan.  From a young age, my dream of becoming a career woman was absolutely certain. The future I envisioned consisted of completing a Doctorate in Philosophy, working my way up in...

Bring up the word homeschool and you’ll get two completely different responses: one gets it and other doesn’t. One says encouraging words and other might recommend you not do it. I’ve been wanting to homeschool my children for a few years...

I’ve been there, moms ... you’re out shopping one day and you hold up a shirt that you know your daughter would like, “Isn’t this cute, sweetie?” She simply shrugs. No words, just a half-hearted, one-shouldered shrug. Her eyes...

Sometimes, life just plain sucks.  Babies get sick, husbands get the man flu, and mommy has to take care of all the things.  Jobs don’t go as planned or hoped, and worst of all, everything seems to happen all...

Becoming a first time mom can feel isolating at times, especially if you are the only one in your friend group with a child. I clearly remember wondering if my nextdoor neighbor, a mom with a little boy the...

March 14th is recognized around the world as Pi Day. Are you wondering, What in the world is Pi and why does it have it's own day?” Well, you probably aren’t alone. We’ve got some ideas on how to...

Some children (and parents) need a lot of time to be able to process and accept the transition from high school to college. And if you have multiple children at home, how is their sibling leaving/moving out going to...

Now that my twins are in 1st grade, they are getting accustomed to the school schedule.  It starts in the morning: they eat, get dressed, brush their teeth, put their shoes on, pack up and leave for school.   But,...

Please don’t panic! It’s just word play, mostly. I am purely here to educate, and hopefully encourage. See, I had expectations about nursing. We all do, expectations are women’s expertise. I saw myself snuggling that sweet baby, feeding those...

Are people ever 100% confident in a decision they make? I mean, do they feel completely assured that they are making the best choice for their family? As I sit here and type this, I have mixed feelings about...

As a mom, there are days where running away and becoming a monk, just to get a moment of silence, sounds oddly appealing. These days usually precede sleepless nights, whiny days, missed naps, and tantrum-fueled meltdowns. Most importantly, these...

I've been contemplating on how to start this post all day. The shooting that recently occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida was horrific to say the least, and as a mom and a teacher, my hearts...

There is anger, there is fear, and there is frustration. There is so much I want to say, so much that could be said. Yet, should it be said? An old teacher of mine in light of recent events posted...

I was recently dumped by a friend of five years. It was heartbreaking, and I honestly am still grieving a little. As my mind was processing this I also realized that I sounded and felt an awful lot as...