Picture it. My bedroom, 2009. Early morning sunshine streams through the window, casting an angelic glow over my son as he toddles into the room just as I slip my arms into a button-up shirt. He tilts his rosy-cheeked, cherubic face to the side and peers at me with twinkling blue eyes. “Nose.” I stop buttoning my shirt and look
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One hour after my son got home from his last day of kindergarten, I presented him with this piece of paper: Yep. I know. I am so mean. As he’d barely tasted the freedom that comes with the final clang of the school bell, as visions of days spent playing Minecraft danced in his head, I shoved some real-talk right
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I rolled over for what felt like the millionth time, hoping a change in my position would help the pit in my stomach dissipate. There was something I knew I needed to do, but the thought of actually doing it made my anxiety level skyrocket. I needed to ask a friend a question—an incredibly important question. But I was scared. What
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It’s been pretty much the same since he was two years old—right when we moved him into a “big boy bed.” He wiggles his toes in the water as I rinse his hair with the plastic measuring cup he’ll use to “make coffee” while he soaks. I wrap him up in a hooded towel, and he plops down on his
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Last weekend, I sat on your back deck as our three kids played. We laughed, chatted, and discussed the very imminent arrival of your third baby. When we married brothers, I honestly had no idea that I would enjoy your company so much. I am so happy that I get to navigate motherhood with you. The differences in our kids
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During the first few weeks of my son’s life, I went to bed every night totally exhausted (shocking!) and totally disappointed in myself. Even though the clock flipped through a full 16(ish) hours since I’d set foot out of bed, I felt I had very little to show for it by the time I got back in. The dishes were
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I’ll go ahead and say it: pumping sucks (pun totally intended, by the way). Compared to the feeling of your little one tucking into you as you marvel over every inch of his or her sweet face, the idea of hooking yourself up to a nicely-packaged milking machine is about as appealing as…well, hooking yourself up to a nicely-packaged milking
Read moreAfter gaining a lot of weight during her three pregnancies, Natalie Davis made some changes and lost 84 pounds. Unhappy with her sagging skin, she opted to have almost $17,000 worth of surgery done to remove it, as well as a breast reduction and lift. Plastic surgery is still major surgery, but Natalie doesn’t regret it and is very excited
Read moreMothers are typically seen as supportive care-givers in realms outside of the parenthood bubble as well as in, and you might find yourself being approached for support and help after going through the experience of pregnancy and child rearing yourself. This great article from Hands Free Mama lists a number of uplifting, encouraging things you can tell to anyone who
Read more“Respect your elders” is a phrase often heard while growing up that as adults, most of us don’t give much thought to. Listening to the hardships of parenting past quickly gives you a new perspective on what it’s like having and raising a baby today. In this article at the Baby Center, Marlee Bangerter shares the story of her daughter’s
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