Parenting

Without warning, I felt the overwhelming need for a parenting mulligan - you know, a do-over, a fresh start, a second chance. Suddenly I questioned every single parenting decision that I've ever made. Normal, right?

In the very first second of meeting my baby girl, my heart dropped. The vision of what my daughter was going to look like wasn’t what I saw. The room became quiet, and everyone stopped.

I'm missing moments in this life that are fleeting, all because I can't say NO to the extras. I can't muster the conviction to say N-O to the things that pull me away from what truly fulfills me and gives me purpose - my children, my husband, my family, my friends.

My own dear mom, who somehow survived parenthood without Google, e-books, Facebook forums, cell phones, or even her own mother, had the best words of wisdom for me when I gave birth to my son.

They always say that country songs describe life in their lyrics. Well, I’m finding that to be true more and more each and every day.

As I sit here rocking my sweet 2 ½ year old daughter to sleep – it dawns on me that we are only a short time away from the retirement of our beloved rocking chair. My daughter is my...

"Are they having fun? Do they miss me? Why do I spend my precious time to myself thinking about the kids I was trying to get away from?!"

"In the end - just because we're moms of a similar age doesn't mean we have anything in common. Except this: a fierce love for our kids and a desire to create a wonderful world for our family."

As a teacher, my days were scheduled almost down to the minute. Lesson plans written with objectives, procedures and assessments. Routines were practiced until they were practically second nature. In that world, it worked. It worked for me in...

"Mommy Brain has made me turn into someone I don’t recognize. Mommy Brain has made me wear a shirt backwards without realizing it. No, it doesn’t JUST happen in the movies. This is real life."