Meet My Mom. We’re Talking About Losing A Child (She Lost Two)
Do you follow any blogs or podcasts? No. [laughs] I don’t even use Facebook. [laughs some more] What is your working definition of motherhood? I don’t know if I can make a definition. I don’t think about things like that. It’s different for everyone. For me, it was to help my children to become adults and doing what I could to help them with that. That has nothing to do with being a mother because dads do it too. Providing the basic things every day so that my kids could do other things. That might not be the right way. Did you always know you wanted to be a mom?…
Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall. Who’s This I See? Could It Be Me?
A big part of this blog is sharing my own personal parenting adventures. To do that, I’ll end up sharing a lot about my daughter too. She’s 5-years-old, loves the color purple, expresses herself best through dance and song, and always insists on checking out the massive Anaconda during our zoo visits (it’s been her favorite animal since age 2). Have you ever heard the phrase, “It’s a Minnie-Me”? When I became a mom, I really wasn’t expecting my own child to resemble myself. I’m not talking about physical attributes so much. Genetically, I knew my daughter would likely have reddish blond hair, blue eyes and my button nose. Her…
Getting Addy Outside: Why This Mom is Waging the Battle for Outdoor Play Everyday
I promised no soap boxes but this mom has a pretty strong opinion and I’m going to advocate for it here on Her First Role Model. To advocate for something, I need to be sure I am actually walking the talk. Breathing, let alone walking, in the arctic air that is part of Minnesota winters is hard. Perhaps what is harder is getting Addy jazzed about going outside (and in all honesty, I have to fake my own enthusiasm). Let me be honest, some days it like waging a battle. It is so much easier to just stay put. Yet when I make the effort, I never regret it. After…
Music by Women for Women: Celebrating International Women’s Day 2019
As I celebrate International Women’s Day this year, I’m keeping my dial locked into 89.9. I’m celebrating my own contributions to the world. And the biggest and perhaps most important contribution I will make is raising my daughter. In years to come we’ll chat about gender-balance, feminism and why there is even a need for International Women’s Day. Today, we’re keeping it simple by singing and dancing to the sounds of women’s voices! Join us and may I make a suggestion for your soundtrack with these 16 songs.
Talking Sex with My Daughter Even Before She Could Say the Word “Sex”
I never imagined talking about sex with my daughter before she could even talk herself. Yet that is when it started. I, along my husband, decided early on that we would not provide “pet names” for Addy’s body parts, especially her female parts. Her labia was her labia. Her clitoris was her clitoris. Her nipples were her nipples. She does however refer to those as her “nibbles”. Early on that is the pronunciation she heard. I simply smile when she is adamant that that is the correct term for those pink, fleshy, projections on her chest. It is important to me that Addy have the words she needs to describe…
My Decision to Stay At Home & Why I Reserve The Right to Change My Mind
Before Addy was born or even a twinkle in my eye, I put in a lot of hours at work. I saw my job as more than a career. It was my identity and almost a lifestyle. I was a youth director and a really great one! I wouldn’t consider it the kind of career that requires ladder climbing. But it did demand time and a depth of commitment that only the job of mom has rivaled. I was in the process of transitioning out of youth ministry when I discovered I was pregnant. I knew that I wanted to raise a family, and I questioned whether I could do…
Parenting Lessons from Parents Who Cheat, Lie, Fail Their Kids (And Play Aunt Becky on Full House)
Let me disclose my prejudice right away: I was always jealous of Aunt Becky! Gorgeous and funny husband. All the benefits of great "parenting" and returning them to their dad at the end of the day. And her figure still in tact because she didn't actually have to carry those adorable kiddos in her own body. As their "Aunt", she was influential in the success of D.J., Stephanie and Michelle.
Meet Kris: Let’s Talk About Sex (Baby)
Do you follow any blogs or podcasts? Yes, they’re ministry related and quilting. Oprah’s podcast “super soul”. What is your working definition of motherhood? It’s nurturing tiny humans into adulthood and releasing them to the wild. You have two daughters, right? How old are they? Julia, 22. Emily, 20. Right now, I’m just trying to keep up. Don’t fuck up, right? Can you describe each of them a bit? Julia is tactile. This is how she learns. She’s empathetic, somewhat dramatic. She loves reality shows and other people’s drama. [She] Loves animals. Her character is a protector of others. I received a call from her elementary school principal. She had…
Meet Karen Ray: My First Mommy Role Model
I chose to interview my friend and first mommy role model, Karen Ray, because it was a weekend at her home and with her kids that stretched my imagination. My ex-husband and I were asked to home sit with her kids in it. From making meals to playing in the backyard, it was like playing an adult version of “house”. Until that weekend, I never once considered having children of my own. More than that I had made the choice to not be a parent. There are a lot of other circumstances that changed in my life and brought me to this day, a day when being a mom is…
Getting My Daughter Outside Everyday & 10 Kid-Friendly Outdoor Activities
I certainly don’t want to imply that I’m perfect at getting my daughter outside every day. But I am indeed a practitioner and am committed to practicing more days than not. But I am convinced of the benefits from time spent outside, especially in natural settings like forests and here in Minnesota, lakes! If you’d like to know a bit more about the benefits like a child learning to socialize and building resilience by taking risks, check out Getting Addy Outside: Why This Mom is Waging the Battle for Outdoor Play Every Day. If you’re like me, already committed to getting your children outside every day, but a bit short on…
