Mom, Don’t Breathe. It’s Embarrassing
Remember when I shared that my tween daughter’s relationship with me is hot or cold, and back and forth several times in the sam e day? One moment, she is clinging to me and afraid to stray 2 steps from me in the grocery store. The next moment, I’m dropping her off, behind the garbage cans, so her friends can’t see the ugly mini van we pulled up to school in. My response? I laugh. I haven’t always laughed. 2 years ago, I would have felt wounded and rejected. I would have forged ahead, despite her embarrassment, and threatened to yell out the minivan window being sure her friends saw…
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…
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…
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…
Getting Your Children Outside Everyday: 5 Rainy Day Activities
Here in Minnesota, the snowy February has made way for a rainy March! This mom, who doesn’t usually complain about the weather, is pulling out her hair! I have found a silver lining. It smells like Spring! That gives me hope that this [cloudy, wet, cold weather] too shall pass. Last fall, Aaron and Addy traded their muck boots for swimsuits. Rainy days don’t have to keep your kids inside. It’s an opportunity to do something out of the ordinary. Last fall, Aaron and Addy traded their muck boots for swimsuits. On a particularly rainy day, our street was flooding as leaves clogged up the sewer drains. While Aaron cleaned…
Winter is No Exception to Getting Addy Outside Everyday: 10 Winter Outdoor Activities to Leave You Inspired
We live in Minnesota so the winters can be frigid. Going outside, January through March, can be challenging. When I say artic air, I’m not exaggerating! March is usually the snowiest month. When the plain’s states are starting to see signs of spring, we are still digging ourselves out. This winter, February’s snow falls hit record levels. We have had a lot of snow. Snow is motivating for my daughter and I. Activities are easier to come by if we have a foot or two of snow. Sledding, ice skating, snowshoeing, downhill or cross-country skiing happen in abundance. If we are homebound, there are the classics like building a snowman…
Meet Katie Bell: Working Mom & My Cousin
Thanks so much for agreeing to do this! I am honored, simply honored. Wish we could be doing this interview over cocktails on a beach in Mexico (or anywhere sunny and warm). One of the first major parenting issues I faced was the decision to stay at home full time or go back to work or some combination of the two. I wanted to talk to you about your choice to pursue a full-time career where you have found a lot of success and longevity. Do you follow any blogs? No. Because I travel and have a decent commute, I listen to podcasts. This blog would be a great podcast.…
