I’m Not Going To Toughen Up My Sensitive Son
“Baby, I need you to stop crying about everything,” I say to my 4-year-old son, followed by a heavy sigh. Another day, another sob fest about…
Continue Reading
Kids
Sometimes Trying Your Best is More Than Enough
“I’m trying to be nice, but it’s just sometimes hard.” Those were the words my six-year-old muttered through tears as I sat across from…
Continue Reading
Dear Daughter, Eat the Chips
This was my lunch today. Yep. Doritos and a Dr. Pepper. A week ago you might’ve seen me with water and a salad, or leftovers from dinner the night…
Continue Reading
5 Ways To (Still!) Celebrate Halloween at Home
Wow! I don’t think I even need to say it, but 2020 has been a doozy, no? And I’d be surprised if she whips herself back into shape in…
Continue Reading
Facing My Fears as a Rainbow Mother
It is late 2014, and I wake from another restless sleep. I am pregnant with my first surviving baby. I am having the same recurring dream in which I…
Continue Reading
My Kids Need Me, But Right Now My Students Need Me More
When I decided to become a teacher, my reasons were doing so were clear. First of all, I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I first saw one on the…
Continue Reading
He Never Needed Me To Be a Perfect Mom
Sometimes I call him the practice child. The oldest of five. Born to a mom and dad deep in debt and struggling. Right in the middle of a failing…
Continue Reading
Lord, How Do I Teach These Little Girls of Mine?
I traced the outline of her nose today. I feel like I hadn’t noticed her features in a while. Isn’t it funny how the same features I…
Continue Reading
Youth Sports Consumes Our Life, And We Wouldn’t Have it Any Other Way
The weekend is drawing near and without a doubt, I know the question is imminent—What are you doing this weekend? There is always a sense of…
Continue Reading
The Most Important Word We Can Teach Our Kids To Say is “No”
I used to live near a sex trafficker. I didn’t realize it at the time, only being in about third grade, but the strange goings-on in the…
Continue Reading