As my oldest son recently turned ten, I was feeling pretty damn good about being a parent. It's like after years of struggling, doubting, and worrying, I finally hit a bit of a stride. It's still not easy, but it's feeling less and less like being continuously pummeled by blunt objects. That's a good thing, right? I figured that I should relish this moment of confidence as it's soon to disappear into thin air as we barrel toward the tween and teen years. I've learned enough after ten years to … [Read more...] about 10 Things I’ve Learned in the 10 Years I’ve Been a Parent
parenting
Even When It’s Not Your Thing, It Can Still Be A Thing #10yearsaparent
The flyer came home from school on a Thursday. All of the flyers for various events, activities, calendars, and sign-ups arrive in the Thursday folder. I understand the school's intent to streamline the amount of paper and flyers that get sent home, but the brimming Thursday folder pushes my stress meter right into the red zone. It's not the sorting and organizing. I find great pleasure in going through the piles of pastel colored paper and dividing them into Keep and Recycle. Interested and Not … [Read more...] about Even When It’s Not Your Thing, It Can Still Be A Thing #10yearsaparent
Dear Friends Without Kids, I’m Sorry
A friend sent my husband an email recently: "We found an old DVD of yours when we were cleaning out our basement. It's labeled Summer 2007. Do you want it? I can drop it in the mail." My husband replied, "Sure. That would be great. Thanks." I had to wonder, How in the hell did our friends come to have a DVD with picture of our kids in their possession? The summer of 2007 was the summer after our second son was born. He was an infant and our first son was 20 months old. We had kids … [Read more...] about Dear Friends Without Kids, I’m Sorry
The Real Reason I Stay At Home #10yearsaparent
I could tell you that this was the plan all along. That I always knew that this is how we would raise our family. But that isn't how it happened. A series of choices led our family to this place, but underneath the practicalities and the logistics there was a feeling. A feeling of insecurity in my own childhood that I wanted to keep my own children from having. I've built my life around my kids' schedules. I put my sons on the bus in the morning and work from home while they are at … [Read more...] about The Real Reason I Stay At Home #10yearsaparent
The Evolution of Homework #10yearsaparent
Way back when, a cave mom gave her cave girl the assignment to go out and gather dark blue berries, and the cave girl came back with purple berries resulting in many cave people dying from eating the wrong berries. And because their population was significantly diminished by this mistake, something had to be done. The elders met and decided it would make sense to write all future gathering assignments down and make the cave girl's parents sign it. But without written or spoken language, this … [Read more...] about The Evolution of Homework #10yearsaparent
Where to Find Me: Gold Stars, Spring Cleaning, Writing & Screen Time
What a week. I'm reeling a little bit from my recent guest post opportunities, some back to back travel, and all the odds and ends of getting Good Move ready to be released into the world. I am excited to share some new work that I think you will like as well as some old classics in new places. If you have a minute to check any of these out, please comment, like, and share. It really does make a difference in this bloggy, writing world. 1. The Mid: Am I Raising A Praise Junkie? I was … [Read more...] about Where to Find Me: Gold Stars, Spring Cleaning, Writing & Screen Time
three things i don’t want to explain to my kids
We like our sports around here. And our kids are at the age where we can hang out on a Sunday afternoon with a game on (yesterday it was Eagles vs. Redskins) and have some snacks and Rainbow Loom the afternoon away. It's not a bad set up. Especially when mom and dad have been out the night before and need a little, ahem, recovery time. And yesterday was one of those days. But as I tried to browse the December InStyle with one eye on the game and one eye on any impending Rainbow Loom … [Read more...] about three things i don’t want to explain to my kids
advice for new parents
My oldest child turned eight today. I've been a mom for eight years, the longest I've held down any job. I have a few friends starting their families soon and many of my friends started a little later than us and are still dealing with diapers and lack of sleep and willful toddlers. So this post is for you. This is what I know. My performance review would definitely have some developmental opportunities. I burst into uncontrollable giggling when my son asked where babies came from. There have … [Read more...] about advice for new parents