Red Stick Mom

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Ochsner Baton Rouge and written by Kathleen Freeman, MD.  How Can Parents Avoid Burnout? We’ve all heard the proverbial metaphor about self-care: Put your oxygen mask on first then assist the child sitting next to you. I’m sure that, given the situation, I’d be perfectly capable of putting my mask on first. So why is it so hard to do it metaphorically? That’s a loaded question, but I think I know the answer. We feel guilty tending to our own needs when the needs of those around us are so many. We care deeply about doing what is best for our children, showing love to our families and friends, and making good choices. We want to...

A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across the concept of bullet journaling (I know, I know. I'm about 58926490 years behind the curve on this one), and my little creative heart went *THUMP*. If I could marry bullet journaling, I would. It is a whole entire MOOD. If you aren't familiar with BuJo, it is a flexible journaling system that is a mix of planner, doodle space, list management, note catcher, and personal reflection that is mindfulness magic. Hours and hours of time spent in the time-suck-that-is-Pinterest later, I realized that my bullet journaling dreams were probably (READ: definitely) a bit too lofty. The sheer amount of choice in a bullet journal's format was overwhelming - so much so...

“Babies are a blessing” is a phrase that always rings true, but I have to say, especially true during a pandemic. As we approach the anniversary of the pandemic, we also start to celebrate the lives of all the babies born during these “unprecedented times,” as they say. And although there were some things we grieved about giving birth during the pandemic, like not seeing most friends and families up close, drive-by baby showers, and challenging hospital regulations, many mamas agree that there have been beautiful and precious things about giving birth in the past year, besides the obvious beauty and wonder of having a baby in general. Time slowed down Our pandemic baby is our third. I feel like generally...

Editor's Note :: The purpose of this piece is not to persuade anyone with regards to their decision on whether or not to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but instead to share one local mom's story of her personal experience. Our team unanimously agrees that if you have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, you should seek advice from your healthcare providers. I Went Into Anaphylactic Shock from the COVID-19 Vaccine, But that Doesn’t Mean the Same Thing Will Happen to You I’m not writing about my story to scare you, but to share with you that in my experience, the healthcare providers who are administering the COVID-19 vaccines are prepared in the event the worst-case scenario happens. While playing Dr. Google...

I can think of few things as scary as re-entering the workforce after having left a successful career many years ago. Over the years I have often found myself referring to my previous career in Human Resources as something I did “in the before.” My journey is likely familiar to many of you. I planned to have it all – a successful career and a family, financial freedom, and a comfortable lifestyle. And like so many others, the universe had other plans for me. Our quest for “one more” left us with three miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy that nearly killed me, and an ungodly amount of medical bills. We’d reached a point where desperation won and we were willing to...