Red Stick Mom

Oh gosh. I guess you opened this piece thinking that there would be some pithy antidote here. Like a poorly patched thesis statement about tough conversations. About America the beautiful. E Pluribus Unum and all that. Well, this is awkward. I got nothing. Right now. Welcome to the drawing board. My kids are 2 and 4. I did have to explain today why we can’t grab ant piles by the fistful to bring home. I’ll probably have to go over correct usage of a toothbrush (hint guys … the body part it cleans is in the name). I’m safe for tonight while so many who are reading this are not. I have no idea what I’ll tell my children. Not tonight but...

In February 2018 I just landed an amazing job, bought my own house, just turned 23, felt the most comfortable I ever had in my own skin, and recently retired from competing for Miss Louisiana. I felt like things had fallen into place until I found out I was pregnant. I was scared, but not for the typical reasons someone young and not married would be scared about having a baby. I had supportive family and friends. That was no issue. It felt like a death sentence. I was scared because of everyone telling me “just wait”. Everything I was told and read made being pregnant feel like a death sentence. I was generally advised to hurry up and get married, quit...

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At the end of one year, and start of a new one, you often see post after post, story after story, of best of lists and resolution ideas. There are stories about why resolutions are a good idea or a bad idea or why bother. I’m not a resolution person; it just doesn’t fit with my personality. I don’t like to set myself up for failure. Resolution Alternatives In the past, I’ve been a word of the year person. At the beginning of the year I would choose a word or phrase, and throughout the year, I would remind myself of that word and reflect on it when I needed it. One year I choose “calm.” It was what I needed...

"I came in like a wrecking ball" I feel like if the year 2020 liked karaoke, he / she / they would sing this Miley Cyrus hit. I had so many plans in 2020 that totally didn't happen. I imagine many of you are feeling the same way! So, now that this year has FINALLY come to a close, let's talk about how I'm planning to take all the lessons I learned in 2020 and use them to make 2021 a MUCH better year. PIVOT! Going into 2020, I had a "timeline" of how I thought things in my life would go. There was talk of travel and certain personal things my family wanted to do before considering having baby number two....