Encouragement

Most see me as a stay at home mom (and I identify more with that "label"), but I have actually worked on and off since my first was born. I'm involved in a lot of work with the community, I homeschool, I blog, I've held both full-time and part-time positions occasionally. I work, a LOT, even if at times it is more of a "volunteer" position. I don't know of any SAHM who feels they don't actually have a job. They do real work. But I also know the struggles that come along with being a working mom and the fear that comes along with becoming a SAHM. When I was pregnant with #1, I held a wonderful salaried position...

Medical technology is an amazing thing.  Cesareans save many women and babies, and I am so thankful that they are available. However, it is clear that something isn’t right in American obstetric care.  The World Health Organization states that an acceptable cesarean rate to ensure the best outcomes for mothers and babies is between 5 and 15% and that rates above 15% seem to do more harm than good (Althabe and Belizan 2006).  Currently, Louisiana leads the United States with a cesarean rate of just over 40%, more than 3 times the recommended rate.  The US rate is hovering around 30%. April is Cesarean Awareness Month, the perfect time to discuss this important issue. Why are cesareans a big deal?...

When did the comments start? It seems like they were always there. I had been married for two months to my now ex-husband when I saw two pink lines on the pregnancy test. "Oh, you poor thing! You know you should have waited at least a couple of years to have children. This will put a tremendous strain on your new marriage." Forget the fact that I was ecstatic since I had been told five years prior that having children would probably be one of the longest journeys I would ever set out on and would probably not end up where I wanted. Then he was born and in my new mommy bliss (and ignorance) I overlooked the comments...

It's a common refrain in the age of Pinterest: women, especially moms, are expected to do it all. A great career, smart and happy kids, spotless and stylish house, crafts galore, rocking body, perfect marriage, etc. This kind of thing has always been perpetuated in magazines but I think it's harder to ignore on the internet because behind all those blog posts and genius pins are real women and if I can do it then you should be able to do it too, right? In fact if you're not churning out five blog posts a week about your adorable family and all your crafty projects and the gourmet dinner you cooked for your über-successful husband last night you might...

March 4, 2014 - Moms For Moms Day Have you heard of it?! Here at Red Stick Moms Blog, we are always advocating to END the Mommy Wars.  (We've written about it here, here, and here.) So, we are so excited to be teaming up with moms all across the country this Tuesday, March 4th. This initiative has been put together by The Bump and CT Working Moms. The vision behind Moms For Moms Day is… The journey to motherhood is flooded with decisions (from the type of diapers you’ll buy, to the ways you’ll feed your infant, to the sleep-training methods you’ll subscribe to) and our goal is to support, encourage and stand behind each and every mother’s choices — and...