Growing Up

The first day of school was just a few days ago, and all day I couldn't wait for my boys to tell me about it. I was in the carpool line asking myself, "how can I get them to tell me the most details about their first day of school?" I expectantly waited to hear about new friends they met, their favorite activities, their favorite subjects, and what they played on the playground. I couldn't wait to for them to fill in the details since they had just started new grades in a new school.  After they got buckled into the car with their backpacks and lunch boxes, the answers I heard were good but short. "How was your day?"...

My five-year-old daughter had been asking for awhile to get her ears pierced. But, I wasn't sure. I was afraid that she wasn't mature enough to take care of them or that she would snag one on the playground at school. My mom made me wait until I was 9 to get mine pierced (she claimed that's when my cousin got hers done so I had to wait until the same age). On top of that, I couldn't decide where I would take her. I had read the stories about taking kids to tattoo parlors so that their ears could be pierced with a needle instead of the traditional mall kiosk gun. But I also had a friend who had...

It's a nightly battle that wages on. One that has been fought for countless months with no end in sight. Just when it seems like we've found a solution to their tactics and victory may be near, they come back with a whole new strategy, keeping us on our toes. It's the Battle of Bedtime, Parents versus Toddler.  Our battle started after he gained freedom from the four walls of his crib. He was no longer contained, and he used that newfound independence to the best of his ability. More often than not, it was around 4am when he heard the birds chirping. Clearly, that must be a sign it's time to get up. Nevermind the lack of sunshine Mom and Dad,...

365 Days of Reflection “Are you back in your house?” I must get asked that at least once a day. It’s a common question in this area to ask and to be asked. “How much water did you get?” “Did so-and-so flood, too?” “Is insurance giving you any problems?” are also just as common. As of today, August 10, 2017, we are not in our house. We are close, but not there yet. So it sits there, mocking me, with its new floors and countertops and promises that this will all be forgotten one day. I would give anything to walk into my new door, get something out of my new fridge, and sit there. That’s just not going to happen today. We didn’t...

From the moment babies are born, they already have certain milestones they have to hit. Which is when I think my stress began, at the time of my own birth. They need to have their first poop within 24 hours, crawl by ___, walk by ___, say 10 words by ____. I mean, I get it, medical reasons and all, but was it always like this? Were moms always overwhelmed when their kid didn't meet a certain milestone at the time they should have? Or is this just me? I just like to think times used to be much simpler. I like to think that milestones weren't always there in the stone manner that we view them today. I can...