Growing Up

It starts at the very beginning. Are they eating enough? Are they in pain? Why are they crying? Are they "normal"? Will this be harmful to them? The endless questions about what is best for our children. We worry about everyone who gives our children a sideways glance, comes a bit too close, feels just a bit "wrong". We worry about them if they don't gain enough weight, if they don't reach a milestone, if they disappear for 2 seconds and we can't find them. Life is scary. The world is scary. It feels as if there is danger lurking at every turn (and in reality there might be...) But we, as mothers, can do things to prepare. We...

There are so many things I wish I had known about motherhood before I had children, but I guess it's just true that you can never fully grasp it all until you are there. If there was one thing I wasn't prepared for, it was everything my kids would teach me about myself. Not just how many hours I can go without sleep, how "hangry" I can get, and the absolute longest I can go while listening to a screeching toddler from the confines of a carseat before wanting to pull all of my hair out, but who I am. Like, who I really really am on my deepest level. It started more when my daughter was born, seeing it all...

It was always my plan to be a working mom.  Then Etta Mae was born.  And all of my plans changed in a 10 lb 3 oz instant.  Going back to work ceased to be an option for me. I NEEDED to stay home with this baby. And, by the grace of God, I have been given several opportunities to do just that. Here I sit, 26 months later. Unfortunately, "loving every minute" is not quite the language I would use to describe my days. Patience has never been my strong suit, and we all know that a 2 year old will test even the most forbearing among us. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade staying home with my daughter for...

I know what you're thinking... This is going to be another one of those mommy guilt posts.  A mom laying it all out there on how hard it is to not let the guilt set in.  How she rises above the influence of all the super moms out there and lives for herself and her children. BUT, it's not.  While I can tell you how incredibly important it is do just that, this post is about a different type of mommy guilt: the guilt that hovers over those of us with more than one child. I LIVE with a guilty conscience. It's a weight.  A weight on my shoulders and a constant feeling that if I'd done something differently, maybe...

The recent death of beloved actor Robin Williams has really opened a lot of people's eyes to the impact that depression and suicide can have on even the most cheerful among us. Did you know that suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-24? As a mom it's hard for me to wrap my head around, but as a social worker I totally get it. Adolescence and early adulthood are tumultuous times, and kids often feel hopeless, misunderstood, and confused. Add to this a bunch of interpersonal conflict and the fact that teens are not yet capable of understanding the long term consequences of their actions, and you've got a recipe for disaster. So what can you...