Perspectives in Parenting

Last July a series of events led me to co-found a children’s company, The Doll Kind. As any entrepreneur will confirm, launching a startup is super challenging, takes more hours in a week than are available, requires focus you didn’t know you had, and a slight obsession with what you are creating. Add small children to the mix and 'challenging' doesn’t quite cover it. But at the end of each week, I’m fulfilled beyond measure. Having the titles of wife, mom, and now social entrepreneur are helping bring the life I’ve always imagined into focus. Our company, The Doll Kind (TDK), has a mission to empower and inspire a generation of children to create a kinder world, one heart at a...

When I was pregnant with my first son, all I could think about was how much I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. I would daydream about all the fun we would have running errands, attending play dates and just spending time together. I thought of all the milestones I'd be able to witness firsthand. To me, it was clear that being a stay-at-home mom was the ideal dream job. Unfortunately for me, I didn't live in a fantasy world. I lived in a place called reality, and the reality was that my family needed my income in order to make ends meet. And sadly, no amount of cutting back was going to make it possible for me to quit...

This post may be met with some controversy, but I feel like the air needs to be cleared about all direct sales business people and the goods and opportunities they promote. Full disclosure, I am personally involved with a direct sales company and have thoroughly enjoyed the financial rewards I've received, the connections I've made with others and the business opportunity given to me. With modern technology at our finger tips 24/7, the presence of direct sales in our lives is apparent just by opening a social media app. Many people view direct sales as others "pestering" them, or attempting to get them involved in a "get rich quick scheme," but if you are one of the many whose livelihood depends...

Earlier this week, I posted about my initial journey into breastfeeding my son with a dairy allergy. It was a struggle for a few months, but I eventually got my rhythm in the new dairy-free lifestyle. I wasn't immune to the ups and downs of breastfeeding though. I learned the hard way that mint tea is not conducive to producing plenty of milk. Thankfully Fenugreek came to my rescue. As he got older I struggled to keep up with his appetite, producing barely enough each day. Adding to my stash didn't seem to be an option anymore, but my deep freezer was stocked so I was content. The busy holiday season came, and I got my annual cold. It wasn't a...

As I recounted in yesterday's post, at 8 weeks old we found out my son had a dairy allergy. Suddenly I had new dairy-free dietary restrictions in order to continue nursing him. Cooking all my meals at home and reading every label became the new normal. It was a struggle in the beginning to adapt, but once I adjusted I quickly saw the benefits. In an effort to make the transition a little easier for other moms who may be going through the same thing, I've compiled a list of my favorite dairy-free and soy-free* grocery items, restaurants, and information. Having to Cut the Cheese Part 2 {Guide to a Dairy-Free Diet} Grocery Shopping: I shopped around multiple stores to find foods I...