Working Moms

October 23, 2014 will be the official one-year birthday of Red Stick Moms Blog.  ONE YEAR! As I reflect on the last twelve months, I realized that I've learned a lot about what it looks like to be a mom, own a blog, and  balance the two. I've also learned so much about this community here at RSMB and the impact we now have in the Baton Rouge area. First and foremost, YOU are the reason behind all of this.  All of the time, work, passion, and vision has been because of the dream to bring Red Stick Moms Blog to the moms of Baton Rouge. Over a year ago, I was introduced to the City Moms Blog Network and...

I have a pretty physically intensive job. There are days where I don't stop from the moment I get there to the minute I leave. Between cleaning the gym, picking up behind big lugs who leave their weights laying around, & climbing on equipment to fix it, I can usually count a day's work as an extra work out. I should add that I'm also fiercely independent (read: headstrong and stubborn), and like to do things myself, thankyouverymuch. But when lower back and sciatic pain kicked in insanely early on in my pregnancy (like 12 weeks pregnant early) many of the normal things I did during my day became nearly impossible. And I was pissed. I was completely unprepared for...

Dear Teachers- Thank you for choosing this life path. This career is underappreciated in many ways. Please know that I appreciate, respect and admire your dedication to the future of our world. I hope to say at the end of this year that we were so lucky to have you as a teacher. As you work and nurture my child this year, I hope that you are not stressed by the standards that are expected of you. I hope that you do not stress over the day to day workings of your classroom. I hope that you are supported by your principal and other teachers so that you are comfortable and confident while standing at the front of the class. That...

Pumping at work. It’s a pain. A gift. A lot of parts to wash. Monotonous at the least. Sometimes I feel like I’m a slave to my pumping bag and schedule. And, heaven forbid I forget to put my day’s harvest into the fridge after work (like I did the other day).  Right now, I pump three times a day, roughly every three hours, and I usually get enough for three 4 oz bottles, give or take a couple of ounces. Here are some things I’ve learned about pumping at work: 1. Try to see pumping as a nice break from work rather than a daily chore.  I've come to enjoy my 15-20 minutes of pumping, three times a day, because...

Yup, it's true, this homeschooling momma has taken off her homeschool hat and put on the public school hat (I live a life of extremes.) Like many, many, oh so many, mommas before me I ventured into the parenting journey scared and clueless, yet somewhere along the way I learned that the only one in charge of this is me! Could I have continued homeschooling this year? Yes. Do I still believe homeschooling is ultimately the best option for my kids? Yes. But, for my own reasons, I decided to pack up my kids, move to a completely different house so I could enroll them in a good public school, and do something completely different this year (and if...