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The Breaths We Take
The Breaths We Take
“OK, now exhale,” the young doctor matter-of-factly stated as I felt the cool metal enter my spine. The nurse laid me down gently and then positioned my arms and legs like I was Jesus on the cross. “Just focus on breathing, through the nose, out the mouth. In and out. It will be over before you know it.”
I offered a close-lipped smile. Never a fan of platitudes when I’m nervous, I focused on…
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No More Cleaning Excuses for my Tweens
No More Cleaning Excuses for my Tweens
With three tween daughters, my house is always full of kids — most of them not related to me. They like to bake. They like to do crafts they find on Pinterest. They like to practice make up. They like to create new versions of slime. They like to eat. They like to perform hairstyles on each other that use mass quantities of industrial-strength hairspray. What don’t they like? Cleaning up. …
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Children Are Meant to be Unfinished
Children Are Meant to be Unfinished
“And don’t forget you didn’t finish the laundry,” I yell defiantly.
I watch the slim profile of my daughter stomp up the stairs, her dark pony tail swinging side to side. I can hear her breathing through her nose, in and out, in and out, like a bull about to charge. I watch as she turns the corner, out of my view. I brace myself, waiting for the door to slam, yet thankfully I hear a quiet click…
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When Women Talk about Women In Front of Our Girls
When Women Talk about Women In Front of Our Girls
“She looks like Malibu Barbie and sounds equally as dumb. Like she is the role model I want for my girls.”
I sat and listened to two women talk at a long, crowded Starbucks table as their young daughters played on an iPad. I tried to focus on my laptop screen, but considering our elbows were practically touching, it was difficult.
“She’s just wretched. And definitely not smart. A total media…
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Guest Post: Teaching Kids to Speak Up -- Even to Their Friends
Guest Post: Teaching Kids to Speak Up — Even to Their Friends
I recently came across a quote that said: “We are looking for affirmation, not information.” It resonated with me because I think it hits the nail on the head in regards to what social media has been like lately. We are looking to point out other’s flaws, so we don’t have to look at our own. It reminded me of a time with my daughter, when she stood up to a bully, and then a few weeks later,…
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The Words She Keeps I was in eighth grade when I overheard a group of boys discussing their female classmates in the library.
Cracked Eggs and Traffic Lights
Cracked Eggs and Traffic Lights
I’ve been struggling lately. The way I parented my “little girls” does not seem to be working with my tween-agers. I’ve used every tool in my toolbox, and I often still come up short of feeling like I know what I’m doing.
The other day I hit a low point. I debated whether to write about it or not — and I almost hit delete a few times after I put it all on paper. But, sometimes if you take a hard…
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My 11-year-old daughter walks through the door and crumbles in front of me.
It’s been a tough few months for parents. The world is a scary place, and the judgment parents receive for making a mistake is even scarier.
I have been taking a close look at my daughters lately, and a few incidents with one of them made me start thinking that I am worried how she would survive if something bad…
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The Tightrope of Self Esteem
The Tightrope of Self Esteem
I am making my debut on one of my favorite sites today, Mamalode, discussing managing my daughters’ self esteem.
I find it hard to find the right balance of encouragement and honesty with my girls. It becomes particularly difficult during a fashion stand off. On one hand, I want them to feel empowered and loved, and on the other hand, I want to be honest and helpful.
And sometimes you just have…
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Top 10 Signs You Are a Mom on a Girls Weekend
Top 10 Signs You Are a Mom on a Girls Weekend
Last year was sad. No girls weekend. No getaways. No stay up too late giggling with your girlfriends.
I aim to change that this year. I am planning a Girls Weekend. Maybe two.
So here it is – Top 10 Signs You are a Mom on a Girls Weekend
A Liquid Lunch has nothing to do with breastfeeding.
After one cocktail and a Maki Roll you decide to lose your Spanx. You need two of your girlfriends to…
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My Un-Resolution for 2016
My Un-Resolution for 2016
I loved this New Year’s Post I wrote last year entitled Why I Told My New Year’s Resolutions to Suck It! I had three goals for 2014, and I attacked them with the ferocity of a lioness protecting her cubs.
My goals were simple. I focused on what made me happy — I mean really happy — and decided to do more of that. And I realized a New Year wasn’t about changing me — losing five pounds or quitting…
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Lies About Parenting -- Guest Post About Dinner Time Dilemma
Lies About Parenting — Guest Post About Dinner Time Dilemma
One of things I despise about parenting in the Internet-age is the vast amount of “research’ we moms and dads have at our fingertips. Research that says our baby will have a third arm growing out of its back if you don’t breast feed; research that says your kid will never get a job if you are a helicopter parent; research that says your kid will be a thug if you don’t eat dinner together as a…
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What Really Scares Me About Social Media
What Really Scares Me About Social Media
Last week , the below picture went viral all over the media, and I say media because it went beyond Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. It was also on major network news and discussed on the radio.
I am the first to admit that I rolled my eyes at this story. Here it is, yet again, a bunch of young girls more obsessed with taking a selfie than interacting with the real world. But then something…
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The Day I Let My Daughter Quit
The Day I Let My Daughter Quit
The big blue eyes of my daughter filled with tears when I walked into her room to kiss her goodnight. She quickly looked down at her teal comforter to avoid my worried face.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” rolled quickly off my tongue, but I already knew the answer.
Her little fourth grade fingers held the page of a book, and she looked exhausted.
I sighed as I found a spot on the side of her bed…
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We All Face the Same Parenting Potholes
We All Face the Same Parenting Potholes
This picture continuously shows up in my Facebook news feed. Every time I see it, I feel depressed, and then relieved I had my kids before Facebook was the norm.
I never truly experienced the mom shaming that is so prevalent in today’s culture when I had my kids nearly eleven years ago. After facing infertility for three years, and then experiencing a challenging pregnancy that resulted in twins…
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I Am Sad Before It Even Begins
I Am Sad Before It Even Begins
I watch the two girls ride away on their bikes, and I am surprised when tears fill my eyes like raindrops in a bucket.
“They look so big,” I think to myself.
I am unsure why this particular outing causes me to choke back tears, paralyzing me in the moment. I have watched my twin daughters ride to their various friends’ houses all summer without significance.
But this Friday is the last one before…
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To My Daughter, at Halftime
To My Daughter, at Halftime
Okay, dear daughter. Bring it in. Time for a half-time pep talk.
In a few short weeks, you’ll be turning nine. I know. I can’t believe it either, but your birth certificate doesn’t lie even if I haven’t aged a day past thirty-five.
We are at the half way point of this “raising” you thing. We’ve been pretty focused on just keeping you alive up until now, teaching you the basics of how to get…
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