I'm waiting for the explosion. My boys are playing together, shooting baskets into a little hoop on the back of the door in their room. I can hear them laughing, having fun, high-fiving....then there's some muffled commotion....and here it comes. "OOWW!!" The door flings open, and the youngest boy is chasing his brother down the hall into the living room. He... Continue Reading →
Mean Girls, Back Fat and a Flat Chest
I was 16 when I burst into my mom's office at the school board building, beside myself with confusion and sadness. "I don't know where I belong!" I cried. After bouncing back and forth between Catholic and public high school three times, I still didn't have an answer. It's not that I didn't have friends.... Continue Reading →
Moving On
On a beautiful fall morning last week, I took my daughter to the zoo. I planned to enjoy the day with only her, away from her two school-aged brothers who demand my attention as soon as they get home. But instead of being focused on her, I was preoccupied by all the other mommies. The younger ones.... Continue Reading →
3 Reasons It’s Hard to Work From Home
While raising my kids for the past 12 years, I've been fortunate to be able to work from home. It's part time, and it's not making me rich, but interviewing interesting people and writing blogs for businesses keeps me in tune with the real world -- and challenges me a little more than it does to... Continue Reading →
I Don’t Mind Dirt Patches
As I mowed the grass today, I thought about the man who lived on my street when I was about 8 years old. His grass was perfectly manicured - every inch of it the same height and color, the most beautiful color of green there is. He was always telling us kids not to walk... Continue Reading →
Cruising Kidless — My first care-free vacation
If you'd asked me to leave my first son for five days when he was two years old, I would have made you carry me out, and only IF you could hog-tie me first. After all, I was always the one to scoff at the Christmas newsletters from friends boasting tales of their fabulous kid-free vacations, pictures included.... Continue Reading →
So You’re Getting Married…
Planning a wedding is such an exciting time. Choosing your bridesmaids, your color scheme, where to have your reception - it's all so much fun. And that fiancé of yours...isn't he a catch? You probably get butterflies in your stomach when he kisses you, or as soon as he walks in the door. It would... Continue Reading →
We Are A Baseball Family
This time of year, my living room's extra messy. There are bats standing up against the wall and gloves on the toy shelf. If you walk without looking on the floor, you might trip over a ball or a cleat. But it doesn't drive me nuts like when Legos or Polly Pockets are strewn everywhere. I actually kind of... Continue Reading →
My Little Self
It's been a long, cold winter, and I'm a lot softer and paler than I was when this season started. So the other day when I looked in the bathroom mirror, I couldn't help but groan at what I saw. "Ugh...I look horrible!" I said out loud. And a little voice that came from a place as high as my waist... Continue Reading →
Let’s Play Pretend
When my first son was little, I played with toys. I'd sit on the floor next to him and make the Little People talk to each other. They went to the doctor. They went to school. They ate family dinners together. I was always better at doing concrete things like building with blocks or playing... Continue Reading →