This is a three-part post in one. There are so many tips and ideas packed in here! I’m sharing the tired struggles of being a stay at home mom, 15 specific ways to battle mommy burnout and my best, simplified discipline advice. There is also a benefit to being a mom that you have probably… Read More When I’m tired of being a stay-at-home mom
My third child is two and a half. She’s killing me today. Over the last couple days she has climbed up the washing machine to get in the medicine cabinet, colored her entire face with a purple marker, destroyed all my makeup as she got “boodeefull,” walked out the front door without a word, refuses… Read More 11 things to do when Mom can’t take any more
I often describe the troubling times I have with my children on this blog (like here, here and here), but today I had some clarity. As I sit here in a rare moment of being completely alone on a rainy morning, I’m thinking of the ways the kids have enriched my life and character. Yes,… Read More Have your kids changed your character?
Clara has really amped up her game since she turned two. She learned how to open doors and climb out of her crib in one day. The next day I put her down 34 times for her nap. The following day, 60 times. 60 times! We put all the bar stools in the garage because she climbs… Read More 25 effective toddler discipline strategies
This is a tricky post to write. But if I don’t write it, I would feel dishonest. I’ve been going through a bout of depression and lots of I-don’t-wanna-be-a-mom-today moments for the last month. I said it. It’s not pretty. It sounds ungrateful. But it’s still true. Depression is not a common enemy of mine,… Read More When Mama is TIRED
The boys are three and five years old. I have shown them love with my whole heart during their short time on this earth, but I’ve also let them rule my emotions. I have let them get the better of my temper, lost control, yelled and acted like a child myself more times than I… Read More The week I changed the way I parent
Last night my visiting aunt was hysterically laughing at my life. She literally said “I’m laughing at your life,” which made the rest of the family snort with laughter! I love that about her. Watching the ridiculous chaos my kids embody reminded her of when her boys were small. She couldn’t help but giggle at our everyday nonsense of… Read More On going from 2 to 3 kids
What is it with me and my emotions when I have an eight-month old baby? Sometimes they get the better of me to the point I can’t enjoy the sweet little moments because I’m busy thinking they won’t be this small forever. I did this with each of the boys around the same age as well.… Read More Being a mother is emotional
It has gotten out of control around here the past few weeks. It started when Luca had a tonsillectomy and the two weeks of recovery were intense. We babied him and took the doctor’s advice, giving him ice cream and juice, anything to keep him from getting dehydrated. His throat hurt so badly he refused everything at… Read More Things have spiraled
Here I sit in my darkened bedroom with our last little newborn beside me. I’m happy as a lark when she hiccups on my tummy and not in it. I’m relieved to see my hospital bag half unpacked instead of half packed, stewing about what I forgot and when it would be time to go. But more than… Read More Clara’s birth story
I don’t really mind strangers commenting on my pregnancy, telling me they have X number of children or grandchildren. I don’t care if they would like to know the sex or ask how old my two boys are. In fact, most people only offer a nice smile, but it seems there are a few people who… Read More What not to say to a pregnant woman
This is my second time potty training. My first time, I potty trained my oldest son at about two years and three months. I read a couple articles online and gave it a go. We had a few messes, but he caught on fast and was fully trained in two or three days. I thought the second… Read More Potty training 101