I created this printable journal for Christmas gifts for both our kids grandpas, but it makes a perfect birthday or Father’s Day gift as well! It’s designed to be interactive, requesting the child to interview the grandpa for answers ahead of time. Then the child is asked to engage creatively with Grandpa’s answers. The journal…
I gave birth to my third daughter this past December, and she is the very embodiment of joy. She has brought so much hope and light into my life and the lives of our new little family, and I focus every day on how grateful I am that this amazing little person came to spend…
There are many excellent books on nutrition, but Catherine Shanahan’s Deep Nutrition is my top pick. This book is written by an expert in molecular biology who can translate intricate science into digestible and actionable information. Shanahan draws on over 20 years of clinical experience to communicate how diet and lifestyle impact the health of…
October 10, 2022 The room was dim, muted, oppressive. The slight whir and buzz of the radiology equipment dominated all human interaction. The technician moved dully about her business, inputting data, prepping for the ultrasound. We were there for information; she was there to obtain it. I leaned to once more embrace a 3-year-old Cecilia,…
You can be everything to your daughter except her father. My therapist’s voice echoed in my head for weeks after she spoke this sentence. As a struggling single mother, it was not an opinion I wanted to hear. I was spending every ounce of energy, will, and intellect trying to figure out how best to…
Every mother has her story. The perfect mothers, the addict mothers, the Stepford mothers, the foster mothers, the teenage mothers, the Instagram mothers, and the mothers who have lost their babies—all have a story to tell. Some are tragedies; some are comedies; some are simply the stories that mothers stop writing when the telling becomes…
Our daughter, Cecilia, was born on Cinco de Mayo, so every year, we have a Mexican-style feast to celebrate her birthday. This year, for her 4th birthday, we decided to take it a step farther and throw a citrus-themed party for her. Here’s a glimpse into the decorations, menu, and festivities! affiliate disclaimer: This post contains…
It can be tough in a moment of stress to find a way through and not spin out emotionally. Here are the top five tips I have for getting through those difficult times and coming out on the other end building (instead of damaging) relationships with my children. tip #1: pick your battles This is…
No parent has it all figured out, and most of us need more than a little help every once in a while to keep our heads above water. In our newly blended family, we struggle to cope with the complex dynamics involved in step-parenting, adopted parenting, newborn parenting, and parenting a child with a serious…
A coot beat the waters of the sea In the silence all aroundIn the silence of the seaIn the silence of nowhereIn the silence of the seaA fish jumpedThe seaweed popped and the sand sighedIn the low tide. “Quiet in the wilderness,” margaret wise brown Our world is growing louder. I feel it day by…