Category: Parenting

Coverage from the daily war zone.

To My Son, on His 3rd Birthday

It seems strange that we are back here again, celebrating another one of your birthdays. Didn’t I just watch you turn 2?

But as I look back over the last year, I am overwhelmed by the differences in you. You, my son, are no longer a baby. I guess you already knew that since you remind me so often that you are a “big boy.” I still call you baby though. I can’t help myself.

You were suppose to be my last, but the current baby inside my belly is taking that position. You are instead destined to be the middle child–a role I think God placed you in with great care and consideration.

You will be a magnificent middle child. Why, you ask… Continue reading To My Son, on His 3rd Birthday

Stay-at-Home Dads: The Future?

When my husband and I were engaged, I asked him if he would be willing to stay home once we had kids and I could go off the the office each day. He laughed and said sarcastically “If that’s what you really want.” I never really joked about it again.

Last year while attending a blogger conference, I met a stay-at-home dad/blogger/author. I have to admit, I was kinda shocked. I had never known a stay-at-home dad, or” house husband,” or my personal favorite, “house spouse”. Needless to say, I asked him a lot of questions.

Soon after, a family member of mine decided he needed to stay home with his boys while his wife pursued her education. Now, it seems SAHDS (admittedly, not the best abbreviation) are on the rise.

Despite the increase in stay-at-home dads of late, I’m still figuring out what I think of this new phenomena… Continue reading Stay-at-Home Dads: The Future?

This One Goes Out to All the Moms…{Happy Mother’s Day}

This one goes out to all the mommies out there…

To every mom who has sacrificed her body to stretch marks, baby weight, and labor pains.

To every mom who has woken up for middle-of-the-night feedings and woken up just to make sure that little baby is still breathing.

To every mom who has watched helplessly as her child learns to do something new for the first time…wanting to step in, but allowing their “baby” to learn for themselves.

To every mom… Continue reading This One Goes Out to All the Moms…{Happy Mother’s Day}

Favorite (Tolan) Things

My son, Tolan, is fast approaching his third birthday. In the last few months, it seems that he has had a huge growth spurt, complete with added inches to his height and words to his vocabulary.

Every other day he is doing or saying something brand new. Yet, as the birth of this next baby grows closer (and I grow larger), the reality that Tolan will no longer be “the baby” sets in.

My son is a boy. All boy. He is the opposite of his sister. He is a little man who does little man things in a little man body. He is entertaining, to say the least. Here are some of the funny things he says and awesomely boy things he does… Continue reading Favorite (Tolan) Things

Favorite (Riley Saying) Things

I think my kids are two of the funniest people I know. I am constantly surprised by and snorting from their humor.

My daughter, the 4 year-old, has been amazingly funny lately. As this this third baby’s arrival gets closer and closer, I am beginning to appreciate my first two kids even more.

Every day on Twitter, I tweet a “Riley Quote of the Day.” I thought I’d share a list of some of her funniest moments with you. If you haven’t already, you can follow me on Twitter, too, and make sure you can read her hilarity each day. Let the smiling begin… Continue reading Favorite (Riley Saying) Things

The Worst Kinds of Parents

Some of you may have heard about the recent buzz surrounding a new book titled Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua, wherein she offers an unnerving and controversial account of raising her children as a Chinese mother.

Regardless of your personal thoughts or knowledge of the book, it certainly has done one thing: start conversations.

The term “tiger mom” is now being used to describe overly-protective, hyper-involved, strict mothers. I have to say that I don’t see too many of these moms on the playground, but I do see a whole slew of other unhealthy types of parents.

It seems that more and more parents these days just don’t know how to parent and, instead, resort to unhealthy and even irresponsible types of parenting. There are 8 patterns of problem parents. Are you one or do you know one? Continue reading The Worst Kinds of Parents

Peeing on a Stick and Other Adventures

I hinted to you guys on Friday that I would be sharing a really big and really cool surprise today. Well, the time has come.

Some of you may be shocked, flabbergasted, amazed…and others of you might not be too excited considering the news. However, I was floored when I found out.

Here’s a hint: It’s small, the size of a lentil bean, is confirmed by peeing on a stick, and is currently making me extremely nauseous. Continue reading Peeing on a Stick and Other Adventures