parenthood – Aprons, Heels, and Yoga Pants

Lock Down and Slow Down

I planned on journaling every day during our shelter in place, but that hasn’t happened. I also planned on cleaning out closets, handing each child a stack of great literature to read, and reading some myself…also has not happened. Like most things in life, my pandemic stage is not turning out as planned. I am…

The Exhaustion of Single Motherhood

I love to encourage moms. How can I not? Motherhood has been, still is, and always will be my passion. I sort of fell into it, and turns out it is the greatest gig in life. Today I want to encourage a special category of motherhood. It is another area I sort of fell into…single…

Pacing The Floors and Learning To Streak

When trying to stalk your teenage son, to find out his whereabouts…you’ve got to be clever. You’ve got to think like a teenage boy, so he is not embarrassed by you. Here are some tactics I have found to work like a charm when my son is out and about with friends, and I am…

Sometimes We Have To Change.

This morning I woke up my 10 year old daughter. Need I say more? I’ll explain for those of you who don’t have kids in double digits. Waking a child who doesn’t like to get up, is a frightening experience. Maybe you can imagine waking a momma bear sleeping with her baby cubs as you…

Stop Empowering Me

On my quest to live my life my way, with little concern for what others think about it, I hit speed bumps daily. This learning to love oneself isn’t as easy as it sounds. It has to be more than just a nice little love. It’s got to be an in your face, you are mine and…

Be Careful

My morning started with a bang, literally, as the garage door hit the front of my car on its way down. My son was in the driver’s seat and all I could muster out of my very sleepy mouth was, “Careful!” In his defense…careful of what? The poor guy probably felt helpless trying to assess…

Motherhood…The Greatest Comedy Show

Want to stay humble? Have a boatload of kids. One minute you’re cool and feel like you’ve got it all together….then suddenly you’re sopping up toilet water or stripping your child in front of a plane full of strangers, due to a diarrhea incident. I had a really great day. Life is good and I…

The Sweetest Things

It has been a rough week. As much as I fight it and try to make life perfect, I have to accept the good with the bad. I am going through some tough lessons, and I’d really like to stomp my feet like a child and refuse to listen. But lo and behold…I am a…

I just Want To Clean The Toilet

Every once in a while I get an entire day at home. When this rare occasion happens, I can’t contain my excitement as I think…..”I get to clean the house!” I just didn’t see this strange love of domestication phase coming. I’ll never forget a day in counseling many years ago, (nothing big – just working out…

Adoption and What It Taught Me

Lil Beans is 17 now. That is what I call her, and her birthday was yesterday. Well, we will never know her real birthday. October 1st is the birthday given to all abandoned children in China, as that day is a national holiday, commemorating the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Lily is my adopted…