A lot of people say they never understood exhaustion until they became a parent. That wasn’t the case with me. I’ve dealt with exhaustion from sleep issues, and depression/anxiety, so after Baby Grouch Number One was born I think I actually felt better in the mornings than I used to. I was tired, of course, but I was always tired and honestly having a kid just gave … Continue reading As If Moms Need More Proof Sleep Deprivation Is Real
After having kids, shit changes. Anyone who argues this point is either a liar or is truly an asshole of a parent. But, I will concede that shit changes in varying degrees, due to the natural laws associated with Tiered Friendships. Tier One: These are your closest friends. You communicate with them the most, they have known you for the longest, they know the details … Continue reading 10 Ways to Stay Connected With Your Friends After Having Kids
A few years back, when I was pregnant with my first child, some of my friends and I were gathered around my living room, chit-chatting it up. I don’t remember the details of most of our conversation, but I will never forget one particular sentence. A good friend of mine, who at the time was the new mom of an seven-month-old, said, “I think I love my daughter … Continue reading I Love My Kids More Than You Love Yours
Before I became a parent, I had a few relatively close friends who began starting families, and after the birth of their little ones, I never really saw them again. I tried calling periodically, and would offer up the same sort of date idea we used to do together, usually coffees or lunch dates. Usually the offer was rejected and after a few attempts to stay connected, … Continue reading Once We Become Parents We Don’t Want To Hang Out With You Anymore (But Not For The Reasons You Think)
She knit because she loved to. She enjoyed sitting in her chair, her mind and body calm and quiet and still, with the exception of her hands, which moved furiously back and forth, clicking and clacking and whirling. She loved the way the needles tinged and pinged, and the fibers twisted and twined, and she could not get enough of her hobby that embodied the essence of the … Continue reading Her Three Favorite Skeins
Our words matter. As parents, we know we are responsible for teaching our children how to respect themselves and others, and that our words help shape their life-long inner dialogue. Some of the “bad” words we try to shield our children from at an early age are obvious, such as swear words or hate speech or rude, nasty comments. We would never purposefully and passionately … Continue reading The Bad Words We Are Teaching Our Children
Baby Grouch woke me this morning with her chatter and her happy squeals and periodic shouts of “Mama!” coming from her crib. I padded to her room, in my pajamas, and smiled at her when she exclaimed, “Morning!” as I walked in. “Book. Book. Cookie”. We had the time, so I acquiesced to her demand that I read her “The Best Mouse Cookie” before bringing … Continue reading Beautiful Moments Aren’t Always Pretty
It’s highly likely that you will encounter a pregnant woman at work, at home, at the gym or via your Facebook feed. While she may enjoy engaging with you on topics such as hobbies, families, work gripes or nursery decorations, it’s important to be mindful of the fact that she may not want to engage with you on everything and everything under the “pregnancy topics” … Continue reading 10 Things Pregnant Women Do Not Want To Hear Coming Out of Your Mouth
As an adult, Christmas has been my least favorite holiday. For starters, I’m not so into the whole religious aspect. Or the wasteful over-spending on gifts no one really needs. And it’s almost not even worth mentioning the over-booking, the last-minute changes of plans, the cooking, cleaning and never-ending dish washing. I do love spending time with family, under normal circumstances, so I’ve tried VERY … Continue reading Thank Goodness The Next Christmas Isn’t Until Next Year
A Morning Grouch 