Dear Second Baby (SB), This morning, Dad and I watched you board the school bus for the first time headed to your first day of kindergarten (then we headed to the school to make sure you arrived in your classroom)....
  My Dearest Sweet Pea,    I’m thankful you still let me call you that. I’m not sure if one day you’ll resist, but for today we still embrace it. You are about to enter sixth grade. Middle school. These years, for...
Ok, mamas. The school year is starting, and that fall buzz is in the air. You’ve got the crayons, backpacks, notebooks, and lunch boxes all in order (or not, if you’re more like me). And you probably can’t wait...
To My Daughter, Welcome to middle school. These are exciting years of change and growth. You know you’ll always be my little girl and I will protect you whenever I can. That said, I can't protect you from growing up so...
It was another typical, stressful morning. The kids were playing legos instead of getting dressed. There was sword fighting with toothbrushes instead of brushing teeth. Eating breakfast somehow involved dance moves and a bowl of cereal ended up on...
“I don’t think the teachers are enjoying this either”, my son says, slumped over the dining room table, resting his head and rubbing his eyes. It’s that look of midday crash, being exhausted from blue light, stiff-necked from sitting in...
You know that mama gut feeling? When it just feels like something isn't right? That's been me for the past few years whenever I have talked to my son's teachers. Worksheets were often mostly blank. If anything was written,...
Some kids love politics and civic engagement and some kids don’t care. For the kids that don’t care, I still think it’s important to engage in the discussions, albeit briefly so their minds can digest it. I struggle with this...
Raising kids is hard. They reveal areas needing growth, challenge us to the very core, trigger past trauma, and threaten our sanity every day.  Then when you have a high needs child, it adds another layer of intensity. And yet, most...

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6 Tips for Setting Boundaries During the Holidays

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The holiday season can be one of the most joyful times of the year, but it’s also a time when boundaries can feel especially...