How Do We Safeguard Our Kids From Toxic Relationships?
It's in the media. It's on so many episodes of crime shows. Toxic relationships turned into domestic abuse. Families are ripped apart by the grief of domestic violence. How do…
My Daughter Is Getting Married and This Girl Mom Is Getting a Son
The milestones of being a girl mom and raising daughters is priceless. Parenting comes with surprises every turn. Imagine my new delight at the engagement of my daughter. A feeling…
In Praise of Boredom: 5 ways boredom is good
Boredom: the state of feeling wearied by dullness, tedious repetition, and apathy. Synonyms include apathy, indifference, disgust, lethargy, and monotony. Thanks, dictionary people. What a downer. How can any of…
Parenting Adult Kids is Hard: 4 Lessons I’ve Learned
It's been two years since my twins moved into college dorms and began "adulting" as they describe it. These years of empty-nesting were supposed to be relaxing and stress-free. I…
When Are You Going To Have Kids? Sensitive Topic Most People Don’t Understand
We recently flew to Minnesota and being a family of four we had one row with the girls and me, then my husband across the aisle. A seemingly nice woman…
Seeing Double: From My Baby Girl to Adult. 11 Things I Want You to Know.
"When we look at our big kids, we still see our babies, too. This double vision is one of the most profound privileges of parenthood. We gratefully turn to fresh…
To the Village-less Mom – I see you. I am you.
To the mom parenting without a village, I see you. I want you to know, I long for that close circle of support too. My husband and I are raising…
10 Things My Toddler Has Taught Me About Life
I never expected to be sitting here writing this blog article. I knew being a mom would push and mold me but I did not expect to learn such profound,…
Kindergarten Is Calling: The Bittersweet Blessing of Letting Go
I’ve been counting down the years, watching them turn into months. Always keeping my eye on the proverbial clock that’s been ticking away since she was born. And now, according…
Tips How NOT to Pass Your New School Year Anxiety onto Your Kids
Were you one of those kids that couldn't wait to get the school supply list? Run to the store and gather all those clean crisp notebooks and markers? Well, I…
7 Ways to Encourage Your White Children To Be Anti-Racist
My life is dedicated to working toward equity for all and speak, train and think about racism. I work to be anti-racist daily. I have been a parent for just…
Looking Back: A Letter To Share Some Mama Wisdom
Dear Mama, You are in such an intense season of your life with these precious babies. Diapers, sleepless nights, napless days, every bodily fluid imaginable. Juggling more than 1 person's…
Nine Things to Do When You Have an Empty-Nest
The day that all older women told me about arrived recently...my fourth and last baby has graduated from high school and will quickly be out on his own. While endlessly…
Where My Girls At? Cheers to the Low Maintenance Friends
This Is A Shout-Out to the Low Maintenance Friend. She’s been on my heart lately and I just wanted to take a minute to tell her how much she means…
Have a Successful Summer With Your Kids With a Bucket List That Actually Works
Summer is here and while it's fun to make a bucket list of activities- most families get to the end of summer and forget it. We end up a little…
Life-Long Lessons From Camping and Our Three Month Trek (Recipes Included)
When I was young, my mother would take us camping just for a quick overnight in the mountains that surrounded my childhood home. She would load up the tents and…
Teenage school friends having fun piggybacking outdoors
5 Ideas to Keep Your Teen Active This Summer
Can you believe we are thinking about summer activities already? This summer more than ever it is important to plan some outdoor activities for your middle schooler. I am sharing…
Stop Yelling at Your Kids: 5 Ways to Find Your Cool
A big struggle moms come to me with, as a mom mentor, is how to stop yelling at their kids. My answers and help always surprise them. It sounds like…
Life as a Stay-at-Home Mom in a Pandemic: Not What I Signed Up For
Let me start by saying I LOVE my children! Becoming a mom was not an easy journey for me and there were times I thought it might never happen. I love…
Our Teens Are Struggling; How Can We Help?
Our world is hurting right now. And I don’t mean just with everything with COVID the past year. We have been hurting for a while. One of the concerns that…
A Love Letter To A Graduating Senior: Signed, a 30-Year Post Graduate
Dear Graduating Senior, I write to you as one who is now a 30-year post-high-school graduate. One thing I can say is: hold on---oh, what adventure and joy lay ahead…
Three Pillars to Rebuild Confidence as a School-Age Parent
Admittedly, I’m lacking confidence as a parent at the end of this school year. Yes, school during a pandemic has been more than just confidence-shaking. But for me it has…
Empower Your Daughters: 7 Things I Learned The Hard Way
Everyone you will ever come in contact with knows something you don’t. You can learn from all of them, even if it’s only that they don’t belong in your life.
Redefining “Smart”: The Importance of Emotional Intelligence
“Emotional intelligence is learned and learnable by everyone; whereas intellectual intellect is not learnable. The daily practice of doing emotional labour is what develops emotional intelligences. In the beginning, the…
Guilt Trippin’: Reframing Our Guilt for the Greater Good
Recently, I was chatting with a friend of mine. School had been cancelled for consecutive days in a row, thanks to massive amounts of snow dumped on our side of…
There is Beauty in Giving! But Do You Have Limits?
I write a lot about how the beauty of giving is a gift itself, literally and figuratively. What about boundaries or cut-off points to your extended hand? If you do,…
People Pleasing: Set Yourself Free From the Lies You Tell Yourself
It's subtle, people pleasing. The lies women are telling are often so close to the truth, so subtle that they go unseen, but they never go un-felt. Women are telling…
Give Voice to Maternal Exhaustion – A Story of Burnout, Betrayal and Fear
What does maternal exhaustion mean? Well, I knew that I needed to face this topic for the last six months. Instead of writing, maternal exhaustion has been where I’ve lived.…
Grief: A Delicate State of Being of the Mind and Heart
Hello there and greetings to all who read this article. I hope and pray that everyone is doing well. That is indeed my hope for you. This article was going…
Tips for Preparing for Year End IEP Meetings
Attending annual IEP meetings can be difficult. With these tips for preparing for year end IEP meetings you will be ready to advocate for your child. Having IEP (individual education…
World Autism Awareness Day: The Spectrum of Life
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain." Viviane Greene Today on April 2nd, 2021 World Autism Awareness Day,…
The Unexpected Sadness When Our Dog Died: 3 Things to Help your Kids with the Loss
Our dog died and I had no idea I’d feel so sad. I knew my kids would be sad to lose our pet, but I really didn’t expect to be.…
Hurry Up and Stop Growing: A Mom’s Clashing Feelings
Two of my husband's children are acting like a**holes. Sure, they're my kids too and right now I am shifting parental ownership to their father. I am sick of the…
Why Are Daughters Critical of Mothers? Generational Feminism
A long time ago I told my girls, "I'm definitely not perfect so I am definitely going to screw up at being a mom sometimes! All that I ask is…
Raise ’em Up with Respect and Kindness
Something happened this year at school with my daughter that got me thinking about respect among women and girls. The simple concept of respect is the admiration for someone’s abilities,…
Living Away from Fear, Not Into It: An Unexpected Lesson in Courage
Not long ago, we stuck a for sale sign in our front yard, packed up the contents of our home for the last seven years, and decided to live away…
Sarah Nicole Landry @thebirdspapaya
Body Image: How Birth Helped Me Heal After Abuse and a Lifetime at War with Myself and My Body
I was 20 when I lost my first pregnancy. I felt betrayed by my body, but at that point in my life, betrayal was all I knew towards her. My…
My High-Risk Pregnancy & Journey with a Chromosome Abnormality
For women with a known chance of a high-risk pregnancy, finding out you’re expecting can be a terrifying experience. I am one of those women. It's difficult to share such…
How Do You Raise Three Kids as a Single Mom? A Tribute to Wing Moms
I have been a divorced single mom now for 18 years. My three daughters are adults now. My former husband and father to my children lives out of state. Basically,…
Helping Little Humans Handle Big Feelings
The Blessing of Bonus Littles I’ve been blessed to be the auntie of two of the most loving, creative, kind, and unique kiddos (sure, I’m a little biased). My niece…
The Aftermath: Pressing Through the Pain to Find Healing After Trauma
Warning: traumatic birth story detailed below. Please read on with caution as the material or descriptions may be triggering. Every January, as his birthday draws near, I have a tightness…
Seeing My Daughter in a New Light: Through the Lens of COVID
I was 26 years old when I birthed my daughter, the final child we were to have...the icing on our cake. She was, like her older brothers, a joy to…
Photo Credit: U Shine Photography- Jill Skoglund
The Universe Gifted Me a Special Needs Son
The universe gifted me a special needs son. He has a presence about him and is a bright light on my darkest days. The days I have lost all hope,…
What is Wrong with You? The Damaging Dynamic of Familial Toxic Love
A couple weeks ago I was out shopping with my daughter. We saw this awesome shirt (pictured) in the store Zumiez. I posted it on my story on both my…
My Dear Daughters, Always Remember That I Love You!!
“There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” – Jill Churchill I am a proud mother of three beautiful young ladies. Having all girls,…
Thoughts on helping your autistic child navigate the teen years.
The teen years with your children are typically a challenge, throw in a child with autism adding in further challenges. Today I am sharing some thoughts on helping your autistic…
Reasons Why We Hesitate to Ask For and Accept Help When in Need
Do you find it difficult and are hesitant to ask for and accept help when you are in need? Why do some of us hesitate when it comes to asking…
Distance Learning: Educating the Heart Through Self-Compassion
How to educate has entered pretty much every parent’s home this year in a new way. As I write this I am embracing our third month of facilitating online kindergarten…
Black Mothers Matter: Addressing Deadly Healthcare Disparities
I believe that it is important to continually educate ourselves on the prevalence of racism that plagues our society. Recent events have created a new awareness surrounding the treatment of…
Mom Burnout: Finding Balance in a Season that has us Burning at Both Ends
What do you think of when I say the word balance? Do you picture the perfect system or a schedule that FINALLY makes motherhood feel balanced? What we experience in…
Music Makes the Mood; Our Dance Party Home School Hack!
Music. Just the word brings me joy and lightens my mood. What about for you? When the World Seems Heavy... I'm thinking sometimes we need something light, something just simple…
I am Tired: Confessions of a Special Needs Mom
I am tired. There, I said it. It’s not like me to publicly admit such a thing. I am strong and independent and I do my best to soldier on…
Three Ways to Overcome The Challenges of Being a Caregiver
Being a caregiver can be very challenging and sometimes difficult to overcome but it can be done. On January 31, 2017, the rest of mine and my mother's lives changed…
Tips for Nurturing Your Special Needs Child’s Self Esteem
As parents we want to do everything we can to help our children grow and these tips for nurturing your special needs child's self esteem plays a huge role in…
A Warrior Heart: Her Birth Story
It is 3:42 in the morning and I can feel her warrior heart beating against mine. I am exhausted and my body aches. It’s been less than 24 hours since…
Preparing Yourself and Your Special Needs Child for School.
As a new school year is quickly approaching it is time to start preparing yourself and your special needs child for the school year Every new school year begins with…
This is What we Want for Her: A Few Parting Words for my College Freshman
In one week we will move my only child into her college freshman dorm room. We will unpack, joke, arrange, laugh, bicker and organize. We will make sure she is…
Surviving School: Practical Advice for In-Person or Remote Learning
Parents are in an impossible situation when it comes to deciding what their children should do for school this year. There truly is no good answer. But we all have…
Dear White Parents of Black Children: Our Love is Not Enough
When I was in college I got pregnant with my daughter. I gave birth to her at the beginning of my senior year of undergrad. From that moment on my…
Daycare: The Importance of Keeping a Sleep Routine
One of the biggest obstacles my clients face is what to do when they send their little ones to daycare. They are often found wondering how they are going to…
Confessions of a Procrastinator: From Procrastination to Productivity
I have a dirty little secret. Actually, for those who know me well, it’s no secret at all. I am a procrastinator. On the surface, I seem to be a…
The Valuable Lesson I Learned From my Autistic Son
"A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might…
The Memories that Get Lost in the Hustle and Bustle of Life
The memories that get lost in the hustle and bustle of life. I can feel them slipping away. The tiny, every day moments that make being a mom, a wife,…
In a Sleep Coach’s House: We Still Have Tired Nights
I do have to brag that my kiddos have been great sleepers from a very young age! But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have setbacks and tired nights here and…
Yelling: How to Get Your Message Across
Early in the lock-down, I realized that I had no area in my house to "take" my yoga class. Work was from home, college was from home, high school was…
A Parent’s Unending Love and Support
Having recently spent a week in the hospital with my daughter, I started thinking about a parent's unending love and support. Even now, as a grown woman and parent myself. …
The Best Thing We Can Do for Our Children: Allow Them to be Themselves
“When you parent, it’s critical you realize you aren’t raising a “mini me,” but a spirit throbbing with its own signature. For this reason, it’s important to separate who you…
What my Failed Tampon Experience Taught me About Period Poverty
I stood there waiting for the airport terminal train, breathing slowly in and out, squeezing my legs together so tightly my muscles were shaking. I was trying to hold back…
Creating your Support System by Educating Family on Autism
Now that you have an Autism diagnosis it is important to begin creating your support system by educating your family so that they can better understand and help support you…
Separation Anxiety in Children: How You Can Help
Raising kids is a high-stakes responsibility and in this age of social media and easy access to information about anything and everything, parents are easily overwhelmed with feelings of guilt…
Surviving the Adult Teen Years: One Mom’s Two Cents
One mom’s two cents to get you through those last few tumultuous adult teen years. Parenting is hard. Parenting adult teens is hella hardest. And those last few years will…
How Many Times Are You Willing to Get Back Up When You Fall?
We all, at some point in our lives, have fallen down physically or mentally, ranging from childhood to adulthood. We've collected a treasure chest full of scars from a few…
Embrace the Season You’re In – Something Valuable is Coming
I curled up under a blanket on the carpeted floor of our master bedroom closet. Pulling the pillow over my head, I squeezed my eyes shut and turned on the…
Growing Through Rejection, Indifference, and Self Preservation
I was fourteen years old as I stepped off the school bus. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I had just experienced deep rejection. Behind me, the voices of former…
I’ll Never Sleep Again: Finding the Humor in a Sleepless Phase of Life
Ahh, sleep deprivation. A sleepless state of existence that is near and not-so-dear to my heart. As a matter of fact, I don’t know that I’ve met many individuals who…
The Magnificent Mundane: Finding Belonging From Your Line of Survivors
All the little moments that get lost when you are busy running the race to achievement. It's within these moments where belonging waits to be found.
A Lesson I Learned From My Mom: Be Yourself
My mom says lots of things. Let me clarify. My mom has a big mouth. Okay, wait, that’s not what I’m going for either. My mom tells me when she’s…
Keep your Marriage Thriving: Tips for Special Needs Parents
Let’s talk about how to keep your marriage thriving, and some tips for special needs parents. Let's face it, having a good marriage does not come easily. Add to that…
Curb the distractions: Journey Together with 2 Techniques
Do 24 hours a day seem not enough to handle it all? You aren't alone. Balancing family and business while maintaining a sense of self is challenging. Add in social…
Just One Child? Why People’s Family Sizes Are None of Your Business
In a New Year’s quest to declutter, my husband and I decided to sell our piano that had been sitting in our house collecting dust for more than a decade.…
Parenting a Tween Daughter: What She Needs Most
Parent of a Tween Girl! I’ve recently entered a new phase in mum-life. Becoming the parent of my very own tween daughter! Of course I’ve been there once upon a…
Telling Your Story Can Be a Survival Guide for Special Needs Parents
“One day you’ll tell your story of how you’ve overcome what you’re going through now and it will become part of someone else’s survival guide.” -Unknown This quote resonated with…
Mommy Guilt: If You Are Giving it to Yourself, Stop it
Before I was a mom, I knew that mommy guilt was a thing. I knew to be careful if I experienced this. One thing I didn’t expect was to give…
You Reap What You Sow: How This Phrase Affected My Mindset.
There is an old proverb that mentions the idea of you reap what you sow. If you've ever heard this growing up, how did you decern it? When I heard,…
Losing My Voice, Gaining Perspective: Two Lessons I Learned from Staying Quiet
The quieter you become, the more you can hear.Ram Dass Losing My Voice; Literally Last week, I lost my voice. And I mean that in the literal sense. I went…
Love and Kindness Go Together: A Relationship Reminder
Love and kindness go together. They really do. In my 20 years as a counselor, I've been astounded at how many people say and do the most unkind things in…
Your Kids Are Going To Leave: Stop Expecting Them To Fill Your Needs
Our children are miracles. They make us proud, frustrate and challenge us and they teach us a lot about ourselves. However, they are not ours to keep. We don't own…
Sleep Deprivation: Affecting Your Daily Function, Relationship and Sex Life
What is it about you having a lousy night’s sleep that makes everyone else seem so awful? Sleep deprivation is no joke when it comes to having children and the…
Practice Doesn’t Make Perfect: Embracing the Imperfect
There’s nothing quite like one’s first-ever blog post to serve up a big helping of vulnerability, is there? But really, the craving to be more vulnerable is largely what nudged…
There is Nothing Wrong With Having Postpartum Depression: It is Okay
The reality is, Postpartum Depression is a very real thing. According to the CDC, 1 in 9 women experience symptoms of Postpartum Depression. And there is nothing wrong with having…
Preparing For the Holidays: Tips For Families With Children on the Spectrum
It is the most magical time of the year and notably the most stressful for many. If you are raising an autistic child then you have some added stress that…
Sleep Training: A Gift To Our Family
When our daughter was little we started doing all the things to get her to sleep and it wasn't working. That is when we decided to teach our daughter independent sleep skills.
This Isn’t A Hallmark Movie! 6 Ways to be Present, Not Perfect, During the Holidays
If you know me, you know I really love a good, sappy Hallmark movie, especially a Christmas one. During the holiday season there's little I enjoy more than snuggling up…
To Give or Not to Give: Showing My Kids the Real Meaning of Christmas
I wrestle with the best way to make Christmas magical while not going overboard. Every year I struggle: To give or not to give.
The Power of Our Words in Life and How They Shape the Future
The power of words in our life is something that is so underrated that we trip and fall over it! We don’t recognize this power and neither do we teach it…
A Letter to the Mama Who Didn’t Cry at School Drop Off
Dear Mama, I see you. Talking with your mama friends about your kiddos starting school this year. Them telling you how much they cried and didn’t know what to do…
Tips for the Sandwich Generation: Caregiving for Ailing Parents While Raising Kids
Many of us are caring for our parents as they get to an age where their health begins to fail or they are diagnosed with a chronic illness. In addition…
The Secret to Doing It All: Don’t! And Five tips to help you look like you Do!
People often ask me how I “do it all” or how I “keep it all together," and I’m just going to be honest from the start and tell you my…
When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned: Healing after Having a Baby at Twenty-Three Weeks
We are coming up on five years since having a baby at twenty-three weeks gestation. Every year, my processing takes off another layer from the pain of that situation. My…
Summer Fun or Summer Bummer? 5 Steps to Help Summer Overwhelm
It’s summer! Does that mean it’s time for lots of fun in the sun or time to find a million ways to entertain your kids who are bouncing off the…
6 Tips for Traveling with Young Children- Be Prepared, Bring the Fun!
No doubt, traveling with young children can be stressful and even overwhelming. However, over the last few times we have traveled, I have found a few tips that truly helped…
Military Wife Life: Tools to Survive the Constant Transition of His Career
The same day I chose this blog topic, I received a “heads up” that my husband’s name was at the top of a list for a deployment next year. He…
How I Conquered Mount Laundsuvius: Practical Laundry Tips For The Overwhelmed Mama
Mom life is laundry life, right? For the seven years I’ve been a mom, I have had a constant pile of laundry that needs to be washed, folded and put…
Powerful Words – Long Lasting And Far Reaching Effects
Words Are Powerful He was hurting! It all began years before. He was too young to connect the dots of what was happening. It was just life. He didn’t know any…
Surviving May: Advice from the Mother of a Graduate
May is always a busy month. Add to the mix a child in high school and May is just crazy. Make that child a senior and the month is insane.…
Life Experiences – Bad Things Happen, Don’t Let It Stop You From Living!
On one hand I’m the helicopter mom, full of anxiety that something horrible will happen to my children. On the other hand, I encourage my daughter’s to travel the world and…
Natural Cleaning Solutions For Your Home | The We Spot
As the weather warms up, windows are flung open to allow that fresh air to flow throughout the house. For me, I start to look at my house, and notice…
What I’ve Learned From Having a Rebellious Teenager
Teenagers! For me, it's an experience beyond anything I could have ever imagined summed up into one word. I have a rebellious teenager that likes to push boundaries. If something…
Ten Confessions of a Boy Mom- Defecting at it’s finest
I've made a list of my ten confessions as a boy mom, but I think it is important to note that I grew up in a family of all boys,…
Hey, I know you! New Phase…Same Family
Hello! It started innocently enough. We were two 19-year-old college freshman, and we only had eyes for each other. And, we had it badly. We could talk for hours about…
Attention All Self-Proclaimed Control Freaks, It’s Time to Let it Go!
At the end of March, my husband and I took our kids on a two-day getaway to Legoland. The park is only about 40 minutes from our home, so this…
I No Longer Show Up For My Family
This one shift has helped me love those around me better. I am able to accept the humanity of those around me and allow that they are doing their best.
A Letter to my Daughter for her 18th Birthday
Instead of purchasing a card off the shelf, I felt like I could best honor her by writing a love note. A list of memories or things that came to…
Surviving Summer With Your Kiddos – Four Tips To Help You Thrive!
Spring is now in full swing, and summer time is knocking at the door. Soon the doors of school will fly open - and a flood of children will pour…
Royalty free photo by Josh Willink
Military Brat Parenting: Five Things I Tell My Kids in Hopes They’ll Be Better Humans
My dad was an Air Force colonel, a fighter pilot and a Vietnam veteran. In addition to being a proud (and dutiful) daughter, my upbringing in a military household shaped…
It’s Bigger Than Basketball: When Teams Turn Into Families
My son was practically born with a basketball in his hand. Before he could even walk he was gripping the baby sized basketballs and dunking into trashcans (he may have…
Sacrifice: Not Just a Dirty Word
SACRIFICE is not just a dirty word. Or is it? What does this word conjure up for you? Perhaps its sadness or heartbreak. Maybe it brings with it, a sense…
A Penny’s Worth of Thoughts: Collecting Valuable Moments with your Children
The glimmer of sweet, sweet coins Nothing makes me happier during a run or a walk than catching a small glimmer in the street. A small glimmer that is of…
The Day I Cried Over Spilled Milk: My Journey of Self-Care and Embracing my “Enoughness”
In 2012 I began my self-care journey and it changed my life in ways I'd never imagined. Sharing this story has become part of my mission because every time I…
Cutting the Toxic Ties: Not Everyone Knows How to Love
My dad was in the military and left early every day for work. When I woke up I would go to the kitchen and find something to eat. Then I…
The Big G and how it nearly wrecked me- Finding myself at thirty-eight
Nearly two years ago, I took the biggest trip of a lifetime. I flew to Bolivia in search for my brother who was left abandoned and homeless in the streets…
My Dear Child Thank You. You Made Me Human.
As long as I can remember I had always heard the stories you will never be the same after becoming a mother. I would always nod in approval and give…
What to Do When Your Friend’s Birth Doesn’t Go as Planned
Most of us are not prepared when we get the news - a friend or family member has had a baby, and there have been complications. We go through life…