Mom's Timeout

Ah, the irony… Parenthood is really something, isn’t it? Sometimes, I’m just not sure what exactly that something is. I’ll definitely say one thing – it’s giving me a run for my money. It never ceases to amaze me how things seem to work out these days. The more I think about it, the more […]

I think getting outdoors and exploring nature is really important for kids. I believe kids can learn a lot about our world, have a lot of fun, and even learn about things like conservation just from getting out into nature. These days there are so many cool tools you can use to help high-tech kids […]

There are a lot of myths about attachment parenting. Most people don’t really know what attachment parents believe, just what they “do.” Many think being an attachment parent means someone who spends all their time with their kids, someone who had a homebirth, someone how practices baby wearing, co-sleeping, and extended breastfeeding. In truth, you […]

There are so many great things you can do during the summer that just don’t work as well any other time of year. There’s a magic about those warm months and long days. It’s easy to forget about the magic when you’re an adult with a job and a mortgage, but then you have kids […]

Over the course the last year or so, I’ve realized that there are quite a few things that seriously screw with nap time. Some days, regardless of how hard I try, I can’t seem to get someone to take anything even remotely resembling a nap. It’s usually the same few things that are the culprit, […]

As of last week, we’re officially teething again. How do I know? We’re back to refusing to sleep, not being happy unless we’re being held, and eating everything that comes close to our mouth. Please help me. And here I thought that after the first two teeth, we were going to have it easy. They […]

There are definitely a few things in life that my husband does better than I do. He’s usually more laid-back and relaxed about things and more likely to let things go. He’s also, by far, less rigid and structured than I am. Sometimes, that’s a good thing. Other times, at least in my opinion, not […]

The transition from baby to toddler is definitely an interesting one – full of experimenting and exploring – oh, and did I mention testing limits? We’ll call it exciting and leave it at that. How do you know that you have a soon-to-be toddler on your hands? You can read my top-ten list on the […]

Why do we do this to each other?  Why do we allow others to do it to us?  We should be proud of our bodies, no matter our weight.  Sure, you want to be healthy, if only to see your kids grow into adults.  A healthy body for one person is completely different for another, […]

There are some days when I feel like I could solve the world’s problems.  I mean, can’t these leaders just be nice to one another?  What ever happened to “turn the other cheek?  Put your bombs away and just freaking hug one another.  Other days, I want to stream-line my doctor’s office or the mechanic’s.  […]

When I started buying those first little outfits for my son, I noticed something. The size of the boys’ department is much smaller than the girls’ department.  There’s no shortage of cute little outfits for baby girls. In fact, the biggest reason people cite for why my second baby needs to be a girl is […]

School was always a challenge for me – not in the sense that I did anything wrong per se, just the simple fact that sitting at a desk for endless hours each and every day resulted in me staring out the window and daydreaming. I was never one to “sit down and shut up,” or […]

As parents, we have to learn a completely different set of survival skills.  Call them survival skills or a coping mechanism, if you don’t have inner monologues, you will slowly, but surely go insane. Inner monologues help you in almost every situation the little rugrats can throw at you. Check out some awesomely funny ones […]

As kids, we spent every summer swimming in the pool, the beach, or a nearby lake.  My mom had some safety rules about being in the water. We complained a lot about the nuisance of life jackets. We parroted her mantra “stay where I can see you” in comical voices as we stuck out our […]

My daughter is leaving for college, 3 hours away, in August.  I realize that is 4 months away and there are days when I swear I will not make it until then.  Being a Senior in High School is stressful, I get that.  Not as stressful as being the mother of a Senior in High […]

I’m a firm believer that kids need time outside. They really just need it. I definitely notice the difference when my kids haven’t been outside all day. All that pent up energy usually leads to tantrums, outbursts, and rough housing. An hour playing outside is the best cure!  As much as I believe they need […]

Before we thought about having kids, we got dogs. Those dogs were our babies. They had their own shoes to protect their feet and their own shirts to wear when it was cold outside. They had matching collars and leashes. They ate only the best food. They went everywhere with us. As tiny puppies, they […]

Some debate’s been had about whether a preschool-aged child needs a nap. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell. As your child grows from toddlerhood towards being school-aged, it’s easy to think that naps are a thing of the past. At least, that’s what your little one wants you to think. According to the National Sleep Foundation, […]

When it comes to parenting, we’re a team. At least, we are supposed to be. Sometimes I don’t feel like part of a team when my husband makes me that “bad cop.” Does that happen to you?  He usually says something like “Sure, we’re a team. You’re the bad cop and I’m the good cop. […]

Does this remind you of any conversations you’ve had with your kids before? Every time I have ones of these conversations with my kids, I almost completely crack up! They make me want to laugh so hard… I try to be so helpful and honest to you, but sometimes you just want to hear what […]