Mom's Timeout

I stumbled across your blog and I couldn’t help but click on your story. I read your words in their entirety and I tried to put myself in your shoes. It sounds to me as though you felt that your children didn’t appreciate what they did have. You packed up every single thing – all […]

It’s decision-making time around here. We’re just about ready to start finishing the interior of our new addition. Everything is all framed in, the doors and windows are installed, and the deck is done. At this point, I’m left with the dreaded task of sitting down and figuring things out – not one of my […]

It’s getting close to the day, all those years ago, that my now husband and I met. It was April 20, 2007. We were both at Panera Bread – about an hour from where we each called home. We immediately hit it off and the first six or so months of our relationship were overshadowed […]

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, […]

Today I dyed Easter eggs with my toddler. It’s great, messy fun! Perhaps because he’s a boy, or just because he’s two, he’s convinced that the eggs are miniature baseballs and need to be thrown into the bowls of dye. This method has a tendency to dye more of our bodies and clothing than the […]

  Our kids grow so quickly. I can’t believe it has been over five years since I first held that amazing new life. It’s been more than four years since she took her first step. Everything about her changes so rapidly as she becomes her own independent person. Can you relate to what this mother-of-two […]

I’ve perused mommy-centric websites, and between my tears of laughter and nodding my head in solidarity, one topic kept resonating with me: how stressful this mommying gig really is.  How our kids shriek on end and set our nerves on fire.  How the question “Why” is like waving a red flag in front of the […]

Divorce is hard.  Isn’t that a little like the controversial pull-string Barbie saying “Math is hard!”  Duh.  Whoever said it would be a cakewalk is an idiot.  And should be slapped.  Repeatedly. Even for women (or men) who have been married a short time, walking away, or being forced from, forever sucks.  But sometimes it […]

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. […]

Have you ever had a dream that felt so real? It’s the kind of dream that leaves a lasting impression. You find yourself thinking about it throughout the day. Sometimes you remember the details very clearly, but sometimes it’s just a vague impression about someone or something that lingers.  I have those kinds of dreams […]

I’m fascinated by “life hacks.” These little tricks of the trade seem to make life easier in so many ways. They’re remarkably easy, but somehow the hacks are always things you’ve never thought of before. For instance, who thinks about giving their kid marshmallows for a sore throat? It works and kids love them! A […]

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 […]

How many times have you felt like this lately? Have you found all the best hiding places in your house yet? And they still find you! Ahhhh! But hopefully, they don’t pee on you all the time like in this video hahaha! Gotta love kids! If only we were as care-free as them while taking care […]

This is such a catchy baby song! It’s Elliot, the Elephant! Play this for your little one and see how they like it! Sing while you clean up toys! Sing it at bath time! Sing it when getting ready in the morning! This song is great for getting kids pumped and excited to move their bodies. Try […]

My husband does a lot of stuff that really gets under my skin. It ranges from making a bad joke about me to his friends to putting the keys to the safe inside the safe last night.  That man just knows how to push my buttons. Sometimes, he even does it on purpose. I’ll admit […]

Let me start out by saying that my mom was not a bad mom. She was a single teen mom. She made mistakes. She got some things very right. She loved us all very much and still does. I could write about all the things she said to us that will follow me around for […]

Yesterday I mentioned to my husband that it’s a wonder they haven’t invented a machine that will fold my laundry for me. We have a washer and a dryer, but getting things out of the dryer and folding them seems like a Herculean task some days. Why hasn’t someone invented a nifty little machine to […]

This morning I got to hear my precious baby’s heart beat! It was such a sweet moment and this time I got to share it with my firstborn. Hearing the heartbeat is one of only two things I actually enjoy about pregnancy. The second is feeling the baby move… those soft little flutters before anyone […]

I’m a blogger, which means that I’m constantly questioning how much to put out there – how much I want the world to know about us and our lives. I’m constantly assessing and reassessing where to draw the line as far as my son and his privacy. I’m sure anyone that’s active on social media […]

We’ve all been there; waiting in line to checkout when a child comes out of nowhere and starts talking to you, oblivious to any danger they could be in.  They start running a commentary on everything they see, and it’s obvious they’re talking to no one else but you. You look around, but do not […]