Can I be super honest for a minute? All last year I totally lost track of taking care of myself. I started going to the gym in January, but there wasn’t anything motivating me to stick with a fitness routine. Between working 2 jobs and trying to hold down the fort while John was working and going to school (and doing his share of fort-holding-down, too!), taking care of me just… stopped happening. ...
Motherhood
The Glamorous Side of Working Motherhood
No matter what your situation, the working mom vs. the stay at home mom debates can get pretty heated. We all feel strongly about our role and want to feel valued for what we do, so the working mom debate is not an area I want to dive into today. Moms of every variety are giving it their all on a daily basis. Selflessly they nurture little ones and support the family, often sacrificing of ...
The Key to Helping your Child Stay in Bed at Night
I never learn my lesson. We’ve had this issue with 4 children so far, and I make the same mistake with all of them. In the middle of the night, the youngest one stumbles out of his room and into my bed. Part of me is too sleepy to bother with getting up and tucking him back into his own little bed. But the other part of me, the part that regrets letting him sleep in my bed every single time, ...
Overcoming Challenges to Self-Care
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NewYearNewWater #CollectiveBiasI’ll be honest. Rest is not in my vocabulary. As a mom of 4, I’ve always just figured that people with this many kids just don’t get rest. That the busy, on-the-go lifestyle is embedded in you once you leave the hospital with baby #2 (or 3 or 4…). But that ...
Valentine Gift for your Mom Friends
During this holiday of love and giving, let’s not forget about our gal pals. Being a mom is a big job, and we’re often left feeling under-appreciated for all that we do. If you need an idea for a Valentine gift for your moms friends, or maybe a just because gift for your bestie, I have an idea for a super easy and thoughtful way to show these women that they are valuable and loved. I’m sure ...
When Every Milestone is the Last
This week my baby turned three.It’s hard not to get sentimental when you know that from here on out, every milestone is the last one. This is our last third birthday, the last set of sippy cups and small plastic spoons. I wasn’t ok with not having any more babies. Yes, I know, we have 4 and we’re definitely blessed to have them all. And I know it’s crazy because we’re popping out at the seams ...
Staying Happily Married in Hard Times: What Wives Need to Know
My husband started going to college when the twins were babies, and after 5 years of studies he’s {finally} almost done with school! Having a spouse in college can be rough, so today I’d like to share some encouragement to families who are also going through hard times. If you are a woman and your family is going through a stressful or difficult time, here are some important things to remember if ...
So Much to be Thankful For
Have you ever gotten stuck in a slump, where it seems so easy to start dwelling on the hard things? This is me lately. Actually, this is me every August when I go back to work after 6-8 weeks of being home with my kids. I know that, as a teacher, I am beyond lucky to even have that time with my family. But when it’s over, I still feel bummed at returning to the stressful working mom routine. ...
Connecting with Your Older Child
It feels like there is so much that needs to get done every day: Laundry, dishes, making meals… Whether you work outside the home or not, there just don’t seem to be enough minutes in the day to do it all. I’ve heard too many stories of parents who feel completely out of touch with their teen. I wonder how much of the disconnect started long before high school, when all the day-to-day life stuff ...
The Twins Aren’t So Identical After All
People always ask us if our twins are identical. To tell the truth, I can’t say for sure that they are. I guess people get their twins tested, so they can legitimately say that their kids are scientifically 100% the same. Well, ours aren’t the same. Madeline has a faint birthmark on the back of her hand, and she’s always been a fraction of an inch taller than Emily. But when people want to ...