My friend was struggling with depression and I wasn’t sure how to help. For several months, life circumstances had sent her mental health into a tailspin. With no foreseeable end in sight. They were justified emotions, all of them. As …
Bored Kids? Learn How Boredom Is a Gift (Part 2)
Boredom Builds Friendships If you do an Internet search for “boredom” and “kids,” you will get the distinct impression that these two entities should not coexist, that kids should never be bored. That explains the Pinterest articles, such as …
Friendable
WANTED: Female Friend. Age: Less (as in age-less). Location: Present. Availability: When needed. Skills: Non-judgmental listening ears and voice given to both constructive critique and compliments. Pay: Reciprocity. On the subject of friendship, I’m very clear: I know what …
A Casual Invitation Changed Everything
I am the mama of a miracle. I was at the beginning of my second trimester with our second child when we received a phone call with news that no parent ever wants to hear. The NIPT blood test showed …
A Double Blessing
I became a MOPS mentor completely by accident. Imagine a mother of college-aged kids (that’s me) crashing a MOPS meeting with the sole purpose of introducing herself to the guest speaker, who happened to be a published author. As I …
6 Tips to Help a Grieving Mom
I didn’t enter the “Mom Club” in the normal way. In fact, the first four+ years haven’t been “typical.” The day I officially became a mother, I joined a few clubs: new mom club, mom club of medically fragile babies …
We Belong: Navigating Friendship and Down Syndrome
It’s 9:00 a.m. on a snowy Saturday in February. My son, Kaleb, and I drive to a friend’s house for his first drop-off playdate. He’s beside himself with excitement. We pull in the driveway and see Kaleb’s friend, Ethan, waiting …
My Friends Think I’m a Stay-at-Home Mom
In our increasingly digital age, many parents are given the opportunity to work a more flexible schedule. Occupations that previously required a steady presence in an office, distant from home, are now presenting options for flexible schedules and working remotely. …
Road Trips From Long Ago
The years have come and gone – but the summer memories of our family filling every seat in the minivan and taking road trips all over the United States, have not. I love the anticipation that comes with the closing …
A Messy Invitation
We were halfway through winter when the walls started closing in like we were stuck in a bad dream. After months of temperatures so cold we couldn’t endure more than five minutes outside, and even more months of colds and …