Originally published on Dec 15, 2012 in response to the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School but republished today because it's a message many need to hear. Today, my heart is heavy with the news of the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, and though I am not at all close to the area and though I do not have friends or family directly affected by the tragedy, I am having a hard time knowing what to do--as a mother, as a person, and together as a family. I really want to ball up in … [Read more...]
walmart grocery pick-up: grocery shopping made easy
I'm a sucker for anything that makes my busy life easier. So when I was asked to try Walmart's new Grocery Pick-up service, you better believe I was game to try it. Grocery shopping is often not only a juggling act with kids in tow, but it's also a huge time suck for me; depending on the time of day, sometimes I'd find myself stuck in the grocery store for up to two hours. Two hours! I can think of 800 things I'd rather be doing than grocery shopping for two hours. Walmart … [Read more...]
how to get kids to talk about school: what every parent must know
School's in full swing here, and if your house is anything like mine, getting kids to talk about their day is sometimes difficult. I want to know everything: Who did they sit with at lunch? Who did they play with at recess? How do they like their tablemates? What book did they start in Guided Reading? Who hosted the morning tv show? But it's hard. The kids are tired at 3pm, they're even more tired at 7pm, and the last thing they want to do is talk to boring old Mom about … [Read more...]
5 reasons to see ‘Gifted’ the movie and discussion guide for families #GiftedMovie
Last month, Cora and I were flown out to Los Angeles for a press junket for Gifted, the new movie starring Chris Evans (, Mckenna Grace, Octavia Spencer, Jenny Slate, and Lindsay Duncan. The movie, the actors, the interviews, and the whole experience were amazing. Let me cut to the chase, friends. I have information for you. I know you're busy. So you want to know: Should you see the movie or not? Should you spend you money on it? Should you use your Sunday afternoon or … [Read more...]
lent for modern catholic kids | daily reflections and prayers
Cards have been updated to reflect dates for the 2017 Lenten season. Enjoy! We're one week into Lent this year, and I feel like we kind of struggled for the first week. Our parish priest stressed to us the importance of 'not giving up chocolate' again and instead challenged us to really make this Lent count. So we agreed. We wouldn't give up chocolate. But honestly, after so many years of doing just that--giving up sweets--for Lent, it felt strange not to. And we all … [Read more...]
stay sane during the holidays: Blue Apron makes feeding family easy and fun
Our family loves food. We love food. We love to make food, talk about food, celebrate with food, and eat food. My kids are food adventurous, and we are basically always up for trying a new things. But we're busy. We're juggling work and school and homework and activities and lessons and church. So finding time for creating healthy meals for our family is not always easy. Add the holidays looming, and life is nuts. Enter: Blue Apron. We had a chance to give Blue Apron … [Read more...]
what I told my children the day after the election
Today's weather--rainy, grey, and cloudy mirrors the way that many of us are feeling the day after the 2016 election. What do we tell our kids today? How do we answer their questions? Very honestly, friends. Very honestly. Though inside I felt shattered, here's what I told my kids: What I Told My Children the Day After the Election: Like many families, our mornings are pretty chaotic. We allow for just enough time to get up and dressed, brush teeth, eat breakfast, get … [Read more...]
what I want my kids to learn from the 2016 election
For some reason--maybe it was where I was in my life or just how strongly I felt about our country's need for Barack Obama to be president--I was pretty active in the 2008 election. I should clarify: I was more active in the 2008 election than I had been in any other prior and any other in my life. I went to the phone banks. I made calls. I sent postcards. I participated in fundraisers. I met with local Obama supporters. This election has been different for me. I have almost felt that it … [Read more...]
life lessons from nana
My Nana passed away last week. It's been so hard, so sad. And if you follow me on Instagram, you know that she's been ill for some time now--in a nursing home this summer and then a few weeks in hospice care. But it doesn't make the loss any easier, knowing that the end was near. I've written about our power notes to Nana, I've shared bits and pieces here and there about our visits to Nana over the years and how much she's meant to me. But I thought that today, since I can't … [Read more...]
talking to tweens about drugs: it’s time to start now
Sometimes when I actually stop to think about the fact that we have a 12, 11, and 9 year old in the house, I cannot even believe it. I absolutely cannot wrap my head around it. I can't believe that in two years,we'll no longer have a child in elementary school. I can't believe that in four years, we'll have a middle schooler and two high schoolers. I can't believe that in less than ten years, we'll have three kids in college. I honestly can't believe that all of those 'big' … [Read more...]
for all the tired moms out there: here’s your lifeline
I realized that I was stretched too thin when I showed up for Maddy's orthodontist appointment a week early. I realized that I was stretched too thin when I almost cried at elementary school drop-off because the other drivers weren't following the rules. I realized that I was stretched too thin when I stopped reading in the evenings because the minute I sat down, I fell asleep. I realized that I was stretched too thin when I double-booked myself for work calls three days in a … [Read more...]
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