This is Mom Life

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Family Transitions

  • Re-entry is Hard: When the holidays end and Real Life comes roaring back

    Back-to-school and back-to-work re-entry after the holidays is harder than we admit. A candid, funny reflection on bedtimes, kids, and lowered expectations. Read more

  • Thirteen: The Year We Both Start to Grow Up

    When your child turns thirteen, it’s not just their milestone — it’s yours. A reflection on the tenderness, tension, and transformation that come with watching your little boy step into his teenage years. Read more

  • Sitting in the Ick: Finding Growth in Life’s Messy Middles

    Life’s hardest moments aren’t always endings — sometimes they’re just the messy middle. In “Sitting in the Ick,” I share what this season of uncertainty has taught me (and my kids) about patience, growth, and finding new beginnings in uncomfortable places. Read more

  • Leaving as SuperMom

    A six-hour road trip with two kids, no screens, and a lot of snacks turns into something unexpectedly peaceful — and deeply nostalgic — as one mom rediscovers the joy of the journey. Read more

  • Letting Go, One Morning at a Time

    I have always said that parenting is an endless string of phases. Some make me sad they’re over; others I’m happy to see go. Breastfeeding — Done. Peace.Strollers — We pushed the limit on that one. But when your daughter breaks her foot two weeks before going to Ireland and is in a boot, you Read more

  • The Hardest Part of School Might Be for Parents

    Finding your new school tribe — without feeling like you’re dating again — can be just as challenging for parents as starting a new school is for kids. You watch your children navigate new routines, make friends, and find their place, all while juggling schedules, supplies, and a million little details. And then there’s you Read more

  • When Everything Changes At Once

    What. A. Week!I’m exhausted. First day of school.First week of school.At a brand new school. Nerves, excitement, smiles—and minimal tears. Total win. This moment has been a long time coming. Last November we first considered switching schools. My son was on board right away. My daughter? Not so much. She was still adjusting from Montessori—three Read more

  • When Your Kids Act Like Real People

    Maybe They Are Going to Be OK We were on vacation last week, and I had one of those moments — you know the kind. The “Maybe my kids won’t be completely useless members of society” kind of moment. We were having lunch outside on the porch when I knocked over my drink. It spilled Read more

  • From the Skate Park to the Dorm Room

    It’s that time of year. Back-to-school. And back-to-college. I wouldn’t know about that last part. But I can imagine. Several friends and family members are moving their kids into dorms this week. My niece is heading back for her sophomore year. Two friends are moving their freshman sons in for the first time—one has done Read more

  • Braced For It: Our Orthodontia Era Begins

    We’ve officially entered Middle Childhood. And Middle Childhood = Orthodontia. Not for just one kid.  BOTH.  Because why suffer gradually when you can suffer all at once? The dentist told us in October: “April’s probably the time.”By June? “Maybe another six months.”Meanwhile, I’m sitting there thinking: I already set aside the money in my FSA. Read more