Gretchin
When Lying Became Okay
I know, I know. Lying is NOT (typically) okay. Even white lies can hurt someone’s feelings, and I pride myself on being a very honest person. I can easily spin a hurtful phrase into...
Dear Playground Mom
Dear Playground Mom,
My daughter, Ellie, is 3-years-old. She’s unusually tall for her age. As in, literally off the doctor’s office development chart. She is taller than your 5-year-old son.
When we find a busy playground,...
Ten Reasons to Dismiss Someone From Your Life
The idea that I could dismiss someone was new to me, a foreign concept.
I sat in my therapist’s office, drying my eyes, as she gave me permission to dismiss certain people from my life.
I...
Top 20 Ways to Collaborate With Your Child to Make Beautiful Art
My 3-year-old is now making some pretty wonderful artwork. She is clever, creative, and loves splashing paint and making scribbles! She's also starting to draw "potato" people and wobbly sunshiney scenes. Despite what the...
The Horrors of Parenting
And, suddenly, there I was. Driving down a dark, lonely road, in the late hours of a quiet Sunday. Mine were the only headlights causing light to bounce off the pavement and cast shadows...
Documenting Life
Are you completely overwhelmed by the idea of documenting life, preserving memories, photographing your family, the plethora of scrapbooking options, Insta-what?, and printable Facebook pictures?
I know. Me too! And I document... everything. When my...
The Picture of Parenting
I was lifting her up so that she could put the star on our Christmas tree. For some reason, it was that moment that made me feel like, "Okay, I'm a mom now."
There...
Surviving Vacation
As we embarked on our first real family vacation last week, it never occurred to me that it would be any different than other vacations my husband, Mark, and I have taken together. Sure,...
Back to Full Time
I work in publishing by day, and take on freelance graphic-design work in the evening. It's a bit like Clark Kent by day, glasses on, hair up, handling daily production of medical journals, like...
No One Prepared Me For This Love
No one prepared me for this love.
It is a warmth behind my lungs, spreading from my heart. It is pure happiness.
When I first held her in my arms, it was masked as fear. How...
Top 10 Parenting Perks
There are so many wonderful, beautiful, life-changing reasons to have kids.
But there are quite a few "bonus" reasons for having kids around, too. Whether you're a parent or guardian, aunt, uncle, or grandparent, be...
Arrival of the Toddler Bed
Finally! It happened. My two-and-a-half-year-old (who is three-feet-tall, no exaggeration!) has grown out of her crib. I've delayed it long enough. Last week, though she was sleeping a little lower on her pillow than...
My Pin-Up Photo Shoot
A few weeks ago, at the Divas on Deck event, I received a voucher from Michael Rork and his wife, Athena, of Zinfandel Photography, for a complimentary photo shoot. I've always wanted to try...
I Wanted My Body Back
I always knew I wanted to breastfeed my baby. All the women in my family did, and I had done my homework on the benefits of breastfeeding. I had many friends who only used...