Before my daughter began kindergarten last year — about two weeks beforehand, to be exact — I remember thinking, Oh, crap, is she going to know how to open her favorite Go-Go squeezie applesauces by herself at school?!?! I ended up sitting her down to make sure she knew how to do it on her own … More 10 Ways to Prepare Your Kid for Kindergarten
It’s crazy to think that this summer will mark three years of being in my stepkids’ lives. Although I didn’t “officially” become their stepmom until April of 2025 when I got married, I think even their mom would agree that my step-parenting role began long before that. When my husband and I met, we both … More No, I Don’t Love Each Kid the Same
I have been a stepmom officially for just over a year now, but I have played a significant role in my stepkids’ lives for over three. There are a lot of growing pains the come with being a stepmom. You have to learn how to navigate a delicate parenting situation with your spouse. You have to get … More The Hardest Pill to Swallow As a Stepmom
Welcome to Feeding Seven, a little mini-series I’ll do about how I feed our family of seven people, and find joy in it! These meals are so simple and quick that I’m going to type these articles while cooking them. Keeping it short and sweet for you guys! I’m starting off with one of my favorites: baked ranch casserole. I … More Serving Seven: My Favorite, Easy, Kid-Friendly Meals for Our Large Family
I hope they remember the mom that was happy, and not the mom that was at her breaking point. Or at the very least, I hope they remember both. And I hope on those hard nights, those burnt-out afternoons, that I remember the mom that is happy, that I remember that joy is a choice, and that I can find a way to turn up the music and dance through the tears. … More I Hope My Kids Remember the Joy
“Alright, we’ll give you $59.83 in cash or $77.82 in store credit.” “I’ll take the cash,” I replied quietly. I heard the cash register pop open, the rustle of paper bills, the clink-clank of counting change. But my mind was elsewhere. “Here ya go!” the cashier chirped, dropping my bounty in my hand. I didn’t even look … More I Don’t Want To Be Done Having Babies…
I have been divorced for going on four years now, my husband has been divorced for three years, and him and I have been married for just over one year. I have one daughter from my previous marriage (5yo), he has a daughter and a son from his previous marriage (8yo and 5yo), and together, … More 5 Things I Can’t Do with My Kids Thanks to Divorce
This weekend, my brother is getting married in Utah, a good 1,700 miles away from our home in North Carolina. My, husband, my oldest daughter, and I fly out the day the twins turn five months old. But the twins will be staying home, spending four nights with a friend, instead. And yes, I’m looking … More I’m Not a Bad Mom for Leaving My Babies
Given that anxiety is something I’ve struggled with throughout my life, and that I was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety following the birth of my oldest daughter, I just assumed that I would have raging postpartum anxiety once the twins arrived. To my surprise, though, I felt great after the twins were born. I kept waiting … More Postpartum Anxiety, Is That You?
A few days ago, my youngest daughter, Evelyn, fell asleep in my arms as I gently rocked her in the nursery. Her twin sister, Emersyn, was already asleep in her crib. Finally, I thought, now I can put her down and maybe get some stuff done, or just lay down myself. There was a mountain of dishes … More The Everyday Grief of a Twin Mom
Step by Step Parenting 