We’ve got 7 children. 6 of those are boys, but actually, our daughter ended up having the worst traumatic accident we’ve encountered yet (so don’t count out those girls!). We’ve had dozens of ER runs, and dozens more of NEAR-ER runs, where I carefully assessed the damage and ultimately decided to stay home and…
Mental Snapshots & Good Goodbyes
Important moments of life are often overrun with busyness, planning, stress, and “must-dos.” And the big “goodbyes” of life are often overshadowed by sorrow, a busy schedule, and stresses like packing, funeral planning, or travel plans. The expression of genuine emotion gets overlooked, stuffed down, or put off for a “later” that never arrives. Here…
From Grumpy to Grateful: Helping Our Children CHANGE Their Thinking
Is a grumpy child just destined to be grumpy? Since his lip naturally turns downward and his arms easily fold and his body crumples, should we just give in and let him be a grump? Well, no. Just like anything else (how our kids approach their schoolwork, what sort of attitude they bring to family gatherings,…
Why Your Kids Shouldn’t Follow Your Diet Plan
Moms nowadays are obsessed with their bodies. Modern diet trends are all about the extreme. Extreme butt-tightener. Extreme abs. Extreme consumptions of raw food. Extreme protein quantities. Extreme cutting of carbs. Extreme cutting of sugar. But here’s the thing: Extreme rules lead to extreme breaking of rules. And generally, moderation leads to health. And that’s why I won’t…
Q&A: Is Being a Stay-at-Home-Mom BORING?
Q: How do I keep busy at home? I find myself so terribly bored and restless at times. Being a stay at home mom is so boring! What am I supposed to do with my down time? Once chores and homeschooling are done for the day, I literally have no idea how to fill the couple of hours before I need…
The #1 Job Where Feminism Gives Anxiety and Self-Doubt
You may already know what I’m referring to. It’s the job where nearly everyone– celebrities, politicians, nurses, and stay-home-moms– struggles, almost from the first few minutes. In this place, we feel self-doubt we feel pressured to do it all we are ill-equipped in what we do we have no idea how to do it we’re pretty…
How I Record Podcast Interviews (and a Special Announcement!)
So I’ve been working on recording podcast interviews for my new Podcast– titled (announcement!) “Mom on Purpose.” Here’s the podcast cover you’ll see on iTunes– eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! I’ll be launching soon. And I actually need your help. Will you join my Mom on Purpose Promo Team ? Once it’s ready for release, I need readers and listeners who are willing to share…
To The Mom Whose Kids Aren’t Sleeping Well
DEAR TIRED MAMA: I’m not writing this to shame you, or make you feel guilty about your parenting choices, as if this fact of life makes you a “bad mom.” But I’m a mom of 7 (going on 8) who spends a lot of my life analyzing problems in my own parenting and coming up…
3 Firsts From my 7th Birth That I’m Planning to Repeat With My 8th
I’ve had 7 different birth experiences in 7 different places, with 7 different care providers. Yes, you read that right! 5 different hospitals (in VA, TX, Thailand, and Turkey) on 3 continents + 2 home births in different states I’ve never had the same hospital, or the same doctor or midwife, twice. Lord willing, this…
So You Want to Have a Large Family?
So you want to have a large family? Or you’re on the fence and thinking about having more kids? Maybe your husband wants more, and you’re not sure? Or vice-versa? Before we got married, we both wanted a “lot of kids.” But back then we would have said that number was something like 3-5 kids. NOW?…