Mom Life
It was 3:30 am. I stood in the hallway outside the master bedroom door holding my toddler son covered in a very unpleasant bodily fluid. Ick. I stood there holding my breath for a second, recalling the curse and blessing of a mother’s heightened sense of hearing. As delusional as it sounds, I was blaming this epic predicament on [...]
Archives for September 2015
Raising KidsToddler Listening Hacks That Actually Work
Does your toddler listen well? Yeah, mine doesn't either. It's okay though. It's totally normal to struggle with how to make kids listen. During the developmental period of 18 months to 3 years of age, toddlers are in a period of growth where they are learning to become good listeners, but they aren't really following through in the [...]
Military ResourcesThe Hidden Signs of Combat PTSD You Might Be Missing
In this life, we get used to sending our husbands (or wives) off on deployments--off to war. We hope and pray that they come back in one piece and most often they do. They come home, bodies intact and unscathed, but so often, the injuries are hidden. At times, these hidden internal injuries are evident from the start. Other times, [...]
I Know How to End the Breastfeeding vs. Bottle Debate
There are so many controversial topics in the parenting community. Why? Because parenting decisions are deeply rooted within intense emotions and personal experience. The top controversial topics in parenting that come to mind are breastfeeding, baby sleep tips, potty training, and of course, the heated vaccine debate. There are more of [...]
How to Potty Train a Toddler Without a Hazmat Suit
Oh, the dreaded toddler potty training. If you ask parents of small children about their biggest struggles, most will say helping kids sleep and teaching kids to go on the potty. It’s an adventure, and teaching a young child to do just about anything takes time and endless patience. This is why another huge struggle is learning [...]
The Most Surprising Way I Became a Better Mom
"Mom. Maa. Mom. MAA. MOMMMM!" Yep, you guessed it! It’s the witching hour, which occurs every day from exactly 5 pm until bedtime. It’s the time of day when everything goes downhill fast. Your kids are crying, your patience runs thin, and all you can think is mommy has a headache. Your kids yell again... "Mom. Maa. Mom. MAA. [...]
Deployment10 Signs You Prepared for Homecoming the “Right Way”
Military homecomings are kind of a funny thing. In the movies and on TV they are romanticized well beyond the reality. I always joke that there is a rise and fall of military homecoming. You are incredibly excited and the first few days go well, but transitioning back to everyday life presents a unique set of challenges. Related: 40+ [...]
Schedule / RoutineDo Kids Really Need Routines and Schedules?
I was traveling on a month long summer vacation with my son not too long ago. Things were going pretty well considering we were frequently staying at different homes throughout the trip. I aim to keep a pretty consistent stay-at-home mom schedule for my son regardless if we are on the road or at home and have found that using a printable [...]
Military Spouse Jobs That Work for You, Not Against You
Building a military spouse career is an uphill battle. Frequent moves, family separations, poor job markets near military bases compound challenges to both completing an education and discovering a military spouse job that works for you, not against you. Sometimes military spouses with even the most portable career are experiencing a [...]
MilSpouse Life7 Problems Only a Military Girlfriend Would Understand
Being a military girlfriend is a difficult role for many young women in today’s military community. And I do mean, girlfriends. This short series of posts is written directly for my readers, who email me each and every week, sharing their struggles. This amazing group of young women always refer to themselves as a military girlfriend. [...]
