growing up

Life

We only have 18 summers together with our kids

But I'm determined to make the most of it.

Life

I want to be “Mama” forever

I still remember the first time my adopted daughter called me "Mama." Now I don't want to give it up.

Life

I don’t miss having babies

There are no baby bottles in my house and no 2 am feedings. There are no diapers and no more potty training. I don't have to pack a bag just to run to the grocery store.

Celebrity News

Joanna Gaines’ Instagram post totally nails how bittersweet it is to watch your kids grow up

One of her kids can drive now.

Life

To the mid-30s mama—our time is now

When I was younger, I needed the constant encouragement from teachers, my parents and even my husband. But not anymore. I'm noticing I don't care as much about other people's opinions as I get older—I have found a comfort and a confidence in myself.

Life

Just because my girls like to play rough it doesn’t mean they are ‘acting like boys’

I'm teaching my daughters about gender equality by letting them be who they are—without the labels.

Life

We are living ‘the good ol’ days’ right now

So let's take a minute to soak it all in.

Life

In each phase of parenthood, I kept thinking the next phase would get easier

Spoiler: It does and it doesn't.

Life

My son wasn’t invited to the birthday party—so here’s what I did

I thought of all the times that I'd felt left out. I could still feel that hollowness settling in my stomach and that heaviness pressing against my chest when I'd find out that friends were doing something I wasn't a part of.

Life

As I watch my baby grow up, sometimes I wish I could stop time

Sometimes I think time is racing against me.

Life

Am I ready for my little boy to grow up? Not yet—but we will figure it out together

I will continue to cheer at each milestone we hit—when he learns to tie his shoes, when he masters how to make breakfast, when he starts to sleep in instead of waking up, begging us to play.

Life

Motherhood is: Constantly switching out clothing sizes and wondering how they’re growing up *so* fast

Their childhood will move to their teenagehood and then to adulthood, and there won't be tiny little dino jams in the laundry or princess dresses that don't fit anymore. How is it possible for these small, precious pieces of cloth to seemingly rip my heart out of my chest?

Life

Motherhood is: Wishing I could pause time and keep you this small just a little bit longer

I don't want you to grow up.

Life

True life: I will miss these middle-of-the-night wake-ups, my baby

As much as I don't love the exhaustion that comes with these hour-and-a-half middle-of-the-night wake-ups over the past couple of weeks—it is our time.

Life

To moms on the first day of kindergarten: They still need us

As a mom in this stage of life, it's easy to feel like our kids don't really need us anymore.

Life

Before you start kindergarten—here’s what I want you to know, baby

Some days will be full of wonder. Some days will be hard. Let the good days fuel your passion for learning but don't let the tough ones take the fun out of it.

Life

To my baby: This is the last summer you’ll be this little

Weren't we just transitioning you from the bassinet to this crib just yesterday? How is it time for a big boy bed already?

Life

Throwing away our stroller, I realized: I don’t have babies anymore

It was my faithful friend since the day my first baby was born.

Life

True life: Parenting just keeps getting better

Parenting a teenager is like getting an exclusive preview of the adult this child is going to be.

Life

I want to cherish the hard moments of motherhood, too

I am going to look for the light, even when it seems like its mostly darkness because, as I've learned, its never "easy" to be a mother—no matter the stage.