When my husband and I announced our fifth child was on the way, a friend asked if we knew what caused that.
I told him I suspected it had something to do with my practice of washing my underwear with my husband’s.
I regretted the snarky comeback immediately, but I know why I unleashed my [...]

This will be the third and final installment of “Where this mom draws the line.â€? ‘Tis the last chapter–the third witness–that I am a mean, but well-meaning mom.
Part One was about how I don’t play videogames with my kids. I’ll play soccer, go on hikes and show them how to go [...]

I have a niece who for the longest time referred to pickles as “shupet.” Like filet or valet or CABERNET. In fact, for the first five years of her life Megan spoke the most adorable make-believe FRENCH I’ve ever heard. Megan is now 13 and there isn’t A TRACE of foreign in her day-to-day speech [...]

Guest writer Shannon lives in colorful Colorado Springs with her news anchor husband and two sons. When not fixin’ up their fixer-upper home, hiking, gardening, cooking, changing diapers or chasing children, this Colorado Native is sure to be found blogging at The Cole Mine.
I have taken it upon myself to change my perspectives lately. I [...]

We are those parents. We held back TV, especially violent TV, so our son Declan still mainly watches the Wiggles. OK, now he’s into our old school Schoolhouse Rock videos.
But the TV ban has kind of backfired on us, because he cannot comprehend an actual storyline of a movie and he is so sensitive, [...]

My last post was about where I draw the line when it comes to what I will and will not do for my kids. Here’s a quick look back:
“When we become mothers we give and give up so much of ourselves for our children. We do it willingly. We do it with love. [...]

Editor’s note: our regularly-scheduled Boot Camp updates will resume next Friday.
I just heard some news about my college roommate. Horrible news. Last week, she and her family were involved in a car accident while en route from Colorado to Utah. Her oldest daughter was killed.
How does a person ever recover from the death [...]

When I gave birth to my three children, I went from a being free-wheeling, fun-loving, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-capris kind of gal, who could hop in a car and go at a moment’s notice to a diaper bag-hauling, over-protective, sleep deprived, germaphobe with a Super Woman complex. Sound dramatic? Sound familiar?
I remember getting [...]

Dearest Hurricane Hadley,
It is that time again – when I reflect upon this past year and divulge items that will be used as evidence in your future therapy sessions. It is difficult to believe you are finally four! The Terrible 3s certainly trumped the Terrible 2s but with them came an increased sense of awareness [...]

In the morning, in the bathroom, while I am doing Mini Me’s hair is when we have our deepest conversations. Here is our conversation last Sunday before church:
Mini Me: I can’t wait for Christmas so I can get more TOYS, TOYS, TOYS!
Me: That’s great. (Brushing absent-mindedly)
Mini Me: Is Santa [...]