“I think I might be nocturnal.” This is the realization I came to during one teenage summer. I was at that magic age where I had no school, no job, and no bedtime. All of the freedom, none of the responsibilities. I found myself finally dozing off to the sound of birds chirping at 7 am, and rolling … [Read more...]
Running on Empty
My brow furrowed with irritation as the "please refuel" ding sounded in my car. I was halfway to my destination, running behind because of some unexpected pit stops. This would most definitely make me late. While punctuality has never been one of my strengths, I bristled at the thought of yet … [Read more...]
What’s A Mom Got To Do To Get A Little Privacy?
If you ever feel like you are insignificant, try to accomplish something on a deadline that is important to only you. It doesn't really matter what it is. It might be something as innocuous as filling an ice cube tray, as mundane as returning a phone call, or as emotionally cathartic as relaying a … [Read more...]
Letting Go Of The Mommy Guilt And Focusing On Me
I love being a student here in Halifax. I've been away from my kids for nearly two weeks and while I miss them terribly and can't wait to come home, I have a dirty secret: I am having a great time. I've met amazing people, I've explored a new city, my head is full of ideas and knowledge, and my … [Read more...]
Parenting Lessons From A Taylor Swift Concert
As a mom, I recognize trouble when it walks in too, so Taylor Swift and I have some stuff in common. We both love high waisted shorts aka mom shorts. Her friends refer to her as the patron saint of cats and my Instagram account is 25% feline. I know my kid can be entertained by paper airplanes for … [Read more...]
Things I Took For Granted Pre-Kid
There are some things that only truly become magical when you become a parent. It's hard to explain how the presence of a small human can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, but I will do my best. I definitely underrated these four things before I became a parent: Pockets With the … [Read more...]
The Six Emotional Stages Of Kid-Free Time
Once upon a time, my son’s dad took him to Palm Springs for nine days. I didn't expect the roller coaster that would follow in my own emotions. Stage 1: Elation No making lunches. No marathon bedtime routine. No responsibilities. Maybe some of my friends still go to the bar! Maybe the bar is … [Read more...]
Grocery Shopping Alone: How Parenting Has Changed Me
The evidence was staring me right in the face. Parenting has changed me. It’s not just that I can’t respond to a question with “Everything is awesome” without getting that stupid song stuck in my head. Under “Things Mom Likes To Do For Fun” on his mother’s day questionnaire, my son wrote “My … [Read more...]
She Lies To Me: A Parenting Anthem
Sometimes I think about what the soundtrack of my parenting. I admit that some days it would be that 54-40 hit, She Lies To Me. I always swore that I would never lie to my children. My parents lied to us a lot. My sister's Halloween candy went missing, consumed by the dog (who carefully unwrapped … [Read more...]
Study Finds Teens Are Less Reliant On Social Networks
Social networks, the term has come to mean more than one thing in our society. And this particular study can really throw you for a loop if you focus on what most of us now think of when we say social networks: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, any social media channel really. But this study, … [Read more...]