October 28, 2018
by Maralee
Comments Off on Mom Moment: Giving Our Kids Freedom to Fail
The other afternoon I was sitting on my porch, reading a book while my kids played in the yard. All at once I was startled by the sound of my son’s voice yelling, “Mom! Look over here!” I couldn’t see … Continue reading
October 26, 2018
by Maralee
3 Comments
About two weeks ago I listened to a forty minute interview with a popular Christian author and speaker. Something I heard in that interview just felt like getting a rock in my shoe. While I’m going to use a specific … Continue reading
August 10, 2018
by Maralee
Comments Off on They’ll Only Remember the Good Parts
Another summer is coming to a close and again I’m wondering if I did it wrong. This seems to be the way I spend the last weeks of every summer— feeling guilty, feeling frazzled, imagining all the things I could … Continue reading
June 5, 2018
by Maralee
Comments Off on Everything I Know About Empathy I Learned from “American Pickers”
Maybe it’s the Midwestern sensibility. Maybe it’s the cool junk. Whatever it is, I’ve always had a soft spot for “American Pickers.” As I watched an episode recently, it got me thinking about what a great display of empathy always … Continue reading
March 22, 2018
by Maralee
3 Comments
If I hear one more empowering mantra, I’m going to go into hibernation until this cultural moment has passed. I don’t know what is wrong with my brain wiring, but those things seem to have some kind of inverse impact … Continue reading
February 26, 2018
by Maralee
Comments Off on Regrieving- When the Beauty Reminds You of the Pain
Grief is a funny thing. Sometimes it’s always with you. Sometimes you get a break. And sometimes after you think you’ve fully grieved and moved past a particular hurt, it all comes rushing back. I thought the griefs of my … Continue reading
February 1, 2018
by Maralee
Comments Off on Dismantling FrankenMom
A friend of mine called me up to ask about a Norwex gift she wanted to give her cleaning lady. HER CLEANING LADY. I have known this friend for years and it never occurred to me that she had a … Continue reading
December 21, 2017
by Maralee
2 Comments
I am the kind of mom who ruins magical moments. I’m no good at hospitality, my baking is subpar, and my husband is the one who decorates our house for Christmas. I don’t like the hype and expectations of the … Continue reading
December 15, 2017
by Maralee
1 Comment
Parenting can be exhausting and frustrating, even when nobody is doing anything specifically “wrong.” Just the general chaos and noise of parenting can start to drain you. If you’re like me, that draining feeling can turn to anger pretty easily. … Continue reading
November 29, 2017
by Maralee
1 Comment
I am by and large a “live and let live” kind of parent. You do what works for you, Moms. But today I’m just feeling fed up with the whole Santa game and the Santa-infused nonsense this time of year … Continue reading