I am the worst at taking a break. Ask my husband. When something needs to be done or falls under the tagline “Jamie’s job” I can’t let it go. Somehow, over the years, mothering has fallen under this. It’s not like I look at my kids like a job, but there’s so much heart/time/prayer/life invested in them that I find it hard to step away. But I’m thinking I need it. To be a better …

Dear Charlie, I did not think we would get here. By “we,” I mean your dad and me and by “here,” I mean a place where we get to call ourselves your mom and dad. We didn’t think we’d get to be parents at all. It took us a long time to get you. But in case you’re wondering, you are SO worth it. You make every minute of life livelier even though you scared …

You guys, I’m tired. I’m so tired of all the things we should not do as parents. I’m tired of the judgey stares for letting the twins eat Sonic instead of homemade snacks at the playground. I’m tired of the maximum minutes of acceptable screen time shrinking. I just want to play fast and loose a little bit with the mom rules. So, in honor of gentle rebellion, here are my 5 parenting rules I’m …

I watched Dumbo with the twins recently and it wrecked me. I had just dropped Charlie off at his special needs preschool while the twins stayed with my mom. I walked in as the credits ended and the action began. We pan in on the stork on his cloud, holding the bundle of Dumbo by a thread. That sight, the bag slowly sinking into and then under the cloud while the stork reads his directions (no …

ACTS 9:5-9 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into …

Travel is fun! Just ask Jack Kerouac. The call of the open road. The wind in your hair. Destination unknown or unexplored. And then you become a parent. And destinations are meticulously planned and packing takes twelve days. It can be exhausting before you even start. But if you’re a parent of a special needs child, it takes a super dose of strength and bravery to get out the door. So in honor of your …

When I read the article “What Happens When Parents Are Rude in the Hospital” in The New York Times, I had to say something because the mom guilt came crashing in and almost swallowed me whole. I do not believe that my attitude took away from my son’s care and I want to tell all the other moms to let go of that burden right now.   Thanks for letting my Think Out Loud Save …

Today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day and it is also a day in America’s history where women are banning together to show the world what it would be like if we weren’t around. No waitresses in your favorite restaurant, no VPs at your bank, no nurses or nannies or CEOs. Today, women are on holiday. If the world feels off-kilter, now you know why. Adam’s lost his Eve, temporarily. The goal of “A Day …

I have taught public and private and home school. I have taught classes of almost forty and classes of one. I have taught special needs and advanced placement. I have met all kinds of students and parents. I have heard things said that sound like the beginning of a joke. So when I read this note to the editor from a retired teacher, entitled, “Parents are the Problem,” I couldn’t let it go. Here’s my …

Our dog loves the hair dryer. She’ll come bounding from the opposite side of the house at the sound and rub up against me like a cat (despite the fact she’s the size of a small deer) until I blow it down her back. It’s like a warm caress, I suppose. Too bad I blow my hair dry about once a month… date nights and big holidays (we’re talking Christmas, not President’s Day). The twins …