Motherhood

Want your kids to be better travelers? Put away the screens.

Friends ask all the time how our children fare while traveling?  Do they throw fits and get antsy?  How do they handle flights?  For the most part, our children are great travelers.  We exposed our kids to planes, trains, and automobiles at a young age.  We drove 14 hours to the Florida panhandle when our boys were just 2.5 and 6 months old.  Our first domestic and international flights were when they were 5, 3, and almost 2. Other than making …

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My Summer (un)Bucket List

Last year I made a Summer Bucket List for our family and I think it’s a very good way to be intentional with the short time we have with our children.  After all, we’ve all seen that meme about how you only get 18 summers with your kiddos.  #cuethemomguilt However, the reality is that we mothers already place a TON of expectations on ourselves, that can never be met.  Right after you hold your child for the first time someone …

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My Favorite Products from Thirty-One Gifts

Thirty-One Gifts was introduced to me quite a few years ago by my neighbor.  I fell in love Thirty-One’s products because they offer so much for the busy mom!  We’ve used their travel totes & thermal on multiple trips by car AND air!  I even have a favorite office product. Thirty-One Gifts is Ohio-based and focuses on giving women the chance to enjoy the freedom of their own business!  I love their emphasis on faith and family. It’s hard to …

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SAHM survival: Keeping your sanity when your husband travels

I know I normally write about family travel destinations, but there’s another aspect of travel makes me a little cray to the Z every month and that’s when my husband travels for his job. Ever since we just had one tiny baby, Mr. YT has been leaving me for 2-3 nights per month. I know some of you have a husband that travels much more, so I shouldn’t complain.  In reality, in 7 years it’s never gotten easier but it has gotten more manageable. …

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The disease of wanting to be liked

Today after dropping off boy #2 at preschool, I was attempting to “sell” preschool to my daughter, using it as a leverage tool for her to (for the love) go in the potty. Her response, “Yeah I go to preschool next year and people will like me!” I have to stop buckling her seat and look at her.  Did she just say that? She’s not even 3 but she’s going to go to preschool with the aim that people will like her? Oh that …

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I don’t do it all… and neither should you

I was talking to a friend the other night and she said, “you have a lot of responsibilities.  I don’t know how you do it.”  I laughed a little … because I don’t. #confessiontime It’s a Thursday morning at 10:44 am and I’m sitting at the coffee shop typing this.  Alone.  You see, for the last 18 months or so, I’ve had a babysitter sitter come in at least twice a month to give me a morning to do whatever. …

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The long days of {a mother’s} summer

Thoughts on a world full of tragedy School took place from late August until the end of May, but summer was when you got your education. It was July of 1994 and we were free.  A two-wheeled Huffy gave my brother and I all the freedom we could ever need.  We’d bike down 2 streets and knock at the door of my brother’s friend, then zigzag on to the next house, our numbers growing each time. An empty acre of grass beckoned — …

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Stop the Mom Shaming

Taking time away doesn’t make you a bad mom It was November 2010 and I was visiting my Aussie bff in London.  We’d taken a day trip to Paris on the Eurostar.  It was nearing the end of the day- we’d climbed the steps at Sacré Coeur, eaten a crepe, and tried to figure out those free-standing Parisian toilets.  Ha! I was waiting outside the loo for Briony when I heard an American couple next to me.   We made …

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