brenda
I am a small town Iowa girl who is loving life in the Iowa City area. I graduated from The University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Elementary and Middle Level education. I moved to the Iowa City area for my first teaching job and never looked back. It is here in Iowa City where I met my husband, Robert, married him, and we started our family. After our oldest was born, I left the classroom to be a stay at home mommy. We are the parents of three; Gabe (April 2013), Maggie (April 2015), and Julianna (September 2017). In addition to being a stay at home mom, I also substitute teach occasionally. I have many hobbies and interests. I love to be active by running and working out. I also enjoy spending time with friends and family, trying new recipes, playing board and card games and being involved in church. I am a sports enthusiast and enjoy cheering on the Hawkeyes, UNI Panthers, and the Chicago Cubs. I feel grateful for our little family. Life as a mom of three is busy and chaotic, but I wouldn’t have it any other way
5 Books That Teach Children About Black Leaders
As a former full-time elementary classroom teacher, I absolutely loved this time of the year. It is a moment when we pause and think about lessons of kindness, of peaceful protest, and of marches...
2020: A Year of Reflection
2020 . . . what a year.
For so many of us, this year was hard. It was a year of loss. It was a year of isolation. It was a year of uncertainty. It...
Surviving (and Thriving) Iowa Winters with Kids: The Ultimate Tip List
Welcome to Iowa!
I have come across many people who have relocated to Iowa for various reasons. The one question I receive and see frequently is —what are the winters like?
Until you experience it, it...
Life’s Little Lessons: Love, Love, and More Love
Just recently, I was at Costco for my weekly grocery run.
After unloading my groceries into my van, I noticed a woman in the parking lot struggling to get an awkward shaped, heavy box...
Starting Kindergarten During A Pandemic
As I sit here and write this piece, I am filled with so many emotions.
On any given moment, I go from being excited to sad, to frustrated to joyful.
Let me explain.
You...
Bravery: The Word to Describe Motherhood
Brave. Do you consider yourself to be a brave person?
If I were to use adjectives to describe myself, brave probably would not be at the top of my list. I mean, after all,...
A Socially Distant Walk: The Reprieve My Family Needed
As I write this, we are in the thick of social distancing from the COVID-19 pandemic. In our family, our daily life looks something like this: My husband works from home and I homeschool...
Hitting the Reset Button: My Parenting Realization During This Pandemic
COVID-19. Do your days right now just feel like endless re-runs of the movie Groundhog Day where everything is the same every single day and it feels like there is no end in sight?...
Coronavirus: The Questions I’m Asking to Cope in this Crisis
Coronavirus. When you hear the word, what does it make you think and how does it make you feel?
At first, I felt like this is no big deal. It will pass. The media...
True Confessions and the Untold Secret to Playing Pretend with My Kids
In my home the following scene has played out multiple times:
“Mom, will you come play dolls (superheroes) with me?”
“Sure Honey!”
Play begins. I make my doll or superhero do something.
Soon I hear,...