brenda
Brenda is an Iowa native who has lived in the Iowa City area since 2005. She is married to her love, Robert, since 2012. Brenda is an elementary teacher by trade. She spent almost nine years as a stay at home parent but is now back in the classroom spending time with her school kids and being a mom to her own kids. She is the mom of three; Gabe (April, 2013) Maggie (April, 2015), and Julianna (September, 2017). Brenda enjoys being active by running and working out. She also enjoys trying new recipes, volunteering, playing board and card games, and being involved in church. Brenda is an elementary teacher and loves cheering on the Cubs, UNI Panthers, and the Iowa Hawkeyes. It is a busy but beautiful life!
A Note of Encouragement For All Moms
From the time I was in first grade, I knew I was meant to be a teacher. It is all I ever wanted to do. It easily became my passion. I loved teaching. The...
Easing First Day Jitters: 5 Back to School Book Recommendations
It’s that time of year! Back to school is here.
Parents and kids alike have feelings about the return to school. Even with those carefree summer days some students are excited and ready to...
The Middle of Motherhood: Embracing and Loving All Stages
Recently, I was at Target with my youngest as we ran errands. We made our way through the store to gather our items and we found ourselves walking by the baby section. We saw...
Surround Yourself with Real, Genuine Friends
Recently, my husband and I spent a weekend away without our kids and instead with one of our favorite couples.
It was a night in a hotel. It was meals shared. We spent a...
Bless This Mess: A Positive Spin on Messes
It was a Friday night — our first Friday night as parents. Our newborn son was snuggled up and sleeping on my chest. My husband snapped a picture. I went on to post it...
How to Handle Mom Guilt During a Pandemic
When I was pregnant with my first baby, I had these visions and hopes of having happy, well-adjusted, smart kids. I was going to do everything right and we were going to raise our...
Thankfulness: How to Teach Our Kids Gratitude
Thankfulness. How do we teach our kids to practice gratitude and thankfulness in a world so cluttered with "the me" factor? I mean, if your kids are anything like mine, they have already started...
Being a Positive Mom: Five Ways to Find the Good
Being a mom is the hardest job we will ever love. In a world that is constantly moving so fast, the pressure builds. We are juggling appointments, schedules, work ... the list goes on....
Five Tips For a Stress-Free School Morning Routine
School is here! How are you feeling? Does the thought of getting everyone out the door by a certain time already make you panic? I know this all sounds overwhelming but it can be...
Guide to Starting Kindergarten in the Iowa City Area
Starting kindergarten can be daunting for both students and parents. When my oldest started Kindergarten, I remember a lot of information coming in quickly — and trying to keep track of everything was challenging....