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!
Surviving (and Thriving) Iowa Winters with Kids: The Ultimate Tip List
Until you experience it, it is hard to fully describe an Iowa winter. Follow these tips for surviving and enjoying winter weather — these ideas are also helpful reminders for Iowans who might "forget"...
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,...
Mom Friendship: My Daily Mission to Include Others
It was a normal day in my life. When that light turned green in my kids’ room at 6:30 a.m., we were off and running. The morning rush began. Everyone needed to be fed,...
Why Advocate? How to Be the Advocate Your Child Needs You to Be
Since becoming a mom six and a half years ago, I have often heard people tell me to trust my “mom gut.” My mom gut is not just my stretched skin and enlarged midsection...