Some of you may recognize the title from Game of Thrones: "Mother of Dragons." Unfortunately, it is not original to me. However, there are days that I feel like it is the perfect description of my role.
My oldest daughter...
Halloween is one of our family’s favorite holidays. Each year we all get in on the spooky fun, from dressing up and trick-or-treating, to Halloween-themed activities.
With a family as large as ours, it can be difficult to find Halloween...
You’ve purchased all of the school supplies your child needs. Their backpack is full and ready to go. Your child’s favorite lunch foods are packed, and you even had time to stick a little love note for them in...
Allegedly, the year begins in January and ends in December. That's what our calendars tell us. But to me, the more accurate representation is that the year begins in August and ends in May, coinciding with the school calendars...
“That’s it! Go to your room! I don’t want to see you for the rest of the day!”
“You go sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done!”
“If you don’t stop it right now, you’re going...
'Tis the season when parents and everyone else with beloved children in their lives are casting about for holiday gift ideas that will be enjoyed and treasured throughout the year. Books make great gifts, but how to know what...
Not gonna lie, having older kids is pretty awesome.
Every once in a while you’ll see a meme in which someone wishes they could go back in time to see their children when they were babies/toddlers/preschoolers one more time. I...
I love my daughter. I really do. She is the sun in my sky and light of my life and rose in my garden and all those metaphors we use to describe how much we love someone. Do you...
For my family and me, moving to Iowa in 2012 was, in many respects, like moving to a new country. Shoveling snow, combating gnats, and acquiring snow pants were all new to us. Over the past three years my...
Every summer, my family treks from Iowa City to our favorite vacation spot in Maryland. It's literally 1,000 miles away — 1,028 to be exact. To survive the long drive, I need a great playlist and my 13-year-old son...