Made to Mother

A few weeks ago I posted this antiresolution on Instagram. The last few months, well, if I’m being truly honest, the last three years have been a struggle. A mid-life turning point, I guess you could say. My forties, COVID, and family tragedy have taught me what I want for the next half of my life…and also what I don’t want. I want to look forward not back. I want real life not a curated picture…

You know those friendships, the ones you had before the kids came along, that just don’t seem to work anymore? Maybe they’re not parents yet and don’t understand how your life has changed. Or perhaps they are mothers too, but your parenting styles are WAY different. Or maybe you just don’t have the time or energy to see and speak with the old groups you used to hang out with. No matter what the…

Gardening has become my favorite stay-at-home mom escape. The smell of the soil, the warm sun beating down, and the joy of watching edible things grow is better than therapy! From March through October when the question “where’s mom” is asked in our home, the most obvious answer is, “in her garden.” I love prepping the beds and starting seeds in the greenhouse in late winter, transplanting…

When I had our first baby, I was enthralled with motherhood. I could sit and stare for days at my newborn, relishing the hours with her in stay-at-home-mommy bliss. When she began to coo, crawl, and toddle I wanted nothing more than to be with her on the floor, making faces, playing with toys or reading. But then we had another baby. And another. Over time, motherhood kinda lost its luster.…

In the fall of 2007 I went on maternity leave, and never returned to work. My salary would barely cover the cost of daycare, and I truly wanted to stay home and raise my kids. So I settled down for a long period of midnight feedings, diapers, potty-training, weekly moms groups, trips to the zoo, dance classes, soccer practices, and school drop-off/pick-up lines in yoga pants with a mom-bun. Ten…

It was a different era when our parents turned 40. It was full of the color black and over-the-hill jokes. But I’ve noticed something has shifted in our generation as we approach the older ages. New cliches have arose; we say things like, ’40 is the new 30,’ ‘Age is just a number,’ ‘Life begins at 40,’ etc. When 2019 rolled into 2020 and the rest of the world contemplated a new decade, I was…

Coming Soon: An Exciting M2M Announcement

Somethings been stirring and growing this quiet year and I cannot wait to share some exciting news very soon!

OS metal bangle. Available in rose or silver

Soft, cotton blend tees by Bella+Canvas. Available in block letters or block/script, sizes XS-M

Matte black coffee mug with Made to Mother in script writing

Today is the Day of Salvation: Don’t Put it Off Any Longer!

This content has been adapted from JD Farag and Calvary Chapel in Kanehoe, HI. It has been shared with permission. If you die today will you go to Heaven? If the trumpet calls the church home tonight, will you among the rapture of the saints? Don’t put off any longer the most important decision you will ever make in your life, concerning eternal life! For it is by grace you have been saved,…

The COVID Family’s Guide to Deep Cleaning a Kitchen

This post has been sponsored. I have received compensation to share this content.

Let’s face it; we’ve been stuck inside the house for months now there are more dishes, more laundry, and more dirt. Everywhere! Nobody likes cluttered cabinets, dusty cupboards and refrigerator tops, or an oven that smokes every time you bake something. And home during a pandemic just makes these issues even more…

We LEARN to Mother – Vaishnavi’s Story

I grew up in a multi-generational home; my great-grandmother was the first person to hold me, and when my mother came home from the hospital, my great-grandmother was our guardian. My mom tells me stories about how my great-grandmother would sit at the door of our bedroom and fend off unwanted visitors so my mom had all the time in the world to rest, recover, and take in every millimeter of the…

We’re going on six weeks of a shelter-in-place stay-home executive order here in the state of Oregon. And for a family of five with two, full-time working parents and three kids navigating Crisis Survival School, things are starting to get hairy. We’ve planted a garden, built backyard box forts, watched every new release on Disney+, and ordered take-out from all the small businesses still open in our small town, but nearly two months of just the five of us is starting to wear down the most patient hearts! Even healthy and happy families like us are feeling a little claustrophobic and tired of seeing and playing with the same people day after day! It’s like the end of summer vacation when we’ve already done EVERYTHING, except that nothing is open, and we can’t go anywhere!

Enter Starlux Games, self-proclaimed to find a way to give kids and adults alike a reason to unplug, get outside, and do something active together. After nine years as a teacher, inventor Judd King developed a series of outdoor, glow-in-the-dark games. Starlux leverages classic games such as Capture the Flag and three other varieties with updated twists, adding in elements of strategy and teamwork which get everyone going and glowing, offering fun for all ages…and COVID-19 boredom relief!

Starlux Games sent us their Glow Battle pack to try, and when the weather finally cooperated, we were able to test it out in our backyard. It was a blast! Even when spring rains came, and we were forced back inside, the 10 Gameplay Option Cards brought a variety of different twists to the game to keep our kids entertained for hours…and even mom and dad enjoyed getting in on the competition!

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If you are like our family and you need something more than online school, TV, and the same old toys and games to kick the COVID boredom, order one of these unique glowing games from Starlux, including Starlight Swimming Games…the ultimate pool party fun with glow-in-the-dark lights, perfect for your backyard or community pools this summer!

Want to see a game in action? Check out this video!

Are you looking forward to summer? The summer months are hot, sticky, and often a little unbearable, which is why so many families head to their local swimming pool to cool down and have fun. It’s easy to assume a visit to the pool is a safe way to spend an afternoon, and if done correctly, it can be.

Some parents think accidents at the pool only happen to others and drowning in the pool is…

Bonding in the NICU – Tips for bonding with your baby in special care

When you find out you’re expecting, it’s normal to feel a flood of emotions. You’re excited, nervous and eager to meet your little one. You’re careful throughout your pregnancy, you follow the advice you’ve been given, and you create your birthing plan with a little help from your midwife and partner.

Labor begins and even though you’re a little scared and nervous, you cannot wait to meet and…

Understanding Your Child’s Autism Diagnosis

The more you know about your autistic child’s needs, the more you can help them thrive. From the moment their doctor begins to discuss the possibility of Autism, your world may be turned upside down. At first, it may seem like a daunting diagnosis. But in time you’ll find that there are many measures that can be taken to help your child overcome the challenges that come with Autism and live a…