30 Things I’ve Learned In (Almost) 30 Years

I turn 30 in a couple of months and it’s pretty weird to be approaching that number. Even though I have school-age children and have been married a decade, I still look around for an adultier adult in most situations until I realize I am, in fact, The Adult. 

I’m not scared of turning 30; it’ll just be another day. Most movies and TV shows make turning 30 out to be this big, negative thing, but I can honestly say I am excited to enter a new decade! I feel more grounded in who I am and what I want out of life now than I did at 20, that’s for sure.

If you sit down and think back on how transformative your 20s were, we will all recognize different strengths and weaknesses in ourselves and different lessons learned. When I started reflecting on my 20s, I came up with quite a few, so I thought I’d share them.  

30 things I’ve learned in (almost) 30 years:

1. When given the option, always take the nap.

2. Befriend people different from you. They will teach you so much about the world.

3. Going from 1-2 kids is way easier than 0-1. (Although this is a matter of opinion and results may vary.)

4. Some problems are unfixable. That doesn’t make them suck any less, though.

5. Whatever thing you were really into when you were a middle schooler is worth finding joy in again as an adult. It’s healing!

6. Watching your kids get older is one of life’s greatest joys. 

Read the rest of this blog over on Knoxville Moms.

The Covid Babies Are Starting Kindergarten

How did we get here already? The Covid babies are starting kindergarten in August and 2020 feels like a literal lifetime ago.

The babies that came into a world of unknown are about to walk through school doors for the first time and I think that while that represents something different for all of us, it shows a tremendous amount of strength.

Strength and courage of the women navigating pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the fourth trimester.

Strength of the men who weren’t allowed to be there for the firsts, the appointments, and the births.

Strength of the babies that knew nothing different for years. Masks, hand sanitizer, anxiety, and lots of Lysol were their normal. 

Strength of older siblings who had to miss out and adapt to the new normal.

Bringing a child into the world in 2020, for lack of a better word, was terrifying. No matter what role you played, there was a whole lot of unknown, fear, and what-ifs. 

But it’s been five years since 2020 and we’ve watched these kids grow. We’ve seen them overcome social challenges from the initial isolation they faced. We’ve seen them adapt to speech after the removal of masks. We’ve watched them build an immune system after entering back into society. 

Read the rest of this piece over on Knoxville Moms.

In Defense of Youth Sports

I’ll be the first person to tell you that I am exhausted from running my kids around to their various activities. Aren’t we all?? Even though I complain about it and I’m the first person to do a little rain dance in hopes that something gets canceled, I can’t deny all the good that youth sports have brought into my kids’ lives. 

There’s been a recent surge in various online communities about how we should let kids have unstructured play and how as parents we should stop filling our kids’ schedules. And though I agree that too much pressure can be put on kids at a young age to excel leading to burnout, and that unstructured play is a critical part of childhood development, I have yet to find any harm in letting my young kids play rec ball. 

When I look back on my childhood, some of my favorite memories come from playing sports. 

I want that for my kids. I want them to look back on their childhood and recall the joy of winning a game where they were the underdog. I want them to look back on rainy games and remember how much fun they had. I want them at age 25 to reach out to their friend they played soccer with in elementary school because they formed a friendship that has lasted years. I want them to experience the fulfillment that comes from working hard toward a goal. 

read the rest of this piece at knoxvillemoms.com.

Medicated Motherhood

I want to talk about a topic that is often stigmatized and shrouded in silence: deteriorating maternal mental health and medicated motherhood. As a society, we have come a long way in destigmatizing mental health issues, but there is still much work to be done, especially when it comes to supporting mothers who may need medication to manage their mental health challenges.

Motherhood is a journey that is both beautiful and demanding, filled with joyous moments and overwhelming responsibilities. It is a time when a woman’s emotions can soar to unimaginable heights, but it can also bring on the weight of anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles. Yet, the expectation for mothers to be selfless superheroes can make it challenging for them to acknowledge their own vulnerabilities and seek the help they may desperately need.

And when mothers finally dosay they need help, they’re often met with guilt and shame. 

How do I know? Because that was me. I was a mother suffering through detrimental PPA and PPD who didn’t seek help for far too long due to sheer fear of how others would view me as an inadequate mother. 

read the rest of this piece on knoxvillemoms.com.

Mama, You Don’t Have To Travel For The Holidays

The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy, togetherness, and making cherished memories. Yet, for many moms with young children (me included!), the thought of traveling during this busy period can be downright overwhelming. From the logistics to the expenses, it’s no wonder you’re feeling the weight of it all.

But take a deep breath, because in this blog, we will explore why staying put and celebrating at home might just be the best gift you can give yourself and your family this year. 

Read the rest over on knoxvillemoms.com.