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Breaking News! Making Dinner Is Hard And Should Now Be Someone Else’s Responsibility

In Motherhood, Parenting by Jen

Oh the mind-bending hopelessness of the family mealtime!!! This last week I read a story on Slate that attempted to relate the findings and conclusions of a study by 3 North Carolina State University Sociologists: Sarah Bowen, Sinika Elliott and Joslyn Brenton. Their team conducted in-depth interviews with 150 black, white, and Latina mothers from all walks of life. They …

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Tales Of A Middle School Mom

In Motherhood, Parenting by Jen

An unavoidable truth of motherhood is that our precious little babies do not stay that way for very long. No matter how much we wish we could freeze the process and stop their aging, we can’t and they will grow up. Thirteen years ago my first Princess was born. I remember looking at the tiny preemie baby in my arms …

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Reclaiming Sleep In Our House

In Motherhood, Parenting by Jen

I have to admit that I am blessed with pretty good kids who are sweet, lovely and kind. Sure they aren’t perfect, but on a whole our home is good place to be. Well, that is the case except for at night. Nighttime has become an epic battlefield where sleep deprivation seems to be the only winner. Here is the …

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I Think I’m Failing, Please Help

In Motherhood, Parenting, Uncategorized by Jen

I sit here at my computer screen exhausted and worn out, so here goes my plea out to the great internet and beyond. I think I’m failing, please help! Having raised, 3 children already past babyhood, I kind of felt like I had this whole baby thing down, it’s not easy, but one can survive it. Then my baby Anneliese …

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The REAL Rules For Raising A Toddler

In Motherhood, Parenting by Jen

Last week my good friend Sarah of Ruffles and Rainboots asked me to guest post over at her blog. I love Sarah and was thrilled to do so. If you haven’t checked her blog out before now, you really should. You are all familiar with my caboose baby Miss Anneliese Claire. She is 17 months old and is beautiful, lovely …

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Dealing With Discouragement

In Motherhood, Parenting by Jen

Yesterday we went to our community pool/ splash pad. The baby and I were sitting in the sun getting warm and watching her brother and sisters splash in the pool. Anneliese had been chewing on a pair of goggles and decided to throw them at a woman sitting next to me. I grabbed them as they landed on her legs …

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7 Tips For Raising A Son

In Motherhood, Parenting by Jen

As a mother to three girls and 1 boy, I quite often get the comment that there has to be a lot of girl power running rampant in my house. I am not a fan of the word girl power, but it’s not for the reasons you think. I far prefer the concept of equal power. I am working hard …

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Dealing With Milestones

In Motherhood, Parenting by Jen

This week we are heading into some BIG milestones for our family, a kindergarten graduation and a graduation from elementary school. First let’s talk about my kindergartener, Rebekah. I cannot believe that an entire school year has passed, It seems like just yesterday that I dropped her off for her first day of school. Now she will be graduating kindergarten. …

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Man-day Post: Happy Mother’s Day!

In Man-day, Motherhood by Jensguy

It’s time for another installment of Man-day from Jensguy. I’m going to keep this post short, because I have quite a few things going on today. To my late mother:  Thank you for raising me, mostly alone.  That took strength that can’t be measured and I hope to continually live up to your sacrifice.  I miss you every day and …

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Sometimes Being A Mother Stinks

In Motherhood, Parenting by Jen

Yes, yes you did just read that right. Wait, isn’t this the week that we celebrate all things wonderful about motherhood and are supposed to walk away with warm and cuddly feelings? Those who are truthful about motherhood will know what I mean about having times when it really stinks. If you aren’t there yet, just wait, it’s coming. Like …

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Guest Post: Morning Time Savers for Busy Moms

In Motherhood, Parenting by Jen

  I have awesome friends and I love learning about their tried and true mothering tips. My friend Carolyn over at A Lavender Life wrote this very helpful post last week and it especially resonated with me. I have 3 children to get out the door each morning. I end up doing hair while holding a baby, making lunch and …

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Four Things That Aren’t Helping Today’s Youth

In Motherhood, Parenting by Jen

As a mother of young children and one preteen, there are quite a few things that I see in our pop culture and through the media that really bother me. They bother me because they are destructive and mess with the heads of our children. I’ve compiled a brief list of four things and people that I wish would just …

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The “Bossy” Debate

In Motherhood, Parenting by Jen

    There has been a lot of chatter recently concerning using the word “bossy” when describing a young girl’s behavior. The specific quote being talked about comes from Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg,“I want every little girl who’s told she’s bossy to be told instead that she has leadership skills.” I am a mother to three girls and have spent …