motherhood

I can't just embrace the chaos. I wish I could follow the advice: “Stop stressing, Allison, you work full time, stop comparing yourself to mothers who don’t." But I can’t help but to play that comparing game and label myself as the inadequate mom.

Next time you see moms flying alone with kids, try some of these tips. You might make someone's day.

Don’t tell me kids don’t know how to work the system. If kids are old enough to be devastated about not having red patent-leather Mary Janes, kids are old enough to know that sometimes crying as if you’ve just flushed their living goldfish down the toilet, will get them red patent-leather Mary Janes.

It’s time to get clear on why alcohol is not a cultural cliché or gimmick we should get behind. Really, it only distracts us from solving the social problems we face. We need to reject it.

For so long, I’ve defined myself as nothing other than a mom, and I think that was beginning to be a toxic thing for me. I’m so much more than “just a mom,” even though that’s one of my favorite titles.

We need to know that the way we frame infant feeding can impact mothers, for better or worse. And we need to recognize that when we impact a mother’s feelings about herself, we impact her baby — and when we impact her baby, we impact our future.

When we see each other, we see ourselves. And when we see ourselves, we know we are strong and capable and worthy.

I suppose it seems that “my best life” is one where I have time and financial dollars to foster sick baby goats back to health, while also homeschooling all my kiddos, with ample hours left for one-on-one muscle toning and stretching sessions, and perhaps a quilting circle with close friends too…