Book Club Picks: Themes on Motherhood
Since becoming a mother, I’ve shelved a lot of hobbies that used to consume vast stretches of my pre-kid time: dabbling in oil painting, hitting the tennis courts after...
Liz Murray
Balancing the Firsts, Lasts and In-Betweens
As soon as I became a mother, I also became a juggler. A juggler in the tangible sense: infant car seat in one hand; keys, coffee, cellphone in the other;...
Changing Daycares: How to Make It Suck Less
For every working mom with a new baby or preschooler, one parenting decision looms large: Daycare. Where can you safely entrust your child during the 40-plus hour work week? Where...
When It’s Not Just Worry
Worry. It comes with the motherhood territory. At least, that’s what we’re told, and it’s true to some extent. But sometimes, it’s more than just worry. Intense, chronic anxiety can...
The Weight of a Name
I’ve always been fascinated with names. Growing up, as an avid short-story writer, I spent many a rainy day compiling lists of monikers for potential characters. Other kids collected polished...
Thank You, Kind Strangers
It was one of those days. An unwelcome visitor had kicked us in the face all night, so sleep was in short supply. Our 2-and-a-half-year-old decided it was time to...
How to Know When You’re Ready for Kids
Motherhood springs on us in different ways. For some, it’s a logical, analytical decision, thought out months or years in advance, perfectly timed and executed. For others, it’s a yearning...
Decision Overload
Making decisions has never been my forte. Ask me what my favorite color is, and I’ll probably waffle my way through the entire rainbow without ever arriving at a definitive...
Dear Expectant Mama
As your first pregnancy finally approaches that hallowed 40-week mark, and time seems to grind to a halt, you’re likely contemplating the changes ahead. If you’re anything like me, you’re...
Learning To Say “No”
As the parent of two toddlers, ages 2 ½ and 13 months, I frequently find myself saying “no.” It’s probably one of my top ten words. The contexts vary,...
Appreciating the Great Outdoors in Minnesota
After a long, tortuous winter, summer is finally upon us. And for Minnesotans, that means one thing: getting outside. June is National Great Outdoors month. I doubt any of us...
Surviving Those Last Agonizing Weeks of Pregnancy
You’ve got the nursery all set up. The newborn clothes are washed, sorted and tucked neatly in the dresser. The diaper-changing station is ready to go and the car seat...
Let’s Get Real About Screen Time
Technology is an inescapable part of our kids’ world. Unless you live off the grid in a log shack in the woods, Swiss Family Robinson-style, there’s no way to shield...
Welcome To The Parenthood Club
It sounds cliche, but it’s true: Before you become a parent, you really have no idea what you’re in for. No amount of research can prepare you for the real...
