Experienced Bad Mom

Not Just a Bad Mom, But an Experienced Bad Mom

What Dinner at My House Looks Like

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I’m pleased to welcome Kate from Maternity Glow to the blog. She’s sharing the truth–the funny, realistic truth–about what dinner looks like at her house. Enjoy her post and let us know in the comments if you can relate! My dinner table is a thing of beauty. The fine China is out, the table is [Read More]

The 5 Dirtiest Places in my Car

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The abyss. The black hole. The crumb catcher. I’m taking about that sliver of space between the driver’s seat and the console in your car. In my car, it’s one of the dirtiest places. That’s why I’m pleased to be working with Drop Stop®, who provided me with a pair of neoprene seat gap fillers [Read More]

Parenting with Purpose

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In college I took an early childhood education class for one reason:  I knew nothing about kids. Sure, I’d been a kid. Sure, I’d seen kids. Sure, I knew some kids. But I never raised kids. And, I thought one day I might! Taking that class educated me about child development and equipped me with [Read More]

Checklist for a Midwest Halloween Costume

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I have lived in the Midwest longer than anywhere else and I’ve lived in a lot of places: California, Maryland, Arizona, North Carolina and British Columbia. Heck, I even studied abroad in Sydney, Australia. I’ve learned a lot in my years in the Midwest: I know what bratwurst is. I know that winter lasts six [Read More]

Our Summer Adventures So Far

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It feels like only 10 minutes ago that we wrapped up another school year and switched gears for summer camp. Yet, here we are, officially knee deep in summer! As Ferris Beuller so eloquently puts it, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around for a while, you could miss it.” So I’m stopping now [Read More]

Hearing These Five Sounds Mean You’re a Mom

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I used to cry when I heard it. The smacking of teeny, tiny newborn lips. My ravaged, raw breasts — trying so hard to get the hang of breastfeeding a newborn — would clench defensively. Together with the hungry cry, the wet cry, the poopy cry, and the gassy cry, that lip-smacking sound announced to [Read More]

12 Things I’ve Learned in 12 Years as a Parent

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July marks my “Mamaversary”, the anniversary of when I became a mom. My son turns 12 and I can’t help but look back in wonder at the last dozen years of parenting and reminisce about all that I’ve learned. Nor can I refuse the urge to share with you all that I’ve learned. Here are my words [Read More]

Rejected Reproductive Health Unit Titles

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The email from my son’s middle school caught my eye. I opened it and read: “You are invited to come preview the lessons and teaching materials for Puberty: The Wonder Years.” Puberty: The Wonder Years? What, is Kevin Arnold narrating the videos about the miraculous changes that happen to your body when Winnie Cooper walks [Read More]

Deep Thoughts about my Son’s Laundry

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The following is a refurbished post from a little while back. It still rings true today and fits nicely with this week’s Finish the Friday prompt, “The chore I hate most is…” Now grab your bottle of Tide, get out your dryer sheets, and come commiserate with me on my son’s laundry, the chore I [Read More]

Happy Now

JENerally Informed