Child 1 – Page 11

Kangaroo Care

My Little Guardian

I’ve been wearing Mary’s Miraculous Medal as we prepare for the birth of our third child. Yesterday Madeline noticed my necklace was twisted and used her tiny fingers to bring the chain back around so that the medal would no longer fall at the back of my neck. While Madeline gently repositioned the medal, sheRead the whole post >>

May All Her Dreams Come True…

4-Year-Old: Mommy, I had a dream last night that you went into labor. Maybe the baby will come today!

Birth Order

Preschooler: When we have the baby, I’ll be the oldest. The baby will be the youngest, and Baby Rae will be the “middlest.”

Pint-Sized Pragmatist

21-month-old: Where’s “Melmo”? Where’s “Melmo”? (Melmo = Elmo) Preschooler: Elmo’s not here. He’s not even real.

I’m a wife, mom of five kids, writer, speaker, storyteller, bibliophile, runner, eating disorder survivor, and perfectionist in recovery. I'm the author of Getting Past Perfect: Finding Joy & Grace in the Messiness of Motherhood and Weightless: Making Peace With Your Body.

I’ve tried a lot of things in my life – anorexia, bulimia, law school, teaching aerobics, extended breastfeeding, vegetarianism, trying to be perfect and failing miserably at it – and through it all I’ve been writing. And learning to embrace the messiness of life instead of covering it up, making excuses for it, or being ashamed of my brokenness or my home’s sticky counters.

Nowadays I’m striving every single, imperfect day to strike a balance between keeping it real and keeping it joyful.