Life is so fragile. Your entire world can change in an instant that you never saw coming. You could be lazily hanging out at the side of the splash pad, rotating your field of vision to capture both of your small children running about on the concrete, when suddenly you look over at one of…
Dear, Son. Things I Must Say Before You go to College
I didn’t know what I was doing when I made the decision to keep you, all I knew was that I had to do “it” right. I was young and knew I would spend the rest of my life proving that I could do the very thing that I had no idea how to do….
Hi, My name’s Inadequate, Nice to Meet You.
My feelings of inadequacy came honest. There have been few people in my life I’ve ever been good enough for. I don’t mean coaches or teachers, their feedback was always welcomed. It’s the parents, aunts and uncles, friends and boyfriends that heaped the feeling on me. I’ve always felt like the “maybe if…” friend. “Yeah,…
Hurricane Michael – Destruction, Shamelessness, & How You Can Help
Less than a week ago, the area I call home was ravaged by Hurricane Michael. Fifteen miles from where my house still sits on its foundation, people are devastated. Their homes cease to exist, some are trapped underneath large oaks that have fallen on their shelters, and there are over 1000 people unaccounted for. Twenty…
My Husband has a Mistress. Here’s Her Name
I swore I’d never get involved with someone in the hospitality industry. I was part of it myself long enough to know that very few people in it are faithful to their spouses. Cheating is just a thing that happens in the industry, and I understand why. The hours are long and grueling, and you…
My *Actual* Iris Awards Acceptance Speech
When I sat down at my table for the Iris Awards, it never occurred to me that I might have to be prepared to deliver a well-thought and eloquent speech as I accepted an Iris Award for my writing. I was up against four other women who are eloquent word wizards, one of which is…
Anxiety is like Allergies.
I was trying to explain anxiety and what’s been going on with me to my husband last night, but he just couldn’t get it. He was like, “But anxiety is a normal part of life. I get anxious before a meeting.” and “Yeah, I get anxious before a workout sometimes.” or “Yeah, I get it,…
My Teenager Wouldn’t go to a Party and I Feel Like I Failed at Parenting
Prom. The night of a zillion lost virginities, underage drinking, and general debauchery. Unless you’re my son, of course. I wasn’t a big drinker in high school and JDHS was exceptionally good at putting together fun activities to keep us out of trouble. Maybe that’s just how much of a party animal I wasn’t. I…
The Worst Days in Parenting
Today ranks right up there as one of the worst days in parenting history. It is right up there with some of the most difficult days when the littles were toddlers and Styles was a sulking middle schooler. They tell you that it gets better, but they’re all liars. It never gets better, not really….
The Truth Behind What I Write
I haven’t written here in a while because the last piece I wrote sparked major lash-back from my in-laws. You see, they thought I was stirring up drama about their family, when the truth is, I wrote No Room For Favoritism because I have seen first hand what favoritism can do to a child who…