Motherhood Challenges Need a Grit and Grace Life

8 Steps to a Smooth College Transition for You and Your Teen

I sat in the passenger seat of our SUV in the parking garage, hot and exhausted. Sweat from the 112-degree Phoenix summer sun ran down my spine while my eyes stayed glued to the back of my six-foot-tall baby boy walking towards the garage stairs. Time stopped as I watched him pause on the top step. 18 years flew by so quickly. Didn’t we just bring him home from the hospital on a snowy March afternoon? He turned to wave, shooting us a quick smile, then disappearing down the staircase into a new life, a new adventure, a new chapter of his life. But where did that leave me? Some moms might have felt the sting of him walking away. Away from […]

8 Steps to a Smooth College Transition for You and Your Teen Read More »

Ask Dr. Zoe – How Can I Prepare My Kids for Back to School?

By Dr. Zoe Shaw / Ask Dr. Zoe, Motherhood

‘Motivated Mama’ Asked: School is just about to start here in our neck of the woods. My anxiety level is slowly growing each day because I am a motivated mama who likes the kids to be prepared for the transition. We have four school-aged children (ages 5, 9, 12 and 16) all of whom seem to be clinging to summer and uninterested in going back to school. What are some of your best tips for making the transition from summer vacation to back to school with your children? Dr. Zoe Answered: Can you really blame your kids? Long, lazy summer days, no school work… Summer was made to cherish! But school time is quickly zooming here, and it’s time to get prepared.

Ask Dr. Zoe – How Can I Prepare My Kids for Back to School? Read More »

Mom and son getting ready for indoor rock climbing a metaphor to get ready for the teen years

Moms, Get Ready for the Teen Years Now

By Darlene Brock / Motherhood

Moms, are you dreading those teen years? You’ve gone from 2 to 6 to 10 years old at lightning speed, which makes you know those terrifying years in a child’s life will be on you before you finish fixing dinner. There are books on handling this age and podcasts that help parents navigate this season, and while those are helpful, the best way to deal with your teenager is what you do before they get there. What you’ve instilled before that season and the relationship you’ve built will see you through these wonderful, albeit challenging, years. Before I step into the list of things you must do now, I want to assure every parent of this: While ages 13-18 create many unique

Moms, Get Ready for the Teen Years Now Read More »

Working Mom Guilt, When You Love Your Work

By Carey Melton / Work & Money, Motherhood

I have to start this off with a confession. I sat down to write this article four different times but couldn’t put it all into words. None of it made sense. I am simply dealing with working mom guilt who loves her work. The words sounded so silly, confusing, and insignificant. But, as I sit here at the start of the school day, literally with tears in my eyes because I’ve just dropped off a five-year-old to kindergarten, a three-year-old to preschool, and I am in my classroom awaiting the flood of students, I can honestly say that everyone is right where they are supposed to be, and it all makes sense now. I’m stepping back into the classroom after over three

Working Mom Guilt, When You Love Your Work Read More »

7 Ways to Teach Your Kids to Embrace their Culture

By Torrie Sorge / Motherhood

As parents and guardians, we want our kids to thrive—socially, academically, and physically. But what about culturally? How often do we share our culture with our kids? Do we feel comfortable doing so? What if I wasn’t exposed to my culture growing up and know nothing about it? Research tells us that culture has a big impact on a child’s development. It gives them a sense of identity, provides a sense of belonging, and creates a connection to their history and heritage. Perhaps you grew up in a home that honored your culture by celebrating holidays, eating traditional foods, speaking the language, and learning history. So sharing your culture with your children and carrying on those traditions, is very important to you.

7 Ways to Teach Your Kids to Embrace their Culture Read More »

5 Verses to Help You Survive the Teenage Years

By Brianna Barrett / Motherhood

This morning, during our 12-mile ride to school, my son shared with me some disturbing behavior that he witnessed at school. I let my son talk freely. One of my favorite times of the day is when we are in the car going to and from school. We have had the best conversations during those times, discussing situations and circumstances that we face. I treasure that time together; it’s a safe place to share and be an active listener. As a parent, it is sometimes hard to just listen. During that time, I strive to allow him to speak and share what he is wrestling with and things that are going on in his life and his friends’ lives. It’s been a

5 Verses to Help You Survive the Teenage Years Read More »

A Flight Attendant’s Tips for International Travel with a Baby

By Kristen Bailey / Motherhood

Babies on planes. Just the thought gives child-free folks a headache and parents anxiety—especially those who are bringing their little one on board an aircraft for the first time. Even though I’m a flight attendant, I still felt serious anxiety taking our 4-month-old baby on his first international trip. After three years of border closures, however, my husband and I couldn’t contain ourselves any longer: we had to get to Japan. I’m here to share some tips that’ll help parents take their little one on their first long-haul flight, no matter the destination. How To : International Travel with a Baby 1. Set yourself up for success when packing. I gave myself a minimum of one full day for packing, but started

A Flight Attendant’s Tips for International Travel with a Baby Read More »

You Can Stop Trying To Be a Cool Mom. Do This Instead!

By Amy Saxby / Motherhood

You don’t have to be a cool mom. How freeing is that statement? I think that somewhere in the midst of childrearing we forget that our goal is not to be our kid’s best friend, or to be cool. My mom was cool. However, I would not have said that when I was an adolescent. I specifically remember being mortified when she dropped me off at school in our minivan with wooden paneling on the side that I was sure everyone noticed. She also sent me to school with a reusable lunchbox when all the cool kids had brown paper bags. I remember hiding my lunchbox while walking into the cafeteria because I knew everyone was looking at it. She also had rules. I had to be

You Can Stop Trying To Be a Cool Mom. Do This Instead! Read More »

This Kind of Love Is What Makes a Mother’s Legacy

By Darlene Brock / Faith, Motherhood

It was 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day a national holiday. Each year the second Sunday of May is appointed as a day of celebration, set aside to honor the ladies in our families who have taken on the task of motherhood. An honor much deserved and earned daily by the mothers who fulfill this vital role. Whether she is a biological, foster, step, or adoptive mom, all mothers have offered a glimpse into the “love chapter” in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13. This portrait of perfect love can be seen through these imperfect ladies in the things they do daily. From their simple acts and unrelenting patience to their profound endurance, mothers exemplify the impact of love. These are the days

This Kind of Love Is What Makes a Mother’s Legacy Read More »

Why Wait? Do Big Things Today!

By Amanda-Lee Pitzer / Purpose, Motherhood

WOW. That girl is going to do big things one day. But. What if she doesn’t do big things? My girl’s best friend is incredibly mature and smart for her age. Although she’s two years younger, you would never know it. She can’t stand the drama of girls her age and instead hangs with an older crowd. Believes in early-to-bed and early-to-rise and has her sights set on things bigger than herself. Everyone that really knows her is impressed by her. She’s going to do big things one day. We all see it. BUUUT. What. If. She. Doesn’t? For Young Adults, the Pressure Is On As we near graduation season and I watch my step-daughter being forced to make life-altering decisions such

Why Wait? Do Big Things Today! Read More »

High-School-Graduation-A-Mom's-Rite-of-Passage

High School Graduation: Things Are Changing, but for the Good

By Darlene Brock / Motherhood, Best Of

My eldest daughter’s high school graduation had befallen. I’m not sure how we got here. Yes, seems like only yesterday… On the other hand, I had the wrinkles to prove it wasn’t! Created not only by the passage of time but also probably gained by potty training failures, elementary school multiplication tables, middle school emotional swings, high school auto accidents, and a revolving door of boyfriends. We had to shop for a little white dress to go under the white graduation robe. We couldn’t have a bright red dress showing through, now could we? This was just one of the activities, plans, and expenses as we prepared for the day we had all worked so very hard for. We had an entire list.

High School Graduation: Things Are Changing, but for the Good Read More »

Body Shaming Comes In Every Size

By Amanda-Lee Pitzer / Motherhood

The other day, my step-daughter came into the room in the evening for a few minutes of hang-out time like she does every night. (She will disagree with this statement, but it is literally our favorite part of the day). Next thing I know, she’s saying, “Amanda-Lee, I just really wanted to thank you for what you said today.” At first I was totally confused; I barely saw her due to an all-day cheer competition where I watched her do her thing from a distance. She went on to clarify, “Someone told me that they talked to you about my weight, and I really appreciate you sticking up for me.” NOW I knew. It wasn’t the first time that someone came up

Body Shaming Comes In Every Size Read More »

To the Mom Lacking Self-Confidence: Do This

By Rachel Hagstrom / Motherhood

To the woman lacking self-confidence, it can appear as though everyone around her is acing life with flying colors. She might tend to second-guess her decisions constantly. She often battles a distorted, negative view of herself. When she becomes a mom, her confidence levels soar one minute and then reach unprecedented lows the next if her self-worth depends on her parenting skills. I know because I am that woman. To All the Women Lacking Self-Confidence I’m probably the least qualified person to dish out advice regarding confidence (see the irony there!). As one all-too-familiar with the aforementioned internal musings and mindsets, my self-confidence has been on shaky grounds for much of my adolescent and adult life. The same nervous way I’d present a

To the Mom Lacking Self-Confidence: Do This Read More »

When You Don’t Feel Blessed as a Mother

By Laila Schell / Motherhood

Have you ever had those days where you feel like everything is working out? You slept well the night before. You woke up before your kids and actually got a hot cup of coffee down. Your hair falls exactly the right way and your favorite Cracker Barrel t-shirt is wearing just right (okay, that last one might be all me). But it’s amazing, right? I know those days are few and far between but aren’t they glorious? Of course they are! Those are the type of days when people without kids start to fantasize about what it would be like, saying things like, “Wouldn’t it be nice to start a family? Let’s have one boy and one girl, exactly 18 months apart

When You Don’t Feel Blessed as a Mother Read More »

How to Make Your Daughter a Lifelong Friend

By Marlys Johnson Lawry / Motherhood

My mom was an amazing woman who attended college at a time when not many women did—back in the early 40s. I am so grateful to have been raised by this strong-minded woman. She was determined that her three kids would learn a good work ethic, attend church, memorize scripture, and learn to love books. Our reward for helping her clean house every Saturday was a trip to the library. She was into health foods long before it became trendy. No potato chips, sugared cereals, or soft drinks in our home growing up, and we drank our fair share of home-crafted carrot juice. My mother did a lot of things right as a mom, but there were rarely any one-on-one mom/daughter times.

How to Make Your Daughter a Lifelong Friend Read More »

My Promise to My Unborn Son

By Kristen Bailey / Motherhood

Hey Buddy, We can’t wait to meet you! Daddy and I are preparing your room, daydreaming of when we can all play in it together. Sitting here in anticipation of what life will look like for us, I wanted to share a little bit about what you can expect when you get out here. While we are going to hike, play with LEGOs, and go to the park by our house all the time, we are also going to make sure that you have openness in your life, Little Guy. Openness means so much to us because it created the life we have today—it even brought Mommy and Daddy together. Daddy’s family moved from Guadalajara to San Francisco before he was born,

My Promise to My Unborn Son Read More »

New Mom Survival Guide: Boundaries that Will Keep You Sane

By Kristen Bailey / Motherhood

The pregnancy struggle is real. Doctors, books, and apps prepare us for the aches, the weight gain, the stretch marks, but fail to warn us about one of the sneakiest struggles as a new mom, unsolicited advice. “Oh man, you think you’re tired now. Just wait till the baby is born.” “Let me tell you, giving birth was just awful. So, what happened to me was…” “Just wait until….” “You know, you really should…” Well-meaning friends, family, Instagram influencers, and even strangers chime in with advice on how pregnancy and child-rearing should be handled. We mothers are tasked with protecting ourselves and our children from unsolicited advice and comparison, learning to appreciate the good while protecting against the unhealthy. Balance Advice with

New Mom Survival Guide: Boundaries that Will Keep You Sane Read More »