The following is a true story. **************** Panic was the only thing I could feel. Where was my child? The daughter I had so lovingly raised from birth? One minute, I was cradling my precious 5-year-old in my arms. The next minute, I would never hold her again.Distraught and completely inconsolable, I realized it was … Continue reading The Daughter I Lost
*Links to the other parts of The "Chosen" Path series are given at the end of this post. After having analyzed each of the three statements more closely, a much clearer picture of the reasons behind all of the frustration experienced by moms in general, and stay-at-home moms in particular, has emerged. It is clear … Continue reading The “Chosen” Path: Conclusion
*Links to the other parts of The "Chosen" Path series are given at the end of this post. Fallacy #3: She CHOSE to place 100% of the financial burden onto the back of her husband!Before digging into the nitty gritty, let's run some simple numbers:1. How many hours are in a week?168 hours2. How many … Continue reading The “Chosen” Path: Fallacy #3
*Links to the other parts of The "Chosen" Path series are given at the end of this post. Fallacy #2: She CHOSE not to work outside of the home!I want to clarify my views from the outset: I am not “anti-working-mom.” Many of my close friends and family members are working moms. My husband and … Continue reading The “Chosen” Path: Fallacy #2
*Links to the other parts of The "Chosen" Path series are given at the end of this post. Fallacy #1: She CHOSE to have kids! "She CHOSE to have kids," Mr. or Mizz Childless so astutely assert about the stay-at-home mom that dares to complain. They say it so matter-of-factly, so presumptuously. To them, a … Continue reading The “Chosen” Path: Fallacy #1
*Links to the other parts of The "Chosen" Path series are given at the end of this post. I must confess two things. The first confession is something that you may already be aware of, but I will state it anyway: I am considered to be a stay-at-home mom. Although I did manage to start … Continue reading The “Chosen” Path: Introduction
“Balancing pride is about recognizing the difference between healthy self-esteem and destructive arrogance. Healthy pride is grounded in humility and gratitude. It acknowledges personal and collective achievements without losing sight of the contributions of others and the broader context in which success is achieved. On the other hand, avoiding toxic pride involves self-awareness and empathy. … Continue reading “I did it all – by myself!” (Yeah, right.)
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” It is easy to imagine the enthusiasm in the tiny voice as it exclaims: “Astronaut!”“Doctor!”“Firefighter!”“Teacher!”If a child gave any one of these responses, it would not be cause for shock. Each of these answers would be considered quite normal. Now, let's try this one on … Continue reading Where Have All The Mothers Gone?
This post is a follow-up to: https://piecestopeace.home.blog/2024/11/12/misleading-media-portrayals-surrounding-infertility-issues-a-call-for-full-transparency/ https://youtu.be/HXiq2nBRTPw?si=gVU8OpWSX7wcLNYa This is how we should be handling conversations around age-related infertility. Like this woman, who had the grit to stand up and tell it like it truly is, with honesty and openness. We should be told the truth from real-world women in similar circumstances who have battled … Continue reading Follow-up ~ Misleading Media Portrayals Surrounding Infertility Issues: A Call for Full-Transparency
Each of the following quotes is connected by a common problematic thread. This connecting thread perpetuates the ongoing media issue of a lack of transparency regarding factors relating to female infertility. Can you spot the less-than-transparent recurring element that ties all of these quotes together? https://people.com/parents/all-about-hoda-kotb-kids/"The Today show co-anchor announced the adoption of her first … Continue reading Misleading Media Portrayals Surrounding Infertility Issues: A Call for Full-Transparency
This post has nothing to do with the presidential election, I promise you. My husband simply shared this video with me this morning, and I felt the desire to share its uplifting message with others. I wish the very best to this young family! May others follow their example! https://youtube.com/shorts/nvTtYuwBkYg?si=wHGC8MJumvGsZNQB A person is not likely … Continue reading What America Needs
I sometimes wonder how our family would be today if we had made different choices and had different priorities after the birth of our daughter. How many aspects of my daughter's life would have been affected?For example, what would the repercussions have been if I had chosen to focus on a career instead of homeschooling … Continue reading Stubborn Roots, Part 5: Harvest Phase ~ You Reap What You Sow
Invasive weeds often thrive in just about every growing zone in the United States, and pokeweed is no exception. But pokeweed isn't just invasive, it is also highly toxic. Eating its berries can cause pain, nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and can even be fatal. Many foragers, who have eaten pokeweed and survived the inevitable digestive … Continue reading Stubborn Roots, Part 4: Maturation Phase ~ Growth of School Shooters
All this talk of Timid Ducklings, Wild Horses, swimming birds, and flying fish is now over. At this point, after having been schooled at home through 7th grade, my spunky Wild Horse daughter has now successfully made it in a traditional school setting from 8th through 10th grades - without drugs. The intense epoch of … Continue reading Stubborn Roots, Part 3: Sprouting Phase ~ The Family, Wilting and Dying
There are two main types of young children, in my experience. The first is the “Timid Duckling.” Due to the extreme compliance of this type, you may not even realize that a Timid Duckling is in your vicinity. This is the type that has no problem at all following the precept, “A child should be … Continue reading Stubborn Roots, Part 2: Germination Phase ~ Nipping the Bud of Childhood
What can be both slippery and sticky, both elusive and all-encompassing, all at the same time? Roots of Problems. These are insidious things resembling a monster straight out of a nightmare! Just like the root of a weed, it sneakily feeds and spreads while managing to avoid being correctly identified. Searching it out takes time. … Continue reading Stubborn Roots, Part 1: Introduction ~ Planting the Seed
Enough is enough! Although shoulders serve many invaluable purposes, their worth is often vastly underestimated and easily overlooked. This is a sad plight for shoulders everywhere, and it is time for a change. It is high time that shoulders receive the recognition they deserve!To this end, I will be pointing out the numerous purposes of … Continue reading The True Value of the Inconspicuous Shoulder
Take a deep breath, everyone. I realize that learning about the Altar of Parenthood in Part 5 was tough! Never fear! No more with the sacrificial offerings! In this part, being the conclusion of the Types of Moms series, I make only offerings of promise and hope to stressed-out and befuddled moms of every type! … Continue reading Types of Moms ~ Part 6: An Offering of Hope
It has been established in Part 4 that there is no clear winner in the battle between types of moms when it comes to having a ‘til-death-do-us-part marriage. Also, I clarified my reasoning as to why I have chosen to couple “lifetime marriage” with “life-fulfillment.” Now, with all of that behind us, it is time … Continue reading Types of Moms ~ Part 5: The Altar of Parenthood
You may have noticed that I have refused to exert any effort into discussing the “I Could Care Less” mom type; for example, those who neither work outside the home nor give their all at home with the kids, those who are downright lazy, or those who are neglectful of or abusive towards their children. … Continue reading Types of Moms ~ Part 4: Who Wins?
The previous post, Types of Moms ~ Part 2, discussed in detail the harsh realities that all working moms are faced with each and every day. In brief, working moms undoubtedly take on more of the unpaid labor of household management and childcare in a dual-income household, setting her up for burnout and an increase … Continue reading Types of Moms ~ Part 3: The “Work is My Passion,” the “My Kids Drive Me Crazy,” and the “Lover of Money and Status”
In Types of Moms ~ Part 1, the “All-In Gambler” type was discussed. In a nutshell, this is the mom that takes on the gargantuan task of being the central stabilizing pillar of support within the family unit. She accomplishes all of the unpaid child-rearing/default parent duties and household manager tasks that exist within the … Continue reading Types of Moms ~ Part 2: The “Just Trying to Make Ends Meet” and the “Bet-Hedger”
What is the best description of the mental state of a woman who chooses to focus on her household and family after having children, besides “completely off her rocker”? Although this type of woman is becoming something of an endangered species nowadays, there are still a precious few in existence. This rare outlier is best … Continue reading Types of Moms ~ Part 1: The “All-In Gambler”
A mother has just been born... What type of mom will she become? What will her goals be? What types of things will she value? What will she prioritize? Will her journey be happy and fulfilling? Will the path be fairly smooth and clear or riddled with pitfalls and dead ends? Will all of her … Continue reading Types of Moms ~ Introduction: Posing the Questions
Sometimes, the person you know inside and out can still surprise you. For example, I was left speechless by my husband of 23 years when he said some precious words to me the other day:“Your wrinkles will be our memories. I will love and treasure them all.”I was awestruck by his choice of words at … Continue reading Wrinkles are Memories that Bond
Our world is full of color. Everywhere you look, any hour of the day, an infinite array of reds, yellows, blues, and every mixture in between bursts into our vision. Sometimes vibrant neons assault us; other times, we are snuggled by muted pastels.Color saturation in our daily lives can easily be taken for granted. After … Continue reading Why Can’t He See Me?
Imagine a time when you felt unsafe, in pain, trapped, scared, or helpless. What happened within your mind? What physical symptoms surfaced? Clammy palms? Pounding heart? Feeling like you wanted to scream? Feeling like you needed to escape? I know, it is not fun to force yourself to relive unpleasant feelings such as these. However, … Continue reading Motherhood PTSD
Plummeting birth rates. The correct term is “child-free,” not “child-less.” Daycare centers are outrageously priced and yet bursting at the seams. Frazzled moms. Oblivious husbands. Strained marriages. All work and no play. It seems that these are the statements that sum up what “family” has come to mean in today's society. How have the words … Continue reading The Motherhood Conundrum
What do you imagine when you hear the word “vacation”? Imagine your next one. Where will you go? What will you spend your time doing? Feeling adventurous? Try challenging mountain hikes or participating in a tough-mudder! Prefer relaxation? Schedule a spa getaway and pamper yourself with yoga and massages! How about those who enjoy experiencing … Continue reading Vacations: Why and How Most Moms Never Have One
I created this a few years ago in response to my husband's repeated inability to comprehend the amount of unpaid work that is required to simply keep a household running day-in and day-out. It also puts a dollar amount (a very conservative dollar amount estimate, I might add) on what all my labor would have … Continue reading Household Manager Duties and Pay
For those of you who think this will be a post about finances, I hate to disappoint, but it is most certainly not. However, I must begin by clearly defining and explaining the term of the day prior to jumping into my main point. That being said, with no further ado, let’s kick this off … Continue reading Front-Loader, not Free-Loader
You would probably never expect to join the words “marriage” and “battlefield” in the same sentence and expect that sentence to have a positive spin to it. However, it can be done, and quite easily! When each of the marriage partners are on the battlefield, but as allies instead of enemies, working together as a … Continue reading What’s the Game Plan?
CONTRACT FOR DOG OWNERSHIP We, the undersigned: ___________________________________ (Shareholder and Director, AKA: Parent who desires the dog) ___________________________________ (Shareholder #1, AKA: child #1 who desires the dog) ___________________________________ (Shareholder #2, AKA: child #2 who desires the dog) do solemnly declare that, from this day forward, I willingly and knowingly relinquish the following in the interests … Continue reading Considering Dog Adoption…?
I'm cringing just a bit because I have to tell you this "amazing" broccoli casserole recipe...you'll see why I'm cringing, as soon as I tell you how it is made. It is a stereotypically American recipe, in the worst stereotypical way possible. Ok, I hope I have prepared you enough for what follows, but you … Continue reading Some Traditions Deserve to be Discarded
Pieces to Peace 