MamaManagement

Do you ever feel frazzled? Overwhelmed? Ready to burst from all the balls you're juggling, all the weight that's perched on your shoulders, all the expectations and judgments that feel like they're coming from other people, but really all come from your own thoughts? Maybe sometimes you swipe the thoughts and feelings aside and just keep going. But other times, the weight becomes too much, and you crack. Maybe you cry, maybe you yell, maybe you recede into yourself, maybe you eat, maybe you drink, maybe you have panic attacks, maybe you feel depressed. Whatever you do, you become suddenly aware of your tight grip on the wheel, the tension in your neck and shoulders, the roil of your stomach, the aching tiredness in your bones, and all the mistakes you're making. If you have ever felt like this, well, this post is for you. Read on. So, I use the meditation app Insight Timer pretty much everyday. (I highly recommend it.) I listen to guided meditations and use the m

My dear, sweet bibliophiles, I bring you good news of fun adventures in outer space! A few months back, a bookseller in the small, independent bookstore, The Country Bookshop, in Southern Pines, NC, recommended a YA book called Illuminae . And, as I am want to do when other book lovers recommend books to me, I bought it, without reading the blurb or first page or anything else. Fast-forward to a couple of weeks ago...I picked it up. When I finished it just a few days later, I put book two in the series on hold at the library. (Moving quickly on to book two, or moving on to it at all, is not a given with me when it comes to trilogies/series. I have read A LOT of book ones and never moved on to book two--even when book one was enjoyable.) I devoured book two, Gemina , in a few days. This time, I put book three, Obsidio , on hold before I even finished book two. I will be picking that one up at the library today! So, this begs the question, why are these books so compelling?

Okay, so this is a strangely taboo topic that I think we all need to get over our shyness and, well, weirdness about: Periods. Periods are this totally natural and actually wonderful body process that I think we look upon in entirely the wrong way. (With shame and disgust and disdain and annoyance.) And, honestly, I think it's mainly because it doesn't happen to men. I'm serious. Because we live in a patriarchal society, men's bodies and way of being in the world dominates our culture in every way. And because they don't menstruate (or have babies or lactate) these things have become at best, secretive, behind the scenes, and often misunderstood, and, at worst, shamed and regulated. I remember being mortified to buy a box of tampons or pads when I was younger...like, actually, ashamed in the drug store! I might complain to my friends about having cramps, but the details and intricacies of going through menstruation was never really talked about. Having you

I sent my kids back to school last week with mixed emotions. For me, not them; they were super excited. I am, of course, excited for them to start a new adventure. And I am filled with hope that this will be a great year, full of new learning and cool experiences, and fun and friendship, and lots of amazing growth. I love watching my kids grow. And while part of me misses aspects of the younger years (you know, the sweet stuff), mostly I really like the stage were in right now (except the sass...and the not listening...but I digress). In the past, I've been so excited for school to start come August. My introverted, quiet-loving self is usually in need of breathing space after two months of nonstop kids. But as they get older and more independent, I find that there are only certain days when I feel that way. Now that they run out and play with friends for hours on their own, I get a little of that breathing space even when they're around all day. Some days they drive m