Chandler Billups
Lessons Learned in the Back of the Pack
I did something hard a few weeks ago. I signed up and completed a half marathon. I had considered it for a few years and decided this would be my year. If I did...
Tips for a Successful Family Vacation
People say that vacationing with kids is not really a vacation. It's more like parenting in a new place or city. A co-worker told me a few years ago that you do not take...
10 Years of Being a Mom: What I’ve Learned
In college, I learned about flashbulb memories. In short, a flashbulb memory is a vivid memory usually attached to a highly emotional event. One of my flashbulb memories is when I became a mom....
Stay-at-home-mom While Black
I quit my job. It took months for me to make the decision. I never, by any stretch of the imagination, thought of not working. I love my kids and my husband with everything...
How was School Today?
It's almost back to school time! Time to pack lunches, check bookbags, and get back into the school routine. It's also time for the dreaded "How was School" afterschool talk. Before my son even...
What Do Dads Do?
The first Father’s Day card I bought I was 26 years old. I picked my son up from daycare and drove a few minutes down the street to Walmart. I stood in that aisle...
Lessons in Becoming a Girl Mom
I just knew my firstborn was going to be a girl. I had such a strong feeling. So, imagine the surprise I felt laying on the table with my belly out and the cold...
Do’s and Don’ts: How to Have a Less Stressful Move
We recently purchased our forever home, which was an amazing experience. Our new home will be where our kids will grow up, have friends over, and get ready for prom. We’ll have family and...
Mommy Guilt: My Daughter Needs Speech Therapy
This story begins with the pandemic. I recently had my daughter tested for speech therapy. She’s two and doesn’t say much. If I’m being honest, I feel like it's my fault. She was four...
Selling our House to Build Forever Home
In August 2012, we bought our first house. And slowly but surely, we made that house into a home. We filled it to the brim with love and laughter. We added our son, our...
Mama is Going Back to School
Last year when getting my son ready for the upcoming school year, I decided to go back to school. It’s been a long time since I was in school. I finished my bachelor’s degree...
Reading With My Big Kid
As soon as I found out I was pregnant with my son, one of the first things I did was buy books to read to him. Eight years later, many of the board books...
My Babies Before I Had Babies
I come from a big family, and I have many nieces and nephews. My twin nieces have a special place in my heart. When they were born, I was 15. They were born prematurely,...
Letting Go of Amazon for a Month
At the end of 2020, I was reviewing my Amazon purchases. I was on the Orders page and looking for something that I ordered earlier in the year. I filtered my orders to see...