Janelle
Embracing the Chaos of a Busy Life
I will be the first to admit that I have never been able to sit still. As a young kid, I would wake up on Saturday mornings and immediately ask my parents, “So what...
Dropping the Beloved Nap
Having my kids close together was both a blessing and a curse. I remember thinking while I was pregnant that the only thing I really wanted when my babies were born was that they...
The Day I Was a Terrible Parent
I was a terrible parent today. I yelled way too much. I lost my patience. I felt like I was at my wit’s end all day long.
I was a terrible parent today. I woke...
Bye Bye Binky: Saying Adios to the Pacifier
Binky.Pacifier.Nu-Nu.Wubba. No matter what your family calls them, those little soothers can be a total lifesaver for a grumpy baby. Thankfully, both of my babies took a pacifier fairly early on and easy, which...
The Club No One Wants to Belong To
This is not a club you want to belong to. This is not a club you want a membership for. But this club brings women together in their loss, healing, grief, and sorrow. It’s...
Bending the Gender Norms
When we found out we were having a boy, there were so many different things that ran through my mind. Would he play football like his daddy? Would he be a mama’s boy? Could...
We Were Supposed to Start School Today
Today was supposed to be our first day of school.
If you had asked me back in March when schools closed if we'd still be dealing with this virus, I would have laughed. I thought...
You’re Not Doing It Wrong, Mama–It’s Just THAT Hard!
As a mom of two toddlers at the moment, my life is a total circus most of the time. Someone always needs something every second of the day, and some days, I honestly have...
Aging Gracefully: Thoughts On Turning 40
Currently, I am less than four months away from my "big" birthday...yes, turning the big 4-0. I have always loved my birthday and never really felt the traditional black cloud that often hangs over those...
Meet Our Indianapolis Moms: Janelle McDonald
Hey there, mamas! I’m Janelle McDonald, and I wear a wide variety of hats in this crazy life that I’m living these days. I am a 6th-grade teacher by day (I love middle schoolers!), a...
Surviving Motherhood: Life With Two Toddlers (An Update)
Some of you may remember my previous post as I prepared for life with babies born 10 months apart. At the time of my initial post, I was 7 months pregnant with my daughter and...
My Struggle With Social Media
I will be the first to admit that I have a serious love-hate relationship with all things social media. When I moved across the country from Seattle 15 years ago without any family members...
Being A Mom Made Me a Homebody
Before I had kids, I was always on the go. I was very much a busybody; I always had to be doing something, planning something, or waiting for the next event to happen. I...
Caught Between “Enjoy Every Moment” and “I Can’t Wait Until You’re Older”
Life is such a funny thing. With two babies under two and a half, I cannot tell you how many times I have heard “enjoy these moments; they fly by so fast”, which I...