Some Thoughts on Life With Three Kids

I recently asked you guys what you wanted to read about if I ever got the chance to sit down and write. Resoundingly, many of you asked what life is like with three kids. Or -- if you already have three kids -- what our daily schedule is like. Basically, a good number of you want to know what life am I living right now with children who are ages 7.5, 3, and 9 months.

This is way too much to cover in just one post, so today I thought I'd focus on how I don't have myself together. Like, at all. A few of you asked for tips and tricks on how to make life easier or more organized with three. I don't have those answers, and I wish I did. A few months ago, I was able to clean my entire house to the point of it being magazine-worthy. Today, it's a mess. I'm a mess!

Here's what I've come to realize: We all only have so much energy. Only so much time. And we have a gazillion priorities and things that NEED to be done today. If not YESTERDAY. It goes without saying that we cannot do it all, right? In summer, my husband is home from teaching and I feel like we get less done than ever. Our days right now have some semblance of structure . . . but, overall, we're going nowhere and getting very little done.

It drives me insane.

That isn't to say that having time to rest and free ourselves from the hectic pace of life isn't good and worth dwelling in. I'm talented at saying no and freeing up our schedule if I feel like we're doing too much. But there's the great void that you can fall into if you're not careful. I'm a person who thrives on routine. Working from home the last eight years has made it difficult for me to feel a sense of accomplishment. The days all run into the next days. It's maddening at times.

Throwing three kids into the mix of this can make me feel like a failure of a mom. Sure, I'm taking care of basic needs. Sometimes just keeping the kids alive is enough to give myself a big pat on the back. Other times, I feel I fall short in addressing their more complicated needs. Or in just providing opportunities for them to grow and expand their horizons. I'm a big believer in letting kids be bored and not providing tons of planned out activities. However, sometimes I feel like I just use that sentiment as an excuse to be lazy.

I'm at a point of introspection right now. It happens every summer. I take stock of what's going on and I think of ways to improve. Sometimes things stick. Other times, we end up in the same place we were before. My advice to those of you who are looking to make life with three kids easier is not to listen to me. You have to examine your own family. What areas do you feel are going well? Where do you think things are feeling crazy or like they're just not working? What are our family goals? How are we working toward them . . . and how are we working against ourselves?

We're currently discussing these important questions and how to address them. For example, I try to keep activities limited. Ada only does like one major "sport" (gymnastics) at a time. Then she does an informal choir. She doesn't do anything organized or that meets weekly beyond that. If we find something else, like a random weekend class, we'll consider adding it in if things aren't too busy. Resist feeling like you're not providing enough if you just have your child in one activity. I have to remind myself of this, too, because it seems like everyone I know has their kids in something every day of the week. They spend their afternoons, evenings, and weekends shuttling one here and the other there -- quite literally everywhere.

Which brings me to self-care. This is an area I don't do well with at all. It's going to be the topic of my next post. I'm not talking getting manicures and pedicures either. Basic tasks like feeding yourself throughout the day, drinking water, getting sleep when you can, and getting enough exercise are so, so, so important. When we have kids -- especially three or more -- self-care can easily fall by the wayside without us even realizing it. I learned this the hard way, as I've been struggling with a cycle of starve/binge eating . . . and, again, I didn't even realize I was doing it until I took a step back and realized what was going on.

Life with three kids is wonderful at times. At others, it can be chaotic and make you question all your major decisions. It can make you feel insecure and depressed. I wish it were easier. I wish there were more universal tips and tricks that would lend to more simplicity. But as much as the Internet and social media might like us to believe, there's no filter to wash over the tough times and make them prettier to deal with. Hey, at least we're in good company!

Read more...

More Major Parenting Decisions, Explained

You guys really liked when I shared about the reasoning behind some of our most important parenting decisions. So, here's more major decisions and why we've gone the way we've gone. Again -- this is what WE do, not what I think YOU should do. There's no judgement here, so I hope you'll extend the same courtesy to me and my family.

I gave birth without pain medication three times.

But I elected to induce my last baby, so I'm definitely not sharing this as a holier-than-thou kind of thing. It's simply a fact. And I didn't do it out of the purest of intentions either. It was more selfish than anything else. I'm scared of needles and definitely scared of a needle in my spine. I don't like the idea of being numb. It actually freaks me out just thinking about it. I would also say that -- on the whole -- my labors were pretty short. I was pumped full of pitocin the last two times, making the contractions much more intense, but I would rather deal with that over and over and over again than get a needle in my spine.

Maybe that's weird, but knowing what to expect now . . . when the pain got so bad that I felt like I couldn't take it anymore, that typically meant it was almost over (except with Ada. Then it meant I had two more hours until she was out!)

We don't push tons of extracurriculars

I shared in my last post that we're pretty hands-off when it comes to academics in our house. The same goes for extracurricular activities. I have friends and acquaintances who put their kids in EVERYTHING. And I mean EVERYTHING. They're driving here, there, and everywhere. I both admire and pity them. Basically, I was involved in things as a child -- but not as a young child. My rule is one big activity at a time. If there are other things, they have to fit into the day and be really cheap.

Right now this means that Ada takes a gymnastics class on Saturday mornings. She's also in a school choir that is very inexpensive ($40 for 8 weeks) and meets at the school at the end of the school day. I decided instead of paying money for piano lessons that I'd try teaching her the fundamentals (and it's going well -- we just do it whenever we have a spare 20 minutes). Otherwise, we might do one-off classes . . . but generally, we are living the "slow life" in this respect.

I do combination feeding

Eden gets two bottles of formula each day, so I am no longer exclusively breastfeeding. We are combination feeding, and it's going great. When I shared my struggles with breastfeeding (I have a great supply . . . but mentally, I don't like being tethered to my baby 24/7), I got many well-meaning comments about how I should pump instead of offering formula. I hate pumping more than I hate breastfeeding.

I've finally learned by my second, but especially by my third baby that formula isn't some fluid sent to earth from Satan. In fact, Eden is doing great, and I love giving her bottles. Especially now that she's in the super distracted nursing phase -- with a bottle, she's all business.

We vaccinate

My kids get all their vaccinations on the standard schedule -- no questions. I haven't even done any research in this area because I trust my doctor and my life experience. For example, when Ada was in the pediatric intensive care unit, there was a boy in the next room dying of a preventable disease because he didn't get vaccinations. It was a huge eye-opener, and something that many anti-vax people don't actually see.

I don't love babywearing

OK. That's not entirely true. I do love it when we go out for the rare day. The snuggles can be amazing. But for me, babywearing isn't a way of life. I don't lust over Tula prints or tie fancy wraps (because I'm terrible at it -- I've tried!). I see women conquering the world wearing their babies, and I'm partially jealous. But I also love putting my baby to sleep in her nursery for her naps. So much as I have tried, I cannot get comfortable just wearing my kid all day during all activities. It's claustrophobic for me. I'd rather just wait to do what I need to do until I can do it quickly on my own.

This is one area where I feel like I WISH I was a different person, a different mom, but I'm just not into most attachment parenting things (and before I became a mom -- I was going to be THE attachment parent).

I don't do essential oils on my kids

Inevitably I run across EO conversations each and every day, especially in parenting groups. Jimmy has an ear infection? Try this essential oil in his ear! Sally has a chest cold? Diffuse this essential oil to clear her breathing! I know these people are trying to do what is best for their kids, but I feel like there's a lot of misinformation out there (on both sides) related to EOs. The safety for children hasn't been demonstrated in research enough for me to want to slather it onto my kids. I save essential oils for personal sniffing and for cleaning supplies. Maybe I'm ignorant, but I'm OK with that.

Want more parenting talk? Check out these posts:

My parenting strengths and weaknesses
My major parenting decisions, explained
Thoughts on picky toddler eating
Instant gratification + parenting
3 years staying home with my kids // thoughts

Read more...

Parenting Strengths and Weaknesses

In my own life, I've been trying to examine my strengths and weaknesses as a parent. One reason is that I want to work on myself for the sake of my kids. Yelling all the time isn't something I imagine they want to grow up hearing. On the other hand, I also need to give myself more credit for the things I DO do well, because I'm not the type of person who tends to think positively with self-talk (and that needs to change).

I'm good at getting my kids to sleep. 

Some kids just don't sleep -- and I get that. But I will say that I've had three different kids now . . . and though keeping a consistent schedule and working on sleep issues as they arise, I've been able to get them napping well and sleeping through the night a good portion of the time. (I'm probably jinxing myself!) Of course, there are periods, like teething and developmental leaps, when things go crazy. However, this area has often involved sacrifice and a lot of work on my part, so I consider it something to be proud of and to give myself some kudos for.

I could work on kinder discipline. 

Because I yell -- a lot. I even swear. Are you shocked? Maybe, maybe not. But Ada's at an age now where she'll certainly remember all the yelling and four-letter words (I'm so embarrassed sharing that!). The thing is, I know yelling doesn't really work. I'm dipping my toes into a few parenting books right now and finding out just how ineffective it is. So, yeah.

I'm good at engaging interests and providing activities. 

I'm not a Pinterest mom, but I make sure my kids are exposed to areas that interest them and find ways -- sometimes creative ways -- to provide those activities. For example, Ada wanted to do a sport this fall, but we were short on time and money. I searched around and found a running program that was essentially free on weekends when we had the time to take her. Otherwise, I hunt around for deals on gymnastics leotards and utilize inexpensive school activities rather than signing her up for all the $$$ stuff. With Eloise, I hunt thrift shops to find fun things for her to do at home and -- yes -- I sometimes do take the time to get creative.

I could work on my level of patience. 

I suppose this goes with the yelling. I can go 0 to 60 very quickly when I get miffed. It's as if I have no mental stamina. So, I need my own patience for better discipline and also in times when my kids are possibly TRYING to do good stuff, but just don't have the ability or desire to to it quickly enough for my liking.

I'm good at consistency. 

Maybe this goes along with sleep, but in all areas of life . . . I'm pretty darned consistent. Our family has a predictable schedule. Or if I'm being gosh-gee-golly blogger mom here, we have a rhythm. It changes seasonally and depends on our schedule. However, my kids generally know what to expect at different points of the day, and I think that helps them. I know for sure it helps Eloise because she goes from one activity to the next in life without tantrums (trust me -- she does have them, though! Just not regularly).

I could work on food. 

I know. You may be surprised to read that food is a shortcoming of mine when it comes to my kids. I've gotten quite lazy in the past year, buying lots of packaged snacks and generally not providing much variety of foods. I tried much harder with Ada, but the demands of life have sucked the energy I have had for this area. Last night I took the time to make some granola bars. It's a small step, but it is good to be moving in the right direction. Now, I'm not saying all packaged food is the devil. It's just when your 2-year-old heads to the pantry and crinkles all the wrappers searching to "dinder" because she'd rather have junk food . . . that's when it's a problem.

These are just a few thoughts for today. I think it would be fun to check in again in the future with some more strengths and weaknesses. I'm giving myself some grace here. I'm not going to be the old Ashley and set out and outline for exactly how I'm going to change all these "bad" things about myself. This post was just a mental exercise for me. Maybe you'll feel inspired to do it for yourself as well!

Read more...

My Major Parenting Decisions, Explained

People are nosey by nature. And I'm an open book. I get so many DMs about different lifestyle and parenting choices we've made with people asking why we do it that way, how it works for us, etc. Usually it's people who are mulling over their own decisions and looking to gather info. So, I figured I'd post some thoughts on the questions I get the most frequently. This is just what works for us as a family. It's not what I think everyone should do by any means.

Our kids are vegetarian and always have been.

So many of you asked me yesterday about why our family is vegetarian and if our kids still are or if they're ever eaten meat, etc. Lots of variations on the general theme. I've written about it in the past, but -- in short -- I decided to stop eating meat when I was 13. I never liked meat, so it was purely a dietary preference thing. I haven't eaten meat since and I was vegan for several years in college and different spurts in my twenties. For me, being a lacto-ovo vegetarian works best, which means I eat milk and cheese and eggs, etc. Stephen has been a vegetarian since college, when he actually started as a vegan. He has been vegetarian ever since, but has dabbled in eating fish on occasion. Usually when we're on vacation at the ocean and it is freshly caught that day locally.

We didn't sit down and have a big talk about whether or not our kids would eat meat. It was just this understanding that we have lived a vegetarian lifestyle and eaten primarily vegan and vegetarian foods for a big chunk of our lives. Our kids would follow suit. Ada has had fish but doesn't like it. We feed both girls a lacto-ovo diet because it's what we eat as a family. Neither kid has ever eaten meat. Ada is actually quite opposed. She's getting to the age where she's asking a lot of questions and feels a lot of pride in being a vegetarian.

Now our decision to live this way spans beyond dietary preference. We do appreciate the animal rights, environmental impact, and health benefits of eating this way. It's also cheaper, which is a bonus. This isn't to say I'm forbidding our kids from eating meat, but I do not think I would ever prepare it in the home. But we'll cross that bridge as we come to it. So far, most people in our lives just know we are vegetarian, and it hasn't been an issue. We write it on forms for school and summer camps, and -- just like allergies, etc. -- it's been catered to without any issues.

I have never planned to homeschool.

Don't get me wrong, the idea of homeschooling is very intriguing to me. I love the idea of guiding my kids along their path of learning and allowing a more flexible and, at times, more enriching environment for them to grow their brains and learn about the world. I just think I can do this in addition to a quality public school education.

There is this inherent privilege, though, that comes with being able to homeschool. I feel like it isn't brought up too much. Like, I just know I cannot fully commit to a full course of homeschooling grades K through 12 for my children because -- while I'm not working tons of hours right now -- I know I will want to return to more full-time work in the future. This isn't just for me . . . it's practical for our family that I not leave the workforce for that long. I do work from home now, but I'm hoping to expand on those hours after all my kids are school age.

I can totally geek out when I look at different homeschool curriculums. I love the creativity and space that it allows. The flexibility with scheduling, etc. But honestly, my husband is a public school teacher. For this reason, I do support public education. We moved specifically to a school district that is consistently ranked in the top two in the area (Stephen's school is the other top). Plus, the flexibility is nice . . . but we wouldn't be traveling throughout the year since Stephen's job doesn't allow for time off.

Instead, we try to use our summers to get those less-traditional opportunities. I am hoping whatever job I choose in the future will allow for flexibility in the summers so we can enjoy this time as a family.

I will continue to stay at home/work from home.

Yes. Money. It's not the smartest financial thing, perhaps, for me to be at home with part-time hours. Stephen and I both feel strongly that me being home is important. I see working moms totally rocking their situations, and there are times when I look longingly at the structure their days permit. When my kid is screaming and skipping naps, I wonder what it might be like to be at lunch in my old office in peace and quiet. But I know that working moms deal with so much too, like astronomical daycare costs and feelings of guilt, etc.

It's like a no-win situation. Stephen coaches two sports, which I complain about, but it gives our yearly income a nice boost. Now that we're getting close to paying off student loans and other debts . . . we have more wiggle room. This isn't to say I'm comfortably living large over here. I'll do an updated budget post soon. I cherish this time I get to spend with my kids. I surely complain at times, but I think we all do from time to time.

I do plan to either expand freelancing hours to more full-time or to go back to a FT or PT real-life job when my kids are all in school. But, as I mentioned earlier, I'd like to have a schedule that allows me to enjoy lots of time in the summer with my family.

I cloth diapered, then didn't, but might again.

Several of you have asked if I plan to cloth diaper baby number three. I had plans to do it with Eloise. I did it for nearly a year and a half with Ada. But I got sucked in by the convenience of Aldi diapers. They have worked wonderfully for us, and they don't cost terribly too much. But along the way I have felt guilty tossing out so much trash. Like, really guilty at times. And I look at our budget and how I may need to step back on my freelancing hours . . . cloth may be in our future.

I do have an impressive stash that would work well for the new baby. I think I'll write more about this in a baby-related post. To summarize, I support cloth diapering. But I don't understand people who rave about it. It's poop and pee that you have to get up close and personal with. As much as supporters say it's awesome . . . it isn't, like, FUN. So for me, it would be more out of my feelings of environmental responsibility and money. I wouldn't be giddy about it.

I breastfeed. But it's complicated.

I do also plan to breastfeeding this next baby if I'm lucky. I breastfed Ada for nearly 18 months and I breastfed Eloise to age one. With Eloise, I had lot of difficulty because I felt over-touched a lot. Getting used to the demands after years of independence was hard for me. I have no romantic notions that it will be different this time. But, as mentioned above, to save money I know I will need to fully commit.

That said, I feel better prepared this time around for the challenges I may face. I will try to have a plan in place to make sure I don't get too overwhelmed. This may mean pumping more bottles and trying bottles sooner. This may mean occasional supplementation with formula, which did NOT impact our relationship or my supply whatsoever.

In the end, breastfeeding is a very personal choice. And I feel fed is best. I have absolutely no judgement for women who do purely formula, as I was brought up that way. And I have no judgement for women who allow their kids full access to their boobs at all times. I am a more baby-led, but also mom-allowed breastfeeding. I know that doesn't make sense. But scheduling feeds as soon as we're able helps me with my sanity.

I guess more on this will come in another post as well.

We don't bed-share.

While I love the idea and understand the practicality of bed-sharing, it's not for me. I explained this a bit on Instastories a couple weeks ago. While I do room-in with my babies for up to six months (yay reflux scares!) . . . putting my babies in my bed scares the crap out of me, especially in the beginning. I've experienced sleep paralysis and other weird issues that make me truly feel it isn't safe . . . FOR ME. I don't judge, though, because there were a couple times when Ada was small when it worked out very well to get through a tough night.

But I don't plan to bed-share with our new baby. She will sleep next to the bed in a Pack 'n Play (my neighbor was so kind to give me hers with a bassinet attachment!).

We're having three kids. A "larger" family.

I talk a lot about saving money. So some people -- family included -- have asked why we would add another child to our family is money is a concern. That's complicated. And it's hard to fully explain. First of all, family size is another highly personal issue, despite how visible it is to society. People are always going to comment. But when thought long and hard over whether or not adding a third would be good in our case.

When we were going through infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss, our ideas of being a family of five really solidified. We realized that we value the people in our lives more than the things. We may not be jetting off to Disney world. We may not have a fancy van with heated seats, automatic doors, etc. (I've been lusting over these lately!). We may just be camping and living on the simple things in life. But we felt strongly that if we didn't go for number three, we'd regret it.

And that's OK. College is a question some have specifically asked about. This is a HUGE topic, so I'm going to gloss over our thoughts. I do not feel that it is my responsibility as a parent to pay for full college for all my children. I feel it is my responsibility to help my children find their path in life. I'd like them to at least go to community college . . . but I am not going to teach them that a four-year school is THE PATH, as we were taught. My parents generously paid for half my education. I worked and got loans for the rest. And I shouldn't have gone to a private, out-of-state school. It's my responsibility to help guide my kids to better choices that will be good for their education and financial futures.

That said, we truly value education, so we will help our kids with whatever they choose to do.

We let our kids watch television. Sometimes lots of it.

Eloise is watching Sesame Street as I type this blog post. As a work-from-home mom, I have utilized television with both my girls to get things done. I am also very present with them and play with them many hours each day. We spend lots of time outdoors. We go to museums and play centers. But television -- in my humble opinion -- is totally fine.

I don't coach learning at home.

This is getting rather long.  So I'll go over one last topic. Many have asked what I'm doing to teach Eloise things at home. And the answer to this is "nothing specific". With Ada, I definitely went out of my way to be like: "Look at the blue ball. Blue. Can you say blue? Where's the blue ball?" You get the point. Anyway, some of this is OK. And when it arises naturally, sure -- I do it. But I don't work in coaching the alphabet, shapes, etc. throughout the day. Granted Eloise is still young. But I'm in the camp that play gets a lot of this stuff into the mix naturally (we also read lots of books).

So, with Eloise and this future baby girl, I am taking a more relaxed approach. A more learn-by-doing, don't fret the rest approach. I will be sending Eloise to preschool at age three. I may even enroll her in a short program next year for socialization, etc. But I truly feel like young children just need to be young children. We'll sing songs, we'll go out and explore the world, we'll do art projects . . . but we won't sit and do flash cards.

Phew. I feel very much open to judgement now, but I'm OK with that. We all do things the way we do them for a reason. So, it's all good.

* Image source is from Etsy. How cute is that? It's customizable. I may need to get one!

Read more...

Sharing Thoughts on Picky Toddler Eating

So many of you have asked me how Eloise's eating is these days. I wish I could say we've turned a corner. But, we've hit, like, an even higher peak of picky eating lately. It isn't all bad, but we're definitely in one of those periods of eating ONE big meal every few days and picking the rest of the time. So, it's not all bad . . . just inconsistent and frustrating.

I remember distinctly that she only ate the blueberries:

Despite all my efforts to cook and serve healthy, interesting, and tasty food . . . I have to remember that this phase isn't going to last forever. Or, as a couple of my friends tell me, maybe Eloise will always just be super incredibly picky and never grow out of it and always be super small and never grow much, etc.

Thanks, friends.
That helps.
Sarcasm.

Ada was also picky at this age, but it wasn't quite as frustrating. Some tricks worked with her. Like serving smoothies or pouches when she wouldn't eat solid foods. Heck, I could even puree up e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g she discarded on her plate and she'd suck it down. I even put scrambled eggs in one of my mixes -- and she didn't notice. Gross but it got the job done.

Ada also loved using the nibble tray. I'd section out different foods -- cheese, fruits, veggies, crackers, tofu, etc. -- and she'd graze for the whole morning to afternoon. I know some people are more for eating proper meals than snacking. I've tried both approaches and Ada's grazing periods were often temporary, punctuated by long stretches of actually eating meals regularly.

With Eloise, I have to take what I can get. The girl will literally starve herself. But at the same time, she'll also eat HUGE meals other days, so I don't think it's necessarily a feeding issue or sensory thing. Last night she ate two scrambled eggs with toast and anything else Stephen would throw at her. She hadn't touched eggs in months. And her preferences of some foods over others isn't consistent enough to pinpoint if anything isn't especially to her liking.

This sounds like a long rant about Eloise. It's not targeted resentment or anything like that. I am just updating to tell everyone that I offer healthy foods. I also offer toddler equivalent junk foods (Goldfish crackers, Nutrigrain bars, etc.). It doesn't seem to matter what it is, my girl is in a picky stage. She eats sometimes. Not others. The doctor isn't worried because she's maintaining her weight and even gaining ever so slightly. So, I'm forging ahead.

I've decided to really give the nibble tray another eager go because when I've tried to wait for proper meals, all hell breaks loose.

I have our old tray, but I cannot find its lid.


And so many of you have asked me where, oh, WHERE can you find this tray!?

Well, here. But it's discontinued and no longer carried by amazon.

Sad face.

So, I'm thinking of buying this oversized silicone ice cube tray that has a lid. It's a 2-pack (glorious!), so I figure I could load one for the morning and one for the afternoon. I like to do berries and peas and other things -- like Cheerios -- that are small and easy to grab.

(This method isn't magic. If you're curious, she only ate the peppers and one section of the Nutrigrain bar.)

PS: If you're interested in what I used to feed Ada -- also vegetarian -- when she was an older toddler/preschooler, check out this Ada's Eats posts with details on that.

Happy Friday!

Read more...

Instant Gratification // Musings

Growing up in a small town before the internet became a big deal, I generally accepted that items I wanted/needed would take weeks to arrive and that most things I wanted/needed to do would close by 5PM.

It was a time of slow living. Simplicity.

There was no such thing as instant gratification. I remember browsing through the movie store, for example, looking at VHS after VHS. Finally, I’d arrive on the movie I wanted to see . . . only to find that all copies were checked out and I’d have to wait at least another week to see it.

24-hour grocery stores

Streaming television/movies

Amazon Prime’s shipping

Walk-in clinics open on Sundays

It sounds silly, but these things amaze me. They still do even years after first being exposed to them. I remember leaving home to go to college in Ithaca, which isn’t some big metropolis, and getting delivery calzones at 2AM. Can you imagine! That’s the middle of the night, and I could have hot food brought to me while I was in my pajamas. We won’t even go into the freshly baked cookies you could get at that hour. I’d sometimes drive to Wegmans just to walk around the empty store at midnight because I found the whole novelty of it just so incredible.

Small town girl right here. That’s me. Born and raised. Fifth generation, too. But life is so different now. And this applies even to my small hometown. I cannot even begin to tell you how Amazon would have changed my life. If a store didn’t have X, Y, or Z that you needed . . . we still joke that the owner would say “well -- long exhale -- we can order it in” and it would take seemingly weeks to arrive. As if by horse or something.

But, 2017. We can have basically anything we want, whenever we want it. Sure, some things are still more difficult to get. (Polar’s Unicorn Kisses sparkling water, anyone? Which, by the way, I found here!) And there are times when demand is high. Instant gratification is a great thing -- at least sometimes.

Lately, though, I’ve been grappling with how to bring up my girls in an age when they have access to so much. (PS: Has anyone read Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World? Wondering if it’s worth adding to the library list.)

I would love for them to feel that immense satisfaction of when you have waited so very long for something. It’s this painful place -- the waiting. I think it’s important. For one, it makes the reward so much sweeter. I feel like we’re missing that so much these days. Not that I want to give up any of it. Nope. I’ve become far too accustomed.

But I feel like always getting what we want (even if it’s just immediate rental of a movie) leads to this feeling that we NEED/WANT so much more. We’re ever-addicted to the feeling of joy, however fleeting it may be. And to rarely if ever have that waiting? I just wonder what that does to a person and his/her expectations out of life.

I feel like a lot of my homesteading efforts are also efforts to recapture those old times when things didn’t come so easy. To get that whole feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction again. Many of you were so kind to point out that convenience (from my last post) isn’t always such a bad thing. I totally agree with you.

When most everything is made for our convenience, I’m not so sure. But here I am today with another one of those aimless, thought-circling posts. I’ve been thinking a lot lately, so I suppose it’s good I’ve had time for that.

I’ll be back soon with some new meals that we’ve been making! Meal planning is much easier when you brach out and get excited about new recipes, right?!

Read more...

Babywearing // My Favorite Baby Carriers

Another highly requested post? Babywearing!

This is my second time around, obviously, so I've learned some of my likes, dislikes, and best practices for getting around with baby on my body. I started wearing Eloise just a few days after we came home from the hospital with my Moby wrap. Now that she's nearly eight weeks old (!), we've gotten into a great routine.

Here's what carriers I use and what I like/dislike about each.

Moby Wrap

By far, my favorite way to wear a newborn is with the Moby Wrap. I know people complain that it's hard to figure out how to tie it -- but that's just not been an issue for me. Not only do I feel like baby is snug and protected, but my back feels the best wearing a Moby wrap.

When Ada was an infant, the Moby was a big deal. I see that it's sort of faded away to other, similar carriers like the Boba and even the Baby K'tan (which slips on like a t-shirt with no need to tie!). There are even mesh wraps for really hot weather and easy packing.


Likes:

• Great back support
• Variety of ways to tie
• Wonderful for even tiny newborns
• Inexpensive
• Nursing is pretty simple

Dislikes:

• Difficult when on the go
• No pockets/storage
• Can be quite warm in summer 
• May not be as comfortable with large babies/toddlers

Maya Sling

I bought a sling this time around because all my friends rave about ring slings. I was on the fence because I didn't think it would be comfortable, but then I found the Maya sling with padding. I will admit that this carrier has taken some getting used to. Now that I have the hang of it? It's my go-to carrier when we're out and about.

Even better: If Eloise falls asleep on me after nursing or something, I can just slip this carrier over my shoulder and go on with my daily tasks with ease.

There are so many different kinds of slings you can buy! I love all the patterns with Mamaway slings and Tula slings. I've also heard good things about Sakura Bloom slings. And -- just like withe wraps -- there are mesh slings for really hot weather and even better portability.


Likes:

• Easy to take on and off
• Super easy to nurse
• Breathable, so comfortable in summer
• Maya has storage pocket and padding on shoulder
• Rolls up to fit easily in diaper bag 
• Variety of wearing positions once baby is older

Dislikes:

• Can be uncomfortable if you don't get it on correctly
• Sizing can be tricky. I got a medium, but it's slightly too big
• Tail can get in the way if not tied up correctly
• Can be expensive, depending on brand
• May not be as comfortable with big babies/toddlers

Ergo Carrier 

When Eloise gets slightly bigger, I'm sure my new favorite will be our ergonomic carrier. When Ada was a baby, I had a Beco Butterfly II (now old news). I used it so much that the padding got worn, so I decided to pick up an Ergo carrier when I saw a good deal on Amazon.

I actually just have an Ergo Original . . . but I see now that Ergo makes several new carriers, including the Adapt and the 360 with more carrying options. By the way, I have held E in this carrier and I skipped the infant insert because it's so hot (for winter, I probably would have bought one). What I do instead is roll up a few hand towels underneath her bum. Works like a charm!

Of course, I know that even Ergo is not necessarily the favorite in the ergonomic carrier world right now. My friends are crazy about Tulas, which come in both infant and toddler sizes. All the prints are super enticing, but I can't justify getting yet another carrier. If I could dream, I would get this Forest House or Shenandoah. One of my best friends says the LILLEbaby carrier is the best, and it has 6 carrying options with fun accessories. (And -- yup -- there are also mesh ergonomic carriers!)


Likes:

• Very comfortable with all that padding
• Pretty easy to get on and off
• Lots of storage pockets, depending on brand
• Lots of different prints and fabrics
• Fits babies and toddlers of all sizes very comfortably

Dislikes

• Can be quite expensive, depending on brand
• May need to wait till baby is slightly older
• Options can be overwhelming when buying

Ada asked to go in the baby carrier the other day. She still meets the weight rating -- but, sadly, I think her days of babywearing are over! Oh, who am I kidding? She's been more content to run around since she was two. 

Which carrier(s) should you buy?

Well, you certainly don't need many. I just have several because I've accumulated them throughout two pregnancies. I would recommend having something like a wrap for the early days + for wearing at home. And I love the ergonomic carriers for going out and stuff like that.

My best piece of advice is to try before you buy. Ask a friend if you can check out their carriers or even borrow one before you buy. You can even find gently used carriers on Ebay, local mom Facebook groups, or second hand stores. I was really close to buying a used Maya wrap, but the size wasn't the right one for me. Usually carriers hold their value quite well if you want to resell in the future, too.

BTW: What baby carriers do YOU use and love?

Tomorrow I'll be back with super simple instructions for how to make your own wrap carrier. There's no sewing required, and I was able to make two of these carriers for just $30.

Don't forget to enter the HelloFresh giveaway!

Read more...

My Little Extrovert

Ada loves people.

And I mean LOVES, like, everyone. Anyone. Even this mannequin. Being on vacation has brought out her extroverted side more than ever. Like, WOW. In fact, it’s like she doesn’t have a shy bone in her body. Not only that, but she gets so revved up and excited from being around new places and faces. It gets her out-of-this-world happy.

And this mama is exhausted. Each time we go to the beach, the minute we get there, I see her dart off. It isn’t toward the ocean. It isn’t to dig in the sand. Nope. She’s headed toward kids. The boys over there. The girls over here. That unsuspecting baby. I am actually in awe of her social fearlessness. She’s the one in the group that’s always like “C’mon, guys, let’s PLAY!” Then she’ll lead her friends onto the playground or on some other adventure.

This is so totally not my personality, so I’m working hard to give her what her little soul craves. A lot of people are surprised when they learn I’m an introvert because I can hide it quite well. I actually do enjoy talking with and being around people . . . to an extent. When I schedule it. But when they’re not my close friends, I usually feel like I need to take a nap after all that smalltalk. OK. It even happens when it’s my friends. You introverts get it. Being around people can zap energy.

Ada’s quest to meet #allthepeople makes me feel like I’ve gone a week without sleep. But I’m also so proud of her. And I love watching the little girl she’s turning into.

I guess it doesn’t help that virtually all the families down here seem to have three or four kids. Of course that’s an exaggeration, but surprisingly not a large one. Maybe we’re just surrounded by unusually fertile women. Ada has asked me so many times on this trip when a baby will be joining our family, and I’m sad to say that this first cycle back at TTC seems to have been a bust.


Do you have a little extrovert?

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

8/52: I Heart You

After a snow day on actual Valentine’s Day and a week off for New York’s winter recess, Ada brought home a huge bag of treats today from her classmates. Can I also just say -- WOW -- I’m happy school is back in session? Ada not only loves her teachers and classmates, but she also depends on school to get out her limitless energy and enthusiasm.

A mama can only do so much when shut in for months at a time.

We have m.a.j.o.r cabin fever.

And I was extremely relieved to see that we weren’t the only family that did store-bought cards. Pressure OFF. Actually, everyone bought their cards and stuck lollypops, stickers, temporary tattoos, and other tiny trinkets in them. We passed around some superhero cards with tiny bags of m&ms. Simple. I admire all the awesome V-day cards and projects I see on Pinterest, but Ada has almost 20 kids in her class. That just wasn’t going to fly.

Some things about preschool these days:

// We have to register for pre-K, like, soon! We got the paperwork today. I can’t believe next year Ada will be going to school five mornings a week. We’re still very much split on if we’ll send her to full kindergarten the following year. Our district has this great early-K program (if it can survive budget cuts), and we’re thinking it might be a good option since Ada’s birthday is only 14 days before the cutoff.

// I’m starting to hear more about what actually goes on at school. Ada’s quite secretive about her activities. I know today she played with red rice in the sensory bins. She enjoyed snack time (but I have no idea what she ate). And she did an Ariel puzzle. I’ve also learned she mostly plays with the same girl and two other boys. Her little clique, I guess.

// Since starting preschool, Ada’s picked up new words and language -- obviously. But it’s always so funny hearing her say something new. Like today I asked if she had a Valentine’s party, and she quickly quipped “Well, actualllllly, mom -- it wasn’t exxxxactly a party because Valentine’s Day was a long time ago.” And the words actually and exactly just sound so silly because she emphasizes them, so I can tell she’s modeling it after what she’s been hearing.

// I can also see a huge difference in Ada since the beginning of the year. She gets the routine now. She rushes down the hall to the right classroom, takes off her coat and hat, hangs stuff in her cubby, and she goes right over to grab a book and sit in the starting circle.

Is this your child’s first year at preschool?

What kinds of changes have you seen from the start of school until now? (Just for fun, here’s Ada on her first day!) It’s pretty incredible what the teachers do with them. How they learn and grow. I’m so proud of Ada and all the progress she’s made from being my tiny newborn to my tipsy toddler to my big girl preschooler. Slow down, time!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

3 Years At Home // Thoughts On Life

When I made the decision to leave my desk job a little over three years ago, I didn’t have much of a plan. Instead, I knew my heart wasn’t at my old position and -- quite frankly -- didn’t totally feel welcomed back due to some circumstances around the time I went out on maternity leave. That stuff is neither here nor there, because I also had always pictured staying at home for at least the early years with my child/children. It’s what my mom did with me.

This isn’t the kind of life choice that I take for granted or think is the “right” or “wrong” way to do things. It’s simply all I knew of motherhood from my upbringing. I don’t even feel that terribly confident talking about it most of the time. In fact, I’m somewhat shocked we’re able to make it work. I still frantically wade through our bank accounts whenever we have unexpected big expenses to contend with. I still freak out when things with my freelance work shift and evolve (not always in an upward trajectory). It’s tumultuous -- I’ll give you that.

I often contemplate (and sometimes dream of) returning to full-time, salaried work. Even right now while we’re on the adventure for child #2, I’m asking myself some pretty heavy questions about my future, about staying home -- or not, and about what my life is becoming. In a way, I like that my world isn’t all black and white, and that I’ve been able to make freelancing part-time from home as a writer work. It’s the sort of crazy benefit of majoring in such a soft discipline and paying all those private school dollars, right? But it’s also mentally draining wondering if that next paycheck will come or when I might be left grasping at straws. Give and take.

Since pregnancy hasn't come quickly this time around, I started to genuinely freak out because I imagine all my freelance gigs drying up at once and being thrust back into the workforce at 8 months pregnant. Or some other unpleasant scenario. I suppose if this sort of thing happened, we’d find a way to make it work, just like we have with all other lemons we’ve been dealt. But that’s one downside to staying at home while not having a generous income from one person. It’s, instead, a partnership. It’s budgeting, which I have a black belt in after all these years. And some of it, honestly, is luck.

I look back on my “plan” to space my children apart and question myself. Should we have tried sooner? Could we have? I think life has a silly way of working itself out, since I cannot imagine going through Ada’s ordeal while pregnant or with a newborn. Regardless, I’m starting to realize that all of life’s decisions are just difficult. There are few times when one way is the “right” way. And that kind of just sucks because we’re often left wondering about all the millions of other paths we might have taken and where they would have led us.

Regardless, I’m starting to come to peace with the madness. I’m sure that doesn’t sound at all like me (I’ll be the first to admit that), but something inside me is shifting. I can’t go on feeling such anxiety about all of life’s big and small decisions anymore. About all the stuff that’s not under my control. Yeah, it’s “how I operate” -- but why have I not spent enough time questioning this sad situation? My writing routine has helped me a lot with sorting and making sense of these feelings.

 I feel sometimes like something else is trying to show me -- ever so slowly -- that I need to lose my desire desperate need to have a grip on everything in my life. And what’s more shocking is that I’m starting to understand and appreciate this way of thinking. I’m opening my mind and heart to a new way of being. It’s scary at times, but I’ll resist my tendency to shy away from the light.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

6/52: Day In The Life

Happy early Valentine’s Day! Stephen is off from work -- again -- today due to the wind chills. I guess they’ll dip as low as 40 degrees below zero between now and Monday. I don’t know. I like winter, but this is getting a bit much. And we signed Ada up for three mornings a week at preschool back in December . . . but I swear they’ve only had a week or two when school wasn’t canceled for some reason.

Anyway, we skipped the photo project last week, but I actually caught a great snapshot over on my Instagram account. This week, I took a different approach and filmed a day in the life piece for you guys. I love watching videos like these! It’s been a really long time since I’ve shared what we do on a daily basis, and I worked hard to edit this down to the right size for uploading, so some stuff is missing.

Does this look like your day?



Stay safe and warm, friends. And if you live where it’s warm, enjoy. I’m still kicking this cold, but I have a ton of stuff planned for next week. I may hop on here tomorrow with the Weekend Things post, since I meant to do that one today (this video was slated for yesterday -- but it wouldn’t upload!).

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Food, Fitness, Family

FOOD

I made this awesome Roasted Cauliflower Gnocchi recipe for dinner last week.

Not so awesome? My photos. So much darkness.


I modified the recipe by using whole wheat flour. Then instead of homemade sauce, I used some store bought. I tossed in a good bunch of baby kale for good measure. We all loved the meal, and I can’t wait to make it again sometime.

FITNESS

I added Barre to my routine last week, and I definitely feel it in a great way. However, I’ve had some trouble balancing it with my running mileage. So, I think after this initial #OMGILOVEBARRE phase, I’d like to do three 30-minute workouts each week with another couple 10-minute ones sprinkled in. I tried a full hour Saturday but just couldn’t make it through after running.

So much core work. Ouch.


Week 1: 20.5 miles

M: OFF
T: 1 hour walk
W: 4 miles + 1 mile walk
R: 5 miles
F: 3.5 miles, 15-minute Body Weight, 2 mile walk
S: OFF
S: 8 miles

Week 2: 14 miles

M: 2 miles + 1 mile walk
T: Barre 30 minute + 10 minute workouts
W: 4 miles, Barre 30 minute + 10 minute workouts
R: 4 miles, Barre 30 minute workout
F: 1 hour walk
S: 4 miles, Barre 45 minute workout
S: OFF*

* I had planned to run my long run yesterday, but as I’ll write about in a minute -- sleep was elusive Saturday night. I took a nap instead and decided I’d wait to run around 8 miles today if possible. Let’s do this.

FAMILY

What a weekend. Those of you who have preschoolers know the whole nighttime struggle. The excuses, the stalling, and even the lies. Ada’s become quite creative with her techniques over the last six months or so. So, when she all of a sudden complained that her ear hurt Saturday night, we thought it was a farce. The fit ensued and we tried for over and hour to figure out fact from fiction.

Then I saw her wince.
It was almost imperceptible . . . but then it happened again.

We packed up the car a little before 10 to drive to the ER across town. Checked in with an overly tired kid in pain. That’s the quickest way get the VIP treatment. We tried everything we could to ease Ada’s discomfort, but she was crying and screaming, so they put us in a private waiting area. After several hours we saw the nurse and PA to find out she has an ear infection. Her first. I won’t go into all the gory details of trying to get her to take a huge dose of antibiotics at 1AM on an empty stomach, etc.

Eventually we drove home, got Ada settled, and all went to bed. My internal clock woke me up around 6:30. Yuck. I need to remember this when I pine away for baby #2. I’m just happy this girl is on the mend!


Those of you in the blizzard zone -- stay safe and warm. However, I can’t lie. I’m incredibly jealous! We haven’t had much snow at all up here the last two years, and I’m so ready for a crazy storm.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

3/52: Focus

I’ve had a lot of proud mama moments in the last week or so.

The first was during Ada’s 3-year-old physical. For the first time, she went through an entire appointment with her pediatrician without crying + screaming. When she was a baby and young toddler, I always had to bring an iPad, snacks, and other distractions to the ped’s and surgeon’s office because Ada had experienced so many difficult medical procedures, blood, draws, etc., it was a majorly traumatic experience for her to simply hear the word doctor.

This time around, she confidently strutted up to the scale, backed up to the little height chart, and slipped into her gown, all while laughing and smiling. We found out that our prediction was true -- Ada is tall for her age. Over 39 inches and 86th percentile, which puzzles us because we’re both of somewhat average height (I’m around 5’7” and Stephen’s around 6 feet). Anyway, her doctor was marveling at how we could all chat together for the first time in, well, ever. I don’t know if any of you who followed the blog early on remember the big deal when we switched pediatricians after Ada’s first appointment. It was terribly awkward, but ended up being one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.

The second proud moment was when I asked one of Ada’s preschool teachers how she is doing in school. I had some hesitation sending her to the 3-year-old program this year since her birthday falls only fourteen days before the school cutoff (December 1st). Ada is the youngest in her class by quite a bit, and I watched her lag behind in a few ways in the early months. Mostly with paying attention and listening to directions. Still, she was eager to go to school and socialize. Some of her classmates have been celebrating their fourth birthdays, so I guess now I see why there was such a difference early on. They’re all a lot older!

So, I asked Ada's teacher about her progress throughout the year, and she went on to tell me how Ada’s focus has improved tremendously. I can see this as well with how she plays at home. Of course she’s all imaginative and active and silly. But there are definite moments now where she will play with such purpose and direction. It’s really interesting to watch her grow and develop in this way. Like we’re seeing the beginnings of the sort of thinker she’ll be. How she’ll learn best and all that good stuff.

Age three has its unique challenges. But I like this stage a lot.

Happy Friday!

PS: For those of you who are interested, those little wooden guys Ada is playing with are called Bill Dings. They’re pretty cool, and Stephen’s parents bought them as a birthday gift because he used to play with them when he was a kid!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

2/52: Comfort Objects

I came across a photo essay the other day on the topic of children and their comfort objects. Definitely a fun piece. As a young girl, I didn’t have a particular item that I was attached to, but I was certainly an avid thumb sucker. I’d tug on my earlobe too, which is kind of weird -- but true, regardless. So, that was my thing. I grew out of it by around age four, and -- though I needed braces -- it had nothing to do with my favorite habit. (I had (and still have) a (slight) crossbite.)

My brother was the complete opposite, and if he’ll permit me to embarrass him (not that I’m asking), he was one hundred plus percent attached to his blanket. My mom had to sew this one particular satin corner several times over for him or he’d freak out. Being four years older, I’d taunt him by hiding it or pretending to flush it down the toilet. Sorry, bro. That was definitely beyond mean of me to do.

Ada, on the other hand, is extremely attached to her Soothe and Glow Seahorse, which my friend Jesslynn gave to me at my baby shower all those eons ago. It’s funny, but Ada started out with the seahorse when she was really small in her crib. Then she became indifferent, so we took it away for a while to mix stuff up. But when we switched her to her big girl bed, it became this absolutely necessity for sleeping.

PS: This . . .


Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

1/52: Snapshots

The other morning Ada asked if I’d paint her face. She had been watching the Daniel Tiger episode where a group of kids went to the zoo and came out looking like lions, tigers, and bears. Of course I said yes! So after a few lines and dots with an old eyeliner marker, Ada the Cat was prowling around the house meowing on all fours. It’s incredible how something so small and seemingly insignificant can change and entire day. I swear Ada was on her best behavior and infinitely happier wearing those drawn whiskers.

Preschool hasn’t been in session for two solid weeks now, and I think we’re both feeling it. We do lots of PlayDoh, cooking + baking, drawing, and music. But nothing substitutes for her friends. And on that same note, I’m feeling rather alone in that department lately, too. It’s a long story, but three of my close friends moved out of the area in 2014, so now that winter is upon us, I haven’t been out and about as much as usual. Definitely working on social stuff in the new year, just trying to figure out where to best focus my efforts on meeting like-minded, fun people.

Lately I’ve been getting a lot of comments from friends and family about how much bigger Ada looks after she hit the big THREE mark. I completely agree, and I’m continually surprised by how rapidly stages come and go. By how fast looks change. How clothes are tossed aside for the next size up (lately in a size 4T for length, waist swimming -- tall girl!). How shoes get a couple wears before they’re too snug. I’ve given up trying to beg time to slow down, but that doesn’t mean I’m any more at peace with the hectic pace of life.

Anyway, this is the first installment of my 2015 photo project. I think taking the time to shoot a proper portrait of Ada (or our family life) once a week will be a fun exercise for this year in addition to my other goals and aspirations. I hope you’ll enjoy following along!


Random: 

Over Christmas we bought Ada a new snack + drink cup, and she and I are both in love with it. It’s called the Snackeez. Now, I don’t usually go for these gimmicky contraptions, but if you have young kids, I wanted to pass along. It’s especially great for traveling. They make the same cup, just this bigger version, for adults, too!

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Skinny Versus Healthy, Part II: Leading by Example

Over the weekend, I re-read my Skinny Versus Healthy post from a couple years ago. So much has changed about my body image since I wrote it, especially after my pregnancy. Becoming an athlete, seeing my body's worth as more than just looks, is what first snapped me out of the disordered eating and treating-myself-poorly cycle.

You'd think having a baby would pretty much erase all my negative thoughts.

I created life. Within myself. Within my own body. Conceived, carried, birthed, and -- now -- sustain. I'd like to say I haven't had any issues with my weight and general shape, but that would be a total lie. Gaining almost 30 pounds in 9 months, no matter the reason, and then losing it again, though not quite all of it, surely has its mental ups and downs. I've tried my best to stay positive. And I know I'm doing well slowly but surely getting back to where I want to be.

But then there's this whole question of what "back" really is these days. Is it feasible for me to be in the same kind of shape I maintained in my mid-20s? As a child, I heard many, OK, MOST women talk about how they "used to be fit" but "then had babies" . . . so I always learned to equate having children with getting heavier and stopping activity. It was one of my biggest anxieties with getting pregnant in the first place.

As much as I've carved an identity for myself as a runner, in the back in my mind, a small part of me was scared that those days would forever be over.


But back to expectations. Of course I'd like to fit into all my old clothes. For the number on the scale to dip to where it used to rest for so many years. My "happy weight" as I hear it so often referred to. Now that I'm a mom. Now that my body has gone through this incredible transformation . . . what is reasonable?

Will my stomach ever flatten again? (Maybe?)
If it doesn't, will I ever get over it? (I hope so.)
As a mom, should I really care so much anymore? (Yes? No?)

I'm still trying to figure it all out. There will certainly be more to write on this topic.


What I DO know is that I have more to think about than just myself these days. I sometimes worry that my disordered past will somehow rub off on Ada. Having a daughter is a huge responsibility in this respect. Of course, all children pick up on things/habits/etc. from their parents, but statistically girls are much more likely to develop negative body image, eating disorders, etc.

The last thing I want is for my own troubles to influence how Ada someday sees herself.

It seems silly to worry so early about any of this. But I keep reading about children as young as 8 years old (and even younger) who suffer from eating disorders. My own struggles started with anorexic tendencies when I was 12. As hard as I try, I cannot pinpoint exactly where it all began. Or why I ended up binging/purging in my later teenage years. Or continued to struggle with food and body image for years and years after that.

I know for certain my parents couldn't have done much about it. But having gone through my own issues, can I help Ada?


I want to do my best to lead by example. To help Ada by cooking healthy foods for myself . . . and now for her (she had her first meal tonight!). Moving my body each day and sharing my love of sports/running (among many, many other activities). But there's got to be more I could do.

This is another one of those posts that has no real takeaway. But I'd love your thoughts on bringing up children with positive body image, especially if you have a sorted past of your own. I think all parents want a better life for their children. For me, this is just one of those areas where I don't want history to repeat itself.


Speaking of Ada Mae: Today is her half-year birthday. You can check out her 6-month update over on Writing Chapter Three!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...