Category Archive

It takes a village

These photos of moms & babes nursing in protest of family separation will hit you right in the FEELS

These photos of moms & babes nursing in protest of family separation will inspire you

For the past two Saturdays, a group of mamas and babies have gathered outside of the ICE detention center in Portland, OR to breast/bottle feed their babies in protest of the Trump administration policies that have separated roughly 2,000 children from their parents.

They were invited to hold the line during the nationwide Families Belong Together march on June 30th and decided to make it a weekly event until meaningful change happens in regards to ICE…

A love letter to my postpartum angel, my sister

A love letter to my postpartum angel, my sister

I never had much of a meaning for the term “angel” until my sister arrived in my bedroom at five in the morning after a seven-hour drive to be by my side right after I had just given birth for the first time. I felt guilty for pulling the alarm, but I was scared and confused and anxious — and she got it. She has two kids of her own, a partner, and a crazy work schedule… but she was there.

Cleaning, bringing meals, GTFO: what should you ACTUALLY do when visiting new parents?

Clean, bring meals, or GTFO: what should you ACTUALLY do when visiting new parents?

Way back in 2011, we published this post about the dos and don’ts of visiting friends after they have a baby and recently realized how GOLD the comments were.

Here’s advice straight from our readers about what you should actually do when visiting new parents…

Making mom friends: playgrounds & gonorrhea pee

Remember when I wrote about making friends as a grown-up? I talked about putting the work in, being forward and direct, and making plans — not just talking about making plans! Friendships don’t “just happen.” But sometimes the work that goes into making friends means reaching out to be there for people when they need you. Here’s a story…

Meeting the other woman helped me overcome my divorce

Meeting the other woman helped me overcome my divorce

Ordering my coffee, she is right behind me. I can feel the nerves in the air and her eyes on my back. This is not a first date or a job interview, but it is the first time in my life I have been the bigger person and put my hurt aside. On this day, I sat down with the woman my husband left me for. The woman who he kept secret from me, the woman who turned my world upside down on one awful fall day, the woman that my now four-year-old calls her second mom.

My childfree friends are a balm to my soul: In praise of childfree women

I know the reasons that you’re childfree are numerous. You may consciously choose it. You may want kids later but not right now. You may be grappling with infertility. You may be looking for the right partner or not sure what you’re looking for at all.

I know that media and culture tells you that the clock is ticking. That motherhood is the ultimate feminine destiny; the next epoch.

But you know what, Childfree Woman? I’m a mom and I think that’s absolute bullshit.

My daughter has a dozen parents and it’s awesome

Yes, I am part of the group that parents my daughter, but I am not the only one. I cannot imagine denying her the incredible formative experiences that she is getting now, and that she will continue to get. I am comfortable saying that I am not my child’s only parent. She has over a dozen! She has all these people who are equally invested in guiding her, loving her and seeing her grow into a responsible adult.

If I could start over again I would totally be a Free Range Parent

I was the parent who kept my kids as safe as possible. Barring the few seconds I couldn’t watch my daughter as she scurried up to new heights, my kids kept their feet firmly on the ground. They never had a chance to explore and learn on their own. It could be argued that the kids might get hurt, but don’t we all take that chance? If I could do it all over again, I would try free range parenting.