DIY is magic: Make your own My Little Pony plushie
When I asked my brother if there was anything I could make for my niece for the holidays, I was a little overwhelmed when he suggested a My Little Pony — Friendship is Magic plushie of Pinkie Pie. I’d never sewn a stuffed animal before, and I’d be a pony newbie creating something to give to a pony expert!
Different last names: How do I make our family sound more coherent?
I am a divorced woman who will be getting re-married soon. Part of me wants my daughter and I to have the same name, but I also don’t want to be stuck with the name that is associated with such a crap time in my life. Since I can’t change our child’s last name to that of my husband, is there anything that I can do to make our new family sound more coherent?
How I repurposed my wedding veil at home
Did you see my incredibly simple, $14, no-sew DIY veil on Offbeat Bride? This is how I repurposed the fabric for our daughter’s room…
So… why have kids?
I am at the point in my life that I want to decide whether to have kids. In a logical sense, I am able and capable of having children. But I’m not completely satisfied with having kids merely because I can. So I am curious how people, who had the luxury of deciding, decided on having kids? Why should I grow my family?
How my pink-loving son made me confront my weird gender biases
In our household, the lines of the past that steadfastly identified what was considered “man” and “woman” responsibilities were more opaque. It’s not the easiest job in the world, but to be honest I felt pretty good about being what most people would label a “modern dad” and I wore that title like a badge of honor. My title was put to the test however the day my wife brought a particular hula monkey toy home for my son…
What to expect when you’re the first of your friends to have kids
Throughout my pregnancy I’d sit with my friends, often at a bar, sipping orange juice and Seven-Up and suspiciously eyeing my other female friends who weren’t drinking. I watched drinking patterns to see whether or not I could “score” a maternity leave buddy for at least part of my year as a stay-at-home mom. Although I have many close friends who often act as designated driver, no one was pregnant while I was. I have a handful of mom friends who are at home right now, but they all live outside of the city and on average are a fifty-three minute drive away.
Creating a safe and happy home in a dangerous space
We very intentionally moved to our current home after a series of not-quite-right trials elsewhere in the country. In such a site, we saw our lives unfolding with love, adventure, and fresh air. And then, we lived in the home for a year, and realized things were not the way they had first seemed. The less pleasant characteristics of our neighborhood began to creep in, and their severity ranged from small to glaring.
I’m struggling to like my dog again
I love my dog, but I don’t like him anymore. I used to be able to look past his constant barking, awful separation anxiety that leaves us un-wanted surprises when we get home (we’ve tried medication and behavior modification), and tendency to knock over our toddler often. I used to get angry with my husband when he would talk about not liking our dog, but now that I’m pregnant with our second, I find myself in the same boat. I don’t want my dog to be gone, I just want to enjoy him like I used to.