What it’s really like to be a mom of two under two. — There’s not much in life more wild and unpredictable than childbearing. You create a birth plan, then toss it out the window during an emergency C-section. You theorize that it wouldn’t be so bad to have kids close together, but then burst into…

Red-shirting is controversial, but I would like to have known we had that choice. — Walking my bright and bubbly five-year-old to her first day of kindergarten isn’t something I ever thought I would regret. I was emotional and nostalgic, of course, but I was also hopeful and excited for her newfound freedom — and my own. Of all…

But the lessons we learned while living there are priceless. — Financial freedom looks different for everybody. In 2013 we sold our home, a fledgling business, and almost all of our possessions in the wild hope of making a better life for our family. Five years later this crazy move netted us almost $100k and saved us over half that amount…

Lessons from a pro. — Are gift cards tacky and impersonal? I ask myself this question every holiday shopping season. Which is worse: Getting someone something that they hate and feel obliged to wear or use? Or handing them an envelope with a card that says “I don’t know you well enough to choose an…

What does a magical childhood look like, anyway? — My nine year old finished flipping the last of the pancakes, unplugged the griddle, and grinned. “We’re learning some great life skills, aren’t we mom?” This was the first time she had made pancakes on her own from start to finish, carefully measuring ingredients, mixing the batter, and spooning it…

Fixing might feel good, but it’s the toxic kiss of death to a relationship. — Being a fixer sounds like a good thing, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want a fixer in their life — someone to rescue them from their problems? As a recovering fixer, I’ve learned that while fixing problems for other people feels good, it is actually the toxic kiss of death to…