Once burned, twice shy is not the motto of our family car rides. Apparently, my driving motto is more along the lines of, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Every time my little one announces, “Here, Mom!” from the back seat, I blindly put my hand out behind me to accept whatever it is she is giving me. My bare hand. No hazmat suit, not even so much as a glove! This has led to some pretty unpredictable situations. Here are a few of my favs: “Here, mom!” I reach back. It

I was up late, my fingers flying over the keyboard as a stream of ideas came to life on the page. That is what writing is like, nothing for a while, and then a storm of words and keystrokes. I was in the throes of creativity when I heard our ancient hardwood floor creaking in such as way as to alert me to the incoming presence of a tiny person. When I looked up at my office door, there was our seven year old, pajama clad, giant blue eyes staring at my face for a sign. I gave

I was a compact size 4 when I became pregnant with my first daughter. I was elated to become a mom, but as my belly grew, so did my panic. Just a little at first, but when I saw my first stretch mark, I cried. Real tears. My husband laughed, which did not work out well for him! As a person who’d always been fairly active and slim, getting bigger was mentally challenging. Obviously I knew why I was growing, but there was still a thread of anxiety as I began to feel less like m

No Pushing: Perineum Tears PUSH! BREATHE! COUNT! REPEAT! Before our first was born, my husband had terrifically incorrect ideas about childbirth. He thought that my water would break, we would rush to the hospital, there would be lots of yelling about pushing and counting and breathing and then, POP! Our baby would scream her way into the world while the doctor, holding the baby upside down by her feet, paddled her little tushie and we would all go home. All in about thirty m

When It’s Not Love at First Sight with Your Infant Before having a child, it is impossible to truly understand the depth of love that you will feel for your newborn bundle of joy. When my husband and I had our first daughter, the doctor handed her to me and, as crazy as it sounds, I literally felt my heart stretch and grow a brand-new part, reserved just for her. When I was pregnant with our second daughter, my mom-friends promised me that I would experience the exact same th

How Safe are Antidepressants During Pregnancy? “I was honestly scared to get pregnant one day because I was worried about having to stop my medication, but then it happened, so I had to face it head on.” Local mother Sydney B. and I chatted about her experience being pregnant and on her antidepressant medication. “I continued because the little research that had been done on the medication and pregnancy indicated that it wouldn't hurt my baby and my OB agreed. My psychiatrist

What’s in a Name? “Veto!” was the most commonly heard word in our house when my husband and I were trying to choose a name for our baby. We were each given veto power and said it so much that we joked about using it as a name! As gleefully as we vetoed each other’s ideas, I knew that naming out baby was a serious matter. How to Choose the Perfect Name - Dos Your child will use this name everyday of their life! Whether your child grows up to be a teacher, a doctor, or an astro

Dental Anxiety A recent routine check-up at the dentist for my two little girls triggered some pretty deep-rooted fears for me. As I watched my daughters lie back on the check-up tables, I felt my heart begin to race, my palms started sweating, and I found myself staring at the rise and fall of their chests. I was watching to make sure that they were breathing normally and not gasping, crying, or holding their breath in fear. My little one laid back, arms resting gently on th

I have a confession. My kids attend a charter school. And… we love it! However, I was not always a believer in the charter school option. In fact, I still think choosing the right school for your child is a personal choice for parents, but I am glad to have more choices for Baton Rouge students. “Charter schools have had a deep impact on education in Louisiana,” shared Adam Gordon with the Louisiana Resource Center for Educators. “They have become a major part of the educatio

Learning the Value of Money When I was a middle schooler, all the cool kids wore the same brand of insanely expensive jeans. I coveted these jeans. Most of my “cool” clothes came from hand-me-downs or garage sales. I begged my parents for a pair of these highly prized jeans. Instead of denying my heart's desire, my mother was much savvier. She promised me that if I could save my money and earn half of the price of the pants, she would pay the other half. What a deal! I scrimp