Julie
Julie is a mom of five boys and one girl. She is a runner, biker, yoga instructor and socializer. That about sums it up. Believe it or not, she really does enjoy the soccer, cross country, swim team, track, dance classes, basketball, and theater her kids are involved in as long as she has another mom (or dad) to talk to during these events. Julie is starting a new adventure going back to school to get her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at Edgewood College.
When Life Changes, Renegotiate
At many of the bridal showers I have attended, there is often an activity asking attendees to write out a piece of marriage advice for the bride. While some people may write things like,...
Sorry My Kid Licked Yours- Adventures in Parenting a Child With Special Needs
This past spring break we went to Disneyland for a few days. It was a very magical experience as you would expect Disney to be. We stopped by the customer service desk on our...
A Parent’s Guide to Surviving Your Kid’s Procedure
When my oldest son was little, he had a lot of ear infections which resulted in a visit with the ENT who promptly recommended tubes for his ears. It was a minor procedure. In...
What I’ve Learned in 21 Years of Parenting (so far)
A few years ago I wrote an article about what I've learned while parenting a teen. That kid is now 21 and has five younger siblings. Not so surprising, I've learned a few things...
Do it. Even When You Don’t Know How it Will End
Last fall I was participating in a trail race with a long-time running friend. As we reached a steep downhill littered with large rocks and roots, we slowed down a bit to watch our...
What’s the Opposite of Snowplow Parent?
Life is not easy. Yes, I know, it's cliche but so true. It's a lesson we all learn, yet something that we'd rather not teach our kids. After all, who wants to watch their kid...
Ask For What You Need
“Are you guys going to get a divorce?”
My husband and I stopped what we were doing and looked across the room at our eleven year old. I was sitting on a chair in the...
Two Things I Can’t Control – Kids and the Weather
Here in Madison we kicked off the new year with lots of bitter cold and snow. This is not unusual for Wisconsin, but what was unusual were the string of days that brought us...
Raising Awareness One IG Post At A Time
Take one look at my Instagram feed and you will soon notice a very strong pattern.
There are a LOT of very cute pictures of my youngest. Well, either her or my pup. Sometimes I mix...
Always Do Your Best (without running yourself into the ground)
My husband and I have a few mantras that our kids hear on a regular basis. Don't be a Jerk is one. A close second to that is Always Do Your Best. We have a sign...
Well, I Guess I’m a Dog Person Now…
When our oldest son graduated from high school a few years ago, my husband and I adopted our sixth child (and first girl). Some jokes were made about replacing him despite our strong assurances...
Getting Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable
It was a heavy parenting week.
Two phone calls with two different school psychologists, an email and a phone call with two separate teachers, then countless texts with a few moms over two separate incidents...