Kirsten
Kirsten is a native Wisconsinite who married a Brit, moved to England and happily ended up in Madison in 2010. She and her husband, Adrian, are parents to Sophie, Charlie and Susannah, who fascinate and exhaust their parents pretty much every day. A former newspaper reporter, Kirsten now supports mompreneurs through her website, motherbility.com. She's also a mini-expert on traveling with kids. (Always answer "Should we go to ... " with "yes." Bring toys, snacks and an excess of patience.) She and her family camp every summer, usually in state parks, because they love outdoor living. And s'mores.
My kids like their dad more, and it’s OK
I already know the answer, of course, but nevertheless I ask:
"Which parent do you want to ride with?"
"Who do you want to tuck you into bed?"
"Do you want to sit next to Mom or...
I Fought Nature, and Nature Won
My daughter's birth, it turns out, wouldn't be an aberration.
Realizing that earlier would have saved us years of frustration and struggle.
Back in 2009, I was nine days past my due date and battling with...
How We Afford Family Vacations (and you can, too)
My husband and I are nomads at heart. But we also want our kids to have a stable childhood.
So, to satisfy our need to stay put and our need to keep moving, we bought...
Why Traveling With Kids is Worth the Trouble
Nothing strains my marriage like preparing for a family vacation.
"So, what's the plan tomorrow?" my husband asked me in January, two days before the start of a weeklong cruise.
"We will do what we always...
From Disney to San Diego: Tips for choosing a family trip, from a mom...
"Where should my family and I go on vacation?"
(Blissful sigh.)
That's one of my favorite questions.
I often see it asked on Facebook, and my heart leaps:
"Ooh, ooh!! I know, I know!!", I want to shout....
Teaching My Children How to Love
Leave it to the author himself to upend my understanding of the "love languages".
Before hearing Gary Chapman speak a few years back, my understanding of love languages went like this:
We all show love...
It’s not just you: Parenting really IS this hard
One week after our oldest child was born in 2009, it ... wasn't going well.
She wouldn't latch. She wouldn't settle. I developed mastitis. Twice.
For the first five months of our daughter's life, she would...
Just In Case I Die …
I probably spend too much time thinking about death.
To be clear: I am in no way suicidal. As far as I know, I have no terrible disease. All data indicates that my family members are...
My Baby Started Kindergarten Today
My baby started kindergarten today.
My baby -- the last of the three, the third third, the final one.
I have big plans.
In five minutes, I'll stop by Starbucks and order a celebratory smoothie -- in gratitude...
Loving the Life Unexpected
"Well," my husband said slowly. "I did think the house would be cleaner."
He wasn't criticizing, and I wasn't offended.
It was his honest assessment -- and as it happened, I agreed.
Three years earlier, when we'd decided...
Lessons for My Kids From the Grandpas They’ll Never Know
My kids will never know their grandfathers.
My husband was 14 when his dad died of cancer, and my dad died four years ago when my kids were 4, 2 and 9 months. They don't...
Dear Kids: You were right about us all along
To each of my children, years from now, as you turn 18:
If you're reading this, hooray! You made it to adulthood!
Now I can tell you the truth: Your dad and I have been winging...