We’ve all talked about mommy shaming. We will talk about it more. Daddy shaming, mommy shaming, shaming in general is just a big pet peeve of mine. I was talking to my mother yesterday and she mentioned, “When did it become so wrong to have differences of opinion and be able to have a civil conversation about it?” But really, when did it? Having differences of opinion is a beautiful thing. If we were all programmed robots, all thinking the same thing, there would never be division. But imagine a world where everyone agreed all the time. I don’t think that’s beautiful. That is not diversity. [...]

My mother is Italian, and I come from a loving, high energy and very effusive family. No emotions on lockdown when I was growing up, (nothing has changed in that). Open expressions of love and feelings were never prohibited, and I’ll say with amusement that my energetically open, affectionate and readily communicative style of living was definitely something for my sweet husband to adjust to. But despite having grown up with such love and depth, I wasn’t prepared for the beyond intense, past all consuming feeling that is being a mom.

I don’t think anything, or anyone, can actually prepare you for the insanely, crazily beautiful, soul devouring, [...]

Despite being twins, my babies are remarkably different little humans. I am reminded every single day as to their uniqueness. This was a lesson I had to learn at first, to not compare them. My son is a sponge, he is constantly absorbing and feeding off of his surroundings. My daughter less so. She currently goes through her days happily singing to herself and her play frogs. Already I can tell her imagination is a deep and colorful one. As she grows I will continue to make a point to be invited into the beautiful world inside that mind, to make certain she always feels safe to include me, and never shuts me out. Because who knows how deeply things are affecting her, perhaps [...]

Having been a mother for 24 years has been an amazing ride. It has been full of tears – tears of laughter and tears of sentiment and joy. To new mothers everywhere, parenting is definitely worth the sleepless nights in the beginning. Though child development has a predictable pattern, your child’s reactions to their world weave a unique set of memories you can call your own. I am sharing mine below. Cherish yours. Live, laugh, love and have a Happy Mother’s Day!

YOU KNOW YOUR CHILD IS GROWING UP WHEN . . .

AT 16 MONTHS, your toddler has learned how to crawl out of her crib, walk all the way across the house to your bedroom and stick her pacifier in your mouth. [...]

If you’re a mother of a high needs baby, I want you to know you’re not alone. I completely understand you. It feels like a dark and lonely time, but there are people, who get it. I get it! And, in some ways, it gets better!

Dear Mama Struggling with Her High Needs Baby,

I’m guilty of having watched from a distance as you tried, and failed, to console your baby. Though I tried not to stare, I failed at times. I’m pretty sure I saw you glimpse my way as I quickly tried to turn away. I tried to pretend as though I didn’t notice what you were dealing with. At the time, I thought what you needed was to feel as though no one [...]

I let my toddlers watch Cops awhile back. We were out of town, and for whatever reason our cable wasn’t working. We had a long day, I was tired, the baby was tired, and I couldn’t wrangle my wild stallions any longer. I needed some TV-time to get us to BED time. “Bad Boys, Bad Boys….Watcha gonna do…” that song is still one they love. It was all that was on that was remotely something they would watch. Luckily they didn’t really understand what was happening, they were just mesmerized by the police lights, sirens, and take downs. I was desperate. Having multiple little ones is hard work. They all wine and cry at different times, so it feels like no one is happy ever. [...]