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I am The Keeper of The Fruit Loops, Manager of the Fecal Roster and the Driver of the People Mover. In other words, I'm a mom.

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If My 90s Dorm Room Could Talk

September 20, 2021 By Christine Leave a Comment

90s dorm

I wrote this post about my 90s dorm room three years ago for a book project that never came to fruition (I know, I’m still totally bummed, too). I tucked this story deep into the recesses of my hard drive and pretty much forgot about it until a month ago when we dropped Fruit Loop […]

Filed Under: Parenting My Way Tagged With: parenting teens

Ten Movies That Your Teens Will Love For Family Movie Night

August 29, 2021 By Christine Leave a Comment

movie night

For as long as I can remember, as soon as school ended for an extended holiday break, my son and I would find ourselves snuggled on the couch for a movie night. An avid film buff, my now 17-year-old son is obsessed with filmmaking, particularly action movies made before the advent of CGI and visual […]

Filed Under: Parenting My Way

That Time We Had An Uplifting Conversation About Death. Really.

August 15, 2021 By Christine Leave a Comment

death

A few years after our daughter was born, my husband and I made what felt like a momentous and adult decision. We decided to have a lawyer draw up our last will and testament. We were knee deep in caring for two toddlers, sleepless and exhausted. But it was important to us that we outline […]

Filed Under: Parenting Is Hard Enough

My Son Has Become A Fashionista And I Am Unable To Even

August 8, 2021 By Christine 4 Comments

My son has become a fashionista and I am unable to even. A few years ago, I found myself standing in the boys’ department of Kohl’s with my then 14-year-old son. We were shopping for a homecoming outfit for the upcoming dance. Or, excuse me, HoCo clothing. (Because the cool kids say “HoCo.” Obvi.) We […]

Filed Under: Parenting Is Hard Enough

My Teen’s Car Accident Changed My Evening Routine

August 1, 2021 By Christine 3 Comments

car accident

It’s the text that every parent of a teenage driver dreads: “Mah, I’m okay, but I’ve had a bit of a car accident. The police are with me.” As I stared at the words on my phone, I blinked and tried to wipe the sleep out of my eyes so that I could process what […]

Filed Under: Parenting My Way

Can We All Agree That Teen Boys Suck At Hair Care?

July 25, 2021 By Christine 1 Comment

hair

Before I even met my son, I knew he had a full head of jet-black hair. As the surgeon delivered him, my husband peeked over the surgical drapes and exclaimed, “Oh my god, he has so much hair!” And, indeed he did. My newborn son had as much hair as some toddlers. As he grew, […]

Filed Under: Parenting Is Hard Enough

Quarantine Changed What I’d Tell My Teens About Picking A Partner

July 21, 2021 By Christine 2 Comments

partner

Many years ago, as I helped my toddler daughter out of the tub, my partner came into the bathroom and started acting goofy. As was our custom during the chaotic witching hour of bath and bedtime, we often played music and acted silly with our two children. As my 4-year-old son brushed his teeth while […]

Filed Under: Parenting Is Hard Enough

To the New Mom At The Next Table: I See You But I’m Not Looking

April 25, 2021 By Christine Leave a Comment

next table

I wrote this post on Facebook a few weeks ago and I was surprised by the outpouring of emotion that parents of teens felt when they read my words. On the night I wrote these words, my heart was aching in the best and worst possible way: Fruit Loop #1 had finally decided where he […]

Filed Under: Parenting Is Hard Enough

I’m Not Joining TikTok So Stop Asking. Also, Get Off My Lawn.

April 21, 2021 By Christine Leave a Comment

TikTok

After a round of email correspondence in 2008, a friend wrote back, “You know, you should really join Facebook. It’s so much easier to communicate with friends over there. I think you’d love it.” I was dubious. I had managed to avoid MySpace and barely understood the internet in general, so I sat resolute in […]

Filed Under: Parenting My Way Tagged With: parenting teens, social media

This Is My First Pandemic: I Didn’t Know My Kid Would Cheat During Online Learning

April 18, 2021 By Christine Leave a Comment

online learning

I sighed and rolled my eyes as I dialed my friend’s phone number and waited for her to answer. I was about to have an uncomfortable conversation with her about online learning, one that I never dreamed I’d have to have with the friend who has been with me through 10 years of parenting. Her son […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Parents of High School Juniors, I Feel Your Angst

April 15, 2021 By Christine Leave a Comment

high school junior

I had been warned this time was coming, but I resisted. Parents of high school juniors used to look at my toddlers and tell me I would miss the days when I could contain them in a crib at night. Parents of teens would stop me in the grocery store to comment how much they […]

Filed Under: Parenting Is Hard Enough, Uncategorized Tagged With: parenting teens

I Miss My Silly Weekday Morning Routine With My Teens

April 13, 2021 By Christine Leave a Comment

morning

Our morning tradition started, much as they often do, by accident. My son had recently passed his driver’s test. He was preparing to drive to my mother-in-law’s home for the weekend. Because she lives two hours away in another state, I was, naturally, nervous about him being on the open highway so far from home. […]

Filed Under: Parenting My Way Tagged With: parenting teens

My Teen Is Teaching Me How To Set Boundaries. Yes, Really.

April 13, 2021 By Christine 1 Comment

boundaries

One hot summer day, my family and I were at my in-laws’ house for a family pool party. There was music and laughter and kids screaming with delight as they jumped in and out of the pool. It was a pretty typical scene, really. My children, ages three and five at the time, had very […]

Filed Under: Parenting My Way Tagged With: parenting teens

Driving My Teens Isn’t As Annoying As It Used to Be

April 13, 2021 By Christine Leave a Comment

chauffeuring

Almost from the time you find out you are going to be a parent, your focus turns to driving them across town. You start looking at vehicles with doors that slide open, have more cup holders than you need, and trunk space becomes key. You spend your days lugging car seats and diaper bags and […]

Filed Under: Parenting My Way, Uncategorized

The Pandemic Has Made Me Miss My Morning Routine With My Teens

January 12, 2021 By Christine Leave a Comment

morning routine

Our morning routine tradition started, much as they often do, by accident. My son had recently passed his driver’s test. He was preparing to drive to my mother-in-law’s home for the weekend. Because she lives two hours away in another state, I was, naturally, nervous about him being on the open highway so far from […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

My Teens Have Social Lives: Will I Ever Stop Driving?

October 4, 2020 By Christine 2 Comments

social lives

I’m pretty sure my kids’ social lives are going to be the death of me. When my son started high school, I had no idea that I was about to embark on quite possibly the most challenging part of raising teens. And I’m not talking about block scheduling or AP classes. I’m not talking about […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Our Teen Is Driving And So Are His Friends: What The Hell?

September 27, 2020 By Christine Leave a Comment

driving

Judging from the way my son’s face was beaming, I knew the news before he even got the words out of his mouth: his best friend had passed his driving test. Not only was his best friend now a fully licensed driver, but he had also texted my son to ask just how soon they […]

Filed Under: Parenting Is Hard Enough Tagged With: parenting teens

My Teen Spent the Summer Working A Manual Labor Job

September 20, 2020 By Christine Leave a Comment

manual labor

As I entered the job site, I could hear my 16-year-old son before I could see him. The sounds of a radio blaring in an empty room upstairs, combined with the rhythmic thump of a hammer, led me to where he was demolishing a built-in cabinet. He was sweaty, his face covered in dirt and […]

Filed Under: Parenting Is Hard Enough Tagged With: parenting teens

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