The Mother Lode encourages young mothers

Another helpful installment in my series, “Ask The Mother Lode”

Now that I’ve been past the diaper/toddler stage in my parenting journey for many years, I’ll sometimes have younger moms ask me questions on this delightful stage of child development. Let’s look at a few of their inquiries shall we?
Hettie Underwood of LaVergne, TN asks:
Why is [...]

Hello adolescence, goodbye brain cells

Yesterday I’m on the phone with Molly’s school.  And like usual, I have to scurry back to my room to try to find a quiet place so I don’t sound like a babbling idiot, which I am these last few weeks, but I digress.
The counselor, a very helpful woman, is working on Molly’s schedule.  No, [...]

Off for a few days

We’re kicking spring off with gusto this year with the arrival of one of my beloved sisters and her hubby!  It promises to be a fun week.
And then a few weeks later, after tax season, it’s off  Ohio and then Michigan to reconnect with family and some special friends. The beginning of May brings in [...]

Don’t count your eggs until your hens are bought

It’s tough having a budding entrepreneur sometimes.  Case in point.  I’m driving into town with Molly and Caleb and the conversation goes something like this:
Molly:  You know, on my next birthday I’m going to be a teenager.  I’m going to start listening to an iPod and ignoring you.
Mom: That’s nice honey.
Caleb: (who is looking pensively [...]

Only a Dad- Happy Anniversary Jay!

20 years ago on a crisp Montana morning, Jay and I got married.  It was such a wonderful day and I remember clinging to every second of the day knowing how quickly it would fly by.  (I also remember considering myself an “older” bride at 24.  Ha.)
Little did I know that those feelings of time [...]

False memories

My son may very well end up in politics.  He’s getting the lingo down pat and could charm the coat off of an Eskimo in a snow storm
This morning he was all eager to head out the door to get some wood salvaged from an old barn.  (This child *always* has a need for more [...]

Where there’s smoke….

…there’s Daniel.  Well, it’s not exactly smoke, it’s fog.   From his fog machine.
I opened his bedroom door yesterday and couldn’t see a thing.  Billows of fog were rolling out the door.  I heard Daniel’s voice from somewhere on the floor.  “Son?” I asked.
“Yeah mom,” he replied.  I startled a bit. I’m still not used to [...]