Home | Reality Moms

Learning To Live Alone After Divorce
A false alarm reminded me that this was just one of the uncharted and scary territories I was entering now that I was alone in the house without a partner.
The Real Reason We Want All Our Friends to Have Kids
I wanted Keri to have kids. Now. This very second. And for her kids to have the exact same napping schedule as mine.
Navigating The Summer Before College
If your daughter is heading to college next fall, you’re probably in the same place I was last year. It was my daughter’s last summer before college.
Life Lessons from a Stinky Mutt
Never in a million years did I think that I would feel this way after the loss of my beloved beagle-shar pei.
5 Steps to Balance Mental Load
When I faced going back to work after my maternity leave, my husband and I faced a very real and common challenge–how to balance household management and the mental load between the two of us.
Why Do Parents Call their Children by the Wrong Name?
Researchers asked 1,700 people if they ever called someone by the wrong name. Have you ever done it?
Grandma, You Are Everything: Thank You
Grandma, you are one of the smartest people I’ve ever known, putting you in the company of Oxford laureates. You were and are beautiful and brilliant.
What Veterans Day Means to A Vet’s Daughter
My dad served his country, ready to defend it with his life for over two decades. I feel a fierce pride and Veterans Day reminds me of that pride.
Hungry for More Than This Adventureless Marriage
After a decade of marriage, birthing four mini-me’s, and turning into a SAHM, I am beyond hungry. Starving, actually. My appetite has become insatiable and my cravings unsurmountable. Yet, it isn’t food that I am in need of to satisfy these hunger pangs. Not in the least. I am hungry
In Offense of the Word “Tard”
If it’s not retarded, it might be “short bus” or even a word so seemingly benign as “special”. But make no mistake—there’s no love behind these words.

Only Eighteen Christmases
Eighteen gets to be a gut-wrenchingly small number when you realize that’s the number of times you have to make significant memories with your kids.
Seeing the Forest Through the Trees: Life with Toddlers
I hear that three and a half is magical, and that children turn the corner from beast to beauty, but I’m still waiting…
Saving Money When Your Child Goes Away To College
Sending a student away to college is life-changing for parents and students. It’s still possible to save money when your child goes away to college.
The Firsts That Come in the Tween Years
As our kids grow, the firsts come less frequently and the time stretched between them lengthen. We don’t celebrate the later milestones.
There is No “Just” in Adoption
The next time someone says, “you can just adopt”, feel free to kindly remind them that adoption is much harder than one would ever guess.
4 Parent-Teacher Conference Mistakes to Avoid
It’s easy to make rookie mistakes during your parent-teacher conference, but follow these simple rules and you’ll have an easier school year.
One Child is not a Selfish Choice
I was advised not to have more children after a high-risk pregnancy resulting in a preemie son. I’m still judged for my decision to have an only child.
It’s Time to Redefine “Mom Hair”
To me, mom hair means hair that is way too long and far too neglected. I have not had a haircut since before my second child was born.
Lost and Found
Learning to find my way home when I was lost, has allowed me to teach my three children that they, too, can go wherever they want to.
Single Parenthood: It’s Not A Competition
Yes, some parents are the sole parent 100% of the time. But I would argue that single parenthood includes a wider cross-section of parents.

Only Eighteen Christmases
Eighteen gets to be a gut-wrenchingly small number when you realize that’s the number of times you have to make significant memories with your kids.
Navigating The Summer Before College
If your daughter is heading to college next fall, you’re probably in the same place I was last year. It was my daughter’s last summer before college.
9 Reasons I Love Having Adult Children
rather than dwell on the growing pains of change in our relationship, I prefer to celebrate the positive side of being a parent to my adult kids. And there are so many reasons why…
Money Management 101 for College Kids
Of all the things I wish they taught in school, I wish there were a better understanding of budgeting and
7 Ways I’m Preparing for an Empty Nest
Before the kids have moved out completely, I’ve decided to try to start preparing for an empty nest – when it’s just my husband and me at home.
I’m Not Ready for an Empty Nest
The great big book of parenting (which none of us actually receives) never warned me of the absolute fear I would have of an empty nest.
How I Failed to Ruin my Son
Jonathan, my middle child, graduated from high school this month. Like millions of moms this graduation season, I wiped the