What You Talkin 'Bout, Willis?

These days it seems like parents have advice coming at them from all sides: eat organic, don’t let them play with plastic toys, restrict screen time, play classical music, breastfeed until they’re 10, get them a dog, teach them to play the cello, speak 3 languages at home, etc. With all this advice, most of it conflicting, it’s easy for parents to get frustrated. I’m going to add another piece of advice to the never ending onslaught, but hopefully this one will actually make your life easier. So here it is: DO. WHAT. WORKS. FOR. YOUR. FAMILY. Groundbreaking, right? Mom guilt is real, and it’s ugly. When my first daughter was born, I literally felt guilty for everything. ·                 Leaving her with loving and perfectly capable dad while I took a shower for the first time in a week? I felt guilty. ·          Going back to work when she was 8 weeks old...

My therapist said I need a hobby....what? Working full time as a high school English teacher, being a full time mom to two little girls, ages 2 and almost 5 (the eldest of whom struggles with ADHD, SPD, and anxiety), a trying to occasionally be a wife isn't enough? Apparently not.  I'm told that anything that adds to my stress level doesn't count as a hobby.  I tried sewing......a machine with a quickly moving needle + an impulsive preschooler who has to touch everything  = bad idea.  I tried crocheting .....teeny fingers love to pull apart hours of work in about 15 seconds...which doesn't do much for alleviating my stress. 😁 So here I am - blogging. Writing is sort of what I do, and I've always found it cathartic. Hopefully this will count as a hobby, help me a bit, and <gasp> maybe even help someone else through my experience!