I recently had the opportunity for some Q&A time with Holly M—a local mama of two (now 15 and 16) who definitely seems to love and appreciate the role. And while she had originally wanted three kids, Holly realized one day in a parking lot that three would mean letting go of somebody’s hand, and […]
Taylor Thompson
Posted inCulture
Getting Through the Teens
She’s endured the sleepless nights of infancy, the temper tantrums of toddlerhood and the oh-so-awkward tween stage. But I checked in to see how well this full-time mama—a 55-year-old Bendite, cancer survivor and former college professor—is surviving the teenage years (14 and 18, to be exact). She preferred her name not be used. How old […]
Posted inCulture
Whatever, Mom
Eat It!
As a kid, I consumed enough macaroni and cheese to nourish a Third World country. I loved it so much, I’d scarf down my Brussels sprouts and Spam just to get an extra scoop. Now that’s dedication, considering Spam is actually precooked human meat (thanks, Dad). My four-year-old son also prefers the cheesy noodles, and […]
Posted inCulture
Whatever, Mom
I’m not what you’d call a PTA mom
Most of my friends are nonparents, I don’t really fit in with the “mom groups,” and those stick-figure-family car decals drive me nuts. That said, I still appreciate the mom-to-mom connection. And sometimes a mom just needs to hear that she’s not the only one who has cried during Bambi, or let two weeks go […]
Posted inCulture
Whatever, Mom
Saying “no” to “no”
The other night, my son asked me if he could ride his bike around in the rain. I followed up my “No” response with a typical list of justification: “It’s past your bedtime. And it’s too dark out. And it’s wet; you might slip and fall and bust your head open. And I have things […]
Posted inCulture
Being the new kid in town
Whatever, Mom If you ever moved as a child, you probably remember the anxiety of being the “new kid.” Unless, of course, the move happened before age five or six, in which case your only recollections likely exist on account of whatever your parents told you—which could, in fact, be total baloney (no offense to […]
Posted inBest Of Central Oregon
Best Childcare Facility
Westside Shorty’s
As a single parent of an almost-five-year-old, I know how agonizing it can be to find top-notch childcare. So here ya go, parents: Whether you’re looking for just a couple weekdays sans kiddos, or you’re virtually in need of a pseudo-mom, Westside Shorty’s tops our list for outstanding childcare. Open year-round for children ages three […]
Posted inCulture
Whatever, Mom
Let’s face it: Your child isn’t growing up too fast
I hear parents talk all the time about wanting to keep their babies “babies forever.” I mean, I’m all for treasuring each moment, and the whole embryo-to-crawling phase was great and all, but you won’t hear me longing for the infant days. Honestly, who really misses those first few years of running on empty, changing […]
Posted inCulture
Whatever, Mom
“You’ll understand when you have kids of your own.”
Sorry, but your mother was right. And so was mine. I didn’t even make it six months as a parent without using the cliché momism on my own child; what a shameful, pathetic rationalization to give to an infant. But hey, you’ll understand when you have kids of your own. I used to despise children […]