Child’s Play: Don’t Hate the Playa OR the Game
by Mari Walker on
“Mama, will you play with me?” The question can sometimes sink me like a stone, especially if I’m in the midst of a work project or otherwise doing something I want or need to do.... Read full article
Suit Up, Mama!
by Mari Walker on
You’ll never consider my body bikini-ready or beach-worthy. I’ve never had six-pack abs or been a small person, even in my younger, pre-kid days. I have a soft, squishy tummy; big, strong thighs; big everything.... Read full article
A Love Letter to Baton Rouge: All the Things We Miss
on
As my family begins its seventh week of isolation, home-centeredness, physical distancing, lockdown or whatever you want to call it, we’re all feeling itchy, missing the things we love most. Beyond missing physically seeing our family and friends, of... Read full article
Existentialism in Carpool Line
by Mari Walker on
As a mom of a first grader and preschooler, I spend A LOT of time in my car. Waiting in carpool line can seem interminable, especially with little miss who is passing time with me in the back seat. ... Read full article
A Summer Without Bug Bites or Sunburn? Adventures in Virtual Camping
by Mari Walker on
We may be “over” coronavirus, but it’s clear this pandemic is not over for us. Summer has looked a lot different for our family, and we’re certainly living a smaller life.... Read full article
Pandemic Retail Therapy: Shopping My Feelings One Click at a Time
by Mari Walker on
Filling a shopping cart online is fun, but it’s not as fun as filling up a cart in real life, at least for me. I am sure it has something to do with instant gratification. Online shopping gives that sweet dopamine release, but the payoff is delayed w... Read full article
A Playdate-Style Birthday Party
by Mari Walker on
Birthday parties for littles can add up fast. For a few Benjamins, you can take them and a few friends to a bounce place or rent a bounce house for your backyard. We didn’t start big parties like that for my older daughter until she was about five.... Read full article
Slowing Down: Reclaiming Sanity
by Cheryl Brodnax on
So, I have a problem with over-commitment. It seems that any time there is white space on my calendar, I find some excuse to fill it. My husband often points out that I never just sit. What? Who doesn’t sit?... Read full article
Have We Become a Gaming Family?
by Mari Walker on
Christmas 2020 looked super different for our family, and as parents, my husband and I did something that we probably wouldn’t have done otherwise. We fulfilled our nine-year-old’s request for a gaming system, specifically a Nintendo Switch. She had ... Read full article
Gift Getting Made Easy? Including a Wish List on Birthday Invites
by Mari Walker on
Happy birthday, baby! Another year has passed, and it’s time to mark the occasion with a party (or at least a cake). As the years add up, the parties may get more complex, adding school friends and others into the mix for invitation consideration. Wi... Read full article