You should know that I’m a bit of a mess. I’m wife to Ryan, mom of two, and a writer + speaker. I love podcasts, books, and sprinkles on just about everything. I’m a try-hard girl who values efficiency, productivity, and performance. I struggle with perfectionism and ascribing my value to how much I achieve. […]
Expectations
How to stop expectations from ruining this Christmas
By the time we took the girls to Disneyworld in 2012, I had planned that trip for almost a year. I made dining reservations, checked crowd calendars, and had a disturbingly deep knowledge of the FastPass system. Planning this trip made the logistical ninja in me so very, very happy. Then the day of Disney […]
How to stop your obsession with calories, jean size, and pumpkin pie
Team McCormick took our annual Christmas card photos last week. The tradition gives me pictorial proof that our girls are growing up, but it also brings to the surface a belief that I hold about myself, one I’d prefer to let go of that’s stuck in my heart… It sheds light on the belief that […]
Three mistakes you’re making this holiday season
Take a minute to imagine this with me… You have two kids, and you want to make their Christmas magical. You hatch the best plan, 25 days of Christmas, that includes an activity, craft, or treat each day. You’re excited to create Christmas traditions and make memories. In walks reality. A few days in, your […]
I just can’t mom today
I just can’t mom today. I can’t make another meal they’ll barely eat. I can’t drive to one more activity. I can’t hear them arguing one more time. I just can’t. Being mom is too hard today. My body begs to lay on the couch in the fetal position. My stomach is growling for junk […]
The working mom’s common-sense guide to a quiet time
I see you there. I see you wake the kids up for school, and then get yourself ready and out the door while it’s still dark. I see you work hard all day with deadlines, demands and domineering co-workers before you have to pick up the kids, help with homework, make dinner, and tuck them […]
What a hip-hop class taught me about my worth
In my 20s, I took my first-ever dance class with my friend Jill who loves hip-hop just like me. I was both excited and nervous to sign up because I love dancing, but I lack mad dance skills. Okay, fine—I lack rhythm in general. After several weeks, the instructor split us into three groups by […]
5 questions to ask when you’re overwhelmed by basic life responsibilities
My calendar is jam-packed. Blergh. I’m not doing anything special—just life. My basic responsibilities shouldn’t be overwhelming, yet, my roles make me anxious. Why do our calendars and basic life responsibilities feel overwhelming? We’ll start with a few questions. What’s really going on in our hearts? Our calendars can get overwhelmed when we feel an […]
The ways you’re escaping your life without realizing it
After the girls are in bed, I escape daily routines by reading a few pages of a book, sneaking a square of “mama’s-reserve” chocolate, drinking a glass of wine on the back porch, or watching The Office (Oh, Michael Scott, Best Boss Ever). It tastes sweet to step away from the ordinary, to create distance […]
Don’t waste your final weeks of summer
“Here comes summer, Here comes summer, Chirping robin, budding rose Here comes summer, Here comes summer, Gentle showers, summer clothes. Here comes summer, Here comes summer— Whoosh—shiver—there it goes.” – Shel Silverstein’s Here Comes from A Light in the Attic In our neck of the woods, we’ve got six weeks left before the school bell […]