Honest conversations and cultural commentary on the reality of modern motherhood. Here you’ll find raw reflections, identity shifts, mental health truths, and the invisible labor no one warned us about—plus real talk on how we reclaim ourselves while raising someone else.
I’ve been thinking a lot about job descriptions. Not because I’m looking for a new job. God, no. Your girl has enough jobs. But because it’s occurred to me that nearly every legitimate job comes with some sort of description of what, exactly, you’re expected to do. If you’re a dentist, there’s a job description. […]
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There are approximately 4,000 opportunities a day to feel guilty as a Mother. You worked too much. You didn’t work enough. You lost your patience. You let them have the iPad because you needed 20 minutes to hear yourself think. You didn’t play with them when they asked because, frankly, you didn’t want to play […]
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There are times in life when ongoing support makes sense. You’re in the middle of something big, things are shifting, and frankly, it would be nice to have someone in your corner while you figure out what the hell you’re doing. And then there are times when you’ve been thinking about the same damn thing […]
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Motherhood knocked me on my ass almost immediately. Within weeks of my son being born, I was having panic attacks—sometimes more than one a day. I had postpartum depression and anxiety. I felt trapped, overwhelmed, and completely bewildered by the fact that I wasn’t experiencing new Motherhood the way I thought a “good” Mom would. […]
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I have a theory about why so many smart, capable women become Mothers and suddenly find themselves wondering: Why can’t I handle this? I know because I spent years asking myself that exact question. I became a Mother at forty, after spending most of my adult life with a pretty strong sense of who I […]
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A few weeks ago, I found myself thinking about a question that should have taken all of five seconds to answer. Instead, it followed me home. It started over coffee in the Berkshires with one of my favorite people, Heather Campbell. Vacation has a funny way of slowing conversations down. Without calendars, school pickups, or […]
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Want to know a little secret? What Moms really want for Mother’s Day isn’t another mug. Or robe. Or candle. Are those things thoughtful? Of course. Do we appreciate the gesture? Always. Will we keep the handmade card forever? Without question. But if we’re being honest, what many Moms actually want for Mother’s Day isn’t […]
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Quick holiday confession: Quick holiday confession: I am a recovering good girl, people pleaser, and praise-powered overachiever. No wonder holiday boundaries for Moms feel so impossible—we were trained to make everyone else comfortable first. If everyone walked away pleased, I was “good.” If anyone was disappointed, I felt like I had failed at being a […]
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M is for Mother Throughout my debut memoir, Good Girl, Bad Mom, you’ll notice something unusual: I choose to capitalize Motherhood. Mom, Mother, and Motherhood are always written with a capital M — not just when they’re used as formal titles, but everywhere. It’s deliberate. Somewhere along the way, I started thinking about how easily […]
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My friend swans into brunch looking remarkably well-rested and relaxed. She tucks the napkin into her lap, sighs happily, and launches into an endorsement of the amazing spa where she just spent a three day weekend. “You’ve got to check it out, girl. You’re always talking about self-care, you deserve some yourself!” I know. I […]
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Every first time (and second time and third time) a Mother is told to take care of herself, she’s urged to practice diligent and responsible self-care, because if she’s not happy “nobody’s happy.” “Yes, yes…I know, I know….I will, I will…I do, I do,” I can recall saying to myself, and yet, did I dutifully […]
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Children as Natural Masters of Fun Ah, a subject matter my 3 ½ year old son, Aiden, knows all too well! Fun comes naturally to him, as the purpose of every moment of every day is truly to have fun. Gleefully, joyfully seeking and searching for what fun can be had right now and right […]
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Long-term, committed relationships can be tough. You’re co-existing with another complicated human. Maybe they lose some of the luster they had during the early days, or maybe work, kids, and just life itself get in the way, making communication in marriage and partnerships hard. This undeniable challenge is not a knock on commitment and monogamy; […]
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Note: This post was originally written in 2017, just after I became a Mom. I’m republishing it now as part of my Modern, Unfiltered Motherhood series. While my love for my son has only deepened, my understanding of what the early Motherhood years actually feel like has evolved a great deal. I now know—and have […]
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As Moms, and women in general, we’re hardwired to want everyone around us to be happy. It can feel like our full-time job to keep kids, partners, coworkers, and friends smiling and satisfied. But here’s the truth we all need to hear: Your happiness is your responsibility. Their happiness is theirs. I know — easier […]
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The Power of Saying No in Modern Motherhood and Empowered Womanhood Saying no is one of the most universal skills a woman can learn — whether she’s in the sleepless trenches of early Motherhood or juggling the beautiful chaos of career, friendships, and (let’s be honest) the fantasy of a full night’s sleep. Boundaries aren’t […]
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If you’ve ever wondered how to accept a compliment without shrinking or swatting it away, this one’s for you. I met a girlfriend for an early morning cup of coffeeand conversation in West Hollywood recently.I have a handful of favorite spots that I can count onto make a sharp, bitter espresso. I arrived a few […]
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It sounds like this: “It’s cold out, take a sweater.”“Don’t leave that here. Put it back where it belongs.”“That’s too expensive, you can’t spend that.”“Oh no, you can’t do that!” Ladies: your guy is not a fresh-faced five-year-old. Men don’t need to be trained and scolded like puppies. For the love of your love life: […]
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Negotiation in Motherhood: Flexing the Muscle You Didn’t Know You Had Negotiation is like a muscle. Use it daily, and it gets strong, toned, and flexible. Ignore it, and when confrontation inevitably arrives — with your partner, your child, or even yourself — it feels stiff and awkward, leaving you sore for days after. Motherhood, […]
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