Home > Articles by: marie5k

Parenting on Facebook and Instagram

May 16, 2013 by marie5k

You know that phrase on your car’s rear view mirrors? “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” That’s how I feel about parenting on Facebook and Instagram. Status updates and pictures posted on Instagram are not always what they appear… News feeds on Facebook profiles everywhere are cluttered with status updates by parents proclaiming,

“Annabelle ate an entire plate of kale for dinner! And asked for more for dessert!!”

and, my all time favorite-

“Lucas slept 12 hours straight last night!! At only 3 weeks!! Love HIM!”

You know the culprits. You have just spent a sleepless night with your kid waking up every two hours demanding to be fed, held, or rocked and that second cup of coffee has about the same effect as throwing a match into a bonfire. Or, you spent the better part of the dinner hour begging, pleading, and bribing your kid with toys JUST to eat a plate of dinosaur chicken nuggets. Guess what? THAT is real life. And it’s real life to your other over-sharing mom and dad friends on facebook and instagram who are constantly praising their perfect children. They just choose to gloss over the temper tantrums, thrown food, and 2:00 in the morning parties going on in their kid’s crib. Read more...

My Mom, in Pictures

May 9, 2013 by marie5k

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

May 2, 2013 by marie5k

This year the theme of my Mother’s Day gift guide is Less Blender, More Bling. Mom can go out and buy her own food processor, but there’s something about treating her to something special, or something totally unexpected. Something that tells her that she’s not just a mom, but she’s a super fantastic rockstar of a gal and deserves all the credit she has coming her way!

First up, for the classic and preppy mom, or for the mom who loves carting herself and her brood to the beach, or the library, this monogrammed LL Bean Boat Tote is the gift for her. Monogramming is personalized and preppy, and who doesn’t remember that LL Bean back pack they had in elementary school with their initials sewn to the front of it!?

Another Mother Runner- Running for Boston

Apr 18, 2013 by marie5k

If there is one thing I have learned from the senseless and incomprehensible events that unfolded at this year’s Boston Marathon, it is this- Runners are resilient. Runners help other runners. In the face of great tragedy and trauma, runners run on to let the world know that they are unstoppable. That no matter what you do, you will not break us, because will will not ever admit defeat.

Standing in front of my first apartment in the city. 311 Beacon Street. Read more...

The Age of Exploration

Apr 11, 2013 by marie5k

When Jake was first born, one of my dear friends, a mother of two grown college boys, told me that the hardest stage to contend with as a parent is always the birth-6 months. Your baby is essentially a “blob.” They eat, sleep, poop, and repeat. Eat, sleep, poop, repeat. I remember some very early weekend mornings that I would look at Jake and say, “When will you be old enough to be able to play a game with!?” or, “Let’s play legos! Please!” Instead, he would look up at me with his big glassy eyes and squirm a little. Leave him to his own devices for too long and he would get restless and bored with me and demand immediate attention. How I longed for the “blob” stage to fly by. And sure enough, it did.