ispeakmom.com

Especially during the holidays, it’s so hard to put that cookie down…. or that piece of cake… or chocolate. No matter where I went, the choices seemed to be sugary or more sugary and fattening or more fattening. Sometimes the temptation was just too much to resist.

Dec 14

Dec 14 Mission Mommy Wellness

I started "Mission Mommy Wellness" back in September. I found myself feeling depleted of energy physically and emotionally. I was completely ignoring my own health and had to do something about it.

Dec 14

Dec 14 Holiday Glam

Make-up Artist Nina Alcantara helped me to beat the holiday blues with a makeover for our holiday photo-shoot!

Dec 12

Dec 12 A Merry Christmas for Mom

Visions of cookie baking, craft making, charity giving, Christmas shopping and attending so many “fun” events filled my head. Now in mid-December, my magical visions have turned into sacks of coal on my shoulders...

Sep 21

Sep 21 In a Divided World, Teach Love

I see shell-shocked and broken children in Syria, fatherless families of innocent citizens, fatherless families of police officers and a new generation growing with a dangerous seed of anger in their hearts.

Aug 22

Aug 22 5 Truths From the Pits of Potty Training

Pants and "pullups" still around his ankles, he came waddling towards me. What I didn’t immediately notice was the lump of poop attached to his foot...

Aug 15

Aug 15 A Few Words for Breastfeeding Shamers...

Trust me, there is absolutely nothing sexual about breastfeeding. My breasts have become a utility like a pacifier, bottle or wipes. If you look at me feeding my child and think something sexual, the pervert is you… not me.

Aug 8

Aug 8 10 Reasons Why Working From Home is a Nightmare!

Crying, screaming and incessant requests for snacks, drinks or specific episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse are not exactly compatible with concentration.

Jun 8

Jun 8 Dragon Mama: The Monster Within

It's 100 degrees in the parking garage. You’re melting faster than wax on a candle stick. The baby is screaming because she doesn’t want to be in the car seat and of course you’re late! The toddler is throwing a tantrum because he wants to close the car seat all by himself... Out comes Dragon Mama!

Jun 2

Jun 2 Date Night Battle: Netflix vs. Movie Theater

Horny teenagers dressed to kill and doused in obnoxious perfume/cologne can be found in abundance at the movie theater. They make a spectacle of their awkward and over the top PDAs in the line for all to “enjoy.” Was I ever really one of these people?

Jun 1

Jun 1 When One Becomes Two

Mom-vice, Mom-spiration

Salty tears dripped off my face and onto my newborn as she nursed in my arms. I had prepared as much as I could to be a mother of 2. I thought I had it mostly figured out. I knew it was going to be difficult, especially in the beginning.

May 25

May 25 Don't Judge Me, I'm a Helicopter Mom

As he follows his little friends from the tunnel to the sea-saw, I’m always just a few steps behind… ready to save him from falls, fights or any misfortune that could befall him at the playground. I’m what some people refer to as a “Helicopter Mom.”

May 23

May 23 5 Quick Tips to Beat Mommy Monday Blues

Mom-vice, Mommy Wellness

Yes it’s true, a mother’s job is never done. Most times weekdays roll right into weekends without much change in the daily routine. Babies have no concept of the weekend and tyrannous toddlers may even wake up an hour earlier, just to mess with their tired moms.

May 18

May 18 My Son Stands Out...

I sat nervously in the viewing area, peering through the glass. The air was filled with the smell of chlorine and the sounds of little feet hitting water, splishes, splashes and delightful screams.

May 16

May 16 Misfortunes of a Sleep Deprived Mama

I looked on in horror. My face turned purple, red, blue and then grey! There it was, on the floor of the nail salon! This was by far THE most embarrassing moment of my life.

May 7

May 7 Parenting Reflections from this weeks "Grey's Anatomy" Episode (Spoiler Alert)

This week on Grey’s Anatomy, one of my absolute favorite shows, Moms Callie and Arizona faced off in a brutal custody battle over their daughter Sofia. This episode highlighted several issues that are relevant and controversial today, but I won’t get into those. Instead, I have chosen to take away what I think is an important lesson for me as a mom and for all parents.

May 7

May 7 Getting to the Green Side...

I put down my pen over a year ago and couldn’t pick it up again until recently. Writing would mean thinking about and processing my emotions and for a while it was just too tough. It has been a difficult year and I have found my resilience is not what it used to be. But somehow here I am, getting to the green side of the grass, healing and making it through the throes of motherhood.

May 7

May 7 She Taught Me How to be a Mother...

Amazing Moms

I sometimes feel guilty for dismissing my mom’s advice on this or that. I don’t mean to make her feel unimportant or irrelevant. The truth is, she is extremely relevant to who I am and strive to be as a mother.

Mar 6

Mar 6 Today I Fell Apart...