Thoughts from a writing mom

  I’ve blogged about my decision to go alcohol free before (  I don’t drink anymore. But nothing has changed! (Except everything.) (myonedayisnow.blogspot.com)  ) and I’m happy to update with the fact that I’m still on that dry road, one year and four months strong. I’m grateful to be able to say that in a world that is drowning in alcohol culture. I don’t need to re-visit the science behind what alcohol does to our bodies and minds, even in “moderate” amounts, because that information is available to us. I’m just thankful that I acknowledge those truths now and choose healthy. All that said, I am a human being living in the time of a pandemic. I’m a parent who has gone in to ‘mama bear’ mode of trying to keep things as normal and as joyful as possible for my six children despite the multitude of changes this year brought to them. I’m a police wife who has had many sleepless nights this year due to my husband’s job. Sometimes the weight of this world feels heavy. I know that you kno

“I wish I worked out less.” “I wish I wasn’t so fit.” “I wish I didn’t like exercise as much as I do.” Have you ever heard these statements from anyone? No? Neither have I. Those who live active lifestyles typically want to remain active, or get even more active, never less. It isn’t any wonder why. Science tells us that exercise is highly beneficial not only for our physical health, but for our mental health as well.  Most of us are fully aware of the multitude of benefits we can receive from having an active lifestyle. So what is the difference between those who work out regularly, and those who don’t? Mindset, of course. You have to want the active lifestyle more than you want whatever is keeping you from it. Active mothers are an especially interesting group. Moms tend to be so busy taking care of everyone and everything else around them that it is hard to understand how they could add fitness routines to their lives. But talk t

Isn’t it interesting how quickly times can change? At the start of this month I was prepping for our busiest season of the year. All six of my kids were signed up for Spring season sports. Baseball, softball and soccer. We would have a practice nearly every evening. We would be double or triple booked some nights. We also had one night a week of religious ed and were looking forward to our 8-year-old’s first communion. Every time a friend would ask how I was doing, I’d reply with “Busy. But it is a good busy.” I knew it was a ‘good busy’ because my kids enjoy sports and I enjoy watching them play. I knew it was a good busy because time is crazy fast and I’m aware that one day I won’t have littles to take to practices and games and school science fair nights and friends’ birthday parties and . . . well, you get it. It is a busy that I wanted. A busy that I appreciated. Now the calendar has been wiped clean of all of that and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me