CATEGORY: Confessions of Marriage & Family

Spoiler alert: You may not want to read this in front of your children. I never believed in Santa Claus. Even as a young child, I was an old soul with an ability to reason beyond my age level and something about Santa Claus just didn’t make sense to me. I could not understand how one man could make it all over the world in one night delivering presents to all children. I was a child who had a map of the United States on the wall in her room as decor and whose dad had purchased a globe that...

17 years! A lot for some, a drop in the bucket for others. Nonetheless, it is a milestone for us and deserves to be celebrated! It was a warm Saturday in October, 17 years ago that I walked down the aisle with tears of joy at my home church in Wetumpka, Alabama. I still remember the moment my mom confirmed that Floyd was the one. Even though I knew it, once she said it, that sealed the deal. She and God had a direct connection and to me, it felt as if He would call her directly about super important...

I was overwhelmed with excitement and a little nervousness when I found out I was pregnant this time around. My husband, Floyd, and I were on a getaway to Brasstown Valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia. It was Labor Day weekend. We spent the weekend doing various activities including horseback riding and going to the spa. I don’t recall exactly how it donned on me, but somehow it crossed my mind that my monthly menstrual cycle was late. Immediately, we jumped in the rental car and headed down the mountain to find the nearest store. We hoped that...

As a nurse practitioner and mother of three, few things stand out more than breastfeeding when I reflect on my motherhood journey. It is hands down one of the most rewarding yet most challenging experiences ever. This is doubly true in the beginning. Oh Lord, how I thought that I would not make it. Oh, how I contemplated giving up a million times! Oh, how discouraging it was when the thought of latching brought tears to my eyes. I am telling you, pregnancy was a breeze compared to the early days of breastfeeding. It’s no wonder that those of us...

Traditional, virtual, remote, blended, traditional, virtual, remote, blended, traditional, virtual, remote, blended, they are like buzz words flooding our timelines, inboxes, thoughts and conversations. As school systems are trying their best to prepare for school to start back, so much is being considered and it seems that school systems, teachers and parents are in a tailspin. Maybe a little perspective will help parents in their decisions. If we are strictly talking about safety, then in your heart and mind you know that the virtual (also known as remote) schooling option is the safest. Safest means to be protected from or...

Can you travel safely during a pandemic? Yes, you can, but it depends on where you are going and what your goals are. Like many of you, my family has had very limited exposure outside of home. Schools closed abruptly and my children were thrust into a life of the unknown. It’s been nearly four months of alternative living and to say that our children were looking forward to a vacation is an understatement. Our original Summer plans included a family vacation to Bradenton and Tampa, Florida with my husband’s side. However, with the ongoing pandemic and increased racial tension...

I was finishing up a patient’s exam and I felt the slight vibration on my wrist. A quick glance at my watch and I noticed it was the kids’ school calling. Mentally, I did a quick check off for each kid making sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. The vibration stopped just as I was finishing the exam. I pulled my phone out of my pocket as I walked out of the room to call the school back. Before I could dial the number my husband was calling. I thought, “oh shoot this can’t be good”. I answered and he immediately...