Go Parent

This week, we crossed a big milestone. Dinner #100 . And if I’m honest, it didn’t look anything like I imagined when I set this goal months ago. When the Table Moves to the Bed Three of our dinners this week happened in my bed. That’s become the center of our world lately. With my son’s seizures happening more often, it’s where he feels safest and where we’ve gathered around him. My daughter has been incredible. Sometimes she curls up on the bed with us, watching our show and

I read it so you don’t have to (or so you can decide if it’s worth your time.) If you (or your child) have ADHD, this book is validating, funny, compassionate, and surprisingly practical. It explains ADHD in a way that removes shame and reframes the narrative without sugarcoating the challenges. I highly recommend reading it  if you have time.But if you don’t  have time, here are the most important takeaways you need to know. Getting to Know ADHD (ADHD 101) ADHD (Attention-De

“Because I love you, and I want to spend time with you.” This year is flying by. And somehow, nothing looks the way I thought it would, yet here we are, inching closer to 100 family dinners together. Lately, my son keeps asking me why we’re having so many family dinners. Each time, I give him the same answer: Because I love you. And I want to spend time with you. My daughter doesn’t understand why he keeps asking: she thinks the answer should be obvious. And maybe it is. But

When We Stayed Home and Why That Ended Up Mattering Most Fall break wasn’t supposed to look like this. We had planned to travel, to go somewhere different, to step out of routine for a bit. Instead, we were home home . No trips. No big plans. No change of scenery. Just regular life stacked on top of medical uncertainty and a new normal we’re still learning how to hold. My son continued football practice this week, and I waited nearby every time just in case. My daughter had h

When Life Presses Pause and Family Becomes the Plan This week looks nothing like what we planned and everything like what we needed. We’ve actually had more  family dinners than usual, not because life slowed down by choice, but because it slowed us down entirely. When medical uncertainty enters your home, plans change instantly and everything else rearranges itself around what matters most. When Everything Changes Overnight Sunday dinner felt normal. Safe. Familiar.Monday ni

Some weeks gently unfold.This one turned our life upside down. Monday through Saturday were nonstop: meetings, practices, appointments. Sunday, though, gave us a pause. We sat down together and had a real family dinner. A simple meal. Familiar food. As we ate, I realized something that’s been quietly happening on this journey: I’ve let go of experimenting in the kitchen. I’m back to the same rotation of meals. And while part of me feels a little disappointed about that, I als

This week felt like a blur. But within the blur were big moments were moments of family conection.

Driving Teens, Girl Dinners, and Growing Through Co-Parenting This was another full  week. The kind where the calendar feels like a matching game: football, drama club, doctor appointments, school-based OT, and dance class. We were here, there, and everywhere, but somehow we made it work. One thing I’ve been grateful for lately is having a teenager who drives. My son can take himself to and from football practice, and when it’s time to go to his dad’s house, he’s able to take

If you’ve ever wished you could reach inside your teen’s brain and upgrade the thoughts that spin on repeat: this book might just be the closest thing. Your New Playlist  by Jon Acuff written with his daughters, L.E. and McRae Acuff, is a lighthearted, teen-friendly guide to rewiring the soundtrack inside our minds. Those thoughts that push us forward or hold us back. The big idea? Our thoughts play like music. And if the music isn’t helping, we can change it. This book is fa

No Dinners or Big Moments: What This Week Reminded Me About Showing Up You would think that after Labor Day we’d get a little breather… but motherhood laughs at the idea of rest. Tuesday hit the ground running with drama club and night football practice. The kids barely saw each other, and dinner happened whenever we were home: not around the table together. The rest of the week was a blur: dance classes, doctor appointments, football games, and an epilepsy-awareness event. I

After a whirlwind few weeks, this one began quietly: a rare, slow Sunday before life picked back up again. I made the kids sit down for dinner with me. No phones, no rushing, just food and conversation. It was exactly what we needed a pause from the constant motion. The kids slept in, caught their breath, and we re-connected over something simple. By Monday, we were back to football practice and school routines. My son’s schedule keeps us constantly moving, which means I get

A guide to building resilience and managing mental health. When I first picked up this book, I was really excited. Mental health in children is one of those topics that every parent worries about, yet many of us feel unqualified to handle. I was hopeful this book would give me practical tools to help my own kids and the families I work with, learn how to manage big emotions and build resilience. Dr. Caroline Leaf is a cognitive neuroscientist who has spent years studying how

What Every Parent Needs to Know Let’s be honest, talking to teenagers can feel a little like trying to hug a cactus. You love them deeply, but sometimes every word you say seems to poke or irritate. I recently read How to Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk  by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, and Holy Cow! This one is worth every dog-eared page. It’s one of those books that made me stop mid-chapter and think, “I wish I had known this five years ago.” Here

No Dinners But Lots of Fun Family dinners have been my big goal this year: 100 family dinners in 2025. There was a moment early on when I thought this wouldn’t be a big deal. Then summer rolled in, and between camps and travel, we went three whole weeks with just one  dinner together. Now that school has started, things haven’t exactly slowed down; they've just shifted. My son has football five nights a week, and my daughter spent this week performing with Missoula Children’s

Real Life Connections Happen Every Day! This week was rodeo weekend ! The kids were in the parade, Addie had a birthday party, and school life is now in full swing. My daughter started drama club and dance classes, while my son has football practice every single day. His schedule is intense: early mornings, late evenings, and scrimmages in between as the team gears up for their first games. Looking for the Small things: One of the realities of small-town life is that everythi

Co-Parenting, Back-to-School, and Pasta We are blazing through the year. 30 weeks in and it’s already August. The first full week of August always feels like a turning point. Summer’s freedom slips away, school ramps up, and suddenly everything is busy again. This week was no exception. The Co-Parenting Balance Co-parenting continues to be its own kind of journey. My son, now a senior in high school, has adapted to this new rhythm in his own way. Since he can drive, he pops o

Back to School, Meal Planning, and Family Dinners And just like that, summer is over. We are officially back to school, and I still can’t believe I have two kids in high school. My son is a senior, and my daughter is a freshman. There are so many emotions that come with this season: pride, excitement, a little bit of disbelief, and (let’s be honest) a lot of logistics. My Kids, My Heart My son is 17. He’s a stroke survivor with hemiplegic cerebral palsy and developed epilepsy

Calm Before the Storm, Teenagers, and the Power of Family Dinners: The Summer is Almost Over This week felt like the calm before the storm. School is about to start, and for the first time in a long time, we had very little on the schedule. My son had three friends over 18-year-old boys, which meant lots of snacks, sodas, big breakfasts, and late-night movies with popcorn. I sent them into the forest to find swimming holes, let them stay up late, and we all still sat down to

Summer Camp, Southeast Asia, and Myself This summer looked different. My kids went off to camp, something they’ve done with me every year of their lives and for the first time, I got on a plane without them and flew halfway across the world. With the encouragement of my friend Holly from Go Mama Go Travel , I looked at trips I would not take my kids on. Destinations that are not moody teenager friendly. In the end I joined an Intrepid Travel group for their Cambodian Traveler

Road Trips, Family Tables, and Finding Connection This week was a big travel week. On Sunday, the kids came back from their weekend with Dad, and by Monday, we were in full packing mode. We had a lot to think about: five days at my mom’s house, two weeks of camp for the kids, and an international trip for me. It was one of those “how are we going to fit it all in the car?”  kind of weeks. Connecting By Driving By July 1st, we hit the road for the 12-hour drive to my mom’s. Lo