I felt sad for North Carolina as I learned of the passing of Amendment 1, which adds a ban to same-sex unions into the state constitution, even though it was already banned through North Carolina law.

One of the gravest dangers in a democracy is the tyranny of the… Read full post »

Almost every Saturday, I drive by the demonstrations outside of Richmond's abortion clinic.  These creative displays of indignation have included newborn birthday parties, large billboards of fetuses, loud prayer and yelling.

I thought hard about how to show my disdain without stooping to the lev… Read full post »

I have loved Open Salon and was honored to have a piece chosen for the cover back in August 2010, but my website, Late Enough, is going through some (good) changes so I won' bet pulling my feed here anymore. 

I will hopefully still be posting-by-hand 4-6 times/month on Open… Read full post »

I’m at the salad bar of my local grocery store grabbing lunch before the onslaught of preschool pickup, and while this particular salad bar is deliciously more than just salad, the place is fraught with danger.

The other day, I encountered OLD MAN YELLING.

{squiggly flashback lines}

I sit down… Read full post »

Sometimes, I stop and listen to myself and think: Wow, parenting is ridiculous. Mostly because I’ve had to say all of these. Sometimes more than once:

1) I FOUND THE MONKEY!

2) Please tell me you didn’t put that in your vagina.

3) We only pick our nose when we… Read full post »

I’ve decided to become an Extreme Couponer. It happened like most things happen for me. I read an article, get highly motivated for an afternoon, everything goes wrong, and I write a humiliating blog post about it. (Do you remember the Redbook-article-Staples-Get-Organized-Parenting Fiasco of… Read full post »

Thanks to my awesome husband and a stomach virus, I celebrated Mother’s Day this Saturday. And it was fantastic.

I woke up late (okay, 8:45 a.m. {sigh}) and was taken around the house to read little cards of love to me.

My favorite one: Thanks for

… Read full post »

BlogHer [blawg-hur] –noun

The largest annual conference of women (and a few men) bloggers, which brings with it a chance to see old friends and meet new ones while making connection that will propel my writing and blog to awesomeville as well as remind me what an unknown, anxiety-ridden, socially a

… Read full post »

I’ve been struggling with spanking. I have never spanked my children, and I thought that I had a lot of parental company. Instead, I read again and again people who seem to believe their toddlers should be acting like seven-year-olds and then smack them on the behind when they… Read full post »

My preschooler, E, is playing Angry Birds* on my iPhone while I put my toddler, N, down for nap.

While I’m still upstairs, my phone rings, and E answers.

My friend, P: Is Alex there?

E: Can you call back on the house phone?

P: Sure!

{click}

A… Read full post »

I’m standing around waiting for my daughter to come out of her preschool classroom, and I decide to try my hand at small talk.

Me to mom of N’s classmate: Did you have a nice weekend?

Preschool Mom: Yes. It was busy. We opened up the cabin in Tennessee.

Me: Oh… Read full post »

Happy Mother’s Day!

I had a stomach virus! It started out with me telling Scott that I felt pregnant and ended up with me on the toilet in between trying to sleep all day. Which is EXACTLY like pregnancy except my virus will last for 2 days instead of 280! (Wow,… Read full post »

One of my favorite readers and email forwarded-ers asks the question this week. Walt of LuckyPuppy.net and I are proof that a flaming liberal and a kooky conservative can be friends.

Walt asks: You made it to the life boat and have strength to pull one person from the water. Scott… Read full post »

Honestly, I wasn’t going to write about Osama bin Ladin. I already got into one Facebook discussion about it. And by “discussion,” I mean people using words like CRONIES and PHOTOSHOP to get their point across.

But I can’t seem to leave well enough alone. Mostly because I am mysti… Read full post »

I want to set a strong feminist example for my toddler daughter.

This is from last year. Her onesie says: Little Feminist. Too obvious?

I want her to see that women can look beautiful and sexy without boobs and butts hanging out. But I… Read full post »

There’s nothing that’ll steal away a child’s innocence more than nature. Nature is cruel and full of grim death. Also, itchy.

About a week ago…

We venture into the great outdoors, also known as our backyard. As we survey our vast domain of mowed lawn and azalea bushes,… Read full post »

Twitter hurt my feelings.

Again.

And I have finally had enough.

It wasn’t anything big — a random unfollow. But after reading, Ten Mindful Ways to Use Social Media and over-thinking #10, enjoy social media!, I realized that Twitter isn’t fun for me.

On good days, it’s full of… Read full post »

Yes, I woke up at 5 a.m.. Okay, 5:36 a.m..

Royal pajamas chosen the night before.

I have no idea why.

Well, I know a little bit why. I mean, it’s a prince and soon-to-be princess. And I remember exactly where I was when Princess… Read full post »

I’ve thought a lot about how to teach my children about God. I have a strong faith. I pray every single day. I talk to God. I listen for God. I long for a closer relationship with God.

But we stopped attending church this summer. When walking the… Read full post »

I am not Southern. I don’t puddle. I don’t host BBQs that include pulled pork, graduation parties that include country music or meet-the-baby events. And I don’t do small talk.

The one Southern thing that I do, or did, is have Southern children. Born and bred in… Read full post »

Remember our marriage rules? Well, my husband and I decide to do a meditation Sunday night for “spiritual night.” Which is not a euphemism.  Most nights.

We turn to iTunes.  Because what guru isn’t podcasting these days?

As it turns out, a lot them.  We peruse our twenty-five gurus.… Read full post »

My daughter and I are having one of those moments. I’m holding her close as we stare into each other’s eyes with that special mama-daughter love.

Until N breaks eye contact and furrows her brow at my chin.

My daughter reaches out her hand: Mama, fall down?

Me: No.… Read full post »

You can be!

We’ve all had fun with poop and not-sleeping-through-the-night this week. But Spring Break isn’t just about bathrooms and exhaustion!  We need to care!  Like those dorks that went on Habitat for Humanity trips for Spring Break instead of Cancun. (Hi honey.)

This week on Thi… Read full post »

There’s no thinking this week! It’s Spring Break, MAN! But I did repost over at the Blogger Body Calendar some thoughtfulness on domestic violence. I just can’t turn this stupid brain off.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month Is Every Month: Have you ever wondered about my po… Read full post »

Who doesn’t like to buy trinkets on Spring Break? I mean, how could I live without this?

So I’m sending you off to This Blogger Makes Fun of Stuff. Heck, you could even come back with something for FREE!

A Photo Book of Guilt: You know that my… Read full post »