Christie Pettus
Christie Pettus is a full time working wife and mother living her suburban cul de sac dream in Orange Park, Fl. She is Mom to two awesome teenagers, McKenzie and Ethan, who have come to accept that certain parts of their lives will be blogged about, so they should act accordingly. As graduates of the University of Florida, she and her husband Ryan can be found rooting on their alma mater every chance they get including the more obscure sports. LaCrosse anyone? When she’s not judging her kids' questionable teenage choices, she can be found hiding in a room buried in a good book or writing, editing, and dreaming about being a full-time author.
My Failed Second Act
Expectations were high.
The time in my life focused on the all-consuming nature of motherhood was coming to a close, and as my last child walked out the front door with shower caddy and egg...
The End of My Mom Blogging Era
My first blog about motherhood was in 2014. My oldest was headed to middle school, and I was lamenting about mood swings and conversations about sex. I reread that blog now, as I have...
Make the College Years Easier With Florida Prepaid
In six months, my son will be headed off to college just one year after my daughter started her freshman year. As my husband and I have navigated college applications, school choices, and the...
Dorm Shopping: What’s Still Necessary, and What Has Changed?
I love the idea of shopping, but in practice, it can be overwhelming to me. Looking across a vast store at a hundred different options and deciding which pieces of clothing match, what design...
Nothing Will Prepare You for the Dreaded College Drop-Off
This is a true story about how I went from fairly normal, if not a little dramatic at times, to batsh*t crazy in the span of 36 hours.
My daughter graduated from high school. It...
What I’ll Miss Most
Check on your friends with high school seniors. They are not okay.
Every day brings one more experience that I both treasure and mourn with the thought of "It won't be like this again." There...
My Hopes Are High for the Future of Our Country
The first year I was eligible to vote was 1996. It was the year Bill Clinton defeated Bob Dole (and Ross Perot) in a pretty decisive victory. I'd love to tell you that I...
Thirteen First Days Of School
Thirteen. That's how many first days of school I've experienced as a mother. Some were filled with tears. Some were filled with relief, as I practically pushed those kids out the door and away...
To My Daughter, As She Prepares for College
As my daughter gets ready to start her senior year of high school, I am learning real quick that the idea of sending your firstborn out into the world in less than a year...
When There Are No Words, You Find the Words
No words.
That's not a comfortable place for someone like me who tends to use all the words, whether welcomed or not, and believes that the power of words can change nations, build bridges, and...
Quarantine Turned My Home Into a Frat House
Saturday afternoon in midst of a Netflix binge, my husband suggested we put a sheet over our living room window to get rid of the glare. My immediate thought was, "Maybe." Before COVID-19, we...
The Lonely Prom Dress
The 5 stages of prom dress shopping. That was the original title of this scheduled blog. The idea capturing me as I spent a full day prom dress shopping with my 17-year-old daughter. It...