Christie Pettus
Who Am I When They’re Gone?
How did we get to this point so soon? My daughter is in the final stretch of her junior year, and if what I...
Some Days, You Simply Get To Breathe
Motherhood feels like one held breath after another — the anticipation of what might happen. The reality of what did. The knowledge that just...
Tomorrow Ain’t as Bad as It Seems
I walked into the high school to drop off my son's badge recently when I heard another parent engage a group of teenagers sitting...
Embracing My Feminist Side
I haven't always considered myself to be a feminist. Maybe it was my conservative upbringing or certain negative connotations that can be associated with...
Paving a Path to ‘Yes’
I discovered recently that my default answer is, "No." I'm not sure where this came from or why, but I can become so overwhelmed...
Your Unofficial Summer-with-Teens Survival Guide
If you're a parent, you know how challenging summer can be. Stay-at-home moms of littles struggle the constant presence of their "tiny blessings." Working...
Thank You for Being Our Daughter’s Favorite
I had a father who didn't choose me. I didn't quite make the short list of important things in his life. This story isn't...
A Reluctant Runner’s Guide To Half-Marathon Success
I ran 13.1 miles! Who am I, and what have I done with the girl who forged more than a few notes in high school...
Traveling With Kids: Give Up on Perfection
We are a family who loves to travel. Local or international, weekend getaways or week-long adventures. We're in for it all. The memories are...
To My Daughter and Her Tribe
I was standing off to the side watching my 16-year-old daughter and her friends take selfies after a soccer banquet, and I saw it....
Remembering Luke Perry: More Than a Teenage Crush
Like many of our generation, the news of Luke Perry's death was a shock. I'm not one to get overly emotional over celebrity deaths,...
I’m Done Apologizing
One night, I sat in bed overanalyzing a situation as I'm inclined to do. Were my words understood? My actions accepted? Should I apologize...