Meredith Loudenback
Guide to Great Family Hiking Trails in Jacksonville
One of the best things about spring in Jacksonville is getting outside again. The crisp, clean air after a dreary winter season fills my soul in such a timely way. There seems to be...
I’m Not Ready
I’m sitting here at the kitchen table tapping away at my keyboard as my son is sitting next to me doing the same thing. We are both working on homework — he for school...
Why I Support Uniforms at our Public School
Our public middle school has mandated school uniforms for the upcoming school year, and many students and parents are not happy about it. Recent school group parent conversations about unrelated topics have consistently turned...
I Said This to My Kid, and The Result Was NOT What I Expected
“Because I said so!” “Do as I say, not as I do.” “Stop crying, or I’ll give you something to cry about.” I swore I would NEVER say these things when I became a...
How a GOAT is Helping Raise Our Son
As of three days ago, I have a teenager. He’s thrilled; I’m nervous. He’s not full-blown into the apathetic attitude and “Mom, you’re embarrassing me,” but I’m preparing for that rite of passage. Even...
Why I Love Slurping Coffee, Meatntaters, and the Mutt Bite
Is it just me, or do certain foods simply evoke overwhelming nostalgia? My emotional connection with bites, smells, and sips can transport me into a moment with family members from decades ago. I appreciate...
Being Savvy in the Aesthetic World of Skin Health Procedures
I grew up in the days of Merle Norman pancake full-coverage base makeup. It wasn’t called foundation at that time, and I doubt anything other than full-coverage base makeup existed. The trend in the...
I’ve Been Wearing It Wrong (And I Bet You Are, Too!)
For most of my life, I’ve worn a size 34C bra. Fine. My breasts aren’t spectacular, just regular, but at least I'd finally developed beyond the "carpenter's dream" boys called me in high school...
Rising Up for Our Neighborhood Public Middle School
If you’re like me, I stressed about middle school WAAAAY before I needed to be stressed. Put it this way: I attended Fifth Grade Parent Information nights at our surrounding middle schools as a...
Starting Middle School Doesn’t Have to Suck!
I dreaded it for years. The hormones. The backtalk. The eye rolls. Uncontrolled emotions. His awkwardness. My awkwardness answering certain "questions." Seven class changes with seven different teachers. The increased workload. Bullies. Fights. Heartbreak....
A Holiday Tradition I ‘Gift’ Myself
I promise myself every year that I won’t procrastinate on “all the holiday stuff” next year — the decorating, baking, cooking, gift buying, wrapping, etc. Don’t even get me started on sending family holiday...
Is Being Kind Enough?
A few years ago, one of my son’s friends called me by my first name. He was 8 years old. He walked right over to me and straight-up said, “Meredith,” like he was a...