“But… what happened over there?” It was 1994, and we had just finished watching the feel-good flick Forrest Gump. My father had to wipe away tears during the Vietnam combat scene. I was 13 years old and didn’t understand....
It never fails. My husband packs his bags for work and gets on his merry way. He arrives safely and everyone back home (my two kids and me) are settling into daddy being gone — and BAM! You know...
It’s 11 p.m. and I’m sitting in bed with my laptop and Tina Fey keeping me company. Writing for Jacksonville Mom has been such a special and cherished outlet, but right now I’m stressed. Not because I waited until...
Our favorite Father's Day tradition actually began at Christmas. Cards for all holidays were a big deal for my husband's family, and Christmas was no exception. I grew accustomed to giving and receiving cards for all the holidays, and...
To clarify: This article isn’t about the disparate amount of responsibility that falls squarely onto a mother’s shoulders and why that’s not fair. (Though it generally does, and it’s really not.) This article is about me letting go of...
Parenting is hard. There have been days in which I put my head on the pillow and hope that my children will remember more of the good than the bad. And believe me, many days it was a toss-up.
I...
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 unique one, and I've honestly spent a total of maybe five times in my...
Donte Palmer is a Jacksonville father and teacher who with one post on Instagram started a movement that is making a national and global impact. Palmer's journey began in a Texas Roadhouse in Jacksonville, FL.
While changing his baby’s diaper,...
So, I’m a newly single dad. Let’s just say my divorce hasn’t been the most amicable. We have three kids at home ages 12, 14, and 17, and it has been most difficult on them as their security and...
Last month, a soon-to-be dad reached out on a meal-sharing site to ask for help. His wife was pregnant, and he wanted to be proactive in seeking help — including from, yes, strangers. He gave examples of favorite recipes...
I don't know what it is like to be an alcoholic. I don't know what it is like to fight that battle every single day. And I certainly don't know what it is like to tell yourself each night...
In honor of Men's Health Month, I decided to collaborate with my husband, Matt, to discuss some of his best health tips. Who better to talk to than a dad of three with zero health experience?
"Magazines like Men's Health set...