The BEST of Jacksonville Mom: Top 10 Blog Posts of 2023

As we wrap up the craziness that has been 2023, we continue to be amazed and humbled at how much Jacksonville Mom has grown and evolved over the years. But most of all, we are so very thankful to you, our readers, for your consistent support. Jacksonville Mom has always been, and will always be, for YOU.

That said, we wanted to share our top 10 most-read blog posts from this year, along with a few beloved honorable mentions. Sit back, relax, grab your favorite bev (coffee or mimosa… we’re not judging), and look back at the past year and laugh… or cry. Or heck, at least get some good ideas for local parks and hiking trails. Happy reading!

Jacksonville Mom Top 10 Blog Posts of 2023

toddler ER

“When the time came for the doctor to stitch him up, Tanner was obviously scared, so I stayed close, rubbing his cheek and telling him everything was going to be ok. I glanced up at the doctor pulling the sutures through my son’s open skin. BIG mistake.”

stay-at-home mom

“March 13, 2023, was supposed to be a great day. But two hours in, my husband called. My heart rapidly dropped, and I immediately started panicking because nothing good ever happens when your husband calls you before lunchtime. ‘Which kid?!’ I frantically asked. He replied, ‘Both kids are safe, but I take it that you didn’t see the email that the preschool sent out.’ I placed him on a brief hold as I began reading the email. As I continued to read, I could feel my eyes bulging out of their sockets.”

heart attack
“‘You are presenting like you are having a heart attack.’  Those are the last words I truly remember before my body went into shock and denial.  How could a healthy, fit 41-year-old be having a heart attack?”
“Since moving to Ponte Vedra Beach two years ago, I’ve become obsessed with finding shark teeth. My collection is well over a couple of thousand teeth and growing. Sharks have anywhere between five and 15 rows of teeth and shed their teeth continually — some up to 30,0000 teeth in a lifetime.”
prime hydration drinks
What’s even crazier than this drink’s quick rise to fame and fortune is that some kids are selling empty bottles on eBay, and there is an app dedicated to tracking down bottles. My son has empty bottles lined up on his desk, and he freaked when I tried to throw them out because after all — they were empty!”
taylor swift

“Now, as an adult woman and mom, I laugh to myself when someone is baffled that I’m still a huge Swiftie at age 37, as if Taylor is still writing songs on her bedroom floor about her first high school heartbreak. Sure, her first single was released when she was 16, but in those 17 years since Taylor has literally grown up before the world, and her music has evolved right along with her.”

Disney Cruise
Living in Florida, we hear quite a bit about Disney, and chances are, if you have kids you’ve taken at least one trip to Disney since they were born, are at least considering it, or maybe you are one of those weird Disney-obsessed adults who loves to go all the time. Well, I’m here to tell you why you should NOT take a Disney Cruise.”
TSwift
It started slowly. My daughter would put on a Taylor song or two in the car on the way home from school, at a very low volume. I told her she could turn it up because I couldn’t even hear it. Then she’d post pictures from The Eras Tour on her IG stories with no comment. Then I asked her on the way home a week before the concert when she was singing to the music if she wanted to go and she quietly said, ‘Well, it would have been fun, Mom.'”

“My kids don’t need to validate me, or how hard I work, or what I spent on Christmas. If you really need that from your children, you also may need to talk to a professionally licensed therapist, because WHO HURT YOU ABOUT SANTA? Even the Grinch came around about Santa. I said what I said.”

gaylord ice

“Still reeling a little from dealing with the whole of 2023, I desperately wanted to take a trip for Thanksgiving instead of slave over a hot stove. My 6-year-old had never seen snow and was begging us to take him somewhere he could throw a snowball. So, I did a little research, and we decided to travel south to visit the Gaylord ICE! in Orlando at the Gaylord Palms Resort. Do I recommend it? Yes! With some caveats.

A Few Honorable Mentions...

The Most Popular Local Guides...

Still Trending...

Now we want to hear from you! What were some of your favorite Jacksonville Mom posts from 2023? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks again for a crazy, but awesome year, and we look forward to what 2024 has in store. Happy New Year!

Tina Smithers Peckham
Originally from Kansas City, Tina relocated to Jacksonville, FL with her dear husband, feisty cat and sweet-natured corgi mix in 2016. After eight years working various gigs in New York City from magazine publishing to digital marketing, Tina joined the world of freelance, writing and reporting for a variety of publications and websites including MTV News, ET Online, Glamour, Us Weekly and more. Tina has also assisted with social media, editorial and content strategy for brands and personalities such as Britney Spears, Jordin Sparks, Beauty Brands, truTV and WE tv. When she’s not plugging away on her laptop, she can be found exploring the Jacksonville beaches, reading a good book or enjoying a local coffee shop with her cherub-cheeked little boys, Archer and Austin.

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