Category: Parenting

Why, yes, I would save my dog first in case of a fire.
Animals, Daryn's Blog, Dogs, Parenting, Pets

Why, Yes, I Would Save My Dog First In Case Of A Fire. Wouldn’t You?

It’s one of the earliest memories of my horrifying my kids.      Earliest.      Not the last.      I am, after all,      A mother.      A conversation about fire safety started this particular episode.      We started with something like, “How would you get out of the house in an emergency?”      Once I was satisfied with their proposed plans, I shifted to the philosophical. “What is the one thing you would want to save?” I asked. The girls made me go first.      Which was easy, because

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Waffle House shooting hero James Shaw, Jr. says his four-year-old daughter was his inspiration to jump the shooter when he saw a moment of opportunity.
Good News, Heroes, Parenting, Uplifting Stories

Waffle House Shooting Hero Says Four Year Old Daughter Was His Inspiration To Act

Waffle House shooting hero James Shaw, Jr. knows the answer to the question. What would you do if you had a chance to save the lives of strangers even if it meant it might cost you your own life. This 29-year-old man knows. He acted. The Tennessean reports Travis Reinking, 29, opened fire at about 3:25 a.m. Sunday morning at a Waffle House outside Nashville, TN. Shaw Jr. had just come in the restaurant when he heard a crash. He

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Daryn's Blog, Family, Food, Parenting

The Joy Of Losing A Job I Have Loved So Very Much

It appears I’m losing my job. A job I’ve loved very much. A job I dreamed of getting for years. Even though I knew I was the least worthy person in the world. I didn’t have an ice cube in the desert’s chance of getting. And yet, It happened. Now, it’s going away. And I am, Well, Happy. Scratch that. Mark me down as giddy. The job? Like you, Dear Reader, it is one of many I juggle. I am,

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Why we are supposed to be 500 miles apart on our anniversary.
Daryn's Blog, Family, Parenting

The Honest Reason Why It’s Better We Are 500 Miles Apart On Our Anniversary

We won’t be together this anniversary. It makes perfect sense, actually. Things are working just as they are supposed to. In a world where often not much makes sense, This does. I need to remind myself of that today. This is an anniversary that very few get. And one, I bet, You, who are a parent, Dear Reader, will understand. I did not come to motherhood in a traditional way. I married a single dad who was raising his young

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Morning Phone Call Reveals Unexpected Revelation From His 91-Year-Old Father
Daryn's Blog, Family, Life Lessons Took Me Long Time To Learn, Love Stories, Parenting

Morning Phone Call Reveals Unexpected Revelation From His 91-Year-Old Father

The call came at 8:45. As it does each morning. Not my phone. My friend, Gene’s. It was his dad. His 91-year-old dad. “We don’t actually say the words out loud,” Gene said, “But it’s his daily, ‘Yes, I’m alive’ call.” Some days the calls are short. Some days longer. Monday was a chatty call. Dad felt like talking. So, Gene shared his story from the night before. How he had splurged. Dug into his family wallet to take his

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Something heartbreaking is happening behind my daughter's bedroom door.
Daryn's Blog, Family, Kids, Parenting, The Hard Stuff

Something Heartbreaking Is Happening Behind My Daughter’s Bedroom Door

Something unbelievable is happening in my daughter’s bedroom. Behind a closed door. I know what she’s doing in there. Something big. Something heartbreaking. Something totally expected. Daughter is packing for college. I want to run in there 1,425 times an hour. “Have you thought about…?” “Have you considered…?” I stop myself mid-knock outside her door. I’m determined not to be that parent. Have you seen them? There is a special Facebook page for parents of students going to the same

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The unimaginable twist to my unanswered prayer.
Daryn's Blog, Parenting, The Hard Stuff

The Unimaginable Twist To My Unanswered Prayer

My daughter spotted it first. As kids are apt to do. Though, she probably didn’t realize exactly what she was seeing. Just how enormous it was. This is the story of how innocently standing in line at our favorite burrito joint, With nothing more than quacamole and a margarita on my brain, There it was. My unanswered prayer. My big, glaring, forever-wished-for lifetime prayer. If you had been watching us, you would’ve seen Daughter and me patiently inching forward. This

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when mother's day means having to let your mother and daughter go.
Daryn's Blog, Family, Life Lessons Took Me Long Time To Learn, Parenting, The Hard Stuff

When Mother’s Day Means Being The One Who Let’s Her Go

This is to be Mother’s Day? Sure doesn’t feel like it’s supposed to go down. I find myself thinking about that this week. A lot. I read countless posts about daughters celebrating with their mothers. About bountiful brunch feasts. About women so thankful to hold their children close. Then, I look around. At my holiday. This year. This Mother’s Day. The first without my mother who passed last August. There will be no celebrating with her, I tell myself. Over

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Raising teenagers got you down? Have they made you feel like a terrible person? The miracle cure--get a puppy!
Animals, Daryn's Blog, Family, Kids, Overcoming Obstacles, Parenting, Pets

Your Miracle Cure When Raising Teenagers Gets You Down

I’m still shaking my head. At this miracle treatment. The syndrome for which I was told there was no cure. That only time would heal this common malady. The affliction of living with teenagers. Perhaps you know the symptoms, Dear Reader. The rejection of your very being. To be told, That you are a dumb adult, Totally no fun to be around, A colossal bore. With an 16-year-old and an 18-year-old at home, we are in the thick of it.

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World traveler creates instagram feed to let his mother know he is fine as he travels the world.
Family, Good News, Kindness, Parenting, Travel, Uplifting Stories

World Traveler Gets Creative To Let Mom Know He Is Fine

Any traveler knows it’s great to see the world, but someone is home wondering if you’re okay. Often that means your mom, no matter how old you are. No matter what country you come from. Johnathan Quinonez found that out after he quit his job as an accountant in Brussels, Belgium and took off for an extended adventure. He’s 27 years-old, but his mom was still worried, especially since his first stop was Cuba and phone and internet service there

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