FAMILY
When I gave birth, we were unable to determine our new baby’s sex. We were living in a foreign country. My partner was working toward his PhD and I was assistant managing a restaurant instead of pursuing the teaching career for which I had undergone an MA. When our...
Lao Tzu said "When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be" I fell in love with Lao Tzu in college and have found his teachings speak truth to several different chapters in my life. I even strategically place his quotes in my husband's lunch when I think he...
Before I became a mother, my priorities were out of whack. I was in the Navy, but was more focused on being young and going out. I knew I had a steady paycheck already, and the thought of going back to college and working on my education daunted me. Once I became...
Pride month in our house is treated like a holiday season; not a glitzy, vacuous holiday season, but rather a month of finding space for community, sharing progress, and renewing commitment to fight for our collective rights. Like the ride of parenthood, the month is...
My mom Diane Todd Yates was born on the 4th of July and died on Christmas. When she died, I was nowhere close to ready to have a memorial for her. I wouldn’t even bring her ashes into my house. The ashes lived in my Jeep for six months and drove around town with me...
I am the proud mom to four children. My oldest two children are on the autism spectrum, and my youngest two are considered "neurotypical." When I first became pregnant, I never dreamed I would raise a child on the autism spectrum. The thought never crossed my mind. I...
I want my kids to be healthy and to have a good education, and to always watch their manners. I teach them: love who you are. Love who you are. And accept others as you want to be accepted.
Motherhood was a complete surprise and changed everything. My first pregnancy was a surprise. My second pregnancy was twins, which was a surprise. My third pregnancy was when my twins were 2 months old… that was a surprise, for sure. Surprise, surprise,...
"How quickly it all happens, you know? Some days it seems like it just drags on and on and on, and then you blink and they grow up. I’ve really learned how to slow down and appreciate the small things since my daughter came into my life. And I've learned I need...
On a warm summer afternoon a couple years ago I was walking along an art festival with my husband and children. Tents were set up along the pedestrian mall with artists of every medium showcasing their beautiful work. We passed a tent of oil paintings and out of the...
Meet the Editor
I'm Saralyn, a mountain mama fueled by coffee, community, and adventure, raising three kids at the foot of the Rockies. I'm so glad you're here!
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1) Love. Always Love. 2) Little milestones, things others take for granted, should be celebrated BIG...because it takes MUCH longer to get there. For example, who knew that to hold an umbrella and walk could be such a challenge? Multitasking is a gift that doesn't...
As a little girl, I always thought life would be a series of steps to get to an end result, and there was always a right or a wrong. But as I aged, I started to discover that life gives us many different roads that lead to so many destinations. They say life is full...
I’ve brainwashed my almost three year old daughter into believing that all kids her age love ethnic food. I mean, it’s not really a lie. Vietnamese kids like Vietnamese food. Mexican kids like Mexican food. I don’t know why the average American kid eats like he’s...
My son Roman was born at home, in the home birth that I always wanted. He was healthy and we were elated. But a few weeks after he was born we noticed there was something wrong with his skin. It kept getting progressively worse. After two months, it was so bad that...
It has taken me 3 and a half years to write this, and I’m still panicked as I think about putting the words on the page. This is my postpartum depression story. I’ve kept it to myself because of the shame that creeps up every time I try to tell the truth of how bad it...