Neverland Diaries

Ali Wong in her Netflix special Baby Cobra When I was pregnant with my first son, there were not a lot of "pregnancy-truthers" out there. Pregnant women at that time were still led down a primrose path, encouraged to believe that pregnancy and new motherhood was basically the real-life equivalent of a Snapchat floral crown filter. People would ask me how it felt being pregnant, and I would be met with confused or horrified faces when I told them the truth ... I hated it. "Just give me the baby, I like the baby part!" I would say, half joking and all the way serious. The only thing that I enjoyed about being pregnant was feeling them move and kick, but even that lost its charm once those darling little fetuses figured out how to pummel my bladder and ribs. I didn't like the attention my pregnant body brought. The endless advice and words of wisdom from well-meaning and smug strangers alike were more than my soubrette sensibilities could bear. As someon...

Being a parent is challenging and rewarding no matter what, but being a "boymom" is a unique experience all its own. From now until Mother's Day, I'm going to profile a few fellow awesome "boymoms" for a little insight into their crazy and wonderful worlds.  This week, we get to know Juli, mom of Ryan, 18, from Clearwater, FL: What is the most rewarding part of being a "boymom"? Seeing a life through a different perspective. Most boys end-game is different than girls.  What is the hardest part of being a "boymom"? Giving Ryan freedom where I’m not involved. Planning the prom... I have no clue what’s going on. But I will when he needs.    Please tell me a funny story about living with all boys (I know you have them!) Everyone used to think my favorite color was pink because I used to buy everything pink so no one would touch it. It worked til I got tired of the color pink.  When you do find time for yourself, what do you lik...

Being a parent is challenging and rewarding no matter what, but being a "boymom" is a unique experience all its own. From now until Mother's Day, I'm going to profile a few fellow awesome "boymoms" for a little insight into their crazy and wonderful worlds.  This week, we get to know Jenn, a Hospice ARNP/Nursing instructor and mom of Tucker, 6, from St. Petersburg, FL: What is the most rewarding part of being a "boymom"? Teaching them empathy, oh and being ok with poop jokes, fart sounds and dirt (lots and lots of dirt...) What is the hardest part of being a "boymom"? The constant energy needed to keep up! Please tell me a funny story about living with all boys (I know you have them!)  Just the constant silliness ! When you do find time for yourself, what do you like to do?  After drop off at school in the mornings- beach, paddleboarding, reading. What do people get wrong about being a "boymom"? They think they...

Here are list of words that Max has said first; dada, oh yeah!, please, juice, boo boo (peek-a-boo), more, baby, shoes, uh oh and cheese. He has also used ASL to sign milk, shark, thank you, delicious, where and cookie.  Guess what word he hasn't said? Try as I might, I have not been able to get my boy to say "mama". Not on purpose anyway, and not directed towards me. I knew he could say it, but it every time I would try to coax it out of him I was met with a sly little grin and a twinkle in his eye.  This week on the cusp of turning 18 months old, he's finally started to say "mama" regularly, with intention, and directed towards me. It's so nice to finally hear it and he says it in such a sweet way. For a little while, I was worried about his speech development, and a trip to the ear nose and throat doctor gave me even more pause. He failed his hearing test, and after months of successive ear infections, we knew what was coming. Lik...

One of Max's favorite things to do is to beg us for a bite of our food, then promptly spit it out on the ground. He'll even do it when you least expect it, like if you give him cake, or ice cream, or something equally delicious. So, you put the baby down for a nap and have to get on your hands and knees to wipe up the mess. That's when you realize that the rocking chair in the living room is dusty! So, so dusty! The weird wooden rails underneath the seat that you never even think of? Yeah, those need to be dusted off, right away. Once you are done dusting the weird railing of the rocking chair, you look up and notice that the blades of the living room fan are also dusty. So, so dusty! So you sigh, grab your step stool and dust each and every blade. And while you're dusting, little globs of gray dust fall to the floor. Soooo.... You grab the broom and sweep, sweep, sweep. The whole entire house! But stuff keeps getting under the couches. So you move the couches...

Being a parent is challenging and rewarding no matter what, but being a "boymom" is a unique experience all its own. From now until Mother's Day, I'm going to profile a few fellow awesome "boymoms" for a little insight into their crazy and wonderful worlds.  This week, we get to know Mary, a gym/after school manager and mom of Avery, 14, Braylon, 11 and Grayson, 8, from Largo, FL: What is the most rewarding part of being a "boymom"? The never ending wonder of "what will happen next". What is the hardest part of being a "boymom"? Them breaking your heart. Please tell me a funny story about living with all boys (I know you have them!) Walking through Victoria Secrets and avery had a stuffy nose. He said out loud," I don't know why my nose is so stiffy?!" His face turned white and he immediately yelled, "I meant why is my nose so stuffy?!!!" Braylon and Grayson started asking what ...

Being a parent is challenging and rewarding no matter what, but being a "boymom" is a unique experience all its own. From now until Mother's Day, I'm going to profile a few fellow awesome "boymoms" for a little insight into their crazy and wonderful worlds.  This week, we get to know Carrie, a writer and mom of Reilly, 12, and Shane, 9, from St. Petersburg, FL: What is the most rewarding part of being a "boymom"? I love that even though they go HARD all day long, but at the end of the day they still want bedtime snuggles and "mom" time. Yes, even my 12-year-old. What is the hardest part of being a "boymom"? They are definitely not as open as girls. I try to ask about school and get a "it was good." I want to know the details! Who is dating whom. Which teacher is their favorite, etc. I do get some of this at night if I pry.  Please tell me a funny story about living with all boys (I know you have them!).  ...