Parenting

The Busy Mom’s Guide to Writing

July 2, 2015 by Krissy Cabeen (@krissycabeen)

From time to time, I like to share information about resources, services, products, and/or experiences I find valuable. My hope is others might benefit, and I think it’s important to recognize good work when we can. One such resource is the e-book, The Busy Mom’s Guide to Writing by Suzannah Windsor Freeman. I first reviewed the book when it launched in 2012. Below is an updated version of the original post. It provides a quick intro to Suzannah and an overview of all the book has […]

Categories: Busy Mom's Guide to Writing, Everyday Life, Invaluable Increments, Parenting, Professionalism, Story, Suzannah Windsor Freeman, work/life balance, write it sideways, Writing

Leave a comment

Oh Family Picture Day

June 26, 2014 by Krissy Cabeen (@krissycabeen)

Soon, we’re heading off for a beach vacation with our oldest and dearest friends, all of our kids, and probably a fair amount of rum. It’s a yearly tradition, and luckily, because one of the aforementioned oldest and dearest friends is a photographer, it usually includes family pictures on or around the beach. Susan specializes in child and family photography, and she has a knack for putting people (especially children) at ease in front of the camera. (You can see some of […]

Categories: Everyday Life, Parenting, The Little Things • Tags: beach pics, family, family picture, family pictures, family portrait, outfit ideas, photographer, pictures, tips

Leave a comment

Spring Break: Then & Now

April 4, 2014 by Krissy Cabeen (@krissycabeen)

Last week’s spring break was definitely different from spring breaks past. Then. Fifteen (or so…) years ago, spring break was some unknown number of rum-soaked days in the same bikini, sun dress, and flip-flops traipsing around Key West with only a tiny bag to hold my ID, credit card, and toothbrush. All the years since (and maybe a little bit the rum) have blurred the memories, but I remember we had a group of around eight girls, good girls, on that trip. A friend’s family […]

Categories: Everyday Life, Parenting, Professionalism, The Little Things, Writing • Tags: Balance, Breaks, Key West, Rest, Routine, Spring Break, Time Off

Leave a comment

You Are Here https://flic.kr/p/a9Pmy7 by Alyson Hurt license link https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

Mama in the Moment

October 29, 2013 by Krissy Cabeen (@krissycabeen)

Thoughts on the importance of being in the moment, and how hard an effort it can be sometimes. ~ I try to cram a lot into each day. A lot. I like working and I’m a far happier, sane, and stable person when I’m busy. Usually, I work at home on my schedule, which is a true blessing… most of the time. The (potential) trouble with so much flexibility, especially for those of us who become hyper-focused and lack a functioning ‘off’ switch to […]

Categories: Everyday Life, Parenting, The Little Things • Tags: In the moment, parenting, paying attention, presence

Leave a comment

Parenting is a Verb

September 29, 2013 by Krissy Cabeen (@krissycabeen)

I find myself wrangling a thrashing four-year-old out of her chair, out of the kitchen, up the stairs, down the hall, and finally, barely, into her room. I’ve got her in a bear hug, her arms pinned to her sides but all the while she is screaming (deliberately turning toward my ear), kicking, and whipping her head backward trying to hit my face. She’s in full-out meltdown over something like the order in which she received the ketchup or a cup that’s […]

Categories: Everyday Life, Parenting • Tags: creative discipline, engaged parenting, parenting, strong-willed child, tantrums

do not touch sign https://flic.kr/p/9wKyyQ by Taro the Shiba Inu license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Who Has Time for Useless?

September 14, 2013 by Krissy Cabeen (@krissycabeen)

As a general rule, I don’t have things in my house that aren’t used. Clothes, no matter how great, get donated if they aren’t worn. Bizarre, elaborate kitchen utensils that are more trouble to store and clean than they’re worth don’t stay long. I don’t have furniture that can’t be sat on, or dishes tucked away in case one day the President of the United States joins us for dinner. I sort of despise untouchable things. Things saved for “special occasions” that usually never […]

Categories: Everyday Life, Parenting, The Little Things • Tags: experiences, kids, material things, nice things, parenting, Things, what's important

Leave a comment

Fort Smith Airshow - School Time Jet Bus https://flic.kr/p/asbhA6 by Doug Wertman license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Bye, Bye Baby Gate

August 14, 2013 by Krissy Cabeen (@krissycabeen)

August in the Midwest means it’s back to school time. If you listen closely, among the sound of diesel engines and air brakes, you’ll hear umbilical cords snapping all around. A new school year means another group of five-year-olds heading off for their first day of Kindergarten. This year my girl is among them. She’s my second and sending the second isn’t quite as bad as sending the first. As is usually the case for us, working through the situation […]

Categories: Everyday Life, Parenting • Tags: Back to School, First day of School, Holding On, Kindergarten, Letting Go, parenting, Starting Kindergarten

Leave a comment

Crayon Rainbow https://flic.kr/p/rF8iQ by Robert Parviainen license link https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

Coloring Inside the Lines

July 29, 2013 by Krissy Cabeen (@krissycabeen)

It turns out, despite all our creative objections, there’s good reason to color inside the lines. At least at first. To all creatives out there this is blasphemy, I know. I didn’t want to believe it either, but it’s true. I’m a parent now, which is equal parts terrifying and hilarious. Prior to having my own tiny dependents, I had no experience with children and therefore no understanding about their developmental expectations. Like most parents, I read the books and […]

Categories: Everyday Life, Parenting, Writing • Tags: basics, coloring, creative kids, cutting, fundamentals, parenting, practice, preschool skills, starting small

Leave a comment

Hi.

Welcome. Posts here are usually about trying to make stuff. Like good stories, a couple decent humans, a meaningful life… and maybe a craft or two.

Category Archives: Parenting

The Busy Mom’s Guide to Writing

Oh Family Picture Day

Spring Break: Then & Now

Mama in the Moment

Parenting is a Verb

Who Has Time for Useless?

Bye, Bye Baby Gate

Coloring Inside the Lines