The chilling realization that we all have played a part in this nightmare and anyone of us could be next — I was 13 years old and in the 8th grade on April 20th, 1999. I was one of the last generations to know what it was like to go to school without having to worry about being shot. …

Witnessing the formation of a brotherhood — I never thought I’d be a boy mom. I never thought I’d hearing the words, “It’s a boy!” once let alone twice on my journey to motherhood. The thought never crossed my mind. It wasn’t that I didn’t want boys. …

I’d set the world on fire for you. A thousand times, again and again if it meant you'd be safe. I'd set the world on fire for you. When someone tries to hurt you, to make you feel bad or lesser than the amazing person that you are. I'd set…

The unabashed truth from a postpartum mom. — I think it started sometime even before this photo was taken. The anxiety I know started when I found out he was breech and would be born via a planned c-section in a middle of a snowstorm. …

Surviving parenthood one load at a time — This photo came up on my personal time line today. This was taken 3 years ago — during the early days with baby #2. I had a 4 year-old running around, too. This picture is the perfect representation of the early days with a new baby. Whether it’s baby #1…

An Ode to the show that taught us about family, duty and monsters — I was 20 years old when Supernatural premiered on The WB. I was a stupid kid, and didn’t really know much about life. A die hard Buffy fan, when I saw a preview for a show about monster hunters featuring handsome actors I’d followed on both Dawson’s Creek and Gilmore…

Maybe some of these will make you feel less alone. — Before my husband and I decided that I was going to be a stay-at-home mom, I had a few ideas that ran through my mind. Would I enjoy being home with our kids? What the heck would we do all day? Were my children going to miss out on social…

How a simple outing became a lesson about tolerance. — “Can you take my picture in front of this flag, Mommy?” “Sure, buddy.” Snaps photo. “Can I see?” Holds phone down for my three-year-old to see. “Why is it all those colors, Mommy?” “It’s a rainbow flag, buddy.” “But…why?” My three-year-old son is extremely intuitive and bright. He gives the…

It feels something like this — For some, they are butterflies — floating delicately from the spring blossoms and graciously flying away while leaving a glimmer of remembrance for a life that could have been. For others, it’s coins found on city sidewalks or underneath couch cushions, believed to be tokens left by tiny angels that…