Evie started her second year of pre-school last week.  A year ago I was very anxious about sending Evie to school for the first time.  Would she miss me? Who would she turn to if she got hurt? How would her view of the world change without me there to guide her?  She had been […]

Like much of the world, we’ve been keeping our eyes on the Olympics this week. While I’m certainly not glued to the screen, its fun to have the games on in the background while making dinner or cleaning up.  Evie and Mack are pretty neutral to the phenomenon – as far as they are concerned, […]

I consider myself to be more spiritual than religious.  I have a deep appreciation for the grace and beauty of the world around us, and I have faith that a higher power is present in my everyday. Still, it is important to me that I give my kids a foundation upon which they can build […]

We are at a crossroads. In a little less than two months the lease on our downtown Chicago apartment expires.  It is a spacious home for a city apartment – two bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms on two floors – but our family of five has definitely outgrown it. Its time for us to move […]

In just a few weeks, on April 22, the world will celebrate Earth Day.  As a Homemade Mother I strive to teach my kids about taking care of our planet every day, a somewhat daunting mission with a 2 and 3 1/2 year old.  They are careful to turn off lights, put trash in a […]

Mack has always been so tenacious.  He was climbing the stairs at 7 months, walking at 9 months and running (fast!) by his first birthday.  Although I find his efforts to be charming and sweet in a rambunctious little boy way, in truth his energy and ambition overwhelm me at times.  I am always so […]

As I’ve written about many times before, my little family and I strive to live a pretty simple life.  Our home is a two-bedroom apartment in the middle of downtown Chicago, so space demands that we don’t go overboard with stuff.  And, because our budget is rather rigid, reality dictates that we can’t afford to […]

I had a hard time falling asleep last night. Just before going to bed I read a horrifying story about a 3 year old girl who died from exposure after being locked in her frigid bedroom.  Her mother and her mother’s boyfriend opened the windows to air out the room after the girl and her […]

Today should have been a good day.  The kids woke up in good moods, we had a busy and productive morning and we were home just a few minutes late for Mack’s afternoon nap. But, I knew well before nap time that this afternoon wouldn’t go so well… …because someone gave my kids balloons. Now, […]

It happened seemingly overnight.  Under cover of darkness while we innocently slept, it crept into my home, took hold and hasn’t left. It follows us everywhere and rears its doe-eyed head at all hours of the day. This sneaky problem I speak of? Princesses. Like most little girls, Evie is absolutely head-over-heals in love with […]