Last weekend, on a warm and sunny Saturday, three innocent people were shot in my Chicago neighborhood. In broad daylight. At a Peace Picnic with kids and families present. A fourth person was badly beaten. It was almost a mass shooting. To many outsiders, I’m sure our decision to remain in this neighborhood seems insane. […]

Perhaps one of the greatest misconceptions of our time is that women can now, after thousands of years of toil and turmoil, “have it all.” For all the youngin’s out there, I have some breaking news: You cannot have it all. No one gets to have an amazingly fulfilling career while raising a family while […]

Here we go again. Again, America’s presdient spoke in manner wholly unbecoming of the leader of the free world. In a manner that directly conflicts with so much of what I believe. When the Chicago Tribune shared an opinion piece “Your response to Trump’s racist ‘shithole’ comment will be remembered” yesterday I took it to […]

Again. It happened again. I woke up this morning to the sickening news of another mass murder. Another day where I won’t let my kids turn on the TV because I don’t want them knowing this is happening in their country. I am honest with them about most things, but the random slaughter of innocent […]

Evie, my oldest, recently turned 9. It might not sound as momentous as turning 10, but, for me, 9 is a really big deal. It’s halftime. Except, now is not the time for rest. Now is the time to keep moving! All the time we’ve had with our Evie is equivalent to all the time […]

Summer. The blissful four months in Chicago when the kids and I walk everywhere – parks, beaches, Michigan Avenue. We might hop the Red Line to Chinatown. Or jump on a bus to State Street. It isn’t unreasonable for us to cover five miles a day via foot, scooter and stroller. I LIVE for this […]

We baptized our twins yesterday at what we consider to be heaven on earth: Notre Dame. Chris and I met there at the start of our senior year. The moment I met him I thought he was THE HOTTEST GUY ON THE PLANET – fast forward 16 years and I feel like the luckiest wife […]

I never really considered myself a prude. Until I had kids. Now, I often feel sad by how much they are exposed to despite their young ages. Just a few examples: 1. A suburban sex shop constantly has a racy billboard on 290, a major expressway here in the Chicago area. The ads always feature a […]

Last week Evie and Vivian’s school hosted the annual Christmas show. The kids were adorable, the music was festive. It was all that is good about this time of the year. One song in particular caught my attention: One Little Candle. It is about how a little light in a sea of darkness can make […]

My *adorable* nephew Jace recently turned 1. My sister had the whole family out to her home for a good old fashioned birthday party, complete with a delicious homemade cake the birthday boy wanted nothing to do with. As the mother of four kids, I know birthday gifts can be exciting and overwhelming. A sudden […]