Coffee – then adulting.

Or wine. Wine then adulting.

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Just a mom to a know-it-all teen and an 8-year-old who rules the roost. A wife, a daughter, and a twin sister. Millennial who juggles a full-time job with mental sanity.

  • A Journey Back to Writing

    A Journey Back to Writing

    If you know me, you probably know that I’m generally a pretty private person. There are many reasons for starting this but here are a few.

    1. I have a new laptop. Now I must use it.
    2. I miss writing. Even if no one reads what I write.
    3. We all have a voice, and many of us don’t use it enough. Some of us use it too much. But I figured that we can all gain from hearing each other’s thoughts. This especially true when it comes to the trials and tribulations of having kids, and really just “adulting” in general.

    The truth is I started this blog entry above in April of 2019. It’s now 2025. In other words, that was before a new job, before the world shut down for a pandemic, and before we moved 3 times in 3 years. And before the crippling anxiety about the future of our children’s generation – and basically, everything. Now, the laptop I started this on is the last one I would use due to its turtle-level speed. But, the reasons I started this are the same.

    We live in a world where we outsource so much. This is especially true now, thanks to AI. But I want my thoughts to be mine. I want them to be authentic – even if no once cares to read them.

    It takes bravery to ink our thoughts on paper. Maybe all we need is a good cup of coffee, first. A sip of vino might also help. So here goes nothing…better late than never.

  • Nostalgic Summer Vacations: Packing for Fun

    Nostalgic Summer Vacations: Packing for Fun

    It’s a summer night in 1996. My family is leaving for vacation the next morning. I’ve packed my favorite outfits—one nice one for, you know, going out to dinner—my bathing suits, toiletries, and a couple of pairs of shoes.

    My parents and brother are packing their own suitcases.

    Dad is packing the car. Mom is packing a cooler.

    I can barely sleep the night before. I wake up groggy yet excited the next morning and throw my bags in the car without hesitation, knowing I’ve packed all the right things, and off we go, headed to a new campground.

    Cue the excitement, the anticipation. I was carefree and just worried about what to order at McDonald’s for breakfast.

    Fast forward 20 years and while my husband and kids mostly pack their own suitcases (or whatever we are calling them now), I find myself also packing the cooler, the beach bags, remembering the medications in case someone comes down with a fever, allergic reaction, or a bad sunburn.

    The kids also need the sound machine for sleeping AND a fan.

    Oh, we can’t forget the millions of different phone chargers.

    And the snacks. Damnit, I almost forget to fill the water bottles.

    Did anyone remember to feed the cat and fish before we left? Oh, wait. It was me.

    My husband is carefully packing the trunk like he’s playing a game of Tetris.

    But I’m exhausted before we even hit the road.

    What I didn’t notice as a kid is all the work my family was doing behind the scenes to make each vacation memorable. From small things like packing the right size firewood to buying matching tin cups for beverages, there was a concerted effort to make the details count.

    Now when we plan a trip, there’s a feeling of anxiousness I get about all the things that I didn’t worry about as a kid – the money, the reservations, the clean clothes, the potential hazards.

    I wish I could go back to childhood just once and remember how little I cared about sharing toilet seats with dozens of other people in the middle of the woods. Now I get annoyed just sharing a bathroom with own family.

    There are so many things we took for granted as kids, and vacations are definitely one of them. Now I feel like I’m always wrestling with this inner pressure to simply enjoy it all, while also worrying about time, packing lists, and whether I’ve forgotten something important.

    As parents, we live for our kids. We plan “vacations” with them top of mind.

    We plan “trips” or “getaways” for ourselves.

    With another summer “vacation” on the horizon, I keep thinking about that one outfit I refused to travel without as a kid—a summer skirt, a cozy sweatshirt, my favorite tank top. Now I’m watching my own kids do the same thing, carefully choosing which beloved pieces will make the cut and find their way into their suitcases. All while making sure I’ve packed the antacids, melatonin and bug spray in my own bag.

  • Why You Should Buy that Concert Ticket: A Personal Perspective

    Why You Should Buy that Concert Ticket: A Personal Perspective

    I was recently listening to my favorite radio station in the car when the DJ said they were taking song requests. I thought, do people still do that? You can play any song from your phone in an instant, yet the radio still gets requests. It felt both refreshing and nostalgic.

    Maybe it’s nostalgia that keeps the tradition alive, or the need for human connection. People driving long distances who can’t play songs from their phones might need that little pick-me-up.

    But it made me think about how music has always had the power to unite us in ways we take for granted. While music styles change, the emotions a song evokes and our desire to share those feelings stay constant. I often stop scrolling through my social media when I see clips of Noah Kahan concerts, feeling envious of how people lose themselves in his incredible songs and distinct sound.

    I took my teenage daughter to her first concert this past weekend. I bought the tickets mainly for her enjoyment, even though I like Alex Warren too. Seeing her sing along to the songs that she’s loved for the past year with a giant smile on her face confirmed how important music is in our lives.

    I’ve been attending concerts since I was her age, not just for the music, but to share the experience with someone else who also loves the artist. Besides, who wouldn’t want to spend a couple of hours singing their heart out, forgetting their troubles and everything else that is happening in the world.

    I recently went to see Darius Rucker with my husband, and before the concert had even started, we struck up a nice conversation with a couple we met at the shared table in the Voltaggio Brothers Steakhouse at MGM Resort & Casino at National Harbor. If it weren’t for the concert, we wouldn’t have been there to eat delicious food and meet kind people.

    What I’m trying to say is that live music, whether at a big stadium show or a small band in a subway, brings people together in a way that’s needed more than ever these days.

    So if you’re thinking about those concert tickets, I suggest you buy them (as long as you won’t go into debt). It’s like a therapy session with lasting benefits.

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  • Why June Feels Like the Best Month of Summer (and Maybe the Whole Year)

    Why June Feels Like the Best Month of Summer (and Maybe the Whole Year)

    As I quietly enjoy my coffee, I notice the magnetic refrigerator calendar is still June. I haven’t gotten around to updating it since coming back from vacation. I’m not sure I even want to. I want to be stuck in this moment in time. I don’t want summer to go on, yet I know by August I will be ready for school to start again.

    I wish we could be frozen in time in June, stuck between the craziness of school ending and the anticipation and excitement of a trip or vacation. It’s a feeling that never goes away from childhood to adulthood. The weather isn’t too steamy yet. You can sit outside without getting eaten alive by bugs. You can make a mental list of all the awesome things you’ll do to your yard and house this summer. (If only you knew you would complete just one thing off that list).

    Returning from vacation at the end of July or early August is the worse. You know summer is coming to an end. The take-it-easy days won’t come again until the holidays. The hot weather isn’t going away anytime soon. You have to start back-to-school shopping.

    I’ll leave the June calendar up a bit longer to remind myself that summer has just begun. If a zombie apocalypse occurs overnight, the future video footage will show the calendar and remind people how valuable June was. The downside is I – and my husband – actually really just my husband – forget all the important dates in July.

    I don’t know why I want June to stick around. It’s been one of the most overstimulating months so far and I could use some slowing down. But it’s a bridge to the heart of summer that eventually leads to the end of summer, and I always feel some sadness crossing that bridge.

    Does anyone else love June as much as I do?

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  • Coffee Thoughts: Why is the Onus on Us?

    Can we normalize something here? Having a doctor’s office call YOU to remind YOU to book an appointment. I was due for a mammogram. If you’ve read my earlier blog posts, you know I usually don’t make appointments on time, so any reminder is appreciated. About a week ago, I received a call from the radiology staff asking if I wanted to book an appointment—and not 3 months out, but for the next day.

    It’s the type of annoying call or text I want to get. Because if it wasn’t for a reminder like this, it might never happen. And if it doesn’t happen, I might miss something serious.

    When medical professionals follow up with me, I am always caught off guard. Typically, when I try to schedule annual checkups for my kids, I often hear, “It’s too early; call back later.” Do you really think I’ll remember to do that? No disrespect to the doctor’s offices and staff, but you all have the schedules and charts. I believe AI could help figure out who needs to book their appointments.

    So if you’re a doctor or work for one, I highly encourage the hassling. (I’m sorry to those who don’t). My tired, overwhelmed brain thanks you for it.

    Photo by Enes Su00f6zen on Pexels.com

  • Coffee Thoughts: Overachieving is Overated
  • Coffee Thoughts: Overachieving is Overated

    Coffee Thoughts: Overachieving is Overated

    I recently saw a post on Threads that made me wonder about adulthood and careers. The person who posted said that now that they’re in their 40s, they don’t care for advancement or promotion anymore. They don’t want to lead a team, or “spearhead an initiative” to put it bluntly.

    And I thought – NOW that is one honest and brave comment.

    I wasn’t prepared for such a change of mindset about job growth communicated in a just 10 sentences.

    It seems lazy to say you’re just “coasting.” I’m not sure if “coasting” is the best term. However, if you’re getting by, earning a paycheck, supporting your family, and fulfilling your job duties, isn’t that enough?

    Now, I am totally aware that people start out at different levels and change jobs/careers, so advancement may be something that is natural, or something they are striving for after starting a new position.

    But I also don’t think employers should look down on people who feel fine in their current role, while building upon their current skills.

    There is a lot of energy spent outside of work, on family, daily life, and social activities. The same person on Threads mentioned they manage their “home,” and that should be enough. It’s tough to share your energy when you’re just ONE person balancing TWO full-time jobs, trying to succeed at both yet often feeling behind or not meeting expectations. Each day presents a new set of challenges, from tackling household chores to attending your kids’ events, leaving little room for personal time or relaxation.

    When you turn 40, it seems like your energy fades a little more each day while responsibilities pile up. My mind sometimes feels as slow as my body, struggling to keep up with what’s expected. This constant balancing act can lead to overwhelming tiredness, making me wonder how much I can really give before hitting my limits. Managing these parts of life is a careful act, needing both stamina and resilience, and it’s a journey many people understand as they handle their own challenges with work and personal life.

  • Casting My Vote for a 3-Day Weekend

    Casting My Vote for a 3-Day Weekend

    Who are we kidding? The weekend is a wash. You might get to sleep in one of the days. But, if you’re anything like me, you wake up on a Saturday mornings not at all relaxed, but instead full of dread and anxiety, thinking all the things you need to accomplish within the next 48 hours.

    Grocery shopping

    Haircuts

    Shave your legs

    Wash the floors

    Plant a garden

    Watch your kids’ games

    Preserve your kids eye sight from screen time overload

    Do something educational

    Do something nature-y

    Plan dinner for the 21,000th time

    And the list goes on.

    Did I inadvertently leave “time for myself” off the list? No, it wasn’t accidental, it’s because it doesn’t exist.

    Don’t get me wrong, I still count down to the weekends like a kid in the 90s on the way to Blockbuster and Domino’s Pizza on a Friday night. Back in the day, it was a glorious escape filled with adventure and shenanigans with friends. Now it feels more like a frantic marathon towards, with coffee to get me to the finish line.

    My vote is for kids to go back to school on Mondays. But the weekend for us parents and adults could surely use an extra day.

  • Why Do I Dread the Adulting Tasks that Take 5 Minutes?

    Why Do I Dread the Adulting Tasks that Take 5 Minutes?

    I am pretty sure I got the order form for my daughter’s yearbook 3 months ago. When is it due? Tomorrow. Have I filled ordered the yearbook yet? No.

    But I did put it on my nightstand as an in-your-face reminder to complete it. So that counts for something, right?

    If you’re like me, you wait until the very last minute to complete something on a deadline – like paying bills. The bill may sit on your desk for days, weeks, or even months before you take action. A week -and-a-half worth’s of newspapers sit on the coffee table waiting to be read. Even my daughter has had to remind me of making a physical therapy appointment for her.

    So why do we wait so long? Like putting away laundry or cleaning the fish tank, what makes us avoid these simple tasks?

    As kids, procrastination was practically inevitable with every chore we were assigned. Turns out that hasn’t phased much since then. Now I have to be the one modeling behavior that I hope my kids will adopt, like putting away laundry before we run out of baskets to use. And we have at least 3.

    Now, will not doing the laundry cause harm? Probably not. So it makes it easy to understand exactly why we avoid it. When we have so many other things we could choose to do for pleasure instead – like doom scrolling on the phone or watching TV – then we’re probably choosing those instead.

    Even grocery shopping is a task that I cringe to do at times. Thank goodness for delivery services now, making it a bit more doable on days when I would rather do anything BUT that.

    Maybe it’s just the tired brain (and body) saying NO or a brain function that I will never truly understand (as I am not a doctor or psychologist). It’s fascinating how our minds and bodies communicate their needs, often in ways that can be confusing or frustrating.

    Sometimes, when we’re exhausted, our brains signal us to slow down, to take a break, or even to step back from the chaos of everyday life. This disconnect between what we want to do and what our bodies are telling us can lead to a deep sense of introspection, forcing us to confront the limits of our own endurance. Now I understand why it is many adults I know take off a day from work just to cross things off their “to-do lists.” It’s like your body has to catch up with your brain.

    Multi-tasking has always been a requirement of our generation, but it was never a skill I naturally possessed. I feel the need to accomplish one thing before I start another; however, unfortunately, that mindset is not based in reality.

    So as I sit here staring at bills that need to be paid in the next few days, wish me luck that I will pay them by 11:59 p.m. on their due date.

  • Inheriting Skills: The Genes We Missed
  • Inheriting Skills: The Genes We Missed

    Inheriting Skills: The Genes We Missed

    Do you ever wonder why you didn’t get the career genes or the hobby genes from your parents?

    What I mean is, my mom was a teacher. My grandmother was a teacher. Guess it skipped a generation? I lost my shit trying to teach my then-third grader math during the pandemic lockdowns. I barely know how to do anything kids are learning nowadays. Plus, I just can’t relate to kids (my own kids remind me of that all the time). I don’t think teaching is in my future.

    Then there is the green thumb. My parents have a beautiful garden that anyone would envy. I love to buy plants and flowers. But I look at them and just feel overwhelmed knowing the care that goes into growing them. I suppose I can be proud that some hostas I planted are still growing nearly 3 months later.

    I see a pattern: Maybe it’s the “nurturing gene” I didn’t get.

    The cooking gene is another one that passed me and went to my brother.

    Personality traits – now those I did get.

    I know it’s nothing to worry about – every child charts their own path when it comes to careers and interests. But I wonder if they wonder whether they did something wrong that prevented these valuable life skill genes from transferring to me.

    I can’t help but feel ashamed that their specialties don’t come easier. Is it me, or is it a generation thing?

    I did get a love of history and reading and travel from them, which has shaped my perspective on life in profound ways. So that counts, right? The rich experiences they took me and my brother on has been passed along, and I am grateful for that.

    However, as I look out on the weed “garden” that needs constant maintenance and the recipes that need preparing, I feel a sadness of never living up to the expectations I should.