We’ve come a long way baby. My Mother-in-law, who grew up in Mississippi, used to buy her Kotex from the local drug store. They were kept behind the counter, had to be requested from the salesperson, and were handed over in a brown paper bag like an illegal substance. Having your period was an embarrassment and any evidence of it must be hidden. You could even go as far to say the whole female anatomy was alluded to and somewhat shameful. Read More

“You’re being an asshole,” I scream downstairs at my ten year-old daughter. My voice echoes off the walls as my partner, Daniel, stares at me aghast. Read More

*Shannon sits in a chair under a very bright interrogation light*

Look it was just for a minute. 3 minutes max. I could see them the whole time, my windows were cracked, the doors were locked, they were both sleeping! I wasn’t going to wake them up, drag them out of their car seats and lug them both into the 7-Eleven while I ran a 3-minute errand. Do you know how many errands my Mom ran with me while I slept in the car? Read More

The middle child had an appointment at his pediatrician’s office on Thursday. All seemed to be fine and uneventful; he received his allergy shots and was deemed free and clear of the pneumonia that inhabited his lungs 2 weeks ago. It was also time for his 7 year check up, so we decided to take care of it all in one appointment. The nurse handed me a gown and asked that he remove his clothes, down to his underwear. After she left, he gave me this totally freaked out, ‘I have to take my clothes off?!?’ look. Read More

I’m in Costco with my, then 6 month old, daughter whom I’m pushing around in the cart. An older European woman rushes us and in a loud, heavy, Armenian accent begins, “Ohhhhh my God. Ohhhh my God in Heaven. Look at that blonde hair! She is beautiful! What an angel! So gorgeous! That face!” She then takes a moment to look at me and asks incredulously, “She’s yours?” Read More