Parenting is the most challenging job I’ve ever had. When my role as a parent expanded into caregiving for three of my children, challenging didn’t even begin to describe the path that lay in front of us. I share seven children with my husband, Jason: Lexi, 23, Max, 19, Chance,…
I live in rural Nebraska with my husband and our seven children. Three of them — Max, 19; Rowen, 15; and Charlie, 14 — live with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). People who meet me in person for the first time when I’m with my family are often curious to…
The Christmas decorations are down and tucked into storage for another year. The house is clean, the counters are clear of the holiday sweets, and our routine is again in sync. However, this holiday season has left lingering fears and sadness quivering in my heart. I share seven children with…
Occasionally I struggle to find a topic to write about in my weekly column. I had that experience before writing this one, so I asked my husband, Jason, what I should write about. He jokingly said, “Husbands!” At first, I laughed with him, but I quickly realized it was…
In the past 12 months, our oldest daughter got married, our oldest son moved across town into a college dorm, another son started his final year of high school, and, most significantly, I returned to full-time work outside the home. Life is drastically different for our family than it was…
In the past few weeks, as I’ve sat down at my laptop to write my columns, I’ve often wondered if readers think I’m crazy. One week my columns are full of positivity and gratitude for the things I’ve learned, and the next week they’re full of my fears, frustrations, and…
I’m more than a caregiver, but it took a recent life change for me to realize that. I’m a mom to seven children I share with my husband, Jason, including three of our sons — Max, 19, Rowen, 15, and Charlie, 13 — who live with Duchenne muscular…
I think about things deeply, rolling ideas around in my head until they make sense. My creative side, the writer, likes to wonder in this way. And as an introvert who naturally tends to keep everything to myself, writing is often the way I can express ideas and feelings after…
Life feels busy, which is no surprise to me. My husband, Jason, and I share seven children: Lexi, 23; Max, 19; Chance, 17; Rowen, 15; Charlie, 13; Mary, 10; and Callie, 2. Max, Rowen, and Charlie live with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Our lives are busy year-round. This year…
“Kidney stones!” my 13-year-old son, Charlie, exclaimed when I asked him what I should write about this week. My husband, Jason, and I have seven children: Lexi, 23; Max, 19; Chance, 17; Rowen, 15; Charlie, Mary, 10; and Callie, 2. Max, Rowen, and Charlie have Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
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