WONDEROAK

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  • I Just Want Friends I Can Do Life With

    I Just Want Friends I Can Do Life With

    (Love Amy) When I was young, my parents had this group of families they did nearly everything with. The parents would play games, or talk, or watch a movie in one room and the kids would hang out in the other room.  I’m sure we ate, but honestly, I have a hard time remembering that […]

    wonderoak

    July 21, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • Stay in your lane.

    Stay in your lane.

    Something I’m learning right now (and it’s not always easy) is that if someone is upset with me, it’s not always my job to fix it. If I’ve hurt someone and they approach me about it, I will always do my best to make it right. But if I hear whisperings that someone is bothered, […]

    wonderoak

    July 15, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • This Friendship Didn’t Happen by Accident

    This Friendship Didn’t Happen by Accident

    If you see me and a friend out in public having a good time, please know this friendship didn’t happen by accident.  I know it looks simple. I know it looks comfortable. I know it looks easy.  And it is all those things, but only because we’ve done the work. Only because we’ve fought for […]

    wonderoak

    May 23, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • You Value Deep Friendship When You’ve Experienced Shallow Friendship.

    You Value Deep Friendship When You’ve Experienced Shallow Friendship.

    You recognize when someone loves you for you, when you’ve been loved conditionally and with strings attached. You know what it is to be able to relax and exhale, when you’ve had to perform in order to “belong”. You cherish mutual friendship, when you’ve been in relationships where you were the only giver and they […]

    wonderoak

    May 17, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • This One is for the Givers:

    This One is for the Givers:

    This ones for the givers. The ones who show up and again and again, (even when it’s hard, and even when it’s inconvenient.The ones who love and serve in ways that often goes unseen and unappreciated. The ones who’ve loved hard and with their whole hearts – and sometimes that’s meant being burned. The ones […]

    wonderoak

    May 13, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • Friendships Need Maintenance

    Friendships Need Maintenance

    Don’t forget friendships need maintenance. You’re not just getting a coffee, you’re connecting hearts. You’re not just texting, you’re being a part of each other’s lives. You’re not just spending money on that trip, you’re investing in your connection. You’re not just showing up for a party, you’re letting them know they matter. You’re not […]

    wonderoak

    May 12, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • The Highest Honor of Friendship

    The Highest Honor of Friendship

    The highest honor of friendship isn’t getting invited to “that party” or out on a girls weekend. It’s not clinking champagne glasses at fancy brunches or wearing matching shirts on a beach in Florida. That all is nice and fun and good and special, but it’s not what it’s about, not at all. The real […]

    wonderoak

    May 9, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • When you’re done having kids (and you’re sad)

    When you’re done having kids (and you’re sad)

    When we were deciding if we were going to be done having kids, my aunt told me something profound. She said, “No matter when you stop, whether it’s four or ten, you’re always going to grieve the end of a season.” Her words helped me make peace with my youngest being our grand finale. For […]

    wonderoak

    May 5, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • Being There is a Gift.

    Being There is a Gift.

    I think sometimes we make the mistake of thinking it’s hard for our friends to “be there”. We apologize for our messes, our tears, our rants, our dirty floors, our needs, and our humanity. We invite them in with a mile long disclaimer that basically says “so sorry you have to be here”. The truth […]

    wonderoak

    May 5, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • It shouldn’t be expensive to be a good friend.

    It shouldn’t be expensive to be a good friend.

    I’m sorry, but it shouldn’t be expensive to be a good friend. It’s not about living in the right house, or fancy decorations or going out and buying brand new patio furniture. It’s not about catering five-course meals or throwing elaborate parties or picking up the tab for the entire table at the hottest restaurant. […]

    wonderoak

    May 4, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • You Have to Protect Your Peace (even when people don’t understand)

    You Have to Protect Your Peace (even when people don’t understand)

    I’m going to let you in on a little secret: You have to protect your peace. You have to draw lines and have boundaries. You can’t give your energy to everything and everyone or it will drain you completely to the point where you don’t have anything left to give. At some point, you are […]

    wonderoak

    May 3, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • Dear Friend, When I get it wrong…

    Dear Friend, When I get it wrong…

    Have you ever been a bad friend? Have you ever stuck your foot so far down your mouth you thought it might be time to move to a new country? Have you ever dropped the ball and forgotten to text or call back when it was actually pretty important? Have you ever gotten triggered by […]

    wonderoak

    April 27, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • Friendship Isn’t a Freebie

    Friendship Isn’t a Freebie

    Friendship isn’t a freebie. It’s not a giveaway or a winning lottery ticket. Friendship is something you work at and sacrifice for. It’s something that you commit to and invest in. Friendship looks like listening (like really listening). Friendship looks like giving the benefit of the doubt even when you’re spitting mad. Friendship looks like […]

    wonderoak

    April 26, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • Dear Friends(Who I’ve grown apart from)…

    Dear Friends(Who I’ve grown apart from)…

    Dear Friends (who I’ve grown apart from), I hope you know how much I love you. I hope you know how grateful I am for the season that you were my person. I know we’re not in each other’s day to day lives anymore, and that’s sometimes sad, but it’s also okay. Our paths took […]

    wonderoak

    April 22, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • It’s better to have one true friend than a thousand “kinda” friends.

    It’s better to have one true friend than a thousand “kinda” friends.

    It’s better to have one true friend than a thousand “kinda” friends. It’s better to have one true friend cheering for you with her whole heart, than a thousand who talk about you when you’re not in the room. It’s better to have one true friend who wants to really do life with you – […]

    wonderoak

    April 21, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • Choose Friends Who Choose You Back.

    Choose Friends Who Choose You Back.

    Choose friends who are choosing you right back. Choose friends who are willing to get real in conversation. Choose friends who are making room for you at their table and willing to invest. Choose friends who lift you higher, let you relax—who make you laugh harder, breathe a little lighter, and come alive a little […]

    wonderoak

    April 20, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • Find yourself a friend who tells you you have salad in your teeth.

    Find yourself a friend who tells you you have salad in your teeth.

    Find yourself a friend who’s couch is better than yours on a rough day. Find yourself a friend who will never judge you for your dirty floor or your venting sash. Find yourself a friend who is in it for the long haul (even when things get mess and hard and weird). Find yourself a […]

    wonderoak

    April 19, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • Good friendship won’t feel like fitting-in where you don’t belong.

    Good friendship won’t feel like fitting-in where you don’t belong.

    Good friendship won’t feel like a bunch of pressure to be skinny enough, or smart enough, or rich enough. It won’t feel like a bunch of pressure to be pretty enough, or funny enough, or to have a big enough house. It won’t matter what kind of job you have, or what brand your leggings […]

    wonderoak

    April 19, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • Loneliness & Laundry

    Loneliness & Laundry

    I think it was Brene Brown who told a story about a village where all the women washed clothes together down by the river. When they all got washing machines, there was a sudden outbreak of depression and no one could figure out why.  It wasn’t the washing machines in and of themselves . It […]

    wonderoak

    April 18, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • When Friendship Hurts

    When Friendship Hurts

    (When you break-up, move on, or grow apart.) *** Sometimes you open up your heart big and wide in a friendship and you get hurt. Maybe your paths turned two different ways. You didn’t see it coming, and it’s painful to know your futures aren’t intertwined like they used to be. You kinda always pictured […]

    wonderoak

    April 15, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • Dear Friend, Borrow my hope.

    Dear Friend, Borrow my hope.

    Twelve years ago I miscarried for the first time. I was completely heartbroken and I quickly spiraled into a dark night of the soul. When I looked in the mirror I couldn’t even recognize the person looking back. I’d had loss before, but this time felt different. I’m naturally hopeful, but my grief and depression […]

    wonderoak

    April 12, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • 10 Qualities of a Really Good Friend

    10 Qualities of a Really Good Friend

    10 Qualities of a Really Good Friend: 1. They can be real. Fake is exhausting, and overrated. We’re all kind of a mess. Friendship is a whole lot better when you can be in the mess together. Authenticity breeds a beautiful level of depth and understanding to the relationship. 2. They are a safe place […]

    wonderoak

    April 11, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • So, I have anxiety.

    So, I have anxiety.

    So, I have anxiety. I’ve always had it I think. There have been seasons that it’s come in waves so strong and fast it knocked me off my feet. There has also been seasons of unexplainable calm and peace. Sometimes anxiety feels like all my senses are turned up too high. Every noise is too loud. […]

    wonderoak

    April 5, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • The Answers to 10 Common Questions About Racism

    The Answers to 10 Common Questions About Racism

    As a black woman influencer in America, my inbox has been flooded with questions about racism in the last weeks. My heart is heavy from current events, but the people waking up, asking questions, and fighting for change gives my family and I hope. I’ve made a list of the most commonly asked questions and […]

    wonderoak

    June 13, 2020
    Uncategorized
  • Be the Friend You Want to Have

    Be the Friend You Want to Have

    Friendship that is like family doesn’t happen overnight. Jennifer Garner posted a quote the other day that said, “The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.” Friendship is just like that. It happens over days and weeks and years of constantly investing in someone and making time for them. […]

    wonderoak

    June 27, 2019
    Uncategorized
  • To my friend’s kids: I love you like you’re mine.

    To my friend’s kids: I love you like you’re mine.

    To my friend’s kids: I hope you know how much I love you. You’re not mine, but I love you like you are. You’re not my niece or nephew by blood, but you are by choice…and that pretty much means you’re stuck with me forever. You are my chosen sister’s baby and that means you […]

    wonderoak

    April 5, 2019
    Uncategorized
  • Friendship requires sacrifice.

    Friendship requires sacrifice.

    Friendship requires sacrifice. There, I said it. I have met and talked to a lot of lonely people lately, and let me tell you it breaks my heart because I remember those days like I remember the smell of burnt popcorn. That memory is never going away, and when I think about it the ache […]

    wonderoak

    February 6, 2019
    Uncategorized
  • Dear Teenagers, Be patient while I let go…

    Dear Teenagers, Be patient while I let go…

    To my teenagers, Be patient with me as I learn to let you go. I know it’s time. I know you’re growing and becoming and that sometimes it’s uncomfortable. Be patient with me because it’s not just you who is adjusting, my love. It’s me too. I know it’s hard to understand, but hear me out.

    wonderoak

    October 24, 2018
    Letters to my kids
    Mom, motherhood, Parenting, teenagers
  • Dear Son, You’ll always be my little boy,

    Dear Son, You’ll always be my little boy,

    Dear Son, Today I wish I could go back. I wish I could go back and hold you as an infant. I wish I could smell your skin and rock you just a little longer. I wish I could be still and feel that moment just one more time. When I look at pictures of […]

    wonderoak

    July 29, 2018
    Uncategorized
  • Dear Kids, Sorry I was a jerk…

    Dear Kids, Sorry I was a jerk…

    Dear Kids, I’m sorry I was a jerk. I wish you knew that sometimes when the house is dark and quiet, I come in and watch you breathe for a minute. I wonder there in the stillness if you know how much I love you. I think about the things I could have said differently, […]

    wonderoak

    July 22, 2018
    Uncategorized
  • Don’t drink the Mom-Koolaid

    Don’t drink the Mom-Koolaid

    I had a few moms over for coffee the other day and one of them was telling me about the “imposter syndrome” among moms. I’d never heard of it before, but I’ve definitely experienced it. The imposter syndrome, she said, is a term for moms trying to appear to have it all together, probably because […]

    wonderoak

    February 24, 2018
    Friendship, Mom Stories
    kids, Mom, mom guilt, motherhood, Parenting
  • Dear Kids, I am with you no matter what

    Dear Kids, I am with you no matter what

    Dear Kids, I am with you. I was with you when you were in my belly. I was swollen, heavy, tired, and I felt like a moose, but I was with you. I was with you in the seconds, the minutes, and the hours of labor, when I truly didn’t think I could go on. […]

    wonderoak

    February 14, 2018
    Uncategorized
  • Dear Hot Mess Mom: To me you are perfect.

    Dear Hot Mess Mom: To me you are perfect.

    It’s tempting to pretend that there aren’t ritz crackers hidden deep inside my shag carpet, along with some other things I probably don’t want to know about. It’s tempting to pretend my four-year-old doesn’t rock the same “favorite” dress three days in a row, and that I don’t currently smell like men’s Old Spice deodorant. […]

    wonderoak

    January 30, 2018
    Mom Stories
    hot mess, motherhood, Parenting, tribe, vulnerable
  • Please stop telling Moms to enjoy every minute

    Please stop telling Moms to enjoy every minute

    Nothing makes me feel quite as overwhelmed as the words “enjoy every minute”. Like do you mean right now while my kid is spread eagle on the Target floor demanding a slushy? Do you mean when I make dinner and half of the family is crying because it looks weird? Do you mean when I […]

    wonderoak

    December 22, 2017
    Life Stories, Mom Stories
    babies, Mom, motherhood, Parenting
  • Permission to say NOPE at Christmas Time

    Permission to say NOPE at Christmas Time

    I am the santa, the elves, and the magic. I am the delicious smells, the stuffed bellies, and the Christmas spirit. I am the twinkle lights, the clean bathrooms, and the mistletoe hanging in the doorway. I am the stories, the advent calendars, and the reminding what Christmas is really about. I am the greeting […]

    wonderoak

    December 9, 2017
    Uncategorized
  • Dear Mama, You are not a failure…

    Dear Mama, You are not a failure…

    Dear Mama, You are not a failure. I know you don’t always believe that, but it’s true. We all fail, all of us, but we are not failures. There have been so many moments when I felt done, when I wanted to run outside and scream. So many moments when I knew I said the […]

    wonderoak

    December 3, 2017
    Uncategorized
  • Being a mom is hard, and that’s okay.

    Being a mom is hard, and that’s okay.

    Today I met some friends in town for coffee and shopping. I ended up bear hugging my four-year-old on a bench as she screamed and kicked in a level ninety-nine tantrum. A shop owner came out of a pottery store with wide eyes, but her face softened when she saw me. I’m so sorry I […]

    wonderoak

    November 28, 2017
    Letters to my kids, Mom Stories
    Children, kids, Mom, motherhood, Parenting
  • Confessions from a Tired Mom

    Confessions from a Tired Mom

    My ears are tired. Everyone is just always talking, all the time. Do not tell my kids that I said this, but sometimes when they are telling me a story that is never-ending I think about what color I would like to paint the walls and if I should get more throw pillows. I feel […]

    wonderoak

    November 20, 2017
    Uncategorized
  • Dear Kids, When I’m tired…

    Dear Kids, When I’m tired…

    Dear Kids, Sometimes I peek in your door and watch you sleeping. I wonder how I could ever get mad or frustrated at you. Your soft face is squished against your pillow and your favorite stuffed animal is buried under your chin. Today I was irritated that you left your notebooks and crayons all over […]

    wonderoak

    November 15, 2017
    Uncategorized
  • Swearing and other things I taught my kids.

    Swearing and other things I taught my kids.

    I had grand plans of the things I would teach my kids. I would teach them confidence, kindness, and a love for great books. I am still working on that, but in the meantime I’ve taught them some other gems… Swearing. Yesterday on our way to church my oldest son realized he’d forgotten something at […]

    wonderoak

    November 1, 2017
    Humor
    confessions, Humor, Parenting
  • Confessions of a “Selfish” Mom

    Confessions of a “Selfish” Mom

    When we got to the beach today children, sand, and food wrappers exploded out of the car as soon as the doors opened, and I laughed to myself. I picked up a rotten tangerine that had rolled under the car and tossed it in the trash. The boys shook the whole vehicle as they wrestled […]

    wonderoak

    October 24, 2017
    Uncategorized
  • Dear Firstborn, It’s okay to fail…

    Dear Firstborn, It’s okay to fail…

    Dear Firstborn, It’s okay to fail, and to fail again and again and again. There’s something special about my bond with you. It isn’t better or more important, it’s just different. You were the beginning of my awakening, the step through the portal that is motherhood. Your becoming was my becoming. The day you were […]

    wonderoak

    October 21, 2017
    Uncategorized
  • My kids are not an inconvenience

    My kids are not an inconvenience

    We just moved into a new neighborhood and I met an elderly woman a couple blocks down the street. She looked at me in shock (almost horror) when I told her that we have four kids and she kept saying, “Four? Four??” Then she looked at me square in the eyes. “I guess that will be […]

    wonderoak

    October 6, 2017
    Mom Stories
    kid raising, kids, mom shaming, motherhood, Parenting
  • Dear Kids, It’s okay to be mad at me…

    Dear Kids, It’s okay to be mad at me…

    Dear Kids, It’s okay to be mad at me. Sometimes we make decisions for you that you don’t agree with or understand. You feel voiceless and frustrated. Sometimes I overreact and I misunderstand. Sometimes you just have a bad day. It’s okay, I have those days too.

    wonderoak

    September 28, 2017
    Uncategorized
  • So this is my thirties

    So this is my thirties

    Last night, I was tucking the girls in and my four year old reached up and touched my face, “You are young,” she said, “but you do have those lines by your eyes.” This is my thirties. I am still young-ish, but I do have the lines around my eyes. Dammit. I’ll tell you what […]

    wonderoak

    September 19, 2017
    Humor
    Parenting, thirties, thirty
  • Mom Guilt is a Liar

    Mom Guilt is a Liar

    I have friends that grow, cook, and make almost everything from scratch that their kids eat. They are amazing. I salute them while I rip open a box of macaroni and cheese and add an extra few tablespoons of butter. It’s Annie’s Organic on a good day…otherwise we are not above the 19-cent variety. A […]

    wonderoak

    September 5, 2017
    Advice, Humor
    Humor, Mom, mom guilt, motherhood, Parenting, parenting goals
  • Dear Kids, As you grow older…

    Dear Kids, As you grow older…

    Dear Kids, Right now as I watch you sleep, I lean in so close I can feel your breath against my cheek. I think about the good moments today. I think about you touching my arm and telling me a story about a slug that you found by the water. I grin to myself alone […]

    wonderoak

    August 10, 2017
    Letters to my kids
    Parenting, pre teen, Raising kids
  • Dear Stranger, Yes, my hands are full…

    Dear Stranger, Yes, my hands are full…

    There I am, standing in the checkout line. One child is having a meltdown because they want a soda and the other one is doing aerial spins in the aisle. She is seconds away from taking out an elderly gentleman. He will never see it coming; she’ll take him out right at the knees. I […]

    wonderoak

    July 24, 2017
    Humor
    four kids, Humor, kids, Mom, motherhood, Parenting
  • Dear Strong Willed Child, You’re worth it…

    Dear Strong Willed Child, You’re worth it…

    Dear Strong Willed Child, Today we had many battles you and I. We had battles in the sun, battles in the sand, battles over popsicles, and a battle while I walked you screaming and kicking back to the house. You were red and fuming, I fought back tears. We’ve had thousands of battles you and […]

    wonderoak

    July 4, 2017
    Letters to my kids, Strong willed, Uncategorized
    Parenting, Raising kids, Strong willed, Tantrums
  • Happy Mother’s Day to my Mama Friends

    Happy Mother’s Day to my Mama Friends

    Sometimes as Mother’s Day approaches I find myself reflecting on how I’m doing as a Mom, and today, these are my thoughts… We are never going to be perfect. Sometimes we are going to be messy, and human, and moody. Sometimes we are going to feel real crappy at this. That’s normal I think. Sometimes we […]

    wonderoak

    May 14, 2017
    Encouragement, Humor, Mom Stories
    Humor, imperfect, mothers day, Parenting
  • Not a Perfect Mom, but an Enough Mom.

    Not a Perfect Mom, but an Enough Mom.

    I was going to be the Dr. Oz of parenting. I was going to be a guru, and then I realized that I would probably have to teach my kids to stop acting like wild raccoons at the grocery store. I don’t want to be negative but my kids are 10, 8,6, and 3. This is never going to […]

    wonderoak

    March 27, 2017
    Humor, Mom Stories
    Humor, imperfect, mom life, Parenting
  • Dear Kids, When I fail…

    Dear Kids, When I fail…

    Dear kids, Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I see that you’ve grown over night. Your face is more defined, your eyes look older. A part of me is excited and in awe; I know you have so much ahead of you. Another part is scared because time is racing and I can’t slow […]

    wonderoak

    January 9, 2017
    Letters to my kids, Life Stories, Mom Stories
    imperfection, kids, letters, mothering, Parenting
  • What do Stay at Home Moms DO all day?

    What do Stay at Home Moms DO all day?

    While usually we are being quaint and adorable like a live Norman Rockwell painting, there are a few other things that get us from WHYGODWHY in the morning to Netflix-O’clock at night. We clean things so they can be destroyed right exactly before you drop by. I don’t mean to brag, but my kids are capable of making my […]

    wonderoak

    October 10, 2016
    Humor, Mom Brain, Mom Stories, Stay at home mom
    Humor, job, laugh, laundry, Mom, mother, Parenting, Stay at home mom, work
  • Dear Kids, The world is still beautiful.

    Dear Kids, The world is still beautiful.

    To My Kids, Some people will say that the world is a scary, scary place. Some people will say that there’s no hope and that the future is dark and bleak. It is scary sometimes, but my dear ones, always remember, there are things that are awful, and terrible, and sad, but there is also always HOPE […]

    wonderoak

    August 9, 2016
    Life Stories, Mom Stories, orlando
    Generosity, Giving, Mom, orlando, Parenting, Sandy Hook, Violence, We matter
  • Dear First Born, It’s not you, it’s me.

    Dear First Born, It’s not you, it’s me.

    Dear First Born, I remember the day I first held you in my arms. You became, and I also became. I’d thought about motherhood for a long time, about how I’d be and how you’d be. But I was still so unprepared. Heaven and Earth kissed for a moment and I’d never felt so sure and so […]

    wonderoak

    April 25, 2016
    Advice, Belonging, First Born, Life Stories, Mom Stories, Sons, Uncategorized
    First Born, Grace, Mom, Parenting, Son
  • Confessions from a Stay at Home Mom

    Confessions from a Stay at Home Mom

    I know you think I wear yoga pants and athletic-T’s because I spend my days doing pilates while my kids practice Mozart on their harmonicas. But, I’m here to tell you, I wear them because they’re stretchy.

    wonderoak

    January 19, 2016
    Humor, Mom Stories, Uncategorized
    confessions, Humor, leggings, Mom, Parenting, SAHM, Stay at home mom
  • Being a Good Friend DOESN’T mean:

    Being a Good Friend DOESN’T mean:

    Hey, I know you want to be a good friend. I know it’s something you think about and weighs heavy on your heart, especially when your friend is going through something hard. I also know that sometimes you take on too much. Sometimes you try and carry things that aren’t yours to carry. Sometimes you […]

    wonderoak

    June 7, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • PSA: Husbands, I know what your wife wants for Mother’s Day.

    PSA: Husbands, I know what your wife wants for Mother’s Day.

    Listen, this is just my opinion (but it’s right). I know what your wife wants for mothers day. Ready? *Drum roll* Whatever it is she told you. I know, I know, it seems too simple, but, just trust me: If your wife tells you what she wants: get. her. that. If she says she wants […]

    wonderoak

    May 5, 2022
    Uncategorized
  • Reasons a mom says she doesn’t want “anything” for Mother’s Day

    Reasons a mom says she doesn’t want “anything” for Mother’s Day

    Reasons she says she doesn’t want anything for mother’s day: 1. She doesn’t want to think of what you should get her for Mother’s Day. She wants you to think of what you should get her for Mother’s Day. She is tired, her brain is mush. She would like “not thinking” in addition to whatever […]

    wonderoak

    May 5, 2022
    Uncategorized
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