Caitlin Stoecker
The Unexpected Joy in Gifting Hand-Me-Downs
There are some obvious benefits of gifting hand-me-downs.
It frees up space in the home and helps the recipient save money. It also keeps items from ending up in landfills, fulfilling our '90s childhood mantra...
The Last Bag of Breastmilk
The very last bag of breastmilk.
I'm holding it in my hand. I'm staring down at it. I feel a knot growing in my throat right above my collarbone.
How could this possibly be it? How...
Dreams and Dread: The End of the Baby Stage
As I write this, my baby will only be a baby for six more days.
I've simultaneously dreamed of this transition and dreaded it.
I've dreamed about this one year milestone because I have learned I'm...
I Love My Husband, but I’m Dating Someone Else: Me
I love my husband. And we regularly go on dates.
Or at least we go out as often as possible with parenting two little kids and juggling work and other obligations.
But I'm not just dating...
Unpopular Opinion: The Holidays Can Suck
Brace yourself, unpopular opinion ahead.
The holidays can suck.
Or at least for some people, some part of the holiday season sucks. Some years, I'm one of those people. Call me a grinch, or a heathen,...
I Suck at Playing: Tips to Enjoy Playtime with Kids
I haven't been a mom very long; less than five years. And in that time I've learned I'm good at a few parenting things I didn't expect:
I'm excellent at keeping calm during severe weather.
I...
The Small Stuff
It's usually the small stuff that stops me in my tracks. Today, it was underwear.
I was folding laundry until I wasn't. I was suddenly still, just staring at the transition.
There it was, so plain...
Dear Brand-New Breastfeeding Mama
Dear Brand-New Breastfeeding Mama,
I'm not going to give you fluff about how magical breastfeeding is. I'm also not going to try to convince you to keep trying, if that's not what's best for you...
3 Tips to Become a Pumping at Work Pro
As a working mother of two, I can say that making the transition to pumping at work isn't always easy.
But I did learn a few things the first time around that helped me during...
Explore with Kids: The Children’s Garden in Fargo
Magical fairy gardens to spark wonder? Check!
Picnic tables and a nearby playground? Check and check!
Sensory and gross motor activities? Check!
Educational exhibits, like one incorporating the alphabet? Check!
Beauty, nature, fluffy creatures, flying (or crawling) critters,...