Even though my daughter is only 3, I have been a mother for six years. It's complicated but true. Years before that beautiful baby girl was in my belly, I was complaining about dirty socks in the hall and shouting out reminders to take out the trash. And no, I was not talking to my husband. I was talking to my stepchildren, Eddie and Kaitlynn. They were 8 and 6 respectively when I met them, and it didn’t take long for me to jump into the role as mother to them. After dating their father for a few months, I moved into the house where they lived. They had no contact with their biological mother…

Every mom has it. How she deals with it is what makes her unique. I am talking about guilt. I had never quite experienced such a magnitude of it until I acquired the title of "Mom." As a teen, I snapped at every person who looked at me wrong or who didn’t give me my way. Today, I'm rocked with guilt when I shout, “No, Kailee!” at my 3-year-old as she dumps her entire glass of milk all over the kitchen table -- on purpose. I have brought myself -- and my child -- to tears after yelling about the unexpected “masterpieces” I discovered coloring my walls. As stressed as I felt, it was nothing …

As a working mother, I can tell you it's a juggling act just to take care of all that needs tending to in this exhausting roll I call parent. There are family and household duties I am accountable for, demands at the workplace and, lets not forget, trying to find a way to take care of myself in the midst of it all. With everything that’s on my to-do list, it's hard to find the time to get it all done. Because there are just so few hours in the day, a girl has got no choice but to prioritize. My family, of course, is No. 1 on my list. I now work full-time, which means my 3-year-old daughter is…

After noticing my stepchildren were taking more than an hour to clean 20 minutes worth of after-dinner dishes the other day, I decided to check up on them. I peeked around the corner of the kitchen and saw two teenagers fixated on their cell phones. For every dish my stepdaughter Kaitlynn put in the dishwasher, she sent a text. As my stepson Eddie made his way towards the trash can, he stopped after every step to reply to a text. It was ridiculous. Afraid they were going to be there all night, I managed to grab their attention by clearing my throat and noting that they would get done a lot …

A few weeks ago, I wrote how desperate I was to find a fulltime job. In the past few days, I finally landed one. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse: A great and challenging position with a phenomenal company. Excellent pay and benefits coupled with working with a great group of people. Who could ask for more? I must admit, I was elated when that call came through. I hung up the phone, did a little happy dance and called everyone I knew. The stress in my life would soon fade, I told myself. I would no longer be constantly fretting over paying the bills. The hard times were over — or so I …

Last week I sent my 3-year-old daughter Kailee off to her first day of preschool. I was so nervous, although I don’t know why. In my opinion her school is one of the best around. Her classroom is a warm, welcoming place with a cheerful carpet that displays the alphabet. Bulletin boards plastered with friendly characters scatter the walls, and scores of toys overflow from the shelves. Two friendly teachers stand at the head of the room Entering that wonderland of a room on that daunting first day, I watched with much anticipation -- and anxiety -- as my timid daughter took in her new …

Jobs can be scarce these days, and yet bills still must be paid. What’s a parent to do when there is a choice to be made between paying the electric bill and purchasing new school clothes? It’s infuriating to me that so many hardworking families are going through such tough times. It shouldn’t have to be one or the other when it comes to paying the bills and keeping food on the table. Unfortunately that’s the reality for some of us. While my family is in no way impoverished, we have hit tough times, just as thousands, if not millions, of others have. Lack of work on my part has caused our …

Disciplining your child is a hot topic these days, and it seems as if everyone has an opinion on the subject. Folks are still talking about the “Hot Sauce Mom,” also known as Jessica Beagley. The Alaska mom of six made waves after videotaping herself punishing her 7-year-old-son by dumping hot sauce in his mouth and then shoving him into a cold shower. The reason for this horrific video tape? Beagley was desperate for a chance to appear on the Dr. Phil show to get help for what she described as her out-of-control son. After becoming the subject of media scrutiny, Beagley was charged with …

On Friday a 45-year-old woman and her two children died after becoming trapped inside their car during flash floods that submerged more than a dozen vehicles in Pittsburgh's East End. A day later, search crews found the body of a fourth flash-flood victim along the Allegheny River near the Highland Park Bridge, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiners office. Kimberly Griffith, of Plum, and her daughters, Brenna, 12, and Mikaela, 8, died inside their flooded vehicle along Washington Boulevard in Pittsburgh. Their car was completely submerged and pinned to a tree, according to news …

Do you remember when you were sick as a child? Do you recall the smell of the chicken soup your mom served to you on a tray? How about the hot tea she made to soothe your sore, or the hugs she gave to comfort you? Well, now that we’re on the flipside there's no one to serve parents breakfast in bed just for being under the weather. We're still required to take care of our family -- whether we're sick or not. I spent this past week alternating between hiding underneath a mountain of blankets to try to quell the violent chills that shook my body and attempting to keep my household flowing …

It's that time of year again. Stores are stocking their shelves in anticipation of the new school year. Swimsuits, beach towels, and sunscreen are making way for backpacks, lunchboxes, pencils and notebooks. Let's not forget the new fall clothes. As much as I love summer, there is nothing I like more than dressing for fall. Rich colors, heavier fabrics and preppy prints all make me itch to get my hands on the newest fashions. But this year I won't be shopping the new looks for myself. My little girl is heading to preschool this fall, and I am stocking her closet with all the latest trends …

There is nothing I wouldn’t do for my child. Running through a burning building? Flinging myself in front of a truck in order to save her? I would do it in a heartbeat if she needed me. I also need to do what it takes to ensure her financial future. Every month I am strapped with a student loan bill that I can in no way afford, yet I find a way to pay it. My student loan bill costs more than my monthly car payments, and it adds considerable stress to my life. When I took out those college loans, I thought they were the means to an end. After I earned my degree I planned to find a career that …

Last weekend I hosted a birthday party for Kaitlynn, my now-12-year-old stepdaughter. Using my mother's beautiful -- and free -- inground pool, I told Kaitlynn to invite a boatload of her closest pals for a swim party to celebrate becoming a preteen. With no worries over how the party would turn out, I printed up 25 invitations. It’s a birthday party with a bunch of middle-school girls, I thought. What could go wrong?  A lot. On the day of the party, I started to get ready early. My first move was to go to the store to buy munchies for the girls. I also needed to fill with helium the two …

Since becoming a mother, losing weight has been a struggle. I gained a lot of weight during my pregnancy -- almost 50 pounds, to tell you the truth. I was relatively thin before becoming pregnant, but between the stress of a high-risk pregnancy and having hypothyroidism, which shuts down your metabolism, and the pounds quickly packed on during my first trimester. Thankfully, as soon as my doctors adjusted my hypothyroidism medication, the weight gain began to subside. For the first time in months, the only thing expanding on me was my baby in my belly. Even though my weight evened out, I …

There are many words in the English language that I do not like. "Fart" is one of them. My Nana hated that word as well. Every time one of her rambunctious grandchildren would scream “Ew! You farted!” she would shudder. Perhaps that’s why I now feel “fart” is a word that's as nasty as the act it describes. There are other words I despise. Words like "ointment," "trending" and "meme" all have negative connotations in my book. It’s not just lone words that makes me cringe. Entire phrases make me want to fling hard objects at people who mutter them. Phrases such as "ka-ching!" "Cowboy up" and …

I have been a mother for three years now, and despite my daughter's evolution from a tiny infant to active preschooler, I've noticed a common thread throughout the process. It has nothing to do with her. It's within myself that I find this perpetual condition. Ever since the miraculous night when I brought this precious baby girl into the world, I have been incessantly tired. It’s not just a yawn here and there. It’s more like the kind of exhaustion where if I close my eyes for just a second, no matter where I'm at, I would fall into a long, hard snoozefest. When Kailee was born, I chose to …

Have you ever watched the television shows your children watch? Have you ever sat down and really paid attention to the programs instead of absentmindedly listening to whatever catches your ear as you do something else? I myself am quite guilty of the latter. Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and Disney all have programming for preschoolers, and I have never felt compelled to really watch any of the shows until recently. When I was growing up, the only shows that were available to watch during my preschool years were Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. At that time cable did not offer the vast …

Call them what you wish -- pedophiles, sex offenders, or predators. They prey on children. Although we live in a wonderful, safe community in Cranberry Township, the sad truth is that they're here too. Did you know that the FBI estimates a sex offender lives within every square mile of the United States? Did you know that the FBI also estimates that one in 10 men has molested a child? Or that many molesters are able to abuse dozens of children before they are caught, and that there is only a 3 percent chance of them being apprehended? Horrified yet? I am. After learning this, I became curious…

I turned 30 the other day. It was a lovely birthday, despite that hideous number. I awoke that morning expecting my face to have morphed into that of an ugly, wrinkled hag. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I looked relatively the same, despite the tinge of trepidation in my eyes. Turning 30 was scary for me. I think any birthday that ends in a zero is a little scary for anybody. On my 20th birthday, I wondered what I would be when I grew up. On my 30th, I wondered, “What am I doing with my life?” I’ve always had a pretty good idea of where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do with my…

As I look at my now 3-year-old daughter, I can't believe at this time last year I had a shy, chubby-faced baby rather than a lean, playful preschooler. Time flies when it comes to watching our children grow. While I may be wistful for the past, every day brings new excitement for what’s to come. As are most 3-year-olds, Kailee is curious. She wants to explore everything that crosses her path. She also really wants to be able to do what she sees older people doing. When I let her sit in my lap and turn the steering wheel while the car is off, she gets frustrated when I explain to her that she …