It all goes by too fast!

I was at a meeting awhile back with a man who told me that he had spent an entire weekend with his grandchildren and loved every minute of it. And then, with some hesitation, he also told me that he couldn't remember ever spending two full days with his own children.

It went by too fast, he said.

Anyone who has raised a child has heard this popular phrase from parents with grown children. It also usually seems to be coupled with the advice to "enjoy every moment." Each time this phrase is brought into a conversation I'm having with someone, I find myself pausing to think about the current stage we're in with our children.

So what is a parent to do? What can I do about the rapid movement of time and the moments I'm admittedly missing?

Jessica Janssen WolfordJune 17, 2020Omaha World Herald, Mom Guilt, Momaha

I've Almost Forgotten How to Have Fun

I think I’ve forgotten how to have fun…

Somewhere along the way, I convinced myself that walking the dog, grocery shopping, and watching reality TV was a perfectly fine substitute for actual fun and true play.

Read more about what my family taught me by visiting the full article on herviewfromhome.com

Jessica Janssen WolfordOctober 2, 2019Mom Guilt, Stepmom, Fun, Work/Life Balance, Her View From Home

Why is it so hard to get rid of toys?

The last time my child rode his Big Wheel bike was nearly five years ago. If he tried to sit in it now, he would get stuck.

And yet it sits in our garage — huge and chunky — waiting for no one.

In fact, our garage has become a mausoleum of toys and clothes from days gone by. They're physical reminders of time; items I can't bring myself to get rid of.

Jessica Janssen WolfordSeptember 11, 2019Momaha, Mom Guilt, Boymom, Toys, Donate, Omaha World Herald

It's Ok if you can't be at every one of your kids events: They'll be fine

Trying to manage the kids’ activities is like trying to juggle while riding the spinning teacups at Disneyland.

In my house, we have three kids within a range of two years. Like a lot of families today, our children might be categorized as “over-programmed."

Most weeks we find ourselves running between competition dance, baseball, basketball, golf (or whatever sport is in season) and piano lessons. We'll even occasionally throw in in a showcase, performance or science fair at school.

We try to monitor this, but frequently an extra lesson or an extra team sneaks in here and there. And, unfortunately, there are just times where events overlap — or we can’t shuffle work around to be somewhere at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday — and we miss their event.

I feel the pang of guilt every time this happens.

Learning to Let Go: It’s Ok if you can’t be at every one of your kids’ events.

Trying to manage the kids’ activities is like trying to juggle while riding the spinning teacups at Disneyland.

In the middle of a meltdown we need each other

When all the planning, toys and tablet games in the world fail you and your kid loses it — whether on a plane, in the grocery store, at the doctor’s office or wherever — the world stops. I know it feels like everyone is judging you and your parenting. And it’s the worst feeling ever.

Jessica Janssen WolfordJune 19, 2019Momaha, Mom GuiltComment