Acceptance – Page 2 – Are You Finished Yet?

That Sneaky F-Bomb

Published on October 22, 2014October 21, 2014 by Kelly Suellentrop48 Comments

Well f*@k.

Just last week, my writing had its first real mass exposure by way of piece about the First Time Mom Freak Out featured on the immensely popular site, Scary Mommy. I won’t be all, well shucks, it sure was a nice little honor. It was EXHILERATING! The fact that more people had shared it on Facebook by 6 a.m. than visit my blog in an entire month was enough to make me feel like Ellen Degeneres must have when her Oscar selfie became the most retweeted tweet ever.

Yet as fantastic as it was, I winced twice when I finally saw my work in all its viral glory. First, my last name was spelled incorrectly. Sigh. It wasn’t a big surprise. It happens often, not only with strangers, but at my children’s school and even with friends I have known for years. Still, there is a little deflation that comes with seeing it misspelled at those times when it kind of matters to you. But I quickly got over that. I mean, it’s Scary Mommy. Continue reading “That Sneaky F-Bomb” →

Baby Changing Stations in the Men’s Bathroom: Gender Stereotypes and The Sister-Brother Relationship

Published on April 22, 2014March 10, 2015 by Kelly Suellentrop32 Comments

Snips and snails and puppy dog tails, that what little boys are made of. Sugar and spice and everything nice, that’s what little girls are made of.

Nowadays, we do not find it very enlightened to pigeonhole boys and girls in such a manner. Yet despite society’s ever-increasing openness to gender bending, many children still come to embody the stereotypes, even in the absence of labels or coaching. I see it on a daily basis as the mother of one girl and one boy. My daughter and son also clearly notice the disconnects that sometimes occur because of their differing genders. Continue reading “Baby Changing Stations in the Men’s Bathroom: Gender Stereotypes and The Sister-Brother Relationship” →

What I Learned From Science This Week: Worry About Yourself

Published on March 4, 2014March 4, 2014 by Kelly Suellentrop50 Comments

I often tell my children, “worry about yourself,” meaning as long as they are making the right choices for themselves, they need to stop sticking their nose in the decisions of others. Most recently, this played out when my daughter decided to tattle on her brother, whom she had deemed to be rewarding himself with an extra helping of Girl Scout cookies without clearance from me. But she clearly needed to mind her own business, because what she didn’t realize was that he never had the first helping of cookies, and I had indeed granted him the Continue reading “What I Learned From Science This Week: Worry About Yourself” →

The Secret to Being a Good Mother: Cake and Tiger Bites

Published on February 11, 2014February 10, 2014 by Kelly Suellentrop42 Comments

From the time she was born, I have had moments of feeling like I don’t know how to be a good mother to my daughter. Those moments seem to be happening more and more often these days.

The irony of the situation is not lost on me: that she is so much like me, yet at times I seem incapable of parenting her in a way that doesn’t end up with frustration and tears across the board. I should know her better. I should know myself better. Continue reading “The Secret to Being a Good Mother: Cake and Tiger Bites” →

“Bad Catholic”

Published on January 28, 2014December 31, 2014 by Kelly Suellentrop48 Comments

Sometimes I feel like a bad Catholic. Sometimes I don’t. But either way, I always delight in both Almond Joy and Mounds. I feel pretty sure that God put chocolate on this earth for me to eat without discrimination.

I haven’t really blogged much about my religion, other than to talk about why we chose Catholic school for our children, my son’s ongoing battle with church etiquette, and the time I witnessed my kids taking liberties with the sacrament of First Communion. Even then, I didn’t delve into my own deep-seeded beliefs…because they are MY beliefs. I don’t feel a driving desire to always tell others how I live out my faith, and I find spiritual life to be an intensely personal thing. I guess you could say I Continue reading ““Bad Catholic”” →

The Myth Is Over, But The Magic Remains

Published on December 17, 2013November 18, 2014 by Kelly Suellentrop39 Comments

This is it, I thought to myself. I just had this feeling the moment was upon me. But I never would have guessed Arnold Schwarzenegger was going to be the impetus for the conversation.

On the television screen was a warehouse full of mall Santas in various costumed states, running an underground knockoff toy ring. Jim Belushi was trying to con Schwarzenegger, the desperately gift-less father, into buying a cheap replica of Turbo Man for his son.

So many Santas. So many obviously fake Santas. I could sense my daughter recognized the perfect moment of opportunity. Continue reading “The Myth Is Over, But The Magic Remains” →

Someone Needs To Stick Up for White Picket Fences

Published on November 19, 2013January 14, 2014 by Kelly Suellentrop69 Comments

Recently, I’ve been seeing a lot of articles written by stay-at-home moms and “mommy bloggers,” exploring what it is to be those things. Struggling with what it is to be those things. Not liking how the world views what it is to be those things. And defending what it is to be those things. I guess since many of us now find ourselves with our children comfortably back in school, that insane need to answer the loaded question “what do you do all day?” has made some of us feel the need to champion for ourselves. Continue reading “Someone Needs To Stick Up for White Picket Fences” →

I Am Afraid I May Have Wished It All Away

Published on September 10, 2013February 1, 2015 by Kelly Suellentrop238 Comments

I wish he would start sleeping through the night…I wish she would hold her bottle on her own…I wish he would learn to sit up…I wish she could tell me exactly what she wanted…I wish he would figure out potty-training…I wish she could pour herself some milk…I wish he would watch something besides “Thomas the Tank Engine”…I wish she went to school for longer than two-and-a-half hours… Continue reading “I Am Afraid I May Have Wished It All Away” →

A Tale of Two Kindergarteners

Published on August 16, 2013November 23, 2013 by Kelly Suellentrop23 Comments

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

Michael started Kindergarten four days ago. It hasn’t been good. There has been crying. And pleading. And death grips. I know this is not out of the ordinary. I know starting Kindergarten can be overwhelming for a lot of kids. I know riding the bus can be downright scary for a little person who still needs me to wipe his rear after #2. I know. I just didn’t want it to Continue reading “A Tale of Two Kindergarteners” →

Why It’s Time for My Kids to Go Back to School

Published on August 5, 2013June 2, 2015 by Kelly Suellentrop12 Comments

I have a history of loving Summer. I loved Summer as a kid because, well, duh. Then, after eighteen years of schooling, I decided to stay in school and teach. I loved Summer as a teacher because, well, duh. And the whole Summer deal was sweetened by the fact that my birthday occurs during it.

But then I stopped teaching and became a parent. Suddenly, summer wasn’t what it used to be. Before my kids were school aged, a Summer day was simply like any other of Continue reading “Why It’s Time for My Kids to Go Back to School” →