Family Stuff

Parenting, marriage, faith, and funny (with a few rants thrown in for good measure).

Hey Parents, Let’s Try Less Fixing & More Listening

Letting our kids flounder and fail is a hard but necessary part of parenting. As a teacher, I've encountered my fair share of "fixers:" parents who want to save their child from the fight. Of course I'm not talking about a fight that leads to unsafe situations or harm; I'm talking about the kind of ... » Learn More about Hey Parents, Let’s Try Less Fixing & More Listening

5 Things I Hope We Can Salvage in Post-Trump America

By Stephanie Jankowski 2 Comments

To celebrate my 40th birthday, my husband surprised me with a long weekend away in a cabin located in the literal middle of nowhere. Any other weekend, I would have been ecstatic to unplug, but this weekend just happened to be the one where the 2020 Presidential Election dragged on (and on), and we ... » Learn More about 5 Things I Hope We Can Salvage in Post-Trump America

Dance Like Nobody…at This Parade is Watching

By Stephanie Jankowski 1 Comment

My six-year-old is painfully shy. She prefers to avoid eye contact at all costs and believes a smile is earned, not owed. Even here at home, she's a stage 5 clinger, requiring constant physical contact. Part of me loves it because awwwww, my baby! But I also recognize how having me at her beck and ... » Learn More about Dance Like Nobody…at This Parade is Watching

Antagonists, Shutty Town, & Permission: Lessons Learned

By Stephanie Jankowski 3 Comments

Oh, hello! As with my beauty routine, I stepped away from writing months ago. Everything felt so hard. Now I've got a dead blog and a bunch of grey hair, but at least I'm feeling the urge to create again! Truthfully, I'm feeling the urge to eat again, but my jeans are no longer accommodating ... » Learn More about Antagonists, Shutty Town, & Permission: Lessons Learned