It seems like we say this every December, but it is hard to believe another year has come to a close — and what a great one it was for us at Birmingham Moms Blog! We have loved walking alongside all of you in your motherhood journey this year, and we thank you all for being a part of this community. We so appreciate our partners, our contributors, and our readers!
We have enjoyed looking back at our wonderful content from this year, and we’re excited to share with you our top ten posts of 2018. This list includes many personal accounts of motherhood, shared bravely from each mother’s heart, and a variety of resources specifically for moms in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. Enjoy looking back at this amazing year with us!
:: The Best of Birmingham Moms Blog ::
#1 – Light Up Your Night :: Where to See Christmas Lights in Birmingham
Driving around to view Christmas lights is such a fun family tradition! This list highlights neighborhoods around the Birmingham area that are sure to delight and entertain the entire family.
{Read Stacey’s post here.}
#2 – 3 Hurtful Things You’re Saying to Adoptive Parents (Without Even Realizing It)
“The list of questions/comments below are the ones that I continue to get – sometimes from strangers, but mostly from friends. More often than not, they are people who I know LOVE and support our family! They just have no idea how hurtful these questions can be. In the moment, I find it hard to correct them (because I know their intentions were not to be hurtful). But since this is Orphan Awareness Month and Adoption Awareness Month, I’d like to take the time to address these questions here. I hope that reading this will help people learn just a few important things NOT to say to their friends who have adopted — and what to say instead!”
{Read Ericka’s post here.}
#3 – Ten Things You Should Know About Raising Triplets
“If you’d asked my college self to predict where I would be in ten years, I’m convinced that raising triplets would never have entered my mind. Isn’t that the kind of thing you see on reality t.v.? And now, believe it or not, this is my life! It has been an unexpected blessing that certainly has its ups and downs, but I would’t trade it for any other one. Most people I talk to are curious to engage in conversation about life with triplets, so here are ten things I think you should know about raising triplets.”
{Read Stacey’s post here.}
#4 – The Best Birmingham Pumpkin Patches and Fall Festivals
Fall is a glorious time of year, and there are so many fun fall activities to enjoy with your family around central Alabama!
{Read Julie T.’s post here.}
#5 – Who is That Woman With Your Husband?
“Fast forward to last week at work, when the conversation of my currently short hair came up and I started digging through old Facebook profile pictures to prove that I indeed once had gloriously long, blonde locks, pre-chemo baldness. I handed my phone over to a co-worker to impress her with my once swoon-worthy hair and watched as she flicked through the photos and dove into the past.
Confused and a bit alarmed, she turned to me and asked (dead serious), ‘Who is this woman with your husband?'”
{Read Haley’s post here.}
#6 – A Mom’s Guide to the Best Parks in Birmingham
Birmingham has some amazing parks and green spaces! Use this guide to explore our awesome city by visiting a new outdoor destination on our list!
{Read Molly’s post here.}
#7 – When Love Isn’t Romantic
“I think it’s a stage of life most of my friends go through. Small kids. Working parents. Activities. School. Housework. Obligations. Orchestrated fun. Organized chaos. There isn’t room for the nights under the stars or dreaming of a detached guest house that doubles as a writing/hunting haven and champagne bar. There are baths and bedtime routines and ROTH IRAs to make sure our kids can afford to go to college. Reality sets in, and structure and responsibility overtake spontaneity and desire.
I’ve caught myself mourning those precious times with just me and my farmer. Does more of everything demanded mean that the love has been lost? It is definitely less romantic than those first years in the double wide.”
{Read Haley’s post here.}
#8 – A Nurse’s Perspective on Childhood Cancer
“We as providers to these children are often asked how we can possibly take care of children with cancer. How do we cope with the child with a new diagnosis who is terrified of needles? The nerves of scan day? The heartbreak of relapse? The overwhelming sadness of changing from curative treatment to end-of-life care? But the real question, for me at least, is how can we not?”
{Read Kathryn’s post here.}
#9 – What It Means to Never Have a Daughter
“It is the long term of not having a daughter that makes my heart sting a little. To even admit that makes me scared my boys will one day think I wish they had been a girl. I do not wish that even for a second. These boys of mine, I would chose them a thousand times over. Even as I type this I can hear their laughter as they ride scooters in the driveway, and it literally melts me. They own my heart in every way possible.
But I am aware that these little Mama’s boys of mine, the ones who ask for ‘morning cuddles’ every day, who whisper their fears and their dreams only to me; these little boys who hold my hand, and tell me I am ‘so beautiful’ and who ask if they can live with me forever, who never tire of my kisses; these little boys of mine, they are going to grow up to be young men. They will need me less and less every single year. Their affection for me will shift, they will hug me less, and they will whisper their fears and dreams into someone else’s ear. They will become men, and the memory of four little Mama’s boys will be remembered only by me.”
{Read Alli’s post here.}
#10 – I Insisted on Having an Elective C-Section
“I declined the labor of childbirth. Or that’s what my medical reasoning states as to why I chose a cesarean section, according to my obstetrician. It has bothered me since the day I saw her jot down those words on my paperwork for surgery. I could feel my blood pressure rise while my eyebrows began to furrow in their “I’m judging you” position. I declined that explanation! How about that?! I didn’t simply wave my hand and dismiss the thought of childbirth because I wanted my son to magically appear (although it would be nice if that’s how it worked). I thought about how I wanted to give birth long before the day I found out I was pregnant. I weighed the risks, the pros and cons, and came to the conclusion through sincere reflection about what would be best for me, or really, what would be best for my situation.”
{Read Melissa’s post here.}
Other popular posts from 2018:
Mourning the Loss of My Never Babies
Bringing Kids to Starbucks :: Lessons from a Former Barista
5 Ways to Support Your Adoptive Mom Friend (Post-Adoption)
25 Sanity-Saving Ideas for Your Summer in Birmingham
I Still Have a Dream :: A Mother’s Story
Top Family-Friendly Restaurants in Birmingham
I Love My Kids, but I Miss Who I Used to Be
Kid-Friendly Birthday Party Ideas for Birmingham Moms
Where You Should Celebrate with Your Family :: Birmingham Easter Egg Hunts and Events
We can’t wait to see what 2019 brings for Birmingham Moms Blog!
