Parenting Reflections & Stories | Honest Insights for Parents

Explore heartfelt parenting reflections and personal stories that delve into the joys and challenges of raising children.

From navigating loss and grief to celebrating everyday victories, our collection of narratives offers honest, relatable insights and perspectives for parents seeking comfort, inspiration, and connection.

May

How to Be a Fun Mom: Genuine Ways to Enjoy Parenthood Without Faking It (2025)

May 17, 2024Calie HerbstReflections

Do you ever feel guilty that you’re not as fun of a mom as you should be? Do you wish you could loosen up, laugh more, and be a bit more playful with your kids? Maybe your partner is the one who plays the backyard games, wrestles on the floor, or takes them for spontaneous...

Jan

How to Create a Personal Mission Statement for Parenting | Guide to Grounding Your Family Values

January 27, 2024Calie HerbstReflections

Mission statements often feel impersonal, don’t they? They hang on a corporate wall, seemingly disconnected from real life. But what if a personal mission statement for parenting could actually transform your life and guide your family with purpose? A personal mission statement can guide everything, including your parenting. What is a Personal Mission Statement for Parenting? A personal...

Mar

What To Say When You Don’t Know What To Say

March 1, 2021Calie HerbstFamily Fun Hub, Reflections

This is the third installment in a series of articles that explore one mother’s journey through the grief of loving a child who has died. It is our hope that by sharing these reflections, we can help grieving parents feel less alone, and help the people who love them better understand what they’re going through....

Feb

The Audacity of Plans After Stillbirth

February 16, 2021Calie HerbstFamily Fun Hub, Reflections

This is the second installment in a series of articles that explore one mother’s journey through the grief of loving a child who has died. It is our hope that by sharing these reflections, we can help grieving parents feel less alone, and help the people who love them better understand what they’re going through....

Feb

When the Nightmare is Real: A Mother’s Journey Through Stillbirth

February 1, 2021Calie HerbstFamily Fun Hub, Reflections

One in four women will experience a miscarriage. In the United States, one in 160 babies will be stillborn—delivered without a heartbeat. But despite these numbers, the realities of life after pregnancy and infant loss are still mostly undiscussed in our culture. We love to share pictures of baby bumps and cake smashes; no one...

May

Here’s What I Really Want for Mother’s Day (And Every Sunday Thereafter)

May 5, 2020Calie HerbstFamily Fun Hub, Reflections

See how this woman feels? This is how I want to feel on Mother’s Day. How do I want to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend? Two words: Rest and Takeout. The last two months have been draining in a way we never thought possible. Our brains are scattered. We don’t know what the next month...

Apr

From The Editor: Five Things That Have Been Working For Me

April 21, 2020Calie HerbstFamily Fun Hub, Reflections

Founder Calie Herbst pops in to chat about what’s working for her during this quarantine, and what’s not. A friend texted from Oregon today and asked our group chat, “So, 5 weeks into this life… how’s everyone doing in 3 words?” The responses trickled in. “Discombobulated.” “Stunned.” “Pants don’t fit.” “So. Many. Feelings.” My response:...

Apr

10 At-Home Date Night Ideas That Won’t Make You Cringe

April 16, 2020Calie HerbstDate Night, Reflections

We combed the internet and our brains for the best at-home date night ideas, and we’ve only the included the ones that didn’t make us immediately cringe. (And all of them can be done while the kids are asleep!) So, turn off your phones, and get to it. You really deserve it. 1. Pick-A-Year Music...