MasterMama

Opinion: Parenting ADHD

Full disclosure: If you’re one of those “ADHD doesn’t exist” people and you’re comfortable in that space, this blog (the whole thing, not just this post) is probably not for you. With my house full of people at all hours of the day since the pandemic struck, I’ve been thinking a lot about my parentingContinue reading “Opinion: Parenting ADHD”

But Why?

I want to do a bit of a deep dive into why I’m doing all of this. I want you to know, and I also want to be able to look back on this when I’m really questioning myself. I wrote those first two sentences in March, then I tucked this draft away into theContinue reading “But Why?”

The COVID Remodel

Everyone’s doing DIY projects while they’re stuck at home, staring at the ugly trim in the living room, or the messy closet floor. I’ve been knitting and crocheting dish rags and blankets and I just started knitting what will hopefully turn out to be my first sweater. At the same time, we’ve got a contractorContinue reading “The COVID Remodel”

Please Give Me More Responsibilities

Remote schooling isn’t working for us. I’m sure it’s not working for a lot of you. The schedules change, we’re not sure which zoom sessions our kids are supposed to show up for and which are optional, and sometimes the teachers are asking our kids to do things they can’t even do because it doesn’tContinue reading “Please Give Me More Responsibilities”

Homeschooling Teenagers

For the first time that I know of, homeschooling feels popular. Parents are realizing that they were doing a lot of work at the end of the spring semester and they are seeing that they can probably handle all of the work. While I wouldn’t want to discredit teachers for the education they have andContinue reading “Homeschooling Teenagers”

Opinion: Parenting Autism

My daughter is nearly eleven years old. I often call her Miss. Miss was diagnosed with autism a year ago, and her school just performed the battery of tests required to build her an IEP. I’m sure it is a frustrating process, even in the best of times, but the remote administration due to COVIDContinue reading “Opinion: Parenting Autism”

Juno’s Last July

I’m staring at a blank screen, unsure what to type, knowing that writing something about this is likely to help me close this chapter and move on in a healthy way. It’s unexpectedly difficult to know where to start, and I’m sure this won’t be my best writing. My partner had Juno before he hadContinue reading “Juno’s Last July”

Summer Dreams

Juno is better. It wasn’t cancer or poison… it was immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. She’s destroying her own blood cells for no discernible reason. So she’s been on a bunch of medications and on a pretty tight schedule of vet visits, and her red blood cell count is back up to normal. Which means she’s backContinue reading “Summer Dreams”

Best Friend Trouble

Yesterday morning, our 11-year-old dog, Juno, collapsed. We thought she might have had a seizure and lost control or awareness of her legs. She’s had seizures before, but not like this. My partner called me out of the bedroom in a bit of a panic. He says he thought, in that moment, that this mightContinue reading “Best Friend Trouble”

All is Well… Too Well

As I sit on the couch, putting my thoughts into a blog, my 7-year-old is watching Magic School Bus across the room. In their respective rooms, my other kids are programming, writing stories, and doing math. Today, everyone seems happy to do their work. Yesterday, however, the youngest was literally yelling about wanting “just ONEContinue reading “All is Well… Too Well”