The Parent Voice

When I was pregnant with Karson, there were many prenatal care visits, but one that stands out was our appointment with the Maternity Care Coordinator.

I did not ever think I would publicly write about breastfeeding, but here it is, folks!

We are in the midst of summer, and the heat is high. I started out the summer very eager to do various activities with the kids, but this past week we went into survival mode!

The first week of summer, I was home with both of my sons and that was a week of unexpected adjustments.

The fourth of July is always a summer highlight, and I look forward to having fun and making happy memories with my family. It’s an exciting holiday and also a day to be more cautious as many of us celebrate around water, fireworks or large gatherings.

This week is the last week of school for my son, Karson. We have survived Kindergarten and are very excited for summer! I have lots of fun summer activities planned for the kids and the family: blueberry picking, gardening, sun-bathing, playing in the sprinkler, the pool, fishing, day-camps, family camping trips, the list goes on….

Today I’m going to talk about food -- where do I even start?

I can’t say that my kids have had any really severe food allergies, but there has been so much talk in the media about the dangers that some foods can cause that it does make a mom worry…

A day in the life of a parent is never quite the same two days in a row. Some days are better than others, when everything seems to be running smoothly without any hiccups. Other days… things are really hard.  I’m thankful that on a typical day, things are somewhere in-between.

Hello there, my name is Shirley. I am a wife and mom of two boys, a 5-year-old and 1-year-old. I am a proud daughter of two immigrant parents. I was born and raised in Oregon, the marvelous Willamette Valley. I grew up in a small-rural town where there were challenges, many opportunities, and a lot of growth.