Abby Off the Record — The scoop on life, writing & raising kids

My Baby is 3!

February 27, 2012

Dear Riley, Happy Birthday! Today you are 3. What a big boy you have become! Sometimes I feel like I’m the only mother on the planet who does not get sad to see my kids grow up. But the truth is, I enjoy you and your brother more the older you get. You’re a real […]

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Giving Back: Every Little Bit Counts

February 24, 2012

I went to a Catholic high school that had a yearly community service requirement. I dreaded it, not because I didn’t like helping people, but because I was shy. I couldn’t think of anything worse than having to make eye contact with elderly people or serve food at a soup kitchen. So I “cheated” and […]

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Do Dads Get Undue Praise for Parenting?

February 22, 2012

The other night at dinner, my husband told me about a funny exchange he’d had with a woman at his gym. Once a week, on Saturdays, C. takes our boys to the gym with him. The kids go to the childcare room while he works out, then they all go out to Chick-fil-A for lunch […]

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3 Ways to Maximize Your Blog Content

February 20, 2012

For both beginning and longtime bloggers (like me), the idea of coming up with new material day after day, week after week, year after year can be daunting. It’s the reason for all those “Sorry I haven’t posted in a while…” updates. And also, for all those less-than-compelling posts about what people ate for lunch. […]

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In Praise of Boredom

February 17, 2012

One recent Saturday, I put my younger son down for a nap and had just sat down on the couch with a book and a cup of tea when my 5yo came into the room. “I’m bored, Mom. What can we do?” We? I thought. I don’t know about you, but I’M enjoying a nice […]

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Good Advice from the Interwebs

February 15, 2012

So you think the Internet is just for misdiagnosing your kid’s runny nose, finding a substitute for rice vinegar, or mapping the best route to Costco? Wrong. We all know it’s for email, Facebook, celebrity gossip, and Pinterest! (Which I have not gotten into yet but will. Someday.) But seriously. There’s a reason I rarely […]

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Blog Basics: Making Time for Blogging and Keeping It Fun

February 13, 2012

Happy Monday, and welcome to the third part in my series on long-term blogging for fun, fame, and fortune! Well, the first one, anyway. You can read Part 1 here: when and why I started a blog. And Part 2 here: 3 things to consider when starting a blog. This week’s post comes in the […]

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No Sick Days for Moms

February 10, 2012

Even all these years into motherhood, I still have days when I wish someone else could be the mom. Do I have to? my inner voice whines. Can’t someone else fill in for me today? I don’t wanna be in charge. You can’t make me. Oh, wait. Yes, you can. Because let’s face it, when […]

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(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: The Flatulent Butterfly

February 8, 2012

Yep, it’s exactly what it looks like. What do you expect from a 5yo boy? Wonder if my friend Angie wants a signed copy for her baby’s butterfly nursery? Or maybe Eric Carle is looking for another book idea? Call me!

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3 Things to Consider When Starting a Blog

February 6, 2012

As I told you last time in my first installment of Blog Wisdom from a Wizened Old Blogger, one of the unexpected benefits of my first blog was connecting with other new moms. And apparently, I have research on my side: a study in the Maternal and Child Health Journal showed that first-time mothers who […]