Kristen McGuire
Kristen is a wife, mother and full-time special education teacher. Born in Connecticut, she has lived in Washington, DC, North Carolina and now happily calls Columbia home. Her children, the tortoise and the hare, were adopted from South Korea and are now 7 and 4. This “Dawson’s Creek” enthusiast was convinced if she scored a spot as an extra on the show, a famous actor would fall in love with her and whisk her away to pursue a life of parties and Prada. She scored the spot, but not the actor. With a chronic case of Wanderlust, she can be found day-tripping throughout the Carolinas and planning excursions to visit family across the US. She could be a contestant on "World's Worst Cook" as she has ruined instant pudding not once...but twice.
True Life :: Co-Sleeping Almost Ruined My Marriage
When we adopted our second child, we quickly realized that her adoption was not like our first. Our son came home at 9 months and after a short adjustment, fell right into a predictable...
Rainy Day Activities for Kids
When those rainy days approach you can almost smell the sense of panic in the air of moms everywhere as they ask themselves: "What on earth am I going to do to keep the...
Moms with Guy Friends
When I was 11 we moved into a new house. Our house seemed like heaven on earth. There were friendly neighbors, lots of kids and a backyard pool. It was the best summer ever...
Mom, I’m Sorry I Said These Three Phrases
As I kid, there were just certain things I knew my siblings and I could say or do that would make my mom angry. If we asked her a long, drawn-out list of questions...
When Baby Doesn’t Meet Developmental Milestones
Once a baby is born, parents eagerly await the series of “firsts.” First tooth, first roll over, first words. We can literally see our child grow in how they play, learn, speak and act.
While...
Talking to Kids About Tragedy :: Perspectives From Two Moms
There is so much going on in the world right now -- some of it is inspiring, some of it is disheartening. And, there will probably always be this juxtaposition of inspiring and disheartening....
4 Reasons Why I Chose to Medicate My ADHD Child
It was time. I knew the exact moment I had to call the doctor. My son was straddling the door, standing with one foot on either side of the knobs and swinging back and...
Summer Savings :: $1 Kid-Friendly Movies at Regal Cinemas
If you are a family on a budget, it’s hard to pack up the kids and go to the movies. For a family of 4 it’s at least $40 to just get into the...
More Than Just a Teacher :: 6 “Second” Jobs Teachers Have
Teacher’s Appreciation Week is upon us and with it comes well-meaning gestures and gifts from family, friends and administrators about how teachers have very difficult jobs.
But, today, I want to call attention to the...
Gardening With Kids :: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
One of my favorite activities for us to do with the kids is to plant a garden. The seeds are affordable, the dirt in our backyard is free and the kids enjoy being a...
I Work Outside the Home (And I Like It That Way)
When we relocated to Columbia from Connecticut I had a new vision. I was giving up the morning rush of a working mom and going to immerse myself fully in my transitioning family.
I would...
Suspecting a Learning Disability
Children grow and develop at different rates and we are stuck in a purgatory -- reassuring a friend their child is fine, telling her there is nothing to worry about and “all kids do...
A Mom’s Guide St. Patrick’s Day Events in Columbia
Where are my Irish people at?
According to Trulia, only five percent of Richland County’s population claims to have Irish heritage as their primary ancestry. However, that small detail does not keep Columbia from celebrating...
The Silent Biological Clock
When I was a teenager, my cycle was never predictable and eventually I began taking the birth control pill to regulate my body. Once I got married and we began to think about having...