Alyson Haggerty
Learn CPR: My Family’s Story and the Difference between Life and Death
Almost two years ago, my eighty-seven-year-old grandpa left the park after feeling ill. Unable to continue his drive home, he pulled over to take a rest and became unconscious. At just the right moment,...
Don’t Leave the Knife in the King Cake Bag…Or I’ll Cut You
Tomorrow is Kings' Day, which means, in the immortal words of Al Johnson, it’s Carnival time! Even this year, without parades, there is still something to celebrate. Because you can’t cancel king cake! What...
Daily Sharing: Not Just Together, But Connected
If your family is anything like mine, y’all are busy. You’re busy. And tired. And sometimes, we just don't have the mental or emotional energy to put into truly connecting with our children and...
Unexpected and Unexcited: Struggling to Bond with My Baby
It has taken me years to get to the point where I am comfortable discussing this. Even now as I type these words, with my youngest days away from turning six years old, I...
Parenting a Night Owl
As parents, we constantly compare notes with one another: when to potty-train, how to handle homework, tips on kid-friendly healthy meals, etc. Bedtime is no exception. In talking to other parents, I quickly realized...
How We Raise Intelligent Children
A few years ago, my son tested into his school’s Gifted program. When we met with his Gifted instructor for the first time, she asked us some questions about our child: What does he...
The Teachers Are Mourning
My kids were supposed to start school August 6. Then, the start date got moved to August 12. And postponed yet again to August 31. They finally started, but a short time later was...
Making the Grade: A New Perspective for My Kids
At 33 years old, I am one semester away from graduating nursing school. Before this, I was a teacher. So, I've known for years that grades are next to meaningless, yet I didn't truly...
We Tested Positive: A Guide to Quarantine Prep
Back in March, my husband, an ICU nurse, tested positive. Though we were completely caught off guard, we managed well (with the help of our village, of course). Now, as our kids prepare to...
Dear Moms, You Know What the Right Decision about School Is
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed, pressured to make the right decision about sending your child back to school. Your social media has been flooded with opinions, even arguments, about the...
Why I Play Pokémon GO With My Kids (and Maybe You Should, Too)
Two years ago, after talking to friends at school, my now 7-year-old asked us to download Pokémon GO onto the old iPad we gave him to occasionally play games. I didn't know much about...
A Little Bit of Normalcy Knocked Me Out
We've been in quarantine for a little over 3 months. When the quarantine began, our lives came to a screeching halt. We were forced to give up the daily grind to which we were...
On Racism :: I Know Now
What I Did
When I was 6 years old, I heard the n-word for the first time. I was in the Taco Bell bathroom when I overheard a disgruntled customer complaining about an employee. I...
When Your Husband Doesn’t Do a Good Job Celebrating Holidays
When discussing Mother's Day recently, my friends and I talked about the pressure we sometimes feel surrounding holidays. One friend remarked that scrolling through social media and seeing the fun gifts and sweet gestures...