Erica Tran
Erica lives in Kenner with her husband Michael and her three sons, Benjamin, Joshua, and Elijah. After graduating from UL Lafayette with a degree in advertising and landing her dream job, she left her chosen field and now works part time as an administrative assistant for a Catholic retreat movement. She spends the rest of her time at home with her boys, finding lost toys and actively ignoring various messes. In 2019, she self-published her first book, The Sister. There's not a lot of free time between working, reading and writing, and chasing her kids, but in those moments she's usually sprawled on the sofa in casual denial about just how messy her house is.
My Week With Shingles: Perfection is the Enemy of Good
It started with what I thought was a pulled rib muscle and some sort of bug bite. Two totally separate issues that just coincidentally happened at the same time. Then, the “bug bite” spread,...
Raya & the Last Dragon: Represent!
When Disney’s animated Mulan was released in 1998, my husband, 10 years old at the time, watched it to the point of memorization. It was the closest representation Disney offered for his Vietnamese culture....
Diaries of an Anxious Mom: The Syrup Saga
Disclaimer: I tried to write about this in a way that didn’t make me look like an absolute raving lunatic, but it wasn’t possible, so I’m just leaning into it. If anything, I hope...
Birthday Wish for a Birthday Fish
I usually start planning out my kids’ birthday parties two or even three months in advance. By “planning,” I mean picking a theme and going to town on my Pinterest boards, and then slowly...
It’s Not PPD… So What Is It?
If you know me, it goes without saying: I’m a worrier by nature. On a scale of 1-10, my average, casual anxiety level usually hangs out around a 7, ready to jump to an...
Chúc mừng năm mới: Happy Lunar New Year!
Most people have put away their fireworks and noise makers as soon as January 1st rolls around, having fully celebrated New Year’s as the clock struck midnight. But our family celebrates a second time...
Break out the Beads
“Mama, my friend at school said Mardi Gras is cancelled.” He looked at me with his big brown eyes, waiting for me to assure him that Mardi Gras would go on as usual.
I knelt...
Wrapping Gifts With My Toddler: Lessons Learned
My three year old has been very invested in Christmas this year. He wants a hand in every activity that makes this holiday special for our family. I love that he wants in on...
Chill Like Chili, Bond Like Bandit: My “Bluey” Parenting Goals
Okay… I know I’m not the first mom to ever write about the magic of the hit Australian cartoon Bluey. What is it about this family of blue heeler dogs that captivates my children...
3 Toddler Tips for Decluttering & Donating
With Christmas approaching, I know we’re likely to get an influx of new toys in our house. I’ve been on a lengthy decluttering journey, but it’s no easy task, and it never seems to...
Going Slowly (But Still Going)
My first solo trip to the grocery store with my son was something of a spectacle.
I parked in the very back of the parking lot right next to the shopping cart return corral, making...
The Big Kid Bed
Is there anything that makes a baby’s arrival seem more “real” than setting up the nursery? Washing and hanging or folding all the teeny little onesies, agonizing over the perfect pastel shade to paint...
Time, Be My Friend
I recently finished reading my $1.50 copy of Orange is the New Black that I picked up off a book sale table. Yes, that’s the book off of which the Netflix show is (loosely)...
They All “Masked” For You: Finding Gratitude at a Zoo Playdate
My friend texted me the other day asking if we wanted to join her and her kids at Audubon Zoo to celebrate her daughter’s fourth birthday. She wouldn’t be having a typical party-- it...