Jackie Nastri Bardenwerper
In Our Family, We Walk to School Together
My nine-year-old daughter’s question caught me off guard as we meandered down the sidewalk, halfway through our daily half-mile walk to the elementary school.
It...
Summer’s Not Over Yet! Five Ways to Enjoy the September Heat
Every year after Labor Day, my mind drifts to Don Henley and his ’80s hit single, The Boys of Summer. I think of it...
I’m a Neon-Loving, Crop Top-Wearing Mom of Three. Is It Time to Grow Up?
It all started with a pair of scratched sunglasses.
Not just any sunglasses, but custom neon ones I had designed online in colors with names...
Ten Years After My Second Miscarriage, I Still Wonder
It was July 20, 2012.
The corridor was cold, my skin prickly as I walked toward the operating room, my blue cloth gown swaying, my...
The Day My Three-Year-Old Learned the Truth About Chicken
I was chopping vegetables when my three-year-old walked over and asked what I was cooking for dinner.
“Chicken stir fry!” I said, pointing to the...
Three Moms Walked into a (College) Bar. What I Learned.
My husband and I were at dinner with two couples enjoying a rare parents’ night out at a local restaurant. Not able to remember...
To All the New Moms, It’s Okay To Shower
The sun beat down on my shoulders as I pushed the stroller up the last hill and into our driveway. It was the middle...
Driving This Spring Break? Tips and Tricks for a (Somewhat) Successful Road Trip
Anyone else planning a spring break road trip?
A few years back, vacation time usually meant boarding a plane. However, since the start of the...
Today Our Schools Go Mask Choice. Why My Kids Will Be Wearing Their Smiles
We stood there huddled next to the television, too nervous to sit as we listened to our governor speak.
He was talking about the pandemic....
My Daughter Lost Her First Gymnastics Meet and I’ve Never Been Prouder
My body shook as I sat there in the cold gym, my eyes fixed on my eight-year-old daughter as she warmed up for her...










