Rachel Marie Martin's Blog, page 10

friendship isn’t effortless

Friendship takes work. Let’s just put that on the table to start, honestly. Because in today’s world of likes and hearts and instant kudos friendship can seem like it is…

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why the in-between years of motherhood matter

I’m kind of in this weird spot of motherhood. Let’s just call it the not so glamorous, but still stressful, but now I’m trying to find myself place. In other words, I don’t have cute toddlers or fun preschoolers. My youngest is nine, my oldest twenty-three and I have a collection of kids in the […]

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on being a better mom

Just this morning I sat in my son’s classroom, on one of those chairs so big for the kids yet so small for me, and listened as we discussed some learning struggles he deals with. I used to hate those meetings, honestly, because I would leave thinking if only I was a better mom than […]

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Mother’s Day Gift Guide for your Best Mom Friends

Hey friends – Mother’s Day is around the corner and it is truly one of my favorite holidays. Why? It’s the one day where we all step back and recognize the POWER of moms. I tend to live and write about celebrating our stories in the every day, but when the world stops and says […]

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to the mom of teens, I see you.

I used to write articles about finding peace during the toddler years. I kind of miss that advice because the put them down for a nap and take a bit to catch your breath again advice just doesn’t work with a seventeen year old. Sure you can ground them, but that is the opposite of […]

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Describing Motherhood: Quotes from the Trenches

Motherhood is. . . I bet you could fill that in with your own description. It would probably be based on your day, honestly, as I could fill mine in with words like frustrating or messy or confusing. And yet, there are moments when I can step back and the words about motherhood come flowing […]

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sweet child, I don’t know if I’m ready

I remember the day you were born. It’s etched in my mind, the sun shining and piercing my eyes as we drove to the hospital, the waiting, the pain – oh you caused so much pain, the labor and then you there, in my arms, so small, so fragile. You were feisty, really feisty. Everyone […]

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life is about letting go of these 7 things….

I’ve been doing a great deal of thinking about age lately. Maybe it has to do with turning 44 and realizing that if I’m lucky I’ve lived half my life. Maybe it has to do with my youngest rapidly approaching double digits and the days of Little Tikes and plastic taking over my home is […]

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dear kids, I don’t need you to be perfect

Dear kids,   You told me on my birthday you were sad you didn’t get me a present when you handed me the card that you made for me. I could see it in your eyes – that worry, that fear that it wasn’t enough. But listen. And listen closely – that card, sweet kids, […]

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hey kids, when you see me cry

I need you to know this. I may be your mom and you may think I’m the best and strongest and most reliable person in the world, but kids, I’m also human. I’m real and have emotions and you can be the best kids in the whole entire world and I still will have days […]

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