2016 was an incredible third year for the Columbia SC Moms Blog! We are so thankful to all you, our readers, who were right there with us as we shared stories about our families, highlighted all the fun things to do in this city we live in, and encouraged each other in the equally rewarding and challenging life of being a mom. We are proud that in 2016 Columbia SC Moms Blog had over 1.1 million page views, hosted numerous sold out events and connected moms in our great community. Thanks for being part of this journey!
To cap off 2016 and ring in the new year, we wanted to share our top 10 most-read blog posts from this year. They are stories of motherhood, daily life, real experiences, humor and making the most of this great city we live in. We hope you enjoy revisiting them as much as we did.
10. Real Mom Bods
“At the end of the day, your kid does not notice that you do not look like that model on that magazine cover (who, by the way, doesn’t really look like that in real life anyway – you can thank airbrushing for that). All your kid cares about is that you are there with them – playing in the water, running on the playground, down on the floor building blocks – creating memories with you rather than about you.
Our contributing team wants to emphasize that there is no definition for the “right” post-baby body. While it was a little bit out of our comfort zones {okay, maybe completely out of our comfort zones} to pose for some of these pictures, bathing suit and all, we realize how important it is for us, as mothers, to have a positive body image in order to set a good example for our children.”
9. Mom Confession :: Breastfeeding
“Hey Momma, I’m going to pretend we’re sitting at a cafe in a quaint little town and I’m just going to share my heart with you … a confession of sorts. So grab your cup of coffee or latte and settle in your comfy chair. Some of you may need to brace yourselves for what I’m about to share.”
8. Why I Said No to Preteen Dating
“I remember the days of my youth when I would lie to my parents about who I was talking to on the phone . . . and now as a mother myself, I think about how I have caught my own teenager lying about who she was talking to. As a result of my experiences as a teen and what I got away with, our family has some very specific rules in place.
One of these rules includes no preteen dating.”
7. What’s Your “Mom” Type?
“My oldest daughter has finally gotten to the age where she is starting to develop a long-term memory. Which makes me think, I probably need to start getting my act together. Meaning, I need to start honing my parenting style. But, what kind of mother do I want to settle on becoming? Let’s consider some options.”
6. 5 Reasons Maybe You SHOULD Give a Hoot About Swearing in Front of Your Kids
“Just last week my 8-year-old son said to me, “Mommy, I like going to Jack’s house. His parents never, ever use curse words.”
Woah.
While I am inclined to agree with Kate that as an adult, if I want to curse it’s my responsibility for making sure my kids know it’s not appropriate for them, however, my strong conservative upbringing still makes me cringe a bit at the idea of just letting the full arsenal of naughty words fly.”
5. 4 Choices You Won’t Regret When Your Children are Grown
“But even though I can’t see the future, I’m reasonably confident we’ll be okay. Yes, we’ll flounder at times and wonder what the heck we’re supposed to be doing But in the end I think things will work out because we made choices a long time ago that put us in a good position to move forward. No, these choices aren’t a guarantee (there are no guarantees in life, marriage or parenting!), but they help. And I don’t regret them, even though some of them were hard at the time.
Whether your children are toddlers or teenagers, you’re making choices every day that will affect your life and theirs, now and in the future. Here are four you won’t regret when they’re grown.”
4. Family-Fun Day Trip :: Richardson’s Lake Water Park and Outdoor Recreation Area
“On a scorching hot Tuesday last July, my kids and I decided to head out of town and take a day trip to Richardson’s Lake Water Park and Outdoor Recreation Area. We had a blast! Located in Warrenville right near Aiken, it’s about an hour drive – perfect for a quick day trip!”
3. Why Push Presents Aren’t Stupid
“As my family and friends passed our amazing creation from arm to arm, I had a few moments of peace and quiet to relish laying in my partner’s arms and enjoy hearing what a goddess he thought I was. It was at this time that he presented me with a simple box, tied with a black ribbon. I wasn’t expecting anything, but I was overjoyed with the thought and appreciation in which it was handed to me.
When I opened it, I was in awe! It was a lovely bangle bracelet, complete with our daughters’ birthstone and once it was slipped over my wrist, it has never left it. For over two years. And I don’t plan on ever removing it.”
2. 25 Things You Learn Living in the South
“There’s always been the great comparison on how things are done in the South – from our phrases and sayings, to the way we drive, to how we handle weather and more, there’s no escaping the culture shock and adjustment some folks feel once they move to “our neck of the woods.” We listened in and took notes on what some transplants to our area were saying, and couldn’t help but nod our heads and chuckle in agreement.”
1. Please, Don’t Say “Thank You”
“I will never forget the moment about five years ago. I was cleaning out the guest room closet, which had become filled with wrapping paper, books, outgrown clothing and toys I hoped my kids would forget about. We were expecting our third child, and I knew this closet would need to hold a lot more than off-season clothing in the future.
So, on this particular afternoon, I tried to declutter, consolidate and neaten up the inside of the closet to make room for those coming baby necessities. Underneath the discarded gift bags and discounted pool toys, I discovered an unfamiliar cardboard box with some weight to it. Baffled, I pulled it down from the shelf, slid it onto my lap and opened it.
When I recognized the contents, my heart just dropped.”
Worth a Read :: Other Popular Posts in 2016
Motherhood Support
An Open Letter to the Mom Friend Who Feels like She is Failing
Survival Tips for the Clean Freak With Young Kids
Lessons from a Two-Time First Time Mom
Parenting Perspectives
Non-Attachment Parenting :: The Love of Letting Go
Why I Said No to the Tickle Monster
The Unexpected Way I Increased Gratitude in My Home
And the Award Goes to … Not My Child
Mom Humor
10 Things That Are 10 Times Harder With a Toddler
Children’s Health
What They Don’t Tell You About Feeding Tubes
Medicating My Child for the First Time
Pregnancy & Infant Loss
Favorite Recipes
The Ultimate Toddler Lunch Round-Up
Travel
Top 5 Family Vacation Destinations Near Columbia
15 Tips for Surviving a Road Trip with Baby