Arrivederci, 2014

When I wrote my post "The Weight of Motherhood" a few months ago, my most popular post to date, my son was 44 pounds and 44 inches tall. Now he is 48 pounds and 45 inches tall. Slowly, slowly, he is getting bigger, before my eyes. It seems both magical and terrifying that he outgrows his pants overnight. His first loose tooth is still hanging in there, and the grown-up tooth is pushing it out of its way, as if to say, move it, babyhood. Here we come.

It has been a very good year. I've achieved most of the goals I have set, and I have more to set and achieve. But most of all, it's the first full year that I have had the opportunity to pursue my dreams part-time while my son is in preschool. No more babysitters. No more nannies. Just me, my son, and my husband, and we've never been so happy. I don't take it for granted, this opportunity. I am making the best of it, and I have nothing to complain about.

Thank you for reading my work. It means so much to me that you comment and share the words that I write, and I have made some fantastic friends in the process. I know that you like stories about real people, and real life, and I'm going to continue to bring them to you next year. In the meantime, here is a list of highlights of 2014:

1)  My first joint post with Alexandra Rosas of Good Day, Regular People at The Huffington Post. It was Alexandra's first time at HuffPo, and she has taken off like a comet since then. I'm so proud of her.
What Will I Know?

2)  My friend Brian from my hometown in Indiana allowed me to tell his fatherhood story, and it was featured on the HuffPost Good News page. Brave: A Father's Love

3)  Another friend from my childhood, Crystal, gave me her thoughts on motherhood from a black and white perspective, and I was honored to be picked up by the Washington Post's On Parenting blog.
Color blindness isn't helping anything

4)  In July, I stood onstage at the BlogHer annual conference in San Jose in front of hundreds of people and talked about my father's love for me as a Voice of the Year. Jill Smokler from Scary Mommy published The Second Line, with a Kleenex warning.

5)  Postpartum anxiety was a difficult experience, and a primary reason that my husband and I have only one child. Brain, Child published my story, called I Am Enough.

6)  Bon Bon Break syndicated my story about domestic violence, and I am proud to share it, because it brings other women hope. There is a way out, and you are not alone, if you are reading this and recognizing yourself in Why Does She Stay?

7)  My words appeared in two print books:
My Other Ex: Women's true stories of leaving and losing friends
Precipice, Volume 3

8)  In 2013, I was chosen for the cast of Listen To Your Mother, and read my post on going back to work after having a baby. This year, I had the chance to be a co-producer of the Austin show and took the reins from the fabulous Wendi Aarons and Liz McGuire. In 2015, Leigh Ann and I will be back to produce another show; reading and hearing every submission is a gift. 

Thank you for being here with me.

Much love, and best wishes in 2015!

Kristin