<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>WIRL Project &#187; Mom</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.wirlproject.com/tag/mom/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.wirlproject.com</link>
	<description>What It&#039;s Really Like.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:37:27 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.37</generator>
	<item>
		<title>Leaving Your Baby at the Hospital &#8211; Two Weeks as a NICU Mom</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/leaving-your-baby-at-the-hospital-two-weeks-as-a-nicu-mom/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/leaving-your-baby-at-the-hospital-two-weeks-as-a-nicu-mom/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2015 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi Johnson]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Baby]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blood Pressure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[boy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dad]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hospital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[newborn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NICU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pre-eclampsia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Preeclampsia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pregnancy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pregnant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[protein]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Urine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weight gain]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=6922</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[15 Days. Fifteen days that felt like an eternity. Having a child in the NICU is a long, emotional roller coaster that nothing can prepare you for. Luckily, my story is a good one, and we now have a healthy 19 month old. However, I’ll never get back those minutes, those hours that I could not hold him, I could not kiss him. I wasn’t the first, second, or probably even the third person to hold my son. Back to the beginning – after 34 weeks of what seemed like a “normal” pregnancy, I was starting to swell.  My shoes didn’t fit, my ring didn’t fit and I felt miserable –but I thought this was all “normal” pregnancy symptoms. I gained 10 pounds in two weeks. At my 34 week appointment I was admitted to the hospital for high blood pressure. After 24 hours and an extremely high protein count I was diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia. My son needed to be born now. Pre-eclampsia is the the leading cause of maternal and infant illness and mortality.  (For more information visit here) Pre-eclampsia is the the leading cause of maternal and infant illness and mortality. I was rushed to the OR – I didn’t have time for my doula to arrive, I didn’t have time to think about what was going to happen to me, and I definitely didn’t get to ask the question about what would happen to my baby after. I knew he would likely spend some time in the NICU. But no one warned me that I couldn’t hold him, that I wouldn’t even get to see him (other than the quick – over the sheet glimpse) for OVER 24 hours. Those hours were the most agonizing 24 hours I have ever had to endure. Because of my blood pressure and my high protein levels, I was at risk for having a seizure. To minimize that risk I was on a magnesium sulfate drip. “Mag” as it is lovingly referred to – is really nasty stuff. I felt like I was on fire. It makes your muscles feel like rubber bands. &#8230;no one warned me that I couldn’t hold him, that I wouldn’t even get to see him (other than the quick – over the sheet glimpse) for OVER 24 hours. Those hours were the most agonizing 24 hours I have ever had to endure. I felt like I was a prisoner. I couldn’t go see my son – I was hooked up to two IV lines, oxygen, leg pressure cuffs, an oxygen monitor and a BP cuff. They had the lights off in my room, and the TV was not on. All to minimize the risk of having a seizure. My husband split his time between staying with me and visiting our son. I recorded a tearful message on his phone that he played for him in his incubator. It wasn’t until months later that I found out that he didn’t hold him in the NICU until I was allowed to go and see him. My husband wanted me to hold him first. It wasn’t until months later that I found out that he didn’t hold him in the NICU until I was allowed to go and see him. My husband wanted me to hold him first. The day after he was born the doctor came in and I was awaiting the words that I was ok to be taken off of the magnesium and wheeled down to the NICU and I could finally hold my baby boy. My blood pressure was still high and initially I was told I would not be allowed to see him – that I still needed the “mag” for another 24 hours. I broke down. I balled. I couldn’t handle it.  They couldn’t keep me from my baby! I was told to “calm down”  because my BP skyrocketed. In the end I was told I could be taken off the magnesium to go and see him for an hour. I could barely stand to get into the wheelchair and the nurse shielded my eyes in the hallway from the lights. Finally, I got to meet our son. This was just the beginning of our NICU journey. I was discharged two days later – only to leave the hospital and leave our baby boy behind. Coming home without your child is probably the hardest thing to do. However, knowing he was ok, and was in good hands in the NICU is a small comfort. Coming home without your child is probably the hardest thing to do. Our daily routine consisted of my mother-in-law driving me to the hospital in the morning, me sitting by his side – staring at him in the incubator and hoping that all of the nurses notes would show that he was doing better, getting stronger, and meeting the milestones he needed to in order for us to bring him home. Those milestones consisted of getting him to eat so much at a feeding, gain weight, and to keep his body temp up on his own. I was an emotional wreck and anytime there was any setback I wanted to scream. I remember trying to coax him to eat just a few more milliliters from his bottle. My husband went back to work so that he could take time off when we got the baby home instead of spending time at the hospital. We would both go back in the evening, or if I was too exhausted my husband would go and stay with him. Our first diaper changes were through the portholes of the incubator.  We had to watch the “wires” and re-connect his oxygen monitor. We would sit and listen to the different beeps that came from the monitors showing that he was breathing, and that his oxygen level was ok. The first few times an alarm goes off it&#8217;s scary! Those beeps become strangely comforting and the first night home without them is nerve-wracking! Our first diaper changes were through the portholes of the incubator.  We had to watch the “wires” and re-connect his oxygen monitor. Each night we had to say goodbye. They tell you it’s hard to leave your baby, but they fail to mention that you have to repeat this day after day after day. I was told that this wouldn’t last forever, that it would come to an end and it did. Thankfully, I had a wonderfully supportive husband and we got through it together. We were the lucky ones, our baby boy is doing just fine and at the end of our 15 days – we finally got to take him home. &#160;]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.wirlproject.com/leaving-your-baby-at-the-hospital-two-weeks-as-a-nicu-mom/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What It&#8217;s Really Like to Meet and Marry a Single Parent</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/what-its-really-like-to-meet-and-marry-a-single-parent/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/what-its-really-like-to-meet-and-marry-a-single-parent/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2015 18:00:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Heather]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love/Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Biological]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bloodline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dad]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Daughter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Father]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mother]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[single]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Single Parent]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=6817</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was around 10 when I learned that when it comes to family, bloodlines don&#8217;t mean everything, and in some cases, it doesn&#8217;t mean ANYTHING. According to the dictionary, &#8220;Family&#8221; can be defined as: a. A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children. b. Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place. Nowhere in these definitions does it state anything about blood or biology. In today&#8217;s society it is not uncommon for a child to grow up without knowing one (or both) of their parent&#8217;s. In fact, it&#8217;s almost becoming abnormal if you ARE raised by both parents. I was around 10 when I found out that my dad, who had been raising me, wasn&#8217;t my biological father. My biological father was out of the picture by the time I was two, around the same time my mom met my dad. I was definitely hurt and confused by everything when I found out. I remember asking myself, &#8220;What is so wrong with me that my own father doesn&#8217;t want to be part of my life?&#8221; It was difficult, especially at a time where you&#8217;re already confused about the changes going on in your life. Even at ten, I never questioned who my DAD was. A father is someone who helps give you life, a dad is someone who helps makes you who you are and is PART of your life. My dad is the one who taught me how to play softball. He almost never missed a softball, basketball, volleyball game, or a track meet. He woke my brother and I up every Christmas morning by yelling &#8220;Ho Ho Ho Merrrrrry Christmas&#8221; with my mom. He helped me move more times that I can count. He taught me what to look for in a guy by giving me the greatest example of what a man could be. Then he walked me down the aisle when I found that guy. I always remember asking myself, &#8220;How could someone just take me in and raise me like I was their own, without thinking twice?&#8221; and then came Dave and Devon. Devon was six when Dave and I met, and had just turned seven by the time that I met her. Dave and I wanted to make sure that we were serious before I met Devon and had the chance to get attached with her and for her to get attached to me. You see, Devon has a very similar situation as I do and her birth mother has never been in her life. Dave was a single father for six years. Most people don&#8217;t even know that Devon and I don&#8217;t share blood. She looks like me&#8230;. A LOT! (A sign that we were meant to be a family, if you ask me.) We hit it off from day one, and I can honestly say that I fell in love with her before I fell in love with Dave. We could not get along any better (even now that Devon is heading into her Freshman year of High School). There were definitely some things that we had to figure out and work through as a family. When Dave, Devon and I started spending time together it was very&#8230; tricky&#8230; trying to find my place in the family. I wanted to build a friendship with Devon, but I also needed her to see me a mother figure. I had to learn when and how to step in and be a parent without feeling like I was overstepping my boundaries. I needed to spend one-on-one time with Devon to get to know her and for her to get to know me. Dave and I both knew that if things did not work with Devon and I then they wouldn&#8217;t work with Dave and I. We didn&#8217;t want to form a family where all three of us would be miserable because Devon and I did not get along. I&#8217;m very lucky that I met Devon when she was seven. Knowing her strong personality, it would have been MUCH more difficult to become a family if we met now instead of 7 years ago. Do I wish that I had met Dave and Devon sooner? Absolutely! But I am thankful that I&#8217;ve already been in Devon&#8217;s life for more than half of her life. (Which she made note of on her 14th birthday &#8211; that she had officially had me for half of her life.) When people do find out that I&#8217;m not Devon&#8217;s birth mother they always comment on how lucky Devon is to have me in her life. What they don&#8217;t understand is that she has been just as good for me. Although Devon doesn&#8217;t share my blood, she is my heart. It is from loving her that I understand how and why my dad could accept me and love me as his own. There is no doubt in my mind that Devon was meant to be my daughter (like I said, the resemblance is almost freaky) and there is no doubt that my dad was meant to be my dad. Some of the best parents that I know are not biological parents. They are people who stepped in and loved children for no other reason but to simply LOVE them and not because they felt like they had to.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.wirlproject.com/what-its-really-like-to-meet-and-marry-a-single-parent/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Your First Poop as a Mommy &#8211; What It&#8217;s Really Like</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/your-first-poop-as-a-mommy/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/your-first-poop-as-a-mommy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2015 08:30:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sara Brennan]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom Poop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poop]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=3380</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yes, you read the title correctly…today I am talking about mom poop! As a new parent, you know what to look for in your infant’s poop (texture, color, when it should come, etc.), you may even cheer when they do their first one, but nobody EVER talks about what its like for the new mama to pass her first poop after birth! So, here is a short little post about what it’s like. Don’t worry, I don’t get into too much detail and this may be TMI (too much information) for some, but I just had to share…so read on, you know you want to. Alright, so you just shoved a 5-10 pound baby out your you-know-what, so why on Earth would you worry about your first poop? It’s nothing in comparison to the accomplishment you just achieved, right? Wrong! All I have to say is Oh. My. Good. God. – it’s super scary to “go” for the first time because that area of your body was just just so incredibly traumatized by the whole birth process, you dread the thought of more irritation, stretching, pushing, ripping, popping stitches, aggravating hemorrhoids, etc. … yeah, it’s scary! I cannot attest to what it’s like to “go” after a vaginal birth, but what I can say is that my first time going after a C-section was absolute horror! &#8230;it’s super scary to “go” for the first time because that area of your body was just just so incredibly traumatized by the whole birth process, you dread the thought of more irritation, stretching, pushing, ripping, popping stitches, aggravating hemorrhoids, etc. … yeah, it’s scary! I believe the trouble with pooping after a c-section comes primarily form all the of pain medication you must take to be able to breathe, walk, move – it really clogs you up! This, combined with the fact that your body was just sliced open and the mere thought of contracting those muscles could bring you to tears, makes new moms who had a c-section never want to go again! Unfortunately, nobody told me the importance of fiber during this insane time of my life and I really wish they had because Holy. Crap. (no pun intended) it was absolutely terrible! Here are a few of the words I would use to describe my first time “going” after birth: 1) Labor pains &#8211; I truly thought I was going into labor again – the worst abdominal cramping I’ve EVER had from a bowel movement! 2) Sweat &#8211; I was drenched by the time I was through. 3) Constipation - I did not go for about a week after I gave birth. 4) Tears &#8211; It hurt so badly I cried for the entire process. 5) Slow &#8211; From the time I sat down to the time I finished, I was in the bathroom for about an hour, which for dads is somehow considered normal &#8211; who knows what they&#8217;re doing in there for all that time? So, there you have it &#8211; What It&#8217;s Really Like to poop for the first time as a new mommy. If you’ve been there before and it was a struggle, you probably just laughed at every line of this post because you could SO relate. Or, maybe you are one of those “lucky ones” who had no issues with this at all, and if that’s the case, then I really dislike you (just kidding…sort of)! And, if you’ve yet to achieve this wonderful milestone after giving birth, please take my advice and pump the fiber and liquids!!! I’ve never wished diarrhea on anyone before, but hey, there’s a first time for everything, right? I hope you all know I mean that in the nicest way possible! This WIRL was originally published to WIRL Project on February 24, 2015. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.wirlproject.com/your-first-poop-as-a-mommy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The &#8220;Dad Bod&#8221;? Seriously?</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/the-dad-bod-seriously/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/the-dad-bod-seriously/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2015 16:30:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sara Brennan]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health/Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Body]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dad]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dad Bod]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fluffy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gym]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Man]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom Bod]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Not Fair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seth Rogan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Woman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Workout]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=6147</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So, what the hell is the &#8220;Dad Bod&#8221;? It&#8217;s been trending on social media and showing up on the news lately and I&#8217;m not sure what to think of it. I guess this, &#8220;Dad Bod&#8221; has always been around&#8230;it&#8217;s the guy who is over the age of 25 and has a healthy balance of hitting the bars and hitting the gym. He wants to look good for the ladies his lady, but loves his beer just as much as he enjoys his &#8220;high protein/low carb&#8221; meal to come in the form of chicken wings. Underneath the belly hair and beer gut you&#8217;ll find a nice set of strong abs, but this is not for all to know &#8211; only a select few will ever get the privilege to know that this man is &#8220;ripped&#8221;. And lastly, somehow, this guy is always popular; he had loads of friends and enjoys his social time. Probably because he&#8217;s not spending every last waking second at the gym, right? Well, call me crazy, but women seem to LOVE the Dad Bod! Oddly enough, the super fit guys, like the ones in Magic Mike, come across as self-centered and insecure; why do they feel the need to be spending SO much time at the gym? I mean yeah, sex sells, but at the end of the day, I&#8217;d rather be next to a smart, intelligent, funny, empathetic, chubby guy over some muscle head who is only concerned with himself. For me personally, I was lucky enough to marry a rare breed of man&#8230;one who is super concerned with being fit, but also holds the traits of the man who typically has the &#8220;Dad Bod&#8221;. Wow, I feel special! &#8230;at the end of the day, I&#8217;d rather be next a smart, intelligent, funny, empathetic, chubby guy over some muscle head who is only concerned with himself. So, anyway, I said I was not sure what to think of this whole Dad Bod thing and here&#8217;s why&#8230;why is it called the &#8220;Dad&#8221; bod? And what about the &#8220;Mom Bod&#8221;? Women bear the child and deal with ALL KINDS of bodily changes including stretch marks, fat in extra places, saggy boobs, a stretched uterus, and the urge to pee when we laugh, sneeze or jump&#8230;but yet, &#8220;sexy&#8221; for a woman is still the extremely slim, barely clothed, ripped, long haired woman &#8211; who does not represent the &#8220;mom&#8221; community the least bit! If a mom chooses to only workout periodically (or never), she is considered chunky, think, or even frumpy! I know, a lot of guys are all-about-that-base, but it&#8217;s not really what is projected, especially on TV, magazine covers, and social media. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are full of selfies, especially from women, but how many &#8220;takes&#8221; and &#8220;edit&#8217;s&#8221; did it take for you to publish the one you did? LOTS! I mean, the standard is set pretty HIGH (see right). To get the perfect selfie, you have to make sure you have the right light, angle, makeup, and that you crop out that extra arm fat, right? Or you have to exhale so hard and hold your breath to make your stomach look thin that you literally pass out mid selfie! Sheesh, it takes a lot of effort for a woman, let alone a MOM, to look &#8220;good&#8221;. But, not the man who owns the &#8220;Dad Bod&#8221;&#8230;he&#8217;s hairy, fluffy, and fabulous with very little effort? WTF? It&#8217;s just not fair! I have nothing against the &#8220;Dad Bod&#8221;, I actually agree with the fact that sexy can be something other than tanned, toned, and perfect! So, to wrap this up, I&#8217;ll finish by saying I have nothing against the &#8220;Dad Bod&#8221;, I actually agree with the fact that sexy can be something other than tanned, toned, and perfect. However, we need to shift this thinking towards females as well! Let&#8217;s empower the &#8220;Mom Bod&#8221;! So what IS the &#8220;Mom Bod&#8221;? It&#8217;s not perfect &#8211; that&#8217;s basically it. I would say the &#8220;Mom Bod&#8221; could be defined as a woman over 25 (or who&#8217;s had a baby) who tries her best to fit working out into her busy schedule, but also enjoys a grande Carmel Ribbon Crunch Frappaccino from Starbucks every now and then (or everyday) along with a cupcake, cookie and/or piece of pizza (sometimes). The woman who wears the &#8220;Mom Bod&#8221; is strong mentally, but also physically from picking up her children hundreds of times per day. She&#8217;s not fat, but she&#8217;s not a toothpick either &#8211; she&#8217;s got muscle, but it&#8217;s not bulging. She also has a lot of friends, but may not have the time to socialize with them as often as she&#8217;d like and her close friends and family see her inner AND outer beauty.  I challenge us women, in true WIRL style, to start posting the &#8220;real&#8221; you online and on social media; no filters, cropped pictures, or retakes &#8211; just the raw, real you! Show us what it&#8217;s really like. I&#8217;m sure we all know a woman who may be insecure in her &#8220;Mom Bod&#8221;, we all are! I challenge us women, in true WIRL style, to start posting the &#8220;real&#8221; you online and on social media; no filters, cropped pictures, or retakes &#8211; just the raw, real you! Show us what it&#8217;s really like. And, I&#8217;ll bet we&#8217;ll find that men LOVE it&#8230;just as much, if not more, than women love the &#8220;Dad Bod&#8221;. What do you think? I&#8217;d love to see your thoughts in the comment box below. (Watch this video below for more of a dialogue of this &#8220;Dad Bod&#8221; vs &#8220;Mom Bod&#8221; conversation.)]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.wirlproject.com/the-dad-bod-seriously/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>9 Going on 16&#8230;.What It&#8217;s REALLY Like!</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/9-going-on-16-what-its-really-like/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/9-going-on-16-what-its-really-like/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2015 16:00:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Heather]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[9]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[9 going on 16]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Attitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Daughter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Glitter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sweet child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teenager]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=5979</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; My sweet, sweet little girl….yea right!!! Her teachers and other moms always tell me what a sweet girl she is. I just laugh. I laugh, but want to cry. She isn’t like that with me!! What the hell? It is like she is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One minute, she is sweet and nice to me (usually when she wants something), then when she realizes she isn&#8217;t going to get what she wants, she starts whining and her voice gets high pitch and I have no idea what the hell she is saying. Whatever that sound she makes, it hurts my ears and I just wish she would just go away. Disappear until she returns back to normal. I wish I had some magic powder to sprinkle on her to make her act normal and not so dramatic all the time. &#8220;But WHYYYY can&#8217;t  I go, mom?? WHYYYY?  I just HAAVE to go!&#8221; All of her words have to be drawn out and SO dramatic. The arguing, fighting, screaming, whining, and snotty attitude is draining!! I know you moms out there with girls feel the same way. I did it to my mom (payback is a bitch) and I am sure my daughter’s daughter will do it to her. It is like she has something against me. I know! It is because I am her MOM. I don’t have to do anything, except talk or breathe and she thinks I am wrong.  I am the one who carried you for 9 damn months and went through labor! I am the one that was up with you all those long nights when you were teething. Who do you come to when you are sick or hurt? YOUR MOM. I love how I try and give her advice about friendships or about anything and she continues to tell me how I don’t know what I am talking about. Really, girl?? I don’t know what I am talking about?? You are 9!! You have no idea, NO idea!! But, hey! If I want to know the truth about how I really look, she won’t hold back. She has NO problem telling me when I look fat, old, pale, or when my hair needs to be done. Let’s talk about mornings…. Trying to get her ready for school every single morning, is a struggle. I just LOVE starting my day off by arguing with my 9 year old over what she wants to eat for breakfast or what shoes she wants to wear that day. I just LOVE it…..NOT!! I think she secretly loves to make my life hard. I really think she loves to push my buttons. I have to say, she is brave, really brave, doing that before my coffee in the morning. I don&#8217;t dare take her around that Justice store anymore! I get a headache in that damn place. Glitter, glitter, sparkles, short shorts, crop tops. Sorry, my 9 year old shouldn&#8217;t blind people with her clothes. Plus, the quality of those clothes are horrible. And EVERYTHING is MY fault. Anything bad that happens to her &#8212; is MY fault. She blames ME for when SHE trips on her own shoes in the hallway. “Why didn’t you tell me to pick these up? It is your fault I tripped over them” “Why didn’t you get me up earlier to get ready for school? It is YOUR fault I am late.” MY fault, MY fault…It is ALL my freaking fault! Little BRAT &#8212; I tell ya! I think a demon lives inside her. But, it ONLY comes out when she is really tired or really hungry. Her voice gets really low and her eyes get this evil look. Right away, I know to grab food and make her eat it right away! “Calm the demon, calm the demon!” Basically, I am just screwed. Anything I say or do won’t ever be good enough for my daughter. She will always compare me to other moms and always argue with me. I just have to accept it and wait. Wait until the day she experiences her own life and after she has her own kids. Then, she will realize what I had to go through. And, payback is a bitch! &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.wirlproject.com/9-going-on-16-what-its-really-like/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>An Open Letter From A Homeschooling Mother</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/an-open-letter-from-a-homeschooling-mother/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/an-open-letter-from-a-homeschooling-mother/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2015 09:00:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Misty Hovis]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Class]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeschooling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[proud]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[School]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=5994</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I don’t have a degree in teaching, but I’m a teacher. If you would have asked me back in high school what I would be doing in 10 years I would have said being the CEO of my own business and enjoying my life to the fullest. I NEVER would have said homeschooling my 5 children, let alone saying I would have 5 children in the first place. Honestly the thought of homeschooling seemed weird and just silly back then. My whole misconception of homeschooling was children that are unsocial, uneducated, mistreated, and sheltered from the world around them… to name a few. I believe a lot of people who are against homeschooling have these SAME misconceptions. It wasn’t until our first child was about 2 years old that the thought of homeschooling came up. I didn’t want to do it, and was completely looking forward to “my free time” when he and any other children we had would be sent off to public school. Little did I know that homeschooling was the plan that God had in mind for us. Everywhere we turned homeschooling was brought up, I couldn’t get away from the idea and for some reason it seemed so interesting to me. My husband and I decided to pray about it and we did for 2 whole years! I did a ton of research and even went over the pros and cons many times. Finally the decision had been made, we were going to homeschool. Telling our family and friends wasn’t as easy as you would think, some were very supportive and others thought we were NUTS! One of my favorite comments from a family member who we were showing our classroom to was, “Oh, this will make a nice playroom at least.” At first I took that very personal and was pretty upset about it. Then I thought about it for awhile and realized… YES, it will make a nice playroom. Learning will be fun, enjoyable, and creative! A lot of people don’t realize that a child at a young age learns the MOST through play. Here are some interesting facts to keep in mind as well: When a child reads information they will only retain about 10% of it, 90% of it is lost. If they are presented the information orally they will retain 20% of it, 80% of it is lost. If a child sees what they are learning about they will retain 30% of it, 70% of it is lost. When a child sees and hears he/she will remember 50% of the material. When a child is asked to talk about a subject or read out loud they will retain 70% of the lesson. If a child is on the other hand actively involved in a project and doing hands on activities, they will retain 90% of it. Just my personal opinion, but it seems to me that it is much easier for a mother of 5 children to do more hands on activities and educate her children in a more effective way than a teacher in a classroom of 20-30+ children. Don’t get me wrong I appreciate public school teachers very much and think they have a super hard and important job. However, the way the system is set up does not allow a teacher to educate public schooled children very effectively. The system is more worried about crossing their T&#8217;s and dotting their I&#8217;s than allowing a teacher to use her God given talents to teach the children in her class. Test scores have proven this time and time again. Once we had made our decision, we had to deal with many questions including those worried about our children’s social skills and sheltering them from the outside world. We in no way intended to shelter our children and anyone that has ever spoken to one of our children can attest to the fact that they are far from being unsocial! (LOL) We are involved in many activities outside the home, take part in different groups, have participated in Co-Ops and sporting teams. Another question that has been brought up is “Why not leave it up to the professionals, you don’t even have a teaching degree?” Who is to say I’m NOT a professional… just because I didn’t spend thousands of dollars in college fees, years of my life in a classroom to get a piece of paper that says I have a certain degree shouldn’t deem me unworthy of teaching my children. I am a strong believer that actions speak louder than words. My children and their academic scores have proven that I must be doing something right. For example, when I first thought of homeschooling, I was beyond worried about teaching my children to read. It has never been a strong area for me. However, I learned right alongside my oldest, poured knowledge into him and I was so excited last year when he got his standardized test scores back for 2nd grade. He tested higher in reading than 98% of his peers and was reading at an 8th grade reading level! There are so many benefits to homeschooling. I get the chance to see my children learning new things first hand, I don’t have to just hear about it. We can learn together… take field trips and do hands on activities that are fun and exciting. I have the opportunity to see what areas my children are struggling in and what areas they are excelling in as well. This gives us a chance to help them one-on-one to improve on certain skills and give them room to grow and advance in areas of interest. For example, my oldest son, Logan, LOVES birds! He honestly could tell you the name and important facts about pretty much any bird you show him. He amazes me with the knowledge and interest he has in this area. I am able to provide resources and encourage his love for birds and this gets him excited about reading and learning even more. There also are so many wonderful materials, curriculums and resources offered to homeschooling families. Trust me I have done plenty of research to find what works well for us. I remember our first year homeschooling, I had someone ask me “Did you ever take calculus in school, if you didn’t how are you going to teach your child something you never learned?” My response was this… First off my son is in Pre-K and just learning his numbers, I think we will be ok. When he is older and will be taking more advanced classes, if I can’t help him we have some amazing friends that would be willing to help in this journey with us. Plus there are so many programs out there that we would be able to learn together. As far as teaching different grades at the same time, there is this awesome thing called unit studies! A great example I always like to share is this: let’s say we are learning about the eye. We would learn together all of the material about the eye up to a 3rd grade level (my oldest), maybe even higher if he is interested in knowing more now. Then our work would be as followed, 3rd grader might write a report about the eye, 1st grader might write a paragraph about the eye, Kindergartener might label the parts of an eye with a word bank and a Pre-K might color a picture of an eye. There also are many curriculums that allow for some independent learning for older grades which allows more time to focus on the basic skills needed in the younger grades, such as Phonics. I will be the first to say homeschooling is NOT for everyone though. There is a lot of work, planning, time, and energy involved in it. As well as, a true commitment you have to make to be a homeschooling family. It’s not always easy, but for us, it is worth it. There is no right or wrong… each person / family is entitled to their own thoughts, feelings, and opinions about public school vs. homeschooling. However these feelings should never judge the choice of another family if they feel called to do something different than yours. Again, 10 years ago I would have said I would be a CEO of my own business and living my life to the fullest. I am thankful to say, I am a CEO of my own business, by being an Independent Director with Thirty-One Gifts, and completely love every aspect of my life… funny enough, I even love being a homeschooling mother of 5! Sincerely, Proud Homeschooling Mother, Misty Hovis &#160; &#160;]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.wirlproject.com/an-open-letter-from-a-homeschooling-mother/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Two&#8217;s Company, Three&#8217;s a Crowd? Or, Maybe NOT.</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/twos-a-company-threes-a-crowd-or-maybe-not/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/twos-a-company-threes-a-crowd-or-maybe-not/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2015 18:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Heather]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[3 Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[3 kids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Multiple Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[My story]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Three's a Crowd]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Two's Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=5693</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; So, while I was at a mommy meetup group today with my kids, one of the moms said she heard that having 3 kids is easier than having just 2. I almost spit my water out, after hearing this nonsense! I told her that was a lie. I have 3 and can tell you it isn&#8217;t easier. You are outnumbered! That means, one of you has 2 and the other has 1! Maybe when they get older, it gets easier? But I can tell you, it isn&#8217;t easier right now, while they are young. It is also a lot more expensive! You have to think about 3x&#8217;s that college tuition (I am hoping my kids all get scholarships! I can have hope, right??). Let&#8217;s rewind back to when my husband and I only had the 2 kids&#8230; I never imagined myself even having 3 kids. Never really gave it much thought. I just figured we would deal with the 2 we did have and get through that &#8212; until I got a little older and the thought was in the back of my head. I have to admit, I thought about having regrets as I got older. But, then I talked myself out of it and thought there was NO way I could have 3! It just wasn&#8217;t what I wanted. Then, BOOM! SURPRISE!! That little white stick read positive! To be honest, I was a little sad, scared, anxious, did I say scared?!! 3 kids. Wow. There were days when I broke down and cried from being so tired and thought, &#8220;How in the world can I handle one more kid?? I can&#8217;t even deal with these two right now!&#8221; I even began questioning my parenting skills and started to think maybe I wasn&#8217;t cut out to be a mom of more than 1 kid! (Keep in mind, all these thoughts were while I was pregnant&#8230;we all know how that goes). I was just scared period. Scared of the &#8220;unknown&#8221; lol. I was about to enter into the craziness. Or, as a good friend told me, &#8220;Shit just got real.&#8221; Now, my 3rd child is 9 months old and I couldn&#8217;t imagine my life any other way, nor would I have it any other way! Just when I thought my heart couldn&#8217;t hold anymore love, it does! My 3rd child has changed me for the best. Actually, ALL my children have, but my 3rd has made me really change my view on things. I don&#8217;t care so much about the little things, I am not afraid to speak up or say how I feel, I don&#8217;t spend time on the nonsense anymore, and I can honestly say, because of all this craziness in our house, I manage my time so much better than ever before. Maybe everyone, with 3 kids doesn&#8217;t feel this way, and that is ok. They don&#8217;t have to. That is them, this is me, this is MY story.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.wirlproject.com/twos-a-company-threes-a-crowd-or-maybe-not/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>By &#8220;Work/Life Balance&#8221; You Must Mean: All Work, Bye Bye Life, and No Balance</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/by-worklife-balance-you-must-mean-all-work-bye-bye-life-and-no-balance/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/by-worklife-balance-you-must-mean-all-work-bye-bye-life-and-no-balance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2015 09:00:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sara Brennan]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Balance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lonely]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motherhood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stay At Home Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work/Life Balance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Working Mom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=5675</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Since becoming a mom, I&#8217;ve learned that there are NOT enough hours in a day. Many people often wish for &#8220;super powers&#8221; and mine would be the ability to survive without sleep! I actually hate going up to bed at night. Why do we NEED to do this!? There are so many more &#8220;productive&#8221; things I could be doing instead of laying down in a bed for 7-8 hours doing NOTHING resting! Before becoming a mom, I used to be a middle school science teacher and my day was filled with talking/socializing/teaching all day long, followed by the freedom to do whatever I wanted. I loved a good shopping marathon or DIY home project; I was very independent. When I decided to transition to the &#8220;glamorous&#8221; lifestyle of a stay-at-home mom, nobody prepared me for the difficult transition I was about to face. Everyone KNEW I&#8217;d made the decision to stay at home once I had the baby and not one person warned or prepared me for the emotions and changes I was about to face. I would hear comments such as, You will never regret staying at home with your kids or It&#8217;s such a great experience, I wouldn&#8217;t have traded it for the world.  I understand they probably didn&#8217;t want to &#8220;rain on my parade&#8221;, but seriously, I wish someone would have been honest with me and talked about how difficult it can be! So, I left my job, had my son (who I love and adore more than anything), and knew I &#8220;should&#8221; feel bliss, but after a few weeks and months I started to feel alone and trapped in my own home with this baby who couldn&#8217;t tell me what he wanted or needed&#8230; I started to lose it. My work &#8220;friends&#8221; got busy and didn&#8217;t care too much about me anymore. I take that back, in my crazy, emotional, tired, and slightly lonely head, that&#8217;s probably a lot more of what it felt like than the truth. To their credit, I wasn&#8217;t exactly contacting them regularly either. I just felt like nobody could relate to me anymore and that I was very uncool. I couldn&#8217;t go on shopping marathons, mani and pedi outings, or to cocktail hour anymore (unless I brought my baby!) because I was breastfeeding/pumping&#8230;I sometimes felt like a prisoner. I&#8217;d always been a very driven and &#8220;Type-A&#8221; person, so I decided to bottle this strange and unexpected negative energy and put it towards something more positive. I dreamt up an idea, built a website, started my own internet business, and became an entrepreneur! I created a website where real people could share real stories about life and what it&#8217;s really like (WIRL) and I called it WIRL Project. I knew I wasn&#8217;t the only one who had been slapped in the face with this reality that nobody wanted to talk about, so I created an online place where people could cut the crap, be real, and share their stories about life. Since it&#8217;s taken off, I am super busy doing work that I LOVE, but I also have a 19 month old toddler. Sure, I get out of the house several days a week and do something for myself, but now I am faced with GUILT beyond explanation. When I voluntarily leave the house to &#8220;work&#8221;, it means being away from my son. When I&#8217;m with my son and not working, I am constantly thinking about my business; it&#8217;s the epitome of a catch 22. Who knew motherhood could cause such drama (lol)! To avoid the guilt, I try to work as much as I can while my son is sleeping. But, often times this leaves very little time for my husband and I to hang out. Oh, and date nights? Few and far between. I am used to be really fit, I don&#8217;t hardly work out at all anymore, there just isn&#8217;t time for it! I know, I know, everything I&#8217;ve talked about so far comes with the territory of being a (new) mom&#8230; the sleepless nights, the guilt, the exhaustion, the multitasking, all of that, and I don&#8217;t really know how it would have changed things if I&#8217;d known this in advance, but I still wish people would be more realistic about this transition and stop making it out to be so &#8220;beautiful&#8221;. So, back to my super power&#8230;if I had an extra 8 hours per day to accomplish &#8220;life&#8221;, I&#8217;d be much better off! Sleeping just doesn&#8217;t fit into my schedule anymore and I wish that could be the thing I &#8220;quit&#8221; doing! But, unfortunately, my son doesn&#8217;t know (or care) that I&#8217;ve stayed up late, so he wakes up at his regular time every morning, ecstatic to see me, and I go through everything all over again the next day! Don&#8217;t get me wrong, I absolutely love my son and being his mom is awesome. But, if you were to ask me about a work/life balance&#8230; I&#8217;d say there really isn&#8217;t one, not for me anyway, each day is different, yet the same, and crazy! But, I&#8217;m not going to cover it up and make my life seem something it&#8217;s not. I work, I have a life, I balance it as best as I can and I&#8217;m honest about it. That&#8217;s the best I can do right now, take it for what it&#8217;s worth.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.wirlproject.com/by-worklife-balance-you-must-mean-all-work-bye-bye-life-and-no-balance/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Whine Time = Wine Time</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/whine-time-wine-time/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/whine-time-wine-time/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2015 09:00:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Heather]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Glass of Wine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mommy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tantrums]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Whine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Whining]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Witching Hour]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=5481</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You probably shouldn&#8217;t be reading this if you are against drinking or think that drinking a glass of wine around kids is bad parenting. By the way, if you do happen to feel this way, I highly disagree with you and think you probably need a glass of wine yourself.  And, if you don&#8217;t even have kids but have an opinion about this, then you won&#8217;t even be heard, because you have NO idea how it is.  Just for the record&#8230;I swear, I am not an alcoholic!! Ahhhh&#8230;a glass of wine&#8230;the wonders it does for parents. For instance, my 3 year old, 9 month old, and 8 year old were coming up on witching hour..usually around 4pm everyday is the time they start having tantrums and start with the whining. &#8220;Mommy, I am hungry&#8230;Mommy, I am bored&#8230;Mommy, he took my toy&#8230;Mommy, the baby is crying too loud&#8230;Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!!!&#8221; I look at the clock and think to myself, &#8220;It is 4pm and a glass of wine sure would taste so good right now&#8221; But then reality kicks in and unless I could grow a third arm, that just isn&#8217;t happening. I only have two hands and can barely keep up with these damn kids. How can I even pour some wine right now?? Or, run out of the house, without them knowing I am gone?? The whining drives me nuts! I know I am not the only one that craves for that delicious glass of wine. You see, when my kids start whining, my mind starts thinking about what people are doing that don&#8217;t have kids. They must be going to to happy hour after work, or maybe going to the nail salon or even going to the bathroom&#8211;ALONE!! I love my kids&#8211;A LOT, but damn!! What the heck did I do before they were born?? Oh, I know&#8230;I slept!! Whine time for the kids pushes me for my wine time later. I don&#8217;t remember liking wine so much with my first child. Maybe it just started to happen the more kids we had. Don&#8217;t feel guilty having a glass, or two of wine, because YOU deserve it!! Life is too short to worry about what everyone else thinks and worry about the little things &#8212; like the damn whining!!]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.wirlproject.com/whine-time-wine-time/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>PPD Forces Changes</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/ppd-forces-changes/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/ppd-forces-changes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2015 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Becky Babo]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Antidepressants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Baby]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Body]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Daughter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Emotional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motherhood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[postpartum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Postpartum Depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pregnancy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=5401</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; My beautiful baby girl just turned one in March, and motherhood has forced it&#8217;s fair share of changes on me, the least of which being my pants size. The elephant in the room is Postpartum Depression. I was diagnosed with Postpartum Depression (PPD) four weeks after I had my bundle of joy. I wanted to be happy, but I couldn&#8217;t stop crying. The bottom line is that postpartum depression has changed me. I&#8217;ve always been an emotional person, but generally I&#8217;ve been able to see the good in situations, not just the bad. Now, I feel like I&#8217;m not the person I was before I became a mom. I&#8217;m not the perky, bubbly person who was so sure of herself anymore. I&#8217;ve become someone else that I don&#8217;t quite recognize. I&#8217;m trying to beat this &#8211; trying to overcome what I&#8217;m feeling and what my body has decided to do. My doctor has me on antidepressants, my third different brand, and the fact of the matter is, I&#8217;m scared. What if I always feel like this? What if they don&#8217;t help? What if being on them is going to make me a bad mom? Research tells me that PPD is a chemical imbalance, and that it&#8217;s a lot more common then most women know. Why? What makes it so hard for women to talk about? Maybe it&#8217;s the constant feeling that you&#8217;re just not good enough. Or the sadness that comes around when you really should be happy. This is not an easy road for me to walk. This is not what I expected. And yet, I know that this is not my fault. I don&#8217;t understand why &#8211; but this is happening to me for a reason, and God is truly in control. If He put this in my path, then I have to walk around it. I have to overcome this obstacle. And if it brings me closer to Him, and turns me into a more sympathetic and better mother, then it&#8217;s worth it. Until then, I will keep trying. For her.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.wirlproject.com/ppd-forces-changes/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
