Category Archives: Parent Stories

Photograph – Death of a Hero

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Just Stephanie

No one can stand for long on the slippery slope of a pedestal. And I am the one who put Dad there. Continue reading →

Posted in Facing the Monsters, Just Being Real, Parent Stories, The Year True (2022) | Tagged beauty, death, death of a hero, Ed Sheeran, father, heroes, lessons, our dad, pain, photograph, when the dumpster fire is an honor | 2 Comments

Show Me Your Barnacles 🦀

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Just Stephanie

My father’s dermatologist has a saying, every time he goes in for a checkup. She says, “Show me your barnacles.” 🤣 Spoiler alert: We all have barnacles. Barnacles certainly encrust my family, and most of all me, but as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Facing the Monsters, Fun Stuff, Just Being Real, Parent Stories, The Year of Light (2019), Uncategorized | Tagged #notshiny, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, barnacles, chasing shiny things, dermatology, Disney, eaten alive, Housefires, Jemaine Clement, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Moana, Nate Moore, Romans 3:23, Shiny, You Are My Peace | 1 Comment

Rearranging My Actual Den 🎮

Posted on January 31, 2019 by Just Stephanie

Well, goodness, I set my hostages free this past weekend in rather dramatic fashion and God did a miracle, I think, but that’s another story. Today’s topic is gaming. 😁 Some know that I am a rather avid PokémonGo player. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun Stuff, Parent Stories, The Year of Light (2019) | Tagged Animal Jam, Facebook, gaming, gifts for Jesus, hardwood floors, Joanna Gaines, miracles, PokemonGo, setting hostages free | Leave a comment

A Separate Life: Thoughts About an Empty Nest

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Just Stephanie

About nineteen years ago, I had a revelation. My youngest son was newly born, and my husband watched him so I could take my first outdoor walk postpartum. I loved my walks. In fact, these walks became a lifeline. I’d taken many … Continue reading →

Posted in Facing the Monsters, Just Being Real, Parent Stories | Tagged empty nest, homeschooling, off to college, parenting | Leave a comment

When Things Heat Up (and Expose the Monsters)

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Just Stephanie

My husband doesn’t even know this happened yet, so why not share it on the World Wide Web? I caught my gas cook stove on fire last night. Here’s how it went down: It was too late to cook, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Facing the Monsters, Just Being Real, Laughter, Parent Stories | Tagged anger, Destiny, facing the monsters, owning it, pride, repentance, teenager stories, Xbox | 4 Comments

One Tiny Basketball Lesson

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Just Stephanie

My son plays basketball. As a parent, I want him to do well. And I have opinions as to how that should happen. 😀 In the past, I prayed specific, self-serving prayers about my children’s sports involvement and other activities. … Continue reading →

Posted in Facing the Monsters, Just Being Real, Parent Stories, The Year of Joy (2015) | Tagged basketball, being a sports mom, Prayer, the Holy Spirit as Teacher | 2 Comments

For Brandon, Who Did the Right Thing

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Just Stephanie

Once there was a mom, who went for the American Dream. She had a good job, and she did well. She drove a Mercedes-Benz. The mom sometimes traveled for her job, and one day, at the pinnacle of her success, … Continue reading →

Posted in A Thankful Heart, Facing the Monsters, Just Being Real, Parent Stories | Tagged being a mom, broken heart, mom, the American Dream | 2 Comments

You Win Some and You Lose Some, and in the End…

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Just Stephanie

It’s all GOOD. We had a wedding this past weekend. There were flowers. (Thank you, Casey.) There was exhaustion, too. There was quiet moment when the groom, newly-graduated with his music degree, played the bridal procession he had written especially … Continue reading →

Posted in A Thankful Heart, Parent Stories | Tagged being loved, death, hope, it's all good, life, love | Leave a comment

R-E-S-PE-C-T (and the Scene at the Fence)

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Just Stephanie

“I used to belt out the words to that Aretha Franklin classic in the pre-dawn while throwing a paper route for extra money. Little did I know how important the concept of respect would be in my family relationships.” (From … Continue reading →

Posted in Hope for Women Posts, Just Being Real, Parent Stories | Tagged Abuse, Baseball Dads, Hope for Women, parenting, Respect | 4 Comments

Lazy Parents, Unite!

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Just Stephanie

If I’m going to be honest, I have to admit that I’m a lazy parent. Here is how that looks: My 12-year-old son has a reputation for being a poor worker, but that’s because I was too lazy to teach … Continue reading →

Posted in Just Being Real, Parent Stories | Tagged don't lose heart, hang in there, lazy parents, never give up, parenting | 8 Comments