On Saturday, May 12, I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Loyola University Chicago with a BA in Management and a Certificate in Organizational Leadership. I am the first person on either side of my family to earn a college degree. Neither one of my parents graduated high school, and neither did I. But I finally got my GED when I...
Unless you’ve been in a coma, I’m sure you’ve heard the national freakout over the TIME Magazine cover story with the mom breastfeeding her 3 year old. For the official record, I thought it was a nice picture, but their “Are you MOM ENOUGH?” headline was the offensive part. It was catty and juvenile and divisive (says the woman who...
A few weeks ago, I was getting all the kids’ haircuts at Snippets when I noticed they sold Piggie Paint at the counter. Pedicures and manicures are my favorite thing in the world – always have been – but I don’t keep nail polish in the house because I never do my own nails. I go to the salon a...
A few days ago, I saw a celebrity activist campaign called “No Mother’s Day” which is encouraging mothers to boycott Mother’s Day this year in order to honor the 350,000 women lost each year in childbirth. While I admire the sentiment, I have a bit different approach. I thought it would be much more helpful to actually DO something to...
On my 24th Birthday: Went to Sheffield’s with a huge group of my coworkers, family, and friends. My dad (who was 38 at the time) flew in from Pennsylvania and got me so drunk on Tequila shots that I threw up in the ladies room and got us all kicked out. My dad and my Best Guy Friend escorted my...
There’s a small group of particularly deranged people online who spend their days and nights bashing me, my family, and even my small children. Yep – they call my kids names. Why? Good lord, who the hell knows why. I don’t think anyone could logically explain why another human being would call a baby disgusting names, no matter how much...
My only daughter turned 1 Year Old today. In her first year on this planet, she has already given me so many beautiful experiences and memories. She has taught me so much more about myself, my husband, and my boys than I ever thought possible. On her first day, she gave me my glorious homebirth experience — and she helped...
I can’t even think right now. I can’t say anything but OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD over and over. Why? Because I just got this letter: “Ms. Gina Crosley-Corcoran, Congratulations! It is with great pleasure that I inform you that following the review of your application and supplemental materials you have been recommended for admission into the School of Public Health, as an Epidemiology...
A few days ago, HH told me that I have a “special bond” with the baby. I asked him what he meant and he said that he thought I just seemed closer to Jolene. To him, it seems like I’m happier when I’m with her than when I’m with the boys. I know what he’s referencing. Jolene makes me feel...
I have to share this email I received late last night. People have sent me a lot of lovely, truly complimentary emails over the years, and I’ve appreciated every one of them. (And before I sound like a braggart, believe me, people have sent me a LOT of hate mail too. Lots and lots and lots. People have entire hate...
Mayim Bialik breastfeeds her kids till they’re in preschool. Alicia Silverstone pre-chews her baby’s food. January Jones popped pills made from her encapsulated afterbirth. And unamused bloggers are losing their shit about all of it. Of course there are men playing the Mom Shame Game – like Richard Roeper (yeah, the movie guy) who unsuccessfully tried to blend his attack...
Peeps often ask me for advice on landing conference sponsors. This is my second year going to BlogHer, and this is also my second year having a full sponsorship. Honestly, I think I just plain lucked into them, but there might be a tiny bit of skill involved in this so I’m happy to relay what I know in case...
THIS GIRL!!!! Oh, and this girl. And this girl. And this girl guy. That’s right! All four of us have been chosen as panelists for the Room Of Your Your Own Session on helping bloggers take their business to the next level. The BlogHer Official Description: Pro Tips: Branding and Blogging Professionally [Professional] • Charlie Capen,Gina Crosley-Corcoran, Jill Krause, Mandy...
2012 has pretty much been the most anxiety ridden year of my life thus far. After the first two weeks of January chewed us up and spit us out, I succumb to pharmaceuticals and weekly talk therapy appointments to get me to a place where I’m not vibrating with panic all the time. The meds have certainly taken the edge...
(Warning, if you’re my Mother-in-law, or anyone else who’s uncomfortable with TMI, I forbid you to read this post. Keep in mind you’re reading the blog of a feminist breeder: two terms that are sex-positive.) The husband’s much-anticipated vasectomy is scheduled for April 13th. That’s sorta funny for two reasons: It’s Friday the 13th (dunt, duhnt, duhhhhhnnn) That was Jolene’s...
This week my family hopped up to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for a few days of family bonding. I’ve been desperately wanting to have a little time away from our busy lives to just have fun with my kids and HH. Things have been too hectic around the house lately: he’s been working seven days a week and my final semester...
We’ve seen it time and time again: If a woman refuses the sexual advances of a man, he insists she’s either a “bitch” or a “lesbian.” Of course! That must be it! If a woman doesn’t want you near her vagina, there must something wrong with her. Or maybe she just realized you were a misogynist douchecanoe and had the...
*DISCLAIMER: This is not a post about mothers who use formula. This is not a post about mothers who choose not to breastfeed, or who cannot breastfeed for medical reasons. If you fed your baby formula and you are prepared to get defensive over what I’m about to convey, please stop and read this sentence. THIS IS NOT ABOUT MOMS...
*Trigger Warning* – I’m posting some mildly graphic photos of stitching below. Please don’t scroll down if you don’t want to see them. On Sunday I had just come from getting my hair cut when I got a call from my dad. He had the boys overnight like he often does, but he wasn’t planning on dropping them off for...
We’ve been planning for HH to have a vasectomy for years. We knew as soon as we were done having babies that would be the birth control method we’d utilize. I will not consider an IUD because I have scars inside my uterus, and the idea of having a foreign object near them totally freaks me out. Hormonal birth control...
