Welcome

Welcome to Seasoned Mama. I have been blogging since 2004 when I began a family blog. It became a place to record and save precious and not so precious memories that I hope my children will appreciate and perhaps even cherish in the future. But where Blogging with Ida is strictly for my family, Seasoned Mama is for moms.

I am not one who is quick to offer advice, especially when it comes to parenting issues. I mean, there are some hot topics that advice on isn't always well received. However, as I age, I find myself wanting to speak to other moms. Not to necessarily give advice or tell them how they should be raising their children, but to simply encourage them. For the last several years, I've had an idea on my heart. I have been wanting to write a book about one of the most favorite things about my family - traditions. Unfortunately, I have been able find any and all excuses as to why I cannot possibly write a book.

Let's start with how the idea came to life. I have been leading a neighborhood Bible study for the past six years. Most of the women are moms of littles. They are also mostly working moms who are busy and often tired. They come into my home each week and often notice the things that we sometimes display as part of our family traditions. Or they hear me talk about what my family is doing for Advent, Easter, birthdays, or any other special day or season. Then they tell me that they could never do that. They do not have the time, the creativity, the patience, the __________ (fill in the blank). What they don't realize is that they already have everything they need in the love that they have for their family. Because of my love of writing, I decided I wanted to write a book on traditions. For all the times though that I have sat and typed away, getting as many ideas out of my head and onto my laptop as I could, I just couldn't seem to pull it all together. It seemed too overwhelming.

So, then I thought, why not start out simple. Do something I already know how to do. Blog. And so Seasoned Mama was born. Born out of a desire to write a book and in hopes that this will lead to a collection of posts that will one day turn into that book I have been wanting to write. All I needed was a name for my new blog. That came from a woman I know from church. She has two simply adorable littles and posts often on Instagram. In one of her stories, she asked for opinions on a parenting issue. Since she had asked, I knew it was okay to share my advice, for which she seemed rather grateful. In her reply to my message she wrote, "It is so valuable to hear the opinion of a seasoned mama."

And a blog was born.