“Boys will be boys.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Why do we so often use this phrase, or “You know how boys are”, to excuse bad behavior? Society has come to accept the typical young boy to be rough, tough, dirty and gross. These cliche male characteristics manifest in adulthood as assertiveness, dominance, aggressiveness, persistence. With recent discussions about rape culture and the #metoo movement, this gender stereotype has been brought to the forefront. Society has normalized the passive victimization of females, blaming them for “putting themselves in compromising positions” by how they behave, dress or speak. Emphasis is on teaching girls how not to get sexually harassed, assaulted or raped. But what about our…

Ok so the contrasting photo is a bit overdramatic…or maybe it’s spot on. It definitely depicts how I felt the first week of breastfeeding, both this time and last. Breastfeeding has a multitude of benefits for both baby and mama, but sometimes I feel it has been overly romanticized without all the truths being exposed… Like being sold a product and not reading the fine lines at the bottom until you’ve already bought it. I decided to write about this topic because there’s a lot that is taboo when talking or learning about breastfeeding. Don’t misconstrue my position: I am still very PRO- breastfeeding. However, there are things I wish I…

With the countdown to baby #2 only a few days away, I’ve been feeling anxious. I’m not anxious about the labor, the delivery, the surgery, the hospital or what to do after the baby enters this world…because I know what to expect (for the most part). I’m anxious about my baby, my first one.  I know that having more than one child is nothing novel, and some may think “well it’s what you wanted, right?” Of course it is, we’re overjoyed. However, as a mother to a single child, there is rollercoaster of emotions one experiences in preparation for another baby, which is rarely discussed. From the moment he was…