Kristen Hammaker
Kristen Hammaker is a Dayton native who recently moved back to the best city in the world. As a Daytonian, of course her writing inspiration is Erma Bombeck. She has two young children and works as a school counselor and Orton-Gillingham Practitioner. Since she has a son and a daughter, she understands how each kid is different and you can't over-generalize anything about gender differences in children. Her current Mom Fantasy is dreaming about a day when she won't have to constantly scrape melted fruit snacks off of all surfaces of her car.
October 2023 Dayton Dozen
Happy Fall, ya'll! This is my favorite season, and it's October 2023 - my favorite month. I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it! Join with me in my pumpkin fun this month,...
Tips for Introducing Foods to Your Baby
Maybe you are doing baby-led weaning, purees, or just going with the flow when feeding your baby. My son had some food reactions that I then had to investigate, so I have the following...
Baby, You’re a Firework {Celebrating My 4th of July Baby}
To my Big Kid,
I remember 3 years ago, when I was running around with your sister, hugely pregnant, during COVID times, trying to figure out a way to still have fun with a toddler...
Is My Family Actually Ready for Kindergarten?
My daughter turned 5 and nobody could possibly turn her away from wanting to go to kindergarten. Ever since she started in the preschool class at her daycare, she told herself, "I am going...
An Onomatopoetic Poem About Vacuuming My “Mom Car”
I drove by a carwash that advertised,
"Free vacuum with a wash."
I thought, "Those suckers won't know what hit them!"
This was the one drive I had when I didn't have the kids in the car.
"Got...
Our Favorite Dayton Parks
We have been checking out some great parks lately and I wanted to give you an update on them. For those of us that are potty training, I'm including information on the bathroom situation...
Potty Training the Second Kid
Before I became a parent, I had a luxurious, rose-colored glasses view of parenting. I thought I'd teach my child to use the potty before age 2 since she clearly had such supreme intelligence...
Things I Didn’t Know Before I Became a Mom
Motherhood will change you in ways you never knew possible, and you'll undoubtedly learn a thing or two along the way. I myself realized there are so many things I didn't know before I...
For My Beautiful Mom on Mother’s Day
Dear Mom,
Especially these last couple of years, I have appreciated you more than ever. You have a special touch with my kids that no one else has. Mr. Cute is always saying, "I want...
And Just Like That, She’s Going to Kindergarten
I know it sounds cliche, but it really feels like yesterday that my beautiful daughter was born. I distinctly remember getting ready to go to the hospital to be induced. I felt a sense...
What Mom DOESN’T Want for Easter
Peter Cottontail, you better go on hopping down some other bunny trail if you try to bring me this stuff.
That terrible Easter grass that gets all over the place. Nobody likes that. You...
How NOT to Catch a Leprechaun
How not to catch a leprechaun, as written by a 2-year-old and 4-year-old (rather, let's say by dictation because neither can write yet).
Do NOT try to lure him in with plastic dinosaurs, though...
Second-Guessing Who I Am as a Parent
Some days, I sit and ruminate on my parenting choices. My therapist said the word "ruminate" comes from the root of the word "red," meaning energy. I try to exercise to move that restless...
Things a Mom DOESN’T WANT for Valentine’s Day {Hint, Hint}
If you're trying to find the perfect gift for the moms in your life for Valentine's Day, try to avoid items on the list below (speaking from experience), and remember, you can never go...