Legos on the Sidewalk

The other day he was building one of his new sets at my parents’ house next door when I told him it was time to come home. But at some point along the route, he lost a piece.

MotherhoodAlyssa BellNovember 1, 2024motherhood, tired mom, Legos, raising young boys, raising boys, feeling forgotten, feeling unseenComment

The Serious Work of Play

I’m sitting on the sofa in the living room listening to my boys upstairs. They are master players.

Willa’s Story

Like most birth stories, ours included a cast of characters, props, and twists and turns that kept us on our toes.

MotherhoodAlyssa BellJuly 5, 2024Comment

Timeless Childhood Pleasures

Jumping in mud puddles, a bubble bath during the day, popsicles on the porch, a trip to the local library

What I’m Loving + Learning

I may not be hitting post as frequently, but I am writing more than I ever have. The truth is, for the last three years I have been working on a personal project.

MotherhoodAlyssa BellMarch 17, 2023dallas photographer, what i am learning, anxiety, homeschool, homeschooling, writing a bookComment

Motherhood “And”

What I’m finding about motherhood in this season is that it is a delicate balancing act of loving my boys well and pursuing my calling.

The Little Things

Sometimes discouragement lingers heavily on a regular Tuesday morning.

MotherhoodAlyssa BellDecember 9, 2022homeschooling, finding joy in the little things, the little thingsComment

Unhurried

I’ve been in a hurry my entire life, it seems. My mom jokes that I’ve been running as long as I could walk.

MotherhoodAlyssa BellOctober 7, 2022unhurried, living life at a slower pace, slow down, slow living, intentional livingComment

Whatever Is True

“Write what is true” I exhale at the keyboard waiting for divine inspiration to strike. But the truth is….I’m irritable and tired. I want to write something encouraging for moms in light of Mother’s Day that is also not completely cliche. I DON’T want to talk about politics (or hear or read about them for that matter) but if I am being honest, it’s what is plaguing me the most.

22 Small Ways to be Intentional With Your Kids This Summer

Summers for kids are pure magic. Summers for adults trying to keep the magic alive for their kids are…less magical.

Dear Moms

I acknowledge that your yes to their life very likely opened up a world of “no’s” in your own life.

MotherhoodAlyssa BellMay 7, 2021dear mom, mothers day, mothers, tired mom, a letter to momsComment

To The Tired Mom

I am she. And here’s how I know. I find this particular season of motherhood both incredibly fulfilling and inexplicably draining. I am guilt-ridden over

A World Far Less Scary

I want to build a world for my kids that is far less scary than the version the news likes to tell us.

The Things I Won't Miss

MotherhoodAlyssa BellJanuary 8, 2021motherhood, raising young children, tired mom, mom life, seasons of motherhood, young motherhood Comments

The Lost Magic of Childhood

I bet if I asked you to close your eyes and picture the tastes and smells of your childhood, you would be able to recall in vivid detail

Motherhood, EmpowermentAlyssa BellSeptember 25, 2020Comment

The Thing About Traveling With Kids

By the time Cyrus was one, he had already been on three major trips, watched embers of a fire glow in the mountains and touched his chunky toes in the salty ocean.

To The Parents In This Season

To my fellow stay-at-home moms and dads—we carry the badge of dark circles under our mascaraless eyes, hungry for interaction with humans who can make their own snacks and wipe their own bottoms.

My Hope For My White Sons

“Daddy, what are they doing?” Cyrus asked from the gray steps of my parents’ porch as protestors marched past chanting the words, “I can’t breathe.”

From Foster To Forever

697 days. That’s the length of time that our precious Malachi was in foster care. Forever. That’s the length of time we have to love him and know that he is ours.

Fostering, MotherhoodAmber WhiteJune 13, 2020foster care, adoption, fostering, foster mom, foster to adopt, black lives matter, biracial, familyComment

Breathing Under Water

I’ve been having a lot of dreams about breathing under water. They say that this represents being overwhelmed by negative thoughts, emotions, or uncertainty

Fostering, MotherhoodAmber WhiteFebruary 7, 2020fostering, foster mom, motherhood, uncertainty, adoption, CPS, parentingComment