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Courtney DeFeo
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Courtney DeFeo

Author: Melanie Dale

Melanie Dale is a minivan mama and total weirdo who stinks at small talk. Her laugh is a combination honk-snort, and it's so bad that people have moved away from her in the movie theater. She adores sci-fi and superheroes and is terrified of Pinterest. Author of Women Are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends and It’s Not Fair: Learning to Love the Life You Didn’t Choose (August 2016), she’s also a contributor for Coffee+Crumbs and an advocate for Children's HopeChest. She’s been featured on Parenting.com, Scary Mommy, Working Mother Magazine, Deadspin’s Adequate Man, and Today’s Christian Woman. Living in the Atlanta area, she blogs at Unexpected.org about motherhood, orphan care, infertility, and sometimes poo.
Interview with Melanie Dale

Interview with Melanie Dale

And what if I don’t feel grateful? Then what?

And what if I don’t feel grateful? Then what?

I love social media. I hate social media. Photos I love social media. I hate social media. Photos like this just make me smile. Looking back at Larson and the total thrill of fake snow. I’m also certain I was exhausted trying to do all and be all during the holiday season. I’m certain that I didn’t post or share all the hard things on social media. Same is true today. We’re having epic memories and moments. And we’re exhausted. Life is both. Elation. Exhaustion. Joy. Sorrow. Every single person is struggling with more than you know. We are loving teen years and we sometimes all cry and go to our rooms. We have work highlights and work stress. We love to serve and sometimes we (mostly I) get overcommitted. We grow and mature but still seek counseling to learn and process. All of this to say… you’re doing great. If you know all the hard behind every family and every cropped and edited photo - you’d feel so less alone and so seen. I’m challenging myself to scroll less and get with actual people more. Hang in there peeps in this glorious and frustrating world . Give me a high and low below!👇
Does anyone else get super emotional at birthdays? Does anyone else get super emotional at birthdays? On each kid’s birthday - I scroll back through thousands of pictures and just remember. Today, my first born is 17. I sit here bawling, with this overwhelming feeling of gratitude. One million memories all flood back and I just feel thankful. And also a little sad that it went so fast. Ella - you’ve grown up. And you are more than I ever dreamed. You are truly something so special. I believe God will use you in so many ways this year and the years to come. You’re discerning, loyal, tender, absolutely HILARIOUS, kind, wise, responsible, respectful, smart, trustworthy, loving and unbelievably beautiful. You shine. You honor God with your life. You draw others in everywhere you go. Happy 17th my girl. Insanely proud of you.
Happy to meet you! Welcome to some new faces arou Happy to meet you! Welcome to some new faces around here. Make sure you tell me two things in the comments. 1- your favorite holiday and 2 - what area of parenting feels overwhelming right now? Some random things about me. In no particular order. - My progress reports in school always said “talks too much” and now I get to write and speak and podcast @pardonthemesspodcast ! - I taught country line dancing in high school to senior citizens - I had a former career in marketing with Chick-fil-A headquarters and it was life changing - I believe kindness and really seeing people is essential -I have two teen girls and I love them and really like them too. Teens are awesome and hilarious. - Been married 20 years - he survived pancreatic cancer last year and is the funniest person in our family . - I thought dogs were gross until 2020 now I’m obsessed with one - possibly codependent - I love Jesus so much - Ron is in airline industry, so we love traveling together - Our family (aka Ron) cleans out drains often - see hair situation - I’m from ATL, lived in Orlando and now DFW - I could brainstorm or ideate all day long - but get less excited at execution - I’m a proud 3rd generation Auburn graduate currently brain-washing the 4th - I serve on boards of @forgirlslikeyou and @lighthousefr - I’m currently working with my counselor on how to love many people but also have proper boundaries - I love documentaries. People are so interesting. - I’m too tired (# perimenopause) to fix the above blurry pic . My heart’s desire is that you feel so encouraged, supported and seen when we connect at @pardonthemesspodcast . 💕 Your turn. Tell me where your favorite holiday and what’s overwhelming you as a parent right now. #fridayintroductions
Let’s talk about our kids. They are kids. They Let’s talk about our kids. They are kids. They are growing and learning. One of the ways I get tripped up is expecting too much and being too hard on them. My kids would yell an AMEN. Today, let’s try a few simple things together. 1) Encourage - tell them what we love about them 2) Hug -these kids need hugs. All of them. 3) Eye contact - preaching to me. Let’s put down the phone and look at them 4) Smile and laugh- they need to see we delight in them and they are not a bother 5) Grace- give them a break. They are trying so so hard to get it right Why the plates? Because I love them. Support my friend at @paper.clay.tabletop . She’s raising 3 beautiful kids without her hubby and building a new business.
Drama with our kids, moms, coaches, teachers … i Drama with our kids, moms, coaches, teachers … is like a giant game of telephone ☎️. One person says one thing and it gets so twisted by the time it gets through 8 people. I have been apart of such moments and should know better. I’ve also been hurt by statements and moments that were not true. Encourage your kids to assume the best. To give people the benefit of the doubt. Does the statement lineup with who they are? Is it a pattern or a mistake ? I want so much grace when I screw up - yet I don’t offer that as quickly. Let’s help our kids pause the drama and try to take a moment to ponder the best case scenario. What if it wasn’t meant to hurt ? I have been so guilty of believing a statement from a teenager when I’m about 8 conversations removed. Let’s pause. Let some stuff go. Or have the courage to get clarity from the source when appropriate. Hang in there mommas.
Happy National Daughters Day. I’ll take any exc Happy National Daughters Day. I’ll take any excuse to look back at pictures and smile. I adore you both. I absolutely LOVE who you are individually and as sisters. I dreamed of having a daughter. And somehow I got two. Beyond grateful I get to be your mom. 💙💚
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