Katie
Katie is the mama to four little loves ages 4 and under through adoption and birth. While not native to the Kansas City area, she and her husband have called this beautiful place home since they moved here immediately after they married six years ago. A short stint living in Florida only confirmed what they knew - Kansas City is the place to be! When she's not wiping bottoms, getting or giving hugs, playing chase, buckling car seats, reading to many small ears, or hiding in the pantry with a piece of chocolate and a moment on Instagram, she can be found researching anything dealing with transracial adoption, postpartum wellness, and homeschooling. She blogs over at The Ballard Abode and loves connecting with other mamas. You can also find her on Instagram at @katieballard.
Social Media: Friend or Foe?
I’m going to open up to you about something now that is personal and somewhat embarrassing – and near and dear to my heart. I let social media make me feel bad. There. I...
Playing in the Snow Without Bundling Up
At the time that I’m writing this post, there’s been approximately one snow at my house – and it wasn’t anything to get excited about. The kids loved going out in it for an...
The Triumphs I Never Expected
One of my most vivid parenting memories happened a short six months ago.
Our youngest, who was 10 months old at the time, was on the verge of taking his first steps. He would bounce...
My Top Five Simple Sanity Savers
Alright ladies, tell me: Is there anything better than figuring out a new system, tip, or trick that makes your life so much easier?! I know we’ve all got them, and they are different...
Confession: I Love My Minivan
Minivan I do
Confess my delight in you
Your sliding doors,
Your room for more
For another 10 years –
You’re my boo.
If writing a love note to my minivan is wrong, I don’t want to be right. I know,...
Diversify Your Bookshelf!
A few weeks ago, I wrote this post on talking to your kids about race. In it, I mentioned that one of the best ways you can introduce diversity into your home is through books...
Talking to Your Kids About Race. (Spoiler Alert: Color Blindness Isn’t the Answer.)
In the last four years, I feel like I have had to totally reevaluate everything I used to believe about race relations and my own place in our world as a White woman. Now...
A Few Things I’d Like to Tell You …
Earlier this week, my children and I were waiting for our lunchmeat to be sliced at the deli counter, passing time looking at the different shapes of the fancy cheeses. A woman next to...
Grandparents Day
My granny was perpetually late. If she said she was leaving for our house (a two hour drive) at eight o’clock? Plan on her around noon. In fact, when I was little, I got...
Road Tripping With Toddlers
Between living 1300 miles away from all of our family and friends and two out-of-state adoptions, our family has done what seems to be more than our fair share of travel. While the thought...
