Parenting Diaries is a monthly series showcasing how real people in Charlotte approach building their families & parenting. Participate.
- If you don’t have children, you can share your Child-Free Diaries anonymously here.
Describe your family structure.
Married for 16 years and have 2 children.
How old are your kids?
4 1/2 and 2 1/2
How much do you spend on childcare (or did you spend when you were in that phase)? What’s your childcare setup?
Fluctuates but typically pay $25/hour. We have sitters on occasion throughout the week and sometimes on the weekend.
Did you always want kids?
I never really had that yearning that I’ve heard other women have. Plus it took my husband and I several years to conceive naturally.
How did you know you were ready?
I felt ready when I found out I was pregnant.
How did you decide how many kids to have + did you plan their age gap if you have multiple?
We figured we were one and done since it took us such a long time to naturally conceive but my second child was a complete surprise but in the best way!
How did you financially prepare for having children?
I wouldn’t say we financially prepared at all but we were in our 40s and had a good nest egg.
Does or did anyone in your family stay home with the kids? How did you make that decision?
I stay home with the kids and stopped working when my daughter was born in December 2021. However my son will go to preschool for the first time this fall and I’m looking to get back into the workforce at a part time capacity.
What’s one thing you wish you knew before having kids?
How often I would get sick when they’re little and how often the sickness would run through the entire house.
What’s your family’s philosophy around screens/technology and kids?
That’s a tough one as my husband and I disagree on this topic! I don’t mind screen time from time to time but obviously prefer outdoor time, play dates, arts & crafts, etc.
- My husband works in IT and wants our kids to be technology savvy. We’re working on meeting somewhere in the middle!
Where’s the best place to vacation with kids and why?
The beach. Everyone can enjoy the sun, sand, food and chill atmosphere!
What’s the most kid-friendly restaurant in Charlotte?
Not sure but we like OMB at the Bowl at Ballantyne.
What’s your favorite thing to do as a family in Charlotte?
Go to the park, go out for ice cream, explore new places like Camp North End, Lazy 5 Ranch, Discovery Place, etc.
What’s the best thing about the stage of parenting you’re in? The most challenging?
The best thing now is their ages, you can do a variety of things and they’re usually up for anything!
- The most challenging is trying to stick to a schedule (nap time, meal time, bath & bed time) when you’re trying to fit activities in during the day.
Do you have have parenting regrets (ex- quitting your job, not having kids sooner, having more than one, not living closer to support, too much screen time)
No regrets as of yet but they’re pretty young right now!
Brag on yourself. Tell me about a recent proud parenting moment!
A recent proud parenting moment would be taking both kids out to multiple places on my own, although my 2 1/2 is a runner so I had to unfortunately buy and use a leash because otherwise he’ll just take off!
Anything else we should know?
I had my daughter at 41 almost 42 and my son at 43 almost 44 (both conceived naturally). My husband turned 53 this year. Kids are definitely a young person’s game but they are keeping us young and luckily we don’t look our ages.
