Parenting with the Blues

The ups and downs of motherhood

by Amy Cooper Rodriguez

Helping Moms Parent through Depression

As a mom who has suffered through depression, I'm always looking for resources to support other mothers going through the same thing. When I was depressed after the birth of my daughter eight years ago, I couldn't find any memoirs of moms with depression that were hopeful and humorous. Read More

Don't Save the Best for Last

I come from the land of people who save the best for last. New Englanders. Puritans. We are known for squirreling things away until they fall apart, at which point we can fix them and then use them. Read More

And Now You Know the Rest of the Story (Thank you, Paul Harvey)

It's that time of year when we can all start feeling a little glum. The weather isn't so great. Germs are ricocheting from kid to kid, house to house. We end up stuck inside more, maybe on our computers more—the perfect time for Facebook Depression to strike. Read More

Giving Back 40 at 40

I'm not gonna lie. This was not how I pictured celebrating forty. I've seen forty on the horizon for a while, and I knew I wanted to take it head on. I didn't want to feel defeated by forty; I wanted to celebrate it. Not with a party or a big event. I was going to get my first tattoo, go out with a few friends, and feel, well, like a rock star. Less like a tired mom and hausfrau. Read More

A Graduate Course in Kindness

"At least you don't have cancer."

"What?"

"At least you don't have cancer."

"Noooooo," we groaned in unison as we watched our friend and colleague make another horrible gaffe.

That same friend and colleague put his head down on his desk in shame as the video of him talking to a pretend patient with diabetes continued to play.

Over the years, I've accomplished my dream-to be published. But I've realized that the most important writing I've done is personal, just between one special person and me. Read More

10 Things I Learned in the First 10 Years of Marriage

Just over ten years ago, my then fiancé and I sat on the purple, velour slip-covered couch of our minister for premarital counseling. Since Father Allen was also my grandparents' minister, I had seen him lead many people through the years. We loved and respected him. He was warm and wise with two children of his own. Read More

How a Jedi Taught Me to Be a Better Parent

Jedi (Wikipedia): Loosely based on Japanese samurai, Catholic Jesuits, Templars, and other characters from the "warrior monk" tradition.

I was a teacher before I had kids. I loved the kids I taught, especially the quirky ones. ..the boy who only wrote about cheese until I had to enforce a "cheese ban," the one who created a superhero eggplant series, the shy girl who stayed after class to talk about books we both loved, and the boy who yelped, "Oh geez, Mrs. Rodriguez! Read More

Funny Girl

I know how to read between the lines. I am aware of the euphemisms. After all, I was a teacher. I am adept at wording things in such a way that parents will not take offense but still might get my point about their children. Read More

Squirrel Mom

We've all heard about Tiger Mom by now, throwing out birthday cards and demanding violin marathons. No matter how the rest of us might feel about her, she is definitely sure of herself. What about the rest of us moms? Who are we? Read More

Accepting the Two-Man Band

When my son, JJ, is six months old, I take him to music class, although I have a lot of trepidation. Due to reflux and colic, JJ won't emerge from the sling around my neck at home, but I hope he might come out when he hears music. My worries only worsen, though, as I open the door to the music classroom. Many moms are already settled nicely in a circle with their smiling babies on their laps. Read More

Why I Donated My Psyche to Science

As Robert Frost said, "I experience everything twice. Once when I experience it and once when I write about it." Therein lies the reason I don't like to talk-much less write- about depression. Read More

Amy Cooper Rodriguez is a parenting writer, physical therapist, and mother of two. Her work has appeared on Babble and in numerous parenting magazines.

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About Parenting with the Blues

Amy has been type-A since she can remember, but motherhood has changed her inability to remain in control of anything. In order to create a happier life for her and her family, she has learned how to approach life with humor and ask for help when she needs it. She hopes to help others by blogging about her experiences with depression and anxiety while raising a family.