Laurie
An educator and freelance writer, Laurie has a love of connecting with people through her words. She has a degree from UConn in History and Native American and Indigenous Studies and had the plan of working in a museum, but ended up teaching for nearly a decade instead! In addition, Laurie was a barn rat growing up, and has fifteen years of experience riding and training horses. While Central Florida has been her home for ten years (and loves it - hello, Disney!), she proudly identifies as a New Englander and will forever root for the Patriots and Red Sox. She’s a wife of a lawyer, mom of an almost kindergartener, stepmom of a high schooler, and dog mom to a quirky Shepherd mix named Eleanor. Connect with her on Instagram @laurieannwriter
A Simple Guide to Reading a Novel with Your Upper Elementary Kid
No matter what your family’s plans are for this school year, we can all agree that developing a love of reading is an important - albeit challenging - skill for our children to continue...
My Kid is Starting Kindergarten in the Middle of A Pandemic
My son is starting kindergarten in just a few weeks. My feelings on this matter are complicated, to say the least.
It wasn’t so complicated just a few months ago, though. It was just really,...
Five Things To Do Instead of Scrolling
There once was a time when I could say that scrolling my phone was an official hobby of mine. When the television was on, when I had a few spare minutes to myself, or...
How to Make Goals – and Actually Stick to Them
Goals are always a topic of conversation - whether we like it or not. What are your career goals? Any educational goals for yourself? Your children? What is your five-year plan? How are your...
Disney Springs, reopening after COVID-19
Over the weekend, I visited Disney Springs for the first time since it reopened. There was some normalcy in hopping in the car and heading to Disney, but it was, of course, not a...
Finding the Power Within Us
We are mothers. We are the powerful ones. We have the ability to chase away monsters in closets and to make boo-boos hurt a little less just with a kiss. But sometimes, we feel...
OMC 30-Day Quarantine Challenge Check-In: Journaling
OMC 30-Day Quarantine Challenge Check-In: Journaling
It’s Laurie here! I took the challenge of journaling for thirty days in the month of April. Here are some of my thoughts so far:
Journaling actually does improve...
Journaling: My Love-Hate Relationship
Journaling. I have a love-hate relationship with it. It’s the thing I know I should be doing every day, but don’t. That’s why I’m taking a 30-Day Quarantine Challenge to journal every day of...
It’s Okay to Say You’re Struggling Right Now
I’ve struggled this week.
You can say it too. I promise I won’t judge you.
I’m a mom with anxiety, and one of my biggest triggers is being in uncertain situations. And, well, COVID-19 certainly qualifies...
Your Child is a Reader. I Promise.
by contributor Laurie CrockerMy son loudly professed to me the other day that “books are boring.” I nearly fell on the floor. I mean, I’m not only a mom but also a freakin’ elementary...
Top Five Time-Saving Tips for Your Trip to Disney
Disney is a place of magic, wonder, and - LINES.
Lots and lots of lines.
Monorail lines, food lines, ride lines.
The good news is that there are many ways to shorten your wait times...
Date Nights at Disney
Date nights at Disney are the perfect way to put some magic into a typical night out with your other half. It’s one of my favorite places to go hang out one-on-one with my...
Top Eight Disney Rides for Kids under 44 Inches
My four-year-old loves all things Disney, from sing-a-long shows to fireworks displays. However, he’s always looking for an adventure, which is tough to do if you’re under 44 inches! As a result, we’ve gotten...
Will I ever feel like myself again?
"Let me be clear: I love being my child’s mother. I adore the powerful love that I feel for him despite how overwhelming it feels at times. I wouldn’t change my life for anything.
But...