Browsing Articles Written by

Michelle Back

Michelle Back is an editor, writer, blogger, and mother, not always in that order. She’s also a wife to a smarty-pants physicist, and a dog owner of two old-ass dogs. Although it might be cliché and basic, Michelle loves coffee, chocolate, yoga pants, and Target. She dreams of sleep, although not really because she’s awake too many hours of the day. When she’s not writing or farting around on social media, she’s watching Netflix or Hulu (once her children finally go to sleep at night). She blogs humorously about finding her footing as a mother at www.mommybacktalk.com. Also, she can be followed all over the internet--it's not weird.

Mobile Phones Best Buy

A Simpler Mobile Phone Experience

GEAR, tech By August 14, 2017 No Comments

As progressive as I think I am…. some traditions have become the norm, and I have never even questioned whether or not there are other ways to do things. Making macaroni and cheese, for instance (not from scratch).. I have done it the exact same way for years – butter first and then milk. Painting my nails – left before right. Unloading the dishwasher – glasses and then cutlery. Old habits. Some may be the best way for me to tackle them, while in other cases, methods may have progressed over time, and I have simply not noticed.

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cry it out

Cry It Out, Baby: How Sleep Training Saved My Sanity

baby, grow, nourish, rest, Unpopular Mom By July 15, 2016 2 Comments

It’s true. On the surface, I do look very much like your typical crunchy-granola attachment parent. I breastfeed, make my own baby food, buy organic, wear the babies, redirect rather than punish (or try, at least), and even do a little bed sharing. Letting my baby cry it out would be the last thing a mom like me would do.

You might assume I’d be one of those moms who pops up in your Facebook newsfeed, all sanctimommy in my choice of shares, doling out judgment and unsolicited advice—but you’d be wrong. You won’t find me mom-shaming anywhere. My philosophy is ‘we’re all in this together.’ And try as I might, living with my headstrong 3 ½ year old daughter leads to considerably more yelling and empty threats than I ever thought would be in my mommy wheelhouse.

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family movie traditions

7 Gross Things Basically All Moms Do

kids, laugh, Uncategorized By June 29, 2016 No Comments

Motherhood is a lot of things—some beautiful, some awful, and some really, really gross. So many bodily fluids that need tending to, so many smells…who knew that peeing on that little stick would be practice for all the years we’d be elbow deep in the sludge of motherhood? But moms are soldiers—we handle the grit and grim with aplomb. So let’s own it, shall we? Let’s pull back the curtain on the gross things we all do and nod our heads in solidarity.

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fatherhood

Why Fatherhood Is the Coolest ‘hood

FAM, kids By June 13, 2016 2 Comments

My 3-year-old daughter loves the Olivia books. You know, the free-spirited, slightly annoying piglet who has existential meltdowns and big opinions? Truth is: I love Olivia, too. Olivia is strong-willed, like my daughter. She’s independent, like my daughter. She does what she wants, when she wants, like my daughter [sigh]. Olivia lives with her mom, dad, and two brothers (and Edwin, the cat), but here’s where I start to have issues with this piggy roll model. Have you read the books? Have you ever noticed what Olivia’s dad is doing in most of them? He’s reading the paper or standing around. He’s always there, but not terribly involved and totally disengaged with his family. Not the fairest representation of fatherhood.

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