Katrina Siron
Katrina is a mom of three great kids and has been married to her first love for nearly 10 years. She’s grateful to have a job that allows her the flexibility to both work from home some days and in the office others. On the surface, Katrina is pretty crunchy – she loves breastfeeding, babywearing, co-sleeping, natural birth, and homeschooling — but still loves her stroller, having her kids in their own beds at some point, her epidural was fantastic, and she’ll be sending the kids through public school. Most of all she loves the fact that we have all these choices, which makes life interesting! One of her favorite experiences was moving to Japan in 2002 to live as an adult dependent with their USMC family. It was an amazing experience, and if it weren’t for that, she probably wouldn’t ever have met my husband.
Jams, Jellies, and Marmalades :: Great for So Much More Than Just Toast!
With fall approaching (well, the calendar says it is, even if the temperatures outside don't reflect it much), it's high time for canning season! Whether you're harvesting apples, peaches, plums, figs, or other late...
Tired of Being Famously Hot? Let’s Go Chase Waterfalls!
There's definitely no shortage of things to do in the Midlands to cool off during the hot summer months. We've got Lake Murray and Lake Wateree nearby, splash pads, pools, and a handful of...
Timmerman Trail in Cayce :: A Great Local Hike For Kids
The Columbia area has a surprising number of trails and outdoor walkways to explore if you know where to look. Friends of ours mentioned the Timmerman Trail, and we had so much fun the...
4 Tips to Get into a Back to School Routine
It's back to school season here in the Midlands and so many parents have been counting down the days until school begins. It's not that we don't love our kids, and it's certainly not...
Let’s Hit the Trails :: Top 10 Kid-Friendly Hiking Spots Around Columbia
The Midlands is home to a surprising number of family-friendly hiking trails. This fun, inexpensive, and educational hobby is a great way to wear your kids out after school or on the weekend.
Some of...
Synchronized Fireflies Light Up the Night at Congaree National Park
It’s that time of year again – time to watch the synchronized fireflies do their thing! I’m not talking about a trip to see the Columbia Fireflies baseball team.
Before there was a baseball team,...
Mom Confession :: I am Terrible at Commitment
Before I became a parent, I was what one might call a joiner, to borrow a term I first heard on Dirty Dancing.
Commitment came easily to me. I didn't hesitate to volunteer at church, or...
When Attachment Parenting Becomes Peaceful Parenting
You may have heard of Attachment Parenting. It made a big splash a few years ago, notably on a Time magazine cover "Are You Mom Enough?" with a mom breastfeeding her three-year-old pictured.
I'll admit,...
So you Want to Eat Healthy . . . Now What?
The last few months, between New Year's Resolutions and the impending doom that is swimsuit season, the mom groups I frequent on Facebook and in person are peppered with questions about healthy eating. "How...
Bird-Nesting: A Separation and Divorce Co-Parenting Option
Like so many other couples in their late 30's and early 40's, my kids' dad and I have decided that our romantic relationship is no longer viable. Our individual story is not of particular...
New to Columbia? Must-Know Driving Tips to Make Your Life Easier
New to Columbia? Welcome! Like most of the south, it's a pretty welcoming place, and there is a lot to see and do here, from hiking trails to museums, to shopping and dining, and...
Congaree Swamp and National Park: Fun, Family Hike
I've been meaning to take my kids out to Congaree Swamp since last summer, but it seemed so far away from where we live in Lexington. But after trekking out to the Timmerman Trail,...
Your Daughter is Ready for a Bra, Now What?
I took my daughter to see "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" in the theater when it released. While some scenes in the film are clearly dated for the time period in which...
Great Wolf Lodge :: Toddlers vs. Tweens and Teens
My very first post for Columbia Mom was an introduction to Great Wolf Lodge. That was all the way back in 2015! My kids were five, three, and two at the time, and we...