Before you throw me beneath that mountain of snow you’ve repeatedly been shoveling from your walk to your yard, hear me out. With spring comes baseball season, and while I love me some baseball, and look forward to following our beloved Pittsburgh Pirates with the crazy obsessed baseball fans I call my family, this time of the […]

Since they could speak, I’ve been keeping track of the funny things that come spilling out of my kids’ mouths. Whether it’s on my Facebook page or here on the blog, I’ve done my best to document the hilarity. When writer and cartoonist Adrienne Hedger reached out and asked to turn my Conversations with a Toddler into cartoons, […]

Most of the writers I know pour over their words like a surgeon about to open up a heart; our writing means that much to us. Which is why it’s not always easy to press publish or, scarier yet, share our word babies with three strange ladies who are staring at you, probably swiping at the tears […]

When I traded my traditional classroom for a virtual one, I was soooo excited! I was trendy–for the first time in my life–working from home! Oh, I was also excited to be home with the kids. Blah blah… Mostly, though, I was all what’s up hipsters on your laptops at Starbucks?! Except that Starbucks is expensive, yo. And […]

You may remember I had some beef with my priest a while back. Beef is putting it mildly. Shortly after that episode, I wanted to go to a different church, which was sad because that’s the church we had been married in, had our children baptized in, and generally felt welcome in. But I tend to […]

Largely pregnant and about to burst with my third child, I received a phone call that made me squee, pee, and repeat. Ms. Erin MacPherson was on the other line, inquiring if I would like to be a freelance writer for We Are Teachers. As I am a teacher, also a writer, the offer was […]

I was minding my own business this afternoon, scrolling through work emails and handling my kids’ ridiculous lunch requests as quickly as I could (“No, Popsicles are not fruit, therefore they are not lunch”), when I got a text message from my brother. He asked if I had heard about the teacher who was raped after proctoring […]

I feel like I’ve blathered on about this subject ad nauseam, but now my traditional vs. online teaching quips are being put to good use: I am writing a short series for the educational site We Are Teachers that chronicles my personal journey through the transition from brick-and-mortar buildings to cyber classrooms. I plan to cover the pros […]

There are days that feel like the big game is resting squarely on my sore shoulders. I’m the quarterback, the clock is running out, and gigantic dudes who get paid to lay me out are snarling threats inches from my face. Yet the job requires a cool head and clear thought process if I’m going to be anything that resembles successful. […]

Ladies and gents of Pittsburgh (and surrounding areas, of course), You asked and we answered! We’ve compiled a list of the most pressing questions regarding our audition process and turned them into a Q/A post on our Listen To Your Mother Pittsburgh site. For instance: Q: Should I bring Steph a Primanti sandwich upon auditioning for Listen To Your […]

Maybe two years ago, I emailed this lady named Ann Imig about her “little” show, Listen To Your Mother. At the time, I wasn’t all too familiar with the ins and outs of the performances; all I knew is that I wanted to be a part of them. In some capacity, I wanted to be […]

There are many things in life I don’t pretend to understand: basic math, how Kathy Griffin is famous, or why bad things happen to good people. Namely, why Anderson Cooper was forced to host a New Year’s Eve show with Kathy Griffin. Unfortunately, and embarrassingly, health care is on the list of things I can’t wrap […]

It’s not that I set out to intentionally make those around me uncomfortable. I just do it. The problem has been pinpointed (I’ve no filter and say what others only think) and named: I believe the textbook term is Verbal Diarrhea. I’ve learned to live with VD (teehee) and make adjustments when necessary, namely, not speak in public. […]

Research suggests financial problems are the #1 cause of a cold marital bed. Apparently, rubbing two pennies together isn’t as sexy as it sounds. Wouldn’t it be nice if, along with the marriage vows, came a promise that ends would always meet and the bacon would always be brought home? While there is no guarantee husbands will ever […]

If you’re not familiar with Suzy’s story, you can read about her spoiled rich kid troubles HERE. In a nutshell, little Suzy is upset that, despite being of the Caucasian Persuasion, she did not have first dibs on her college of choice; she muses that lesbians and international students are stealing her seat at Ivy League […]

My Mom is not a shopper, which makes me wonder if I was accidentally given to the wrong woman upon my birth. You can imagine the teenage agony I experienced growing up that was my Mother’s refusal to shop with me. Ask your friend’s mom; she loves the mall! But she would hand over her Visa, and all […]

In April of 2014, I gave birth to my third child, an almost 10-pound baby girl. In August of 2014, the family and I went to the beach and I ate all the things. Also, alcohol. In September of 2014, I sat myself down and had a talk. Self, you’re large and out of shape. […]

There are a few reasons I’m looking forward to becoming a woman of a certain age. Mostly, stuff is cheaper. But also, I know so many ladies who are crazy confident in their skin–think any role played by Diane Keaton–and I’m kinda excited to get to that place. Jill, today’s Oversharer, makes me think menopause can’t be that bad. […]

“I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Influence Central for Sprint. I received a sample device to facilitate this review.” Over the past year, I’ve had the exciting pleasure to review various phones and products courtesy of the Sprint Ambassador Program, and today marks the last of my ambassadorship. Which is a shame because I […]

I wake up, the 3 and 5 year-olds wake up. Someone yells out breakfast requests like I’m a short-order cook, the dogs have to go out. Breakfast served, the baby’s babbling upstairs in her crib, I’ve yet to brush my teeth. I throw a load of darks in (invariably forgetting them in the washer until later in […]

Hiya!

Hiya, I'm Stephanie! English teacher by trade, smack-talker by nature, and mother of three who lives by the mantra: Life is too short, laugh. I hope you'll stick around and check out my portfolio for a snapshot of all the things I write about. Thanks for visiting!