Feels kind of weird to say “best of” about 2020, a year generally regarded as the worst in most categories. But in our corner of the internet, CCM contributors kept after it, penning really wonderful posts despite all the stress this year brought. Every one of these is worth your time and worth another read. Best of 2020, indeed.
Drumroll, please. Here are the top 10 new posts from this past year:
1. How to Talk to Your Kids About Racism, Race, & Activism by Alexis Maycock
“The true question isn’t IF we should start a conversation with our children about race, racism, and activism, but WHEN… and that time is NOW.” You’ll want to check out the book recommendations, broken down by age group from preschool through adult. Anti-racist parenting doesn’t just happen. You have to make it happen.
2. “Try Again Please” :: An Alternative to Cancel Culture by Ashley Ashcraft
“My family is large, maybe a little too sarcastic, prone to raising our voices, and sometimes we communicate by eye rolling. The thought of simply saying in a kind voice, “Try again, please” seemed revolutionary, so I began using the phrase in my everyday conversations with my kids thinking it couldn’t be that easy.”
3. Five Kid-Friendly Outdoor Adventures, from One Hour to One Day by Amanda Stewart
This guide to socially distant outdoor adventures around DFW is your antidote to stir-craziness.
4. 6 Day Trips to Berry Picking Farms Near Collin County by Erin Meltzer
Perhaps not useful to you right this second in the middle of winter, but you should absolutely save this list for late spring/early summer. Fresh air, fresh fruit, and a chance to support local farmers.
5. Your Spouse Can’t Fix Your Mental Illness by Kristen Gardiner
I love when moms get vulnerable on here, sharing hard-fought lessons and hard truths. Mental health is a major part of overall health, and shining a light on that helps us all.
6. Snipper’s Remorse :: A Story of Vasectomy Regret by Amanda Krahel
You decided you were done having kids. So why do you feel such intense regret right now?
7. Parks Moms Love in Allen, Frisco & McKinney by Julie Janes
We love, love, love a good recommendation around here. This curated list includes each park’s amenities, like shade structures, walking trails, splash pads, special features, and more.
8. 5 Spring Break Field Trips in DFW {That Won’t Break The Bank} by Katie Wells
A pre-pandemic list, yes, but someday soon we’ll all be looking for fun places to meet up that don’t have prohibitive admission prices. Adults + kids admission adds up so fast.
9. A Mom’s Guide to Taking a Break From Alcohol by Diamond Rodrigue
This is a great piece about a topic on a lot of minds lately. If you’ve been thinking of taking a step back from drinking, don’t miss these simple, actionable items to help you along the way.
10. In the Year of the Pandemic by Whitney Reed
Think of it as the pandemic diary entry you never wrote. Every one of us was feeling some version of this over the summer. Honestly, it’s a trip to revisit. We’ve come a long way this year, y’all.
