Hi Friend! I am Jamie, and I was born and raised in Salem, Oregon. I am married to my high school sweetheart, and together we have three beautiful daughters. I have worn many hats, some of which include a homeschool mom, preschool director, family ministry director, author of Tangled Up children's book, and advocate for children's mental health. Through years of experience working with children and raising my own, I know how difficult parenting can be. I hope by sharing my trials, triumphs, and sometimes hilarious stories, you will find encouragement and hope. I would love to support you and connect with you, so be sure to check out the resource links, media page, and subscribe to my blog to receive my latest posts! 

Remember, you are meant to flow unraveled through the ups and downs of life. You were made to swirl in bravery. You were made to create wonders and wander the world fiercely. 

Love,

Jamie

Jamie is a contributor to the National Alliance on Mental Illness blog.  Check out the article titled, "Things I Didn't Expect When I Became a Parent."

May/June 2021

Having been an imperfect mom for 15 years and counting, I have been through many trials and tribulations when it comes to raising children. Many of these I certainly never expected when I was a young, first-time mom dreaming of a perfect life for my child. Thankfully, many of these surprises are ones I can laugh at in hindsight, and others served as important learning lessons.
One of the biggest unexpected moments was having my child diagnosed with anxiety. My main takeaway was the need to reach out to a mental health professional for help. Once I did, both my daughter and I received the ongoing help we needed to successfully navigate her condition. The dark days grew lighter, the outbursts diminished and, over the next few years, I watched her learn to verbalize and cope better with anxiety attacks.
I’m sure there will be more unexpected moments ahead, but thanks to the professional counselors and therapists we saw, we are much better equipped to deal with them.

Love Your Mom Life Podcast with Nikki Oden

May 2021

Nikki and Jamie discuss social media, mom guilt, raising teenagers, admitting when you're on the "struggle bus", and protecting our children's mental health. From start to finish, this episode will have you laughing, crying, and nodding your head.

Jamie's latest blog post is a letter to her daughters about finishing a crazy school year. Read more in the link below.

June 2021

So, as you close your laptops one last time this school year, know that if it were up to me, dear daughters, you would win the award for resilience, and you would get honors in strength and a medal for perseverance. You will never forget this school year; it was unlike any other. As you prepare for in-person school again, I hope that you hold your mom-given accolades in your heart. For they hold lessons of bravery wrapped in love, and they shaped you into who you are now. Stronger, braver, brighter, and ready for whatever comes next.

Jamie's article on Swaay.com addresses children with anxiety

May 2021

Children with anxiety have big emotions that are hard for them to understand and make sense of. They count on their parents to be their protector and compass, which means it matters greatly how we respond to them during the chaos. Using our tubing trip as a parallel, the outcome would have been very different had I stayed on my inner tube in fear, rather than jumping off to save my daughter. If you are surprised by your child’s anxiety diagnosis, jump off and dive in. Push stigmas and fear aside and go all-in because it’s equally important to help your child with mental health as it is when they’re in physical danger. Learn all that you can and change what needs to be changed because the outcome is worth it.

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(Photo by Benjamin Manley on Unsplash)

Check Out Jamie's children's book, Tangled Up

Published March 2021

 Studies show that one in six kids between the ages of two- and eight-years-old have a behavioral, mental, or developmental disorder. It can be scary to navigate this world as a parent, but experiencing this as a young child can be even scarier.

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Tangled Up lessens the fear of the unknown and shines a positive, peaceful light on therapy and mental health. It colorfully shows how the beautiful threads of us can become tangled, and how counselors and therapists are here to help us twirl bravely through life.

Jamie is a regular contributing author on RedTri.com

June 2021

The Surprising Thing a Pixar Movie Taught Me about Raising a Teenager

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I know every parenting situation is not like the end of a Pixar movie, and I certainly haven’t earned any badges, but I do hope my story encourages you. If you’re experiencing similar issues, you’re not alone. I know how hard it is to raise a teenager. When your teenager is grumpy and wants to be left alone, be relentless and let your unconditional love shine through. The ending is worth it.