Anna Be.

I haven't done a great job of sharing my latest writing! So here we go, catching up on the last couple of months. In Huffington Post How I am teaching my small daughters to play Patriarchy Chicken In Bustle Looking Back On Elizabeth Wurtzel's 'Prozac Nation,' 25 Years After Its Release In Folks Hands as big as pillows, and other weird migraine symptoms How I learned to stop worrying and accept being bald In Lifehacker A guide to feeding your picky eater How to keep your toddler safe and secure A guide to handling your toddler's evening meltdown In Hello Giggles How I stopped comparing myself to the ideal "yoga body" that doesn't actually exist In Healthline Why denying that your loved one has dementia can be dangerous

I was recently told by someone who knows me very well that I conceal my anxiety like a cool cucumber. Maybe that's true, and not everyone in the whole world knows I've been struggling with anxiety and panic since Lizzie was born. Well, first, it is getting better. :D I was able to write about it for Romper.com! My Baby's Appointments Triggered Panic Attacks, But I Learned To Cope "I found that staying aware of tangible things around me left less mental space for catastrophizing."

(I originally shared this list as a guest post on Librarian for Life and Style  a few years ago.) What is your personal style?  I am constantly exploring what that question means to me — how to find inspiration, be different, be myself, stay frugal, be age- and shape-appropriate, decide if I care about age- or shape-appropriateness. Beyond the question of  What do I wear today?  is the joy in an aimless exploration of my own style potential. Here are some of my favorite books for that kind of daydreaming. 1. The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style: How to Wear Iconic Looks and Make Them Your Own Though  The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style  is seven years old, I feel the styles are iconic enough to remain inspirational for many more years. When I first bought this, I labeled myself California Casual and Bohemian, but now I’m feeling a little Arty Slick and Posh Eclectic. Though it’s not important to find a mold and cram yourself into it, this guid...

This essay I wrote for Parents.com in December has been shared 1,800 times! My Husband Running Makes Me Rage & Here is What I Do About It I spent plenty of time feeling bitter about how easy it is for my husband to take time away from our kids to relax, and then I decided to borrow his secrets for self-care.

Rent medium-sized Dumpster. Send husband and children to a hotel for a weekend. A three-day weekend. Fly my mom and closest girl friends to San Antonio (like, only the people I would trust to bail me out of jail.)  Empty 90 percent of contents of closets, bags, and cabinets into Dumpster. Take mom and friends to spa.

I wrote this essay (originally published by Mom Babble) in 2015. I was just reading it today and reliving some of that enthusiasm for activity! And remember when I was running, pushing Mamie in that stroller every day? Well I figure I have one more year at home with Lizzie, and I'm ready to recapture some moments on the road and at the gym with her. I'm Healthier Because of My Daughter(s) Mamie laughs at the leaves falling on her stroller, complains when I tease them out of her mouth. This is our third walk around the neighborhood today, shooting for a goal of three miles. This toddler is my shield, a salve to soothe the awkwardness I would feel if I were out here alone. I am no stranger to attempts at personal wellness. I have notebooks full of food logs, exercise logs, and blood sugar logs, stretching back a decade. I never imagined a baby’s motivating influence would trump every trick I had tried before.  From the second she sparked into existence, my child has ...