Joy in During

The Blog Formerly Known as Maintaining Mama

For my most recent writing, please visit my Substack, Best Mom Never!

Jennifer Butler Jennifer Butler

Breaking ‘Gram

I am a gray area Instagram user. I cannot just take it or leave it. But I am also not so deeply addicted that I am beyond helping myself. That is exactly what I am doing with this summertime break. And it’s going pretty darn well so far.

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The Gray Area of Not Drinking

But what about that space between gray area drinking and… whatever comes after? This is the gray area of not drinking. And, like gray area drinking, it’s an uncomfortable place to be (even without the hangovers!).

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Dry January: A Necessary Glimpse of Technicolor

I was a gray area-drinking wine mom. Here’s what I told people when I committed to dry January 2018: “I just need to detox and lose some holiday weight.”

What I really meant was this: “I am ashamed and embarrassed and terrified. I feel completely out of control and completely alone in my struggle.”

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