Mary J. Mearig
Why I love our “Shelter-In-Place” Life
My kids are thriving on our Coronavirus-imposed schedule and no one is more surprised than me! And I'm even kind of loving our shelter in place life. When I heard that schools were closing...
How to Deal With Rude Behavior From Middle Schoolers
I just returned from a family-friendly vacation resort. I lost count of how many tweenagers I saw with their hands on their hips, rolling their eyes, and sighing exasperatedly at their parents while complaining...
How To Conquer Winter Blues in Austin
It’s winter in Austin. Cold. Grey. Wet. Albeit short lived - that’s why we live in Texas after all, the blessedly mild and brief winters!
Still, the crummy weather can get old and leave...
Guide to Holiday Giving in Austin
It’s easy to get caught up in shopping, dining, party-going, and traveling during the holidays in our affluent Austin area bubbles. The continual bustle also makes it easy to forget that there are so...
Yes, Our Family Hunts!
Hunting is a Mearig family tradition! The number one reason we hunt is to spend quality time enjoying the outdoors. Sitting still in a silent deer blind in the crisp fall air as the...
The Perfect Picnic
Is there anything better than leaning back in the cool breeze on a grassy slope with a cup of hot cider in hand? Sigh. Fall is approaching and it is hard not to get...
Why I Embraced “Labeling” My Kid | Understanding Special Needs
I knew that some things were harder for my kids than they should be. At first, there were just fleeting thoughts in the back of my mind...“is this normal?”...”is he just a strong willed...
Fishing With Kids
School's out and it’s prime fishing season! As a kid I caught my share of bluegills from a canoe and trout from the river bank. My husband and I accrued countless salmon rod hours...
Change a Child’s Life with CASA of Travis County
What if your son or daughter no longer had you in their life to meet their physical and emotional needs? Who would stand in the gap? What if you could make a difference in...
Beautiful, Bursting Blueberries
Is there anything more mouth-watering than a stack of blueberry pancakes hot off the griddle on a Saturday morning? When we were kids my mom would send us outside to pick the berries while...