about

Momservations author, Kelli Wheeler

Kelli Wheeler is an award-winning family columnist whose humorous and poignant takes on parenting have been published for over 15 years. She is the author of her recently released greatest hits book, DON’T FORGET YOUR LUNCH: Diapers to Diploma Parenting Wisdom and the humorous gift book MOMSERVATIONS®: THE FINE PRINT OF PARENTING. She is also an accomplished freelance writer whose clients include former California First Lady Maria Shriver, Sacramento Parent, Bay Area Parent, Gannett News, and CBS Local. She was most recently published in THE WAY OF GRATITUDE: Readings for a Joyful Life along with writings from Mary Oliver, J.K. Rowling, Jack Kornfield and Anne Lamott. Currently teaching a memoir writing class that has already produced six published authors, she also offers editing services for writers and students. With her two children now both in college, her Momservations® blog will take readers beyond the Diapers to Diploma years into navigating the Empty Nesting Chapter.  Kelli lives in Sacramento, California with her husband a fuzzy baby still at home.

Now that we have the required humblebrag out of the way ^^, let’s dig deeper:

What drives me? What am I passionate about? (Besides holiday decorating, coming up with exact change, and brownie batter.)

First, and foremost, it’s my family. The amazing one I created with a man who loves me despite my inability to be brief—plus all the extended people who have no choice but to claim me as their own. My children, Logan, 21, Whitney, 20, and Darby, 11 (the fuzzy one with the tail) make it easy to feel blessed that I was chosen to be their mother.

My friends. The people who have chosen to love me even though they are not obligated to by blood. The people I can afford to be stupid with. The people I don’t have to clean my house for. The people who make me feel like God must really like me to put these great friendships in my path.

My writing. It is my gift. I asked God for big boobs and to be able to sing, but Dolly Parton was in line first. My first word was a complete sentence; when I learned to read I felt like I had joined the most fabulous club in the world; I wrote poetry and prize winning speeches while my peers were still mastering their times tables; when my six year-old sister died when I was twelve and our family was drowning in grief—my gift became a life raft. I believe in sharing your gifts.

Faith and perspective. Any entity that can give us Yosemite Valley, Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream, Brad Pitt, and Aurora Borealis for our enjoyment is worthy of my worship.  I learned at an early age that tomorrow is not promised. Thank God today for anything you wouldn’t want to wake up without tomorrow. Appreciate the lows for making the highs worth the climb. Without pain joy has no context. We aren’t getting out of this life alive so why not hang on and enjoy the journey.

Fun facts about me:

  • I love a good inspirational quote. I have them inscribed all over my house. A favorite: Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone
  • In high school I was voted Best Tight End. I did not play football.
  • My first job after graduating college was working for a professional football team. My last salaried position was as a 5th grade teacher.
  • I think sweeping the floor with fuzzy socks falls in the Practical rather than Disgusting category.
  • IMG_1555Without a doubt the family dog thinks I am the only reason worth living for. It feels fabulous.
  • Me, my mom, and my daughter are carbon copies of each other. The male genes in the family got their butts kicked.
  • I took up sprint distance triathlons when I was 33.
  • My superpower is I can tell you down to the minute when we will reach our long-distance destination without looking at GPS.
  • I met my husband, Trey, when I was 19 and we’ve been married for nearly 25 years. We think it’s pretty cool that we still really like each other.
  • I’m still best friends with the best friend I made in third grade.

I used to have a list of my most popular blogs here, but now you’re going to have to check them out in my book, DON’T FORGET YOUR LUNCH: Diapers to Diploma Parenting Wisdom

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy the journey ♥ 

 

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