Bryan Health’s online community for Nebraska parents.
Parenting is life-changing, rewarding and filled with excitement. CapitalMOM is a Bryan Health online community for Nebraska parents and grandparents to connect, learn and grow with one another through all stages of life.
Health & Wellness
My New Year’s Resolutions Through The Years
I used to roll out of bed on January 1, head to the kitchen to start the coffee and stop in my tracks in front of the refrigerator. There it was, that big piece of paper clipped front and center. Bold, underlined words spelling out the changes I was going to make in...
Don’t Just Find Cancer – Prevent It
Did you know that there’s only one cancer you can prevent with a screening? It’s colon/colorectal cancer and the screening is a colonoscopy. The Power of Colonoscopy Screening Unlike many tests that only detect problems after they appear, a colonoscopy can find – and...
RSV: Know the Symptoms, Treatment and Ways to Prevent It
Every winter, we brace ourselves for the impact of cold and flu season. Clinics fill with children and infants with runny noses, coughs and congestion. Hospitals have children admitted for dehydration, vomiting or difficult breathing – among other problems. For some...
Family
Permission to Not Love Every Moment of the Holidays
Matching pajamas. A perfectly set table. A gorgeous Christmas tree. Hot chocolate in holiday mugs. Smiling kids looking at the camera. Presents wrapped in coordinating paper. That’s the picture social media paints of the “perfect” holiday season. But behind every one...
Being “Neighborly” Looks Different, But Still Matters
The word “neighborly” keeps popping up in conversations this summer. It’s a word that is not commonly used these days. My parents and grandparents were more apt to use this word than my children and grandchildren. I feel like I’m in the middle – growing up, hearing it...
My Grandparenting Style: Simple, Spontaneous and Surprising
My daughter-in-law was sorting through cards and letters that their family had received over the past five years and sent me a picture of a card she thought I might enjoy. Upon receiving, my first thought was, “Wow, cheers to Emily! She’s tackling this after five...
Parenting
What Moms Really Want For Christmas This Year
Candles, slippers and robes are great but moms everywhere are quietly wishing for a few things that cannot be wrapped. Every December we are asked what we want for Christmas and every December we smile politely and say something practical like, “Oh, I don’t know,...
A Text That Made Me Pause: Why Thoughtful Words Still Matter
The other day I received a text from a friend. It read, “My last 24 hours have been the happiest and most fun I’ve had in a long time, thanks to you.” After reading it, I paused for a moment, reflecting on what we had done that made such an impression on my friend. We...
Daily Life in Retirement: Finding Joy, Movement and Inspiration
I retired February 3, 2022, and left for a two-week trip on February 13. My family hosted a retirement reception for me on March 25. On March 26 I woke up and realized there were no more celebrations, this was my life now. It was up to me to create a new road map for...
School
Flying with Littles: Tips from Our Disney Trip
Traveling with little ones is an adventure in itself, and taking my two-year-old, Zoey, and four-year-old, Max, to Disney World was no exception! From navigating airport security with a stroller to keeping them entertained on the flight, I learned a lot about what...
Summer Reflections & Prepping for Back to School
This week, we're going to roll into a tribute to summer and talk about getting into the swing of back to school. Our Summer Glimmers & Dimmers But first, let's go ahead and start with our glimmer and our dimmer. Rachel's July Glimmer My glimmer this month is my...
What to Do If Your Kid Lacks Motivation About School
Sometimes it feels like our kids really don’t care about school. Even when they’re smart and underachieving, or especially when they’re failing school, it’s not as simple as not caring about school. A Shift in Collyns' Approach to Schoolwork Collyns, who is in fourth...
Activities & Sports
Move More, Stress Less: Simple Ways to Add Movement Into Mom Life
Before I had my two littles, Max and Zoey, finding time to exercise was easy. Now? The struggle is real. Between laundry, dishes, snack requests and cleaning up endless messes, working out often takes a back seat. As moms, we naturally put our kids’ needs first – but...
Making Memories on the Golf Course
For years l've written about what my grandkids were up to, into or moving away from. It has always been about how my life has interacted with theirs—the ups, downs and 'looking forward to's. Since this summer, I have stood on the sidelines while my husband has been...
Our E-Bike Road Trip from Nebraska to Colorado
Earlier this month, John and I went on a small vacation. Here's how it went. Planning Our Trip We didn’t want to do anything too huge or expensive, so we decided to take our bikes to a couple of the state parks around the Midwest and explore. I don’t believe we’ve had...
Seasons & Holidays
Traditions Make the Magic
Welcome to Real Mom Moments with Rachel and Ashlee. More Real Mom Moments Raise Your Hand If... Skills of Independent Play Appreciating the Mess Your Attitude Matters Critical Mom Eye You Can Re-Do That Slowing Down Prepping Kids for What's Ahead "I'm Doing my Best...
What Moms Really Want For Christmas This Year
Candles, slippers and robes are great but moms everywhere are quietly wishing for a few things that cannot be wrapped. Every December we are asked what we want for Christmas and every December we smile politely and say something practical like, “Oh, I don’t know,...
Permission to Not Love Every Moment of the Holidays
Matching pajamas. A perfectly set table. A gorgeous Christmas tree. Hot chocolate in holiday mugs. Smiling kids looking at the camera. Presents wrapped in coordinating paper. That’s the picture social media paints of the “perfect” holiday season. But behind every one...
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Meet Rachel
I was born and raised in Lincoln, NE. Before turning into a stay-at-home mom to Ellie, Brecken, and Finley, I taught PE at Scott Middle School for over eight years.
My husband, John, coaches men’s gymnastics at the University of Nebraska, and our kids love cheering on the athletes and playing in the gym. Go Big Red!
I hope you relate to my joys and challenges of motherhood as I share the little details and the big moments of my family’s life that I find so fulfilling.
Meet Ashlee
I’m a mom to Ellie, Anna, and Levi. I balance part-time nursing with full-time motherhood. My husband, Jon, is a professor at UNL’s Business College.
We’ve called Lincoln home for five years, after being raised in Missouri and moving from South Carolina. My family loves outdoor adventures—biking, camping, and anything water-related!
I’ve been supported and inspired by so many amazing parents on my motherhood journey, and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned with you.
Meet Cassidy
I’m originally from North Platte, but Lincoln has been my home for over a decade. My husband, Justin, and I have two children, Maxwell and Zoey.
We’re both small business owners—Justin in motorsports, and me as a personal trainer and social media manager. Our flexible schedules allow us to prioritize family life.
I love photography, reading, podcasts, and cooking. Though motherhood is demanding and exhausting, I can’t wait to share the beautifully messy journey with you!
Meet Ellen
I’m originally from Arlington, NE. My husband, Pat, is from Cozad, NE. After spending the past 45 years in Lincoln, we are proud to call it our home.
I served as a Director at Bryan Health for 40 years. Pat served as the Chief Financial Officer for NRC Health for many years. He now serves as the Manager for Amandla, LLC.
We have two sons, Winston and Beau. Winston is married to Emily, and they have a daughter, Sophia, 5 years old. Beau is self-employed and works diligently to assure the success of his company. He also carries the title of Best Uncle Ever!
As the author of the Grandparent blog, I’ll be writing about the challenges and rewards of retirement. I’ll focus on the roles I have taken on in life – spouse, parent, In-law, grandparent, colleague and friend, and how they have changed over the years. This is the plan for the blog, but as we all know, plans can change!
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