Dawn Downes
Hey, y’all! I’m Dawn – a native Tennessean who could not wait to escape the small town for the big city. After attending a women’s college in Atlanta, I took root there and stayed. One marriage, two homes, two kids, and 25 years later, here I am, back in Tennessee. My husband moved here in January of 2016 to start a new job while our two boys, Brendan (born 2003) and Beckett (born 2006), and I stayed behind to finish the school year and sell our house. We arrived in July 2016 and have been working to make a happy new home here since then. We love living on the North Shore and I am enjoying finding unexpected beauty and little joys throughout our new city. I am also mama to fur babies, Josie the Rhodesian Ridgeback/Lab mix, and Miller, a sweet orange and white tabby cat. I'm into art, movies, music, TV, pop culture, nerdy stuff like Doctor Who and Game of Thrones and I know more than my share about the DC Universe, Pokemon, Minecraft, Battlefield, and all things LEGO thanks to having two boys.
Yoga Made Me A Better Mom And It Can Help You, Too
I have said more than once and to more than one person: yoga saved my life. And I believe that with all my heart and soul. When I was at my darkest point in...
The Next Adventure: Redefining Yourself After The Nest Empties
A few days ago, a girlfriend posted a selfie from the top of a mountain she had hiked with some other girlfriends. She was smiling…beaming, to be honest. She looked so beautiful and so...
The So-Called Life Of A Boy Mom During Prom Season
Girl Moms, y’all don’t know how sweet you’ve got it!
I know you may think it’s a chore helping your daughter get ready for prom. I’m sure dress shopping is an exhaustive battle where cost,...
Making The Most Of Your Empty Nest
Over the past week or so, I’ve been thrilled to see so many of my friends moving their kiddos to college or helping them navigate the next steps of their journey in this life.
I...
Why Don’t We Talk More About Menopause? Margaret And Her Gen X Friends Want...
TW: This post contains references to suicide.
This past weekend the movie version of the classic coming-of-age novel "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret" by Judy Blume opened to much acclaim. Gen X friend...
Self-Love: A Gift To Yourself And The World
I was shocked last week to see the internet erupt in criticism over Madonna’s Grammy appearance. The hullabaloo wasn’t about the words she spoke, her dress, or the fact she introduced the first transwoman...
Welcome Home, Stranger: How To Reconcile Expectations With Reality When Your College Kid Comes...
Moms, dads, and younger siblings will be welcoming their college-aged family members home this week.
Following the end-of-term flurry of final exams, holiday formals, packing, saying goodbye to friends and roommates and beloved (or despised)...
What I Learned About Parenting From Leslie Jordan
Leslie Jordan’s sudden and tragic death on October 24 hit me hard as I know it did so many others. Especially Chattanoogans. Whether he was hunkered down here in his hometown tending to his...
Halloween And The Great Glitter Compromise Of 2022
In my last post, I shared my love for all things Halloween as I began counting down the days to its arrival. And now, October is finally here. I started my decorating a bit...