Jama Oliver
I am a homeschool mama of four boys and wife to a software developer. We are originally from Northeast Tennessee, but now call Chattanooga "home." I'm a personal trainer and group exercise instructor, gluten free, dairy free, sober, and way more fun than I sound on paper.
Saying “No” To Good Things
I flaked on my post this month.
I’ve been writing for the Chattanooga Moms for four years and it’s been such an absolute joy for me. Only a couple of months after I moved to...
The Cool Mom’s Guide to Taking Your Kids to Concerts
*Note: we are still in the midst of a global pandemic, so if you decide to go to a show (and I totally think you should!) make sure you do so safely.*
My husband and...
This Is My Fifteenth Summer As A Mom
My kids are now 14, 12, nine, and six. The days of sun hats, diaper bags, figuring out nap times and snacks for tiny ones, and lugging enough gear to the pool to warrant...
Translating ADHD for the Neurotypical
Hi, I’m Jama and I have ADHD. I also have a child with ADHD (officially diagnosed) and another that I strongly suspect has ADHD but it hasn’t yet caused enough of a problem to...
Home Workouts for Busy Moms
Fitness is my job, but that doesn’t mean I have all the time in the world to work out. Between work, homeschooling four kids, and trying to make sure our house is something close...
When Someone Dies
If you’ve never lost someone close to you it’s hard to know what to do when a friend experiences a death. Even if it’s been a while since you’ve lost someone, it’s easy to...
Healthy Eating on a Budget
This may come as a surprise, but foods that seem cheap really aren’t. Take it from a mom with a full-time fitness career (read: super hungry) and four growing boys (also super hungry): the...
The Kids Are Alright
As we embark on a new school year that is unlike any we’re ever attempted before, I want to assure you that your kids are alright. Whether you are homeschooling, virtual learning, sending your...
I Was an Ignorant Southern White Woman
I am not racist. I’ve never been racist. Not even a little bit.
But I have been astoundingly ignorant.
Growing up in the South, I probably seemed, at least to those close to me, almost progressive....
It’s Okay to Hire Help
For years -- ever since I became a mom more than 13 years ago -- I’ve believed I should be able to do the following:
Keep the house clean
Cook three meals and one...