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Julie Lyles Carr

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Twenty Years of Stories

This is the archive: two decades of questions, lessons, and moments worth writing down. I don't publish here much anymore, but I do still write about my life today, what I'm up to, travel, family, work insights, and more. If you want the current stuff, that's what the newsletters are for and I'd love for you to subscribe.

Squirrel Wars

Uncategorized

My grandmother is 95 years old. She is sharp, sassy, sweet. And she is an unabashed squirrel hater. Living in Mississippi, she has long experienced squirrel invasion armies in her yard and home. She is a seasoned squirrel hunter, trapping and um, ah, transitioning the squirrels to their next um, ah, divine appointment. For years she kept records on her…
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A Little Thing to Cure a Spot of Whine

Parenting

Those days. The days when kids wake up in full whine. Yeah. The Whine Complex is layered and intricate, so I won’t insult you by suggesting that I have determined a cure-all. But I do have a little thing. A small concept that can sometimes head off one of the more common Whine Complex experiences. It’s a countdown clock. It…
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Next Gen

Parenting

So. Almost seventeen years separate the birth of my first child to the birth of our babies 7 and 8, the twins. Seventeen years, people. Here’s some perspective. The year 1 of 8 was born, George H.W. Bush was president and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air starring a relatively unknown Will Smith premiered on television. By the year the…
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For Doubting Mamas….

Parenting

Sometimes it’s palpable. The churn of emotion that lies just under the veneer. I’m blessed to speak frequently to a variety of mom groups. Some have circled up for a study, some meet over a specific topic regarding their children, some simply huddle together for laughter and support. Moms. These women are mothering children of a variety of ages and…
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Blend Well With Space and Time

Parenting

There he is. My baby. My 8 of 8. The sweet completion of the Carr Family Chord. He’s the baby by only 4 minutes. It is very important to his 4-minutes-older twin that that age difference be honored. But the baby still, even by the cadence of 240 seconds. When it comes to my parenting career, there are innate and…
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