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Articles by Shanna Loga
Bursting My Social Bubble Was Worth the Risk
I am a middle-class, Midwestern, suburban, stay-at-home, middle-aged mom. Of course, my identity is more complicated than these identifiers suggest. However, my overarching identity as a suburban mom limits the everyday circles I travel in. I live in a middle-class suburban neighborhood with other middle-class suburban families. Most of my friends are middle-class, suburban, middle-aged moms. It wasn’t always this way, but it is now.
What Am I Worth as a Stay-at-Home Mom?
Photo by Omar Lopez on Unsplash I am a stay-at-home mom. I am one of the 2.4 million women who left the labor force during the first year of the pandemic. That I should feel compelled to write about work may come as a surprise, given my current circumstances. Many would ask, myself included, is what I do considered work? Although I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for almost two years, I’m not entirely comfortable with the title. Sometimes, I avoid eye contact when I tell people, fearing their judgment.
5 Ways to Captivate Your Readers
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons In my early 20s, I almost met and married Matt Damon. I’ll tell you the rest of this story at the end of this article. (Yes, this is a gimmick, but there’s a lesson in it — I promise!) But before we get into that, let me switch gears. As a socially awkward introvert looking forward to returning to “normal” after the pandemic, I’m both excited and nervous about the promise of public gatherings.
How a Rebel Psychologist Is Disrupting the $366 Billion Leadership Development Industry
Darja Gutnick, co-founder of the AI coaching app Bunch, is making it possible for anyone to be a leader Image courtesy of Darja Gutnick This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. To hear Darja Gutnick describe it now, entrepreneurship has always been in her blood. “I grew up with a mom who was an entrepreneur — very dynamic, very results-driven, very-determined. I grew up in her business, and I didn’t know how to live [other than] in an entrepreneurial way.
Moms Pee Their Pants, Too
Image by bzndenis from Pixabay It’s been two years since I gave birth to my daughter. Hers was a rough, vaginal birth via forceps delivery. Doctors wrapped metal salad tongs around my daughter’s skull to yank her too-big head through my too-small vagina. A rough pregnancy and rough childbirth in my late 30s led to postpartum urinary incontinence — meaning I can’t hold my pee. It’s estimated that struggle with incontinence after childbirth, so it’s a common problem.
‘Learned Optimism’ Can Get You Through Tough Times
Humans 101 Photo by Gremlin/Getty Images Have you ever felt yourself on the verge of a downward spiral? I’ve been there. What kind of mother can’t get her baby to sleep? There must be something wrong with me. If I don’t get some sleep soon, I cannot continue to function. Will this sleep drought ever end? I can’t take it anymore. These thoughts swirled in my brain as I felt myself on the precipice of a sob fest.
How to Use Learned Optimism to Jumpstart Your Emotional Immune System
Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash Have you ever felt yourself on the verge of a downward spiral? I’ve been there, too. “What kind of mother can’t get her baby to sleep? There must be something wrong with me. If I don’t get some sleep myself soon, I’m going to go crazy. Will this sleep drought ever end? I can’t take it anymore.” These thoughts swirled in my brain as I felt myself on the precipice of a sob fest.
I’m Never Taking Off My Wearable Blanket
HUMOR You can’t make me Image courtesy of wearableblankets.co.uk There’s nothing better than snuggling into my enormous wearable blanket. It’s become my second skin. Iron Man has his suit; I have my Slanket. Sure, I look like Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant, living out of the bear carcass, but it protects me from the elements. It shrouds me in a warm cocoon, rendering me completely immobile.
Who Was the Worst Mother of All Time?
These three mothers will give you nightmares. Photo by Anastasia Vityukova on Unsplash I have a tween now, so I get to hear some nasty things like you’re the worst mother EVERRRrrr…hurled in my general direction at any given time. I tried to reason with my kid and explain that I’m a loving, decent, intelligent human capable of being cool and fun, to which my tween responded with severe eye-rolling. But it got me thinking, who was the world’s worst mother?
Alex Kaufman Speaks Out About Trump’s Call to GA Secretary of State
The mysterious “Alex,” who was on the line but did not speak during President Donald Trump’s now infamous hour-long call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was Alex Kaufman, an attorney and a former candidate for the state legislature. Kaufman, who is Jewish, was on the Jan. 2 call in his capacity as general counsel for the Fulton County Republican Party and as associate general counsel for the Georgia Republican Party in the 6th Congressional District.
Why I’ll Probably Never Watch ‘The Crown’
The show perpetuates a dominant narrative about whose stories are worthy of our attention. Image courtesy of Netflix The Crown is a show I should like. One of my favorite movies in high school was Sense and Sensibility. Downton Abbey? Yes, please — although my interest waned after the third season. Victoria — I’ve watched that, too. For most of my life, I’ve had a soft spot for English period dramas. Yet, I can’t muster up the interest to watch The Crown.
Stop Snubbing the Suburbs
This Is Us Some see a cultureless wasteland, but to me, it’s home Photo: Jimmy Conover/Unsplash The summer before my senior year of college, I worked as an assistant video editor for my college’s communications department. My supervisor was a man with thinning red hair and a thick, red mustache. Despite being a devout vegetarian, he always had a pungent, meaty smell to him — like old ham water. His native New York accent was thick enough I don’t believe I ever heard him pronounce the letter R.
I’m Multiracial and It’s Awkward for All of Us
The challenges of confronting multiracial identity Photo by Mike Von on Unsplash Tawny skin, almond-shaped dark eyes, prominent nose, heavy eyebrows, wavy hair. When I meet someone for the first time, I notice how they scan my face for an extra split second. I watch them struggle to identify my race. Searching…searching. A dance of emotions plays briefly, almost imperceptibly, on their face. First, confusion, like Joey on Friends trying to divide 232 by 13. Then, curiosity. I want to ask.
Should the US Abolish the Peace Corps?
The story behind one group’s grassroots effort to do just that Image courtesy of Pixabay on Pexels For many Americans, the Peace Corps is a treasured institution. It represents the idealism, generosity, and curiosity of our nation and symbolizes our spirit of humanitarianism. We imagine bright-eyed volunteers selflessly digging wells in Cameroon or teaching English in Ecuador.
The Great Chasm
Shanna Loga's short poem about the wonders of the Grand Canyon and how it's withstood the test of time.
Age of Empathy: Submissions and Style Guide
Welcome to the community Photo by Anton Darius on Unsplash Welcome to Age of Empathy. The focus of our publication is to uplift and inspire. Essays that explore the teachings of spiritual leaders or inspiration derived from interpersonal relationships are of special interest. Stories about the generosity of the human spirit, gratitude, and acts of kindness are also welcome. Let’s lift each other up! Age of Empathy publishes essays, poetry, and fiction stories that Inspire, Connect, and Grow.
Does “Midwest Nice” Breed Racism?
George Floyd’s murder and Jacob Blake’s shooting happened in the heartland Photo by Alex Simpson on Unsplash I was born in Iowa. I grew up in Minnesota less than an hour and a half from where George Floyd was murdered. I live in Wisconsin just two hours from where Jacob Blake was shot. Yes, police brutality against Black people happens across the country, but as a lifelong Midwesterner and person of color, I wonder what about the conditions here make them ripe for racism.
This 3-Minute Energizer Will Change Your Perspective on Your Day
Science reveals how psych-up songs boost your mood, thinking, and behavior Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash It’s mid-afternoon, I need to submit an article before the end of the workday, and all I want is a nap. Working from home with my daughter, there are moments where my eyes glaze over, my head gets fuzzy, and exhaustion drains every ounce of motivation. There’s only so much a cup of coffee or a short walk outside can do after I’ve pulled an all-nighter with a screaming, teething toddler.
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