Posts by Kim Caloca-Madden
Reminiscing
There was a period of time where I was really finding my groove with eating habits that supported my goals. In that time, I had discovered a particular ice cream bar – this salted caramel halo top keto pop that was divine. Well, as divine as a reduced fat and sugar alternative dessert can be.…
Read MoreMy Biggest Regret
Being a parent is vulnerable. For the most part, I feel good about how I’ve done so far as a parent. Sure, I’ve made mistakes and had many moments I’m not proud of. But overall, I think I have done more good than harm with my children. And yet… I have a big capital R…
Read MoreThe Last Bite of Ice Cream
Watching your child grow up is like opening a perfectly selected gift and eating the last bite of ice cream. It’s a delightful privilege and a blessing. And it’s wrought with grief. Seven. So much bigger than six. Six is first grade. Just out of kindergarten, still little enough to run up and hug and…
Read MoreLeadership
I’ll never forget my first “big” promotion. I was working in the Winner’s Circle at Dave & Buster’s. If you’ve never been, Dave & Buster’s is basically Chuck E. Cheese for grownups. There’s booze and there’s an arcade, complete with tickets and prizes. Working in the Winner’s Circle meant you were weighing paper tickets (ha!…
Read MoreNew Beginnings
On February 27, 2013 at 9:13am, I was driving to my lawyer’s office to sign divorce papers. That also happens to be when the notification came through that my first bid as a self-employed freelance administrative professional had been accepted. I took that as a sign. I was on the right path, even if in…
Read MoreHow Many Wishes Do I Get?
To say it’s been a minute would be quite the understatement. In fact, it’s been 3,676,238 minutes since I last published a blog post. When I last published a blog post, I wasn’t even yet aware I was newly pregnant with my second child. When I last wrote here, my soulmate dog Scout, my grandma,…
Read MoreAre You Missing the Gold Rush?
When I was in 3rd grade, I went on family vacation with my parents to Lake Havasu – which was a regular occurrence for me. On this particular trip I got some windburn on my face and mouth and was convinced I was practically disfigured. I did not want to go to school, but of…
Read MorePraying Mantis
Sometimes I take for granted what an extraordinary life I lead. I’m a stay-at-home-single-mom. I own my own home – nobody’s name on that title but my own. No income to pay for it except that which comes in through service I provide in my online business. I drive a nice car. That I bought…
Read MorePromises Kept
My son became a big brother today. There was a time in my life I thought I would be the one to mother his sibling. And I may still. But it won’t be with his father. The day I revealed to him that I had filed for divorce is a bit of a blur. I…
Read More10th Anniversary
Ten years ago today, I stood in front of 250 people and promised forever to a man I loved completely. I remember the strangest details. Getting bagels in the morning with my maid of honor. My future sister in law scolding me to smile at the salon. Nervously waiting with my dad before walking down…
Read More