Mary Beth Unthank
Knoxville born and bred, my love for this area is deep and true! I'm a working-turned-stay-at-home mom to 4 kiddos from preschool to middle school. My husband and I live in Knoxville where he is a pastor and I get to work with a pretty amazing group of middle schoolers. I love watching my kids learn something new, cooking for other people (but not for myself), and telling myself I'm a #fitmom when I go to the gym like once a week. I'm a bottle-feeding, disposable diapering, public-schooling (other than that one kid I'm homeschooling this year) mom with the stereotypical chill attitude of moms with large(r) broods. I love meeting new people, but I talk way too much and laugh when I'm uncomfortable. If you don't mind long stories and bad jokes, we are sure to be friends! Follow my family adventures on my blog Unthank You Very Much
My Favorite Season Is This One
My favorite season has got to be this one.
The first glimpse of a sticky Southern summer is on the horizon, days filled with sun and sweat and laying around doing absolutely nothing. We will...
Hello Quarantine, You’re Not Enough
Captain’s Log, Quarantine Day Whatever:
We have been confined to our home for approximately 945 days. Or a month. Or twelve years. I don’t even know anymore. The natives are restless. Skies are blue, sun...
Work It Out: Why I Let My Kids Fight
Picture it:
It’s Thursday afternoon, and your kids are watching TV after school. It’s not quite time to get dinner started, so you take the moment of quiet to sit down and read a book....
I’m a Mean Mom
I have a confession. I don’t mean the kind of confession you make with head hung and eyes averted with shame; quite the contrary, I am proud to admit this to you and the...
Drop-In Childcare at the New Athleticademy
When I first heard of drop-in childcare, I thought it was the most brilliant idea ever invented. When I heard a drop-in childcare center called Athleticademy was coming to Knoxville, I nearly cried I...
Holiday Self-Care Is Not (Necessarily)…
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, mama! Didn’t you get the memo? This is the month to enjoy all the things everyone loves best, or at least the good moms who really...
Let Them Eat Candy
It’s Halloween week, mamas, and you know what that means:
CANDY. So. Much. Candy.
I have four kids, and between trick-or-treating, school parties, church fall festivals, and community events, we usually come out of this week...
How to Do It All and Make Everyone Happy
You can’t. Find a new dream.
I could end this post right there and it would still rock some people’s worlds. What is it about that title that made you click it to read my...
Do Something, Say Something, or Just Listen?
My daughter starts middle school today.
I could tell you that, after more than a decade in youth ministry, my husband and I kinda know what to expect with this phase, and that’s true. I...
Today, It’s Okay to be Sad
I wanted a dog.
Not I wanted a dog, like I used to but changed my mind. And not I wanted a dog like I just wanted to have one.
I wanted A dog. One dog....
“Start Them Young” and Other Things I am Probably Failing At
Recently I read a really inspirational post about teaching our kids to have grit, to pick themselves up when they fall and keep pressing in to achieve something difficult. “Start them young,” the author...
My Motherhood Isn’t Cute Anymore
What’s the best thing about social media? Connecting with old friends? Nah. Lurking on pages of old enemies? Golly, who would do such a thing!? Broadening our points of view by thoughtfully discussing opposing...