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Kristy Campbell

Kristy Campbell

Kristy Campbell is a writer, actress, and mom of 5. Her column, "Saving The World One Teen At A Time," appears on Mommytracked.com and she also contributes ModernMom.com and The Huffington Post. Her thoughts on modern midlife are offered in her blog, "Juggling On The Journey." You can find her work at www.kristycampbellcreative.com.

Blog Posts

  • May 1, 2012

    The Five Regrets of The Divorced

    I have a group of divorced friends, and we get together twice a month. I’m trying to think of a clever name for our group since “Divorced Moms Club” sounds like...well…a bunch of divorced moms.

    Beyond SAHM or WAHM, I’m drawn to DAAM (Divorced And A Mom). It reflects my mood since being part of this club was not part of my master plan.

    I look forward to the time I share with these women. It’s one of the only places I feel like someone else truly understands what I’m going through. We talk about the reality of being on our own, the struggles of dealing with angry ex-spouses, the friends who don’t really get it, and even the nitty gritty details of what went on in our homes behind closed doors.

  • February 17, 2012

    Don’t Quit Before the Miracle

    Theo Fleury’s story came to my attention while doing research for an article. I almost passed over it because I didn’t think a National Hockey League legend would have anything in common with women facing adversity. His message, however, was too intriguing to pass by:

    “Don’t Quit Before the Miracle is a message everyone needs to hear at some point in their life. It’s about hope, about moving forward, about never giving up, even when the obstacles you face appear overwhelming and unbeatable.”

    Theo is a champion. He won an Olympic gold medal as part of the 2002 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team, a Stanley Cup while playing for the Calgary Flames, and he was selected to the NHL All-Star hockey team seven times throughout his career. And he accomplished all of this while standing 5’6” and being one of the shortest players to ever skate in the NHL.

  • January 25, 2012

    Getting Unstuck

    I recently did an internet search for “Getting Unstuck” to see what would come up in the search. I had been feeling like I was racing around in circles without much forward motion, and I knew I needed to find a new roadmap as I was getting depressed with the same scenery.

    Granted, I am a full-time single mom to 5 children and the pace of each day seems to keep me busy from 6am-11pm without much time for reflection, but I knew the circular path needed to change.

    It was interesting to discover that there are a multitude of books, quotes, and inspirational messages all designed to motivate one into action. Messages of “Let Go” or “Make a To-Do List” abound; however, nothing really clicked for me. I was looking for something concrete…something like “Drive 1.5 miles and turn right at the stop sign. Your new path will be on the left.”

  • November 7, 2011

    The Power of the Posse

    I pushed away all of my friends this past summer. It wasn’t intentional; it just happened.

    My upheaval, like so many other women’s, seemed to happen overnight. I went to bed one night thinking my life was one thing only to wake up and discover it was nothing of what I thought. Quick transitions are sometime the most difficult because it feels like you are running out of a burning building grabbing only the most important parts of your life: kids, wallet, keys, and every framed photo you can carry.

  • October 12, 2011

    5 Guidewords for Change and Transition

    There is an epidemic of change occurring in the world today. From economic markets to political regimes to the fabric of our families, change is everywhere.

    And as change brings stress and stress brings heightened levels of anxiety and worry, I understand why it feels like everything is tentative and upside down in our world. While I am concerned about the larger-scale effects of transition upon our global communities, I find myself mostly concerned about the every-day effects of transition upon my children and me. We have sailed into uncharted territories with huge upheavals in our life, and I am finally looking outward for help in navigating these waters.

  • September 14, 2011

    Empowering Kids One Book At A Time

    I recently attended a Family Day at the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco with my 7 and 3-year old sons. I was prepared for the “My legs are broken and I can’t walk anymore” or the “This is soooo boring” comments, but I was determined to go even if we stayed for only 15 minutes.

  • August 15, 2011

    Wonder Words: Ten Inspirational Quotes

    Ever since I was a young girl, I've loved reading quotes. I remember one Christmas when I was in junior high school, my father gave me the Bartlett’s Book of Quotations. The book seemingly weighed 20 pounds and had over 25,000 quotes from 2,500 sources, and I spent the day curled up with it. I still have the book and occasionally find myself flipping through the pages looking for inspiration. Somehow glimpsing into the mind of others has always been a comfort to me. I figure if Gandhi had something to say about reaching my full potential or Martin Luther King had an insight into overcoming adversity, there is the reality that my concern is not only a shared issue but also something that can collectively be solved.

    At the moment, I’m facing a set of challenges which have culminated in my needing to move back home with my parents while finding a new path for myself and my five children. My current path is not easy, and I often find myself wondering if I am strong enough to make it work, but then, as I’ve always done, I find words that give me the inspiration to keep moving through my challenges.

Maria Shriver © 2012. All rights reserved.

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