On Being Dolly

Hi! And welcome to my Blog!

I’m Dolly. I’m a wife, and mom to three kids. I’ve got two boys, 17 and 15, and a 12-year old daughter. I’ve been called “over-the-top” and I used to think it was an insult – but I no longer think of it as such. I think being called “over-the-top” is a compliment – because I’m trying to provide my children the upbringing and amazing childhood that I had with my parents and brother. It was a very Brady-Bunch, Leave it to Beaver kind of upbringing with home cooked dinners, packed lunches, family-everything, and tradition. I go over-the-top with birthdays, Christmas, Easter…I bake crazy cakes, I make special dinners, take thousands of pictures, and I gotta say, I love every minute of it.

As a survivor of horrific domestic violence at the hands of my college-boyfriend, I am extremely grateful for my life. And I think that’s why I am “over the top” with everything. I was abused. I was beaten. I was broken. I never thought I’d live to see myself with children. I never thought I’d find anyone who could love me, knowing what I’d been through. Knowing what had happened.

So yah, I’m pretty over-the-top.

I love raising my kids. I love cooking and baking and making moments count. I love all things holidays, surprises, and providing a loving environment for my family. I’m a hugger. I’m an “I LOVE YOU” loudly across the parking lot dropping the kids off to school – kind of mom. I sing at the bus stop. I sing in the car. I may even rock out to Bohemian Rhapsody and drum a little on the steering wheel. I live out loud. I love hard.

And I try to leave people a little better than I found them.

Stick around – I’ve got some stories to tell.