Alissa M

Alissa M
24 POSTS 5 COMMENTS
Alissa is a wife to her best friend {since 2003} and a grateful mother to four boys {2009, 2009, 2010, 2012) and one girl {2015}. And if you're going to be friends, you should know she has a deep and abiding love of chocolate. She's survived infertility, IVF, two NICUs, cloth diapers, a food allergy, and so much more! In 2017, she officially began writing and publishing children's books and LOVES it! When she's not writing or picking her kids up from school, she'd like to be reading/singing/laughing/napping/traveling/crafting/learning something new. But in reality, she's probably grocery shopping/cleaning something/telling her boys to stop fighting. She lives in Katy, blogs at AliMcJoy.com, and occasionally visits Instagram {@alimcjoy}, and Facebook {@alimcjoy}. She is a big believer in living life--especially mothering--with intentionality. If she's learned anything it's that accidental success is a myth: decisions determine destiny. She will also be the first to tell you she is not even close to perfect, but she's giving life her best shot one jam-packed day at a time.
A photograph of a parent and child in front of the Martin Luther King Memorial.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Had a Mother

Updated January 2026 Distinguished writer Ta-Nehisi Coates poignantly points out the inherent problems with dehumanizing people.  And while he was specifically talking about the danger...

Decluttering:: In My Home and In My Heart

I can’t be still. Don’t get me wrong—I want to be still. I want to relax. But every time I sit down, I think...

When #5 Turns 5:: 5 Motherhood Lessons I’ve Learned

I​ have a bruise on the top of my forehead today where a child dropped a back-scratcher-doubling-as-a-baton on my face while I was lying...

Windows and Mirrors:: Why Diverse Children’s Literature is so Important

As I brainstormed ideas for what to share with you, my fellow in-the-trenches moms, an idea popped into my head. It was more like...

I Want to Be an Ally–Now What?

People worldwide were shaken when the horrific murder of George Floyd was shared across social media and across TV networks. It has opened up...

Helping Our Kids Feel Secure in Insecure Times

Let’s face it: the absence of routines and predictability is the epitome of scary for kids {and if we’re really being honest, all of...
Houston Moms Blog Book Club #Houstonmomsblog #momsaroundhouston

Houston Moms Blog Book Club:: Read with us in 2020

In 2019, the Houston Moms Blog book club read Michelle Obama's Becoming Liani Tamani's Calling My Name Fredrik Backman's Bear Town Rebecca Makkai's The...

Cheering for My Kids On and Off the Field

If you notice that our trunk is filled with camping chairs, you might understand. We've just survived our first season of school sports. My...
Houston Moms Blog "Books That Will Keep Our Kids Reading" #houstonmomsblog #momsaroundhouston

Books That Will Keep Our Kids Reading

I've already admitted my undying affliction--I mean, affection--for children's books. So even though I did read a handful of books for grown-ups this summer,...
Summer Survival

Summer Survival That Sounds Fancier Than It Is {Plus a Free Printable!}

Summer survival with kids is difficult, but we've got a secret solution that just might make these long days a little easier {and fun!} Don't...