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Jyl Barlow

Navigating life with inappropriate laughter and near-perfect hindsight.

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Category: Thoughts on Family

The Price of Pets (is totally worth it)

"She brought an emotional support toy into the appointment." The price of pets? Worth it.

Jyl Barlow Thoughts on Family, Thoughts on Pets Leave a comment July 6, 2026July 5, 2026 5 Minutes

Skin Scans, Schedule Chaos, & Travel Fails.

A week of chaos, ranging from expired passports, weekday graduations, skin scans, and no-contact children. Can I get an amen? No? How about a margarita?

Jyl Barlow Thoughts from a Frazzled Bear, Thoughts on Blended Families, Thoughts on Family, Thoughts on Travel Leave a comment April 20, 2026April 19, 2026 5 Minutes

What Should You Do? Start by Cutting the Apron Strings.

Six weeks and I’ve resisted the urge to throw on the ALL CAPS button before responding, “WHICH ONE OF YOU IS IN COLLEGE?” 

Jyl Barlow Thoughts from a Frazzled Bear, Thoughts on Family, Thoughts on Parenting Leave a comment September 29, 2025September 28, 2025 5 Minutes

The Skid to Summer’s Finish Line

Currently, the broken rules in my youngest’s room represent the actual bridge between childhood and adulting: Teddy Grahams on one side, Stoli on the other.

Jyl Barlow Thoughts from a Frazzled Bear, Thoughts on Family, Thoughts on Parenting Leave a comment August 18, 2025August 17, 2025 5 Minutes

Chotchkes & Chickens

Was I avoiding my first trip "home?" Well, yes, actually. How'd it go? All the ways.

Jyl Barlow Thoughts on Aging, Thoughts on Family, Thoughts on Mental Health 2 Comments July 28, 2025July 27, 2025 5 Minutes

Clear(ish) Eyes, Full Heart

What’s that saying?  You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t shove its head in for a drink? 

Jyl Barlow Thoughts from a Frazzled Bear, Thoughts on Blended Families, Thoughts on Family, Thoughts on Parenting Leave a comment July 21, 2025July 20, 2025 4 Minutes

Tending to My Garden

Mom may not have given me the gift of keeping plants alive, but she did give me the gift of finding comfort in tending to one's garden.

Jyl Barlow Thoughts on Family, Thoughts on Mental Health Leave a comment June 9, 2025June 9, 2025 5 Minutes

Sweet Teas & RSVPs

An empty wagon makes a lot of noise.  Turns out an empty seat does as well.

Jyl Barlow Thoughts from a Frazzled Bear, Thoughts on Family Leave a comment May 26, 2025May 25, 2025 4 Minutes

10 YEARS! The Vow Renewal

Getting married is easy. Staying married? So, so difficult!

Jyl Barlow Thoughts from a Frazzled Bear, Thoughts on Blended Families, Thoughts on Family, Thoughts on Marriage 2 Comments May 19, 2025May 16, 2025 3 Minutes

The Feral Childhood

A sign that you had a feral childhood? You can get the blood out of anything. Anything.

Jyl Barlow Thoughts from a Frazzled Bear, Thoughts on Family, Thoughts on Parenting Leave a comment May 12, 2025May 11, 2025 6 Minutes

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Hi, Honey! is now available! Click here for a hard copy, here for Kindle, or here for additional ebook platforms.

Book cover for 'Hi, Honey! A Dementia Diary' featuring a woman in a floral swimsuit holding a snorkel mask, set against a nature background. The cover includes quotes and the author's name, JYL CJ BARLOW.
A descriptive text about the book 'Hi, Honey!' by Jyl Barlow, focusing on themes of grief, love, and loss, alongside testimonials highlighting its emotional depth and insights into the grieving process.

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The Price of Pets (is totally worth it)

The Price of Pets (is totally worth it)

“She brought an emotional support toy into the appointment.”

The price of pets? Worth it.

by Jyl Barlow July 6, 2026July 5, 2026

Hiking the Mendenhall Glacier: A Questionable Adventure

Did I have any business hiking across a glacier in Alaska?

Probably not.

Did I live to tell about it?

Mostly.

by Jyl Barlow June 22, 2026June 21, 2026
Banana Ball: Six for Six

Banana Ball: Six for Six

Banana Ball’s season may be short but for a super-fan, seeing every game just takes a little creativity and coordination.

Oh, and maybe a few friends who will say “yes” to anything.

by Jyl Barlow June 8, 2026June 8, 2026
Vacation Alert: Back to Alaska.

Vacation Alert: Back to Alaska.

I’m off on another adventure!

Want to follow along? I mean, why wouldn’t you? Join me on the socials under Bearly Home Travel.

by Jyl Barlow June 1, 2026May 28, 2026
Banana Ball (and all its Bliss)

Banana Ball (and all its Bliss)

Just when I thought all things wholesome had been extinct, I walked into a Banana Ball game and my faith in pure goodness was instantly restored. It was as unexpected as the midgame nod to Magic Mike courtesy of a slew of shirtless firemen dancing on the dugouts midway through the seventh inning.  If you…

by Jyl Barlow May 18, 2026May 18, 2026
Available Now: Hi, Honey!

Available Now: Hi, Honey!

Happy Mother’s Day! I’ve chosen this very day to publish my third book, Hi, Honey!: A Dementia Diary because it truly is a love letter to the relationship I had with my mom, who passed away just over a year ago. I wasn’t really aware how unique the relationship was between my mother and me…

by Jyl Barlow May 10, 2026May 10, 2026
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