Rocky Parra
Wife to Brett, mom to BethAnne, Peyton, Walker and Matthew, retired CPA, career volunteer, avid sports fan, and adorer of old Catholic Churches. Rocky passionately advocates for her son, Matthew, and autism acceptance. In 2015, she began writing about her family’s experience with autism on Facebook. In 2020, she published her first book, "Embracing Mrs. Mommy – Learning from, Living with and Loving Someone with Autism." Always in the back of my mind is Luke 12:48, “to whom much is given, much is expected… ” You can find her on Instagram as @mrs__mommy.
The “Vanimal”
As a young mom, I swore I would NEVER drive a minivan.
Cool moms did not drive minivans. I wasn't a cool mom, never have been, but I felt like the minivan would seal my...
Are We Suffering from COVID Fatigue?
Disclaimer: This is NOT a discussion about post-COVID fatigue from a patient perspective. If that is what you are looking for, keep scrolling.
In case you spent the last eighteen months on a deserted island...
How I Fell in Love with Yellowstone and Other National Parks
No, not the Amazon Prime phenomenon, but Yellowstone National Park instead.
I feel like I should begin this with a disclaimer. No one would describe me as outdoorsy, my idea of "roughing it" means access...
An Introduction to Fiesta Pensacola
"To celebrate our heritage, promote tourism, and build pride in Pensacola through festive activities which enhance the quality of life in our community."
Fiesta Pensacola, founded in 1949 as the Fiesta of Five Flags, began...
My 1 in 54
When April rolls around each year, I prepare for increased sensitivity to the awareness my family lives with every month, every day, every hour--Autism Awareness. In 1972, the Autism Society of America began celebrating...
Non-Profit Spotlight: Autism Pensacola
According to the CDC's latest study (2020), 1 in 54 children are on the autism spectrum, up from 1 in 88 in 2010. Once parents receive this life-changing diagnosis, they immediately seek information, guidance,...
Tips for a Less Tax(-ing) Season
See what I did there? A little accounting humor to kick this post off. I graduated with a degree in accounting and passed the CPA Exam in 1992. After one day in the audit...
No Mardi Gras Without Ash Wednesday
I grew up a practicing Methodist in rural southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. I never attended anything "Mardi Gras" in my formative years. In fact, I cannot remember learning about it until my junior...
Lessons Learned in My Fifty-First Year
I celebrated my fiftieth birthday on January 27, 2020, with my husband and oldest daughter, overlooking the Alahambra in Cordoba, Spain, at sunset.
All appeared right with the world.
We toasted my birthday and naively planned...
Christmas Traditions With a Twist
"Traditions touch us, they connect us and they expand us."
--Rita Barreto Craig
I fondly remember celebrating Christmas at my grandparent's home in Starks, Louisiana. We drove the six miles from our house in Texas...