Modern Millennial Motherhood

Three Little Lee

To Elf, or Not to Elf (on the shelf)

I feel uniquely qualified to write this post as a 10 year elf mom. I was introduced to The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition when my daughter was a little under two and she is now 12😩. When I first read the book to her, she was barely able to understand the concept. Back then, social media didn’t pressure me to perform insane acts of magic and it was…. fun. It was a unique Christmas tradition that I didn’t mind. Fast forward 10 years later, I was surprised when she ask

Nov 14, 20223 min read

The Magic of Modern Motherhood

Welcome to Three Little Lee! My name Is Dr. Karla Lee and I am 30 something years old 😉. I am a follower of Christ, wife, mother, sister, friend, and pharmacist. Motherhood has been the consuming interest of mine for the past 15 years, but I also love reading, online shopping, and writing. Motherhood is more than just the magical moments I was inspired to start this blog to keep it real. So much of what we see about motherhood is perfectly curated and aimed at capturing th

Apr 30, 20221 min read

Is it just me or was BEFORE COVID a completely different era?

It’s like a separate time in the universe. Whenever I try to think back to when an event happened I immediately reference was it “before” or “after” COVID. Because that matters.

I don’t think we have talked about the seismic shift that happened. I think we are clear on the fact the COVID Kids (no longer babies) are different but the parents are too. I’ve raised children in both eras and belonging to both sides of that shift makes me realize how drastically different the times were.

My oldest humbled me. The middle broke me in the best way. My youngest healed me (with help of course 😉)

Lift me up, lift me up, lift me up y’all.

I’ve been down this road before, but Princeton was the child that taught me to enjoy the ride 🥺

What I’m telling my kids about @_drbryant :

😅Truthfully this crusade for credentials is exhausting and unnecessary. The harmful statements she made about licensure were enough. We know everything we need to know without looking any further.

📣If she ends up pulling a degree out of her donkey it STILL wouldn’t erase the harm she has caused and is capable of causing. You can have a doctorate degree and STILL be harmful.

😎One conversation that came out of this was an opportunity to discuss CONSENT. I take every single opportunity I can get to talk to my kids about consent. Agreeing to tell someone your story does not mean you consented to them harming you. You never deserve to be harmed especially when participating in an activity that has promised you healing or help.

MAGA is realizing in REAL time how expensive racism is….unfortunately for the rest of us we are being drug along for the ride 🥴

Maybe this was the undeniable wake up call that the last of the Chump train needed to understand… THEY ARE NOT IN the TAX bracket that the republicans care about 🙈

Whew….ugly tears were shed this morning. There wasn’t a dry eye in the building. I can’t believe I’m saying goodbye to preschool…for good this time 😩

One thing about an 8 year age gap is that you have the wisdom of hindsight even while time is flying by. I enjoyed every minute of these last three years because I understood how rare and special it was.

I almost missed today. I’ve been so busy. Pat normally attends chapel. I wasn’t prepared to go inside 🙈

This school sets the BAR. They understand the divine assignment. They were an answered prayer.

The decision about what to do next weighed heavily on my heart. I’m a product of public schools. An interest holder in public schools. A proponent of public schools. I purchased my home in an area where the property taxes are supposed to be a reflection of the “quality” schools in the area. And for the first time, I’m NOT allowing my child to enter the pubic school system. This is a shift in my entire paradigm. My framework and beliefs have shifted. It’s scary. Uncertain. And yet…..I have faith that God has prepared me for the leap I’m about to take. I’m glad I won’t be taking it alone 🥰

🏊🏽‍♀️Let this be a reminder to think about your older kids when it comes to water safety. Drowning is the leading cause of death of children in Florida under the age of 3 but children that can swim can still drown.

Brushing up on water safety isn’t just for the young children in your lives, the older kids need reminders and reinforcement too.

The OGs worked on a float refresher, water safety, and safe rescue techniques. They aren’t learning to be life guards (yet) but they are learning about how to safely assist others without sacrificing their own safety.

The preschooler worked on understanding his limits. We have reached the age where life vests are not fun 🥴 so we are working on being able to recognize when he is tired and how to get to a rest position. He’s finally tall enough to stand up in the shallow end of the pool 🥰

Summer is loading 😎

Happy Mother’s Day💐

I’m blessed to be a mother that still has her mother Earth side. Wishing all the mother’s in mourning, the mother’s in waiting, the mother figures, and maternal influences the praise and honor you deserve. Mothers on both sides of heaven are rejoicing 🙏🏾

Talk about realizing that you are living in someone’s answered prayers 🙏🏾

Learning how to swim is an act of resistance. It’s the restoration of childhood that many of our parents and grandparents didn’t get. It’s a shared experience of joy that is generational.

It’s swimming. It’s access. It’s opportunities. Its experiences. It’s priceless.

Thank you mommy. Because of you, you have changed the trajectory of future generations.

Happy Mother’s Day💐

What if knowing the red flags was enough to bridge a part of the gap in the care we receive? What if we are waiting for a system to change something that we can start to change ourselves?

Some of us don’t know what quality and competent care FEELS like. So let’s talk about what it should NEVER feel like so that when we have the luxury to choose a provider we feel empowered to pick the best.

Don’t forget to share this with your girlfriends. Some lessons shouldn’t have to be learned the “hard way”. Let’s learn from each other.

It’s so unfortunate that access to quality care is NOT the standard. Even as a pharmacist, I have struggled at times to identify if the care that I am receiving meets the minimum standard of care.

Unfortunately the consequences of inadequate care can be devastating. Let’s start having more conversations and not just the horror stories we were blessed enough to survive.

I’m running down my list of red flags, but I want you to add your own. What if a part of closing the gaps in health equity starts with teaching us how to recognize competent and quality care? Send this to someone who needs this knowledge. You might safe a life ❤️

#hosted Meet me at @terraplayfun 🥳

Because the magic of Terra Play isn’t just the experience — it’s who you share it with. From our family to theirs, this place brings out the best in everyone in the room.

If you haven’t been yet, this is your sign. 👇
🎟️ Buy one 1-hour play pass, get a second at 50% off 📅 Valid Mon–Sun · Expires May 21, 2026 🔑 Use code KarlaLee50% at checkout

@terraplayfun has party packages for every budget. If you are considering hosting, here are a few tips:

• Completing the waiver ahead of time makes check-in much faster (and more play time) �• Hosts have 30 minutes before the party to set up and get everything ready for our 2 & 3 hour parties; our 4 hour party they get 1 hour�• Terra Play provides grip socks for all children�• Bringing candles for the cake (this gets forgotten alot) :)

#TerraPlay #OrlandoKids #OrlandoFamilies #KidsActivities FamilyFun ThreeLittleLee TrulyInfluenced OrlandoMom PlayTime FamilyContent KidsOfInstagram

I told myself this year I wasn’t just going to be in the room. If I’m leaving my kids, It has to be worth it.

And then I got there — and I realized being in the room is the work. @mom2summit is not a conference. It’s a mirror. It shows you exactly who you are, where you’re headed, and who you’re supposed to meet along the way.

This year, I went as part of the social team. I came back as something a little more 🥰

Golf with my guy (and girls) @riopinargolf_

It’s somehow almost NEVER convenient to show up.

Three kids. Work. Other obligations. Life always seems to happen right in the middle of things.

My best friend was spending a part of her birthday in Miami and I knew I had to find a way to show up.

I got three kids off to school and then headed to @gobrightline at the airport. I worked on the train and arrived in Miami a little bit before 1 PM.

I am still not crazy comfortable taking @uber as a solo traveler but I love that they give you the option of a female driver.

All of this to spend a few short hours at the beach with my bestie….and I would do it all again. Because I get to be the friend that showed up even when it wasn’t convenient. That’s a blessing I hope to never take for granted 🥰

This party was personal. It was Princeton’s birthday but I couldn’t help going back to that girl who was just in the fifth grade.

My parents threw a 10th birthday party. We invited the entire class. Not a single classmate showed up.

My mom made the best of it. I don’t remember feeling devastated at the time but it stuck with me in ways I never knew. It impacted the way I celebrate my self and as a mom it was impacting the way I celebrate my kids. I always told myself that we don’t need “parties”. Let’s do an experience. Let’s take a trip. Let’s keep it intimate. I don’t know who their parents voted for 🤷🏾‍♀️ Where were they on Jan 6 🤔 Do they like Beyonce 🐝

My son didn’t care about any of that. He cared that they came….and for two hours that’s all that mattered to me too.

I didn’t want to parent from an unhealed place. I had to choose to heal.

@terraplayfun #hosted the PERFECT party for Princeton. The location is beautiful and the kids had so much fun. I didn’t need any fancy decor. From the moment I arrived, the staff jumped right into action. Unloading the car, organizing the favors, setting up the cupcakes, putting out the balloons……they did it ALL.

I was able to be fully present and enjoy the party that I had for my son…..that was also for me too 🥹

To ALL of his friends that came, It meant the WORLD to us. I appreciate all of the family that came from near and far. Our village showed up big and I’m so grateful. Thank you for your presence, your presents, and your SUPPORT.

🎉 If you were ever in doubt, THROW THE PARTY. Your kids are worthy of a celebration and so are you.

If you are in the Orlando area, I can’t recommend @terraplayfun enough.

#orlando #kidsbirthdayparty #indoorplayground thingstodoinorlando

It’s here! It’s Princeton’s birthday. My wild child. The final finger. The one that makes our family FULL is now a handful of years earth side.

Littlest little brother
Stinky binky
Princeton Pooh
Capital P (not the little one)
Poppy’s Dan 😢

Happy Birthday! It’s going UP UP UP for my golden boy.

This basket was a labor of love because this teen boy is a child of few interests: video games and sports. It’s only so much sporting gear that you can get 😩

I grabbed a few @nike items on sale @macys and grabbed the rest from Amazon.

I have never bought the @jbskrub products before but I’m excited to see if they can make skincare cool enough for my son to do it consistently 🤦🏾‍♀️

This basket was made with love and intention for my super special hyper fixating queen. Giving her something to hyper fixate on and unwind had done so much for our stress levels.

I’ve been a fan of @discoverlifelines for a while so these sensory colored pencils and pen diffuser were a great addition to our collection.

Moriah had such a blast doing the @lego floral bouquets for Valentine’s Day. I was excited to add the spring wreath to her collection.

My daughter is very much in her bedazzling era. Headphones. Shoes. You name it. I grabbed this craft from @tjmaxx

Last but not least….goggles. It’s finally time to head back to the pool 🏊🏽‍♀️

Looking for something special to do in Central Florida?

Daytime zoo ➡ evening magic.

Brevard Zoo just became something completely different after dark. 1,000+ illuminated sculptures, 500,000 lights,
10 acres of whimsy, and a blueberry lavender spritzer I’m STILL thinking about.

Illumi-Nature: March 13–29 nightly
@brevardzoo #brevardzoo

Select dates through May. Tickets at BrevardZoo.org. 🎟
#centralflorida #thingstodoincentralflorida #thingstodoinorlando

If God wanted ME to be the bigger person, I would’ve been taller than 5’3 🤪

No response necessary 🥰

I don’t watch the news but I can’t tell you how triggering the meme circulated by the highest office in the land was. Even more triggering…the attempts to desensitize, rationalize, and explain.

Journalist….live on air debating the intent as if that mattered. I saw very little coverage of the IMPACT of something this open and obviously racist. I thought I would share this moment from 2 years ago.

The impact is that what is being said on social media is also being discussed and normalized at kitchen tables. The lack of character by the orange man in the klan permeates throughout this entire country. Our children are following their fearless leaders to the bottom of the basket of deplorables.

Seriously….i love my community DOWN. Thank you for hyping me up and pointing out things that I don’t even notice😂😂😂😂

Yes…we can talk about my arms. In addition to a 40 lbs preschooler that I still like to carry, I am currently doing 10 minutes on my @onepeloton and then @carolinegirvan iron series on YouTube.

Black in EVERY sense of the word. By every definition. In every context.

I do NOT want to engage in a semantic discussion. In the Kings English words can have different meanings based on the context in which they are used. The meaning of words can also evolve over time. I do believe that this is a distraction. A tool of yt supremacy to keep us fighting over words instead of gaining understanding.

black is a color
Black is a race.
Black is an ethnicity.
Black is also a culture.

I’m Black racially as determined by the social construct.
I’m Black ethnically because my ancestors were kidnapped and sold here for generations.
I’m Black culturally because I am in community with Black people.

Foundational Black = Black in every sense of the word.

Slaves were NOT immigrants. This country was built by slaves. That’s not an opinion, it’s a fact.

If that FACT bothers you, then this country has succeeded in distorting your perception of reality through misinformation and miseducation. Division is the tool of the enemy and it starts by creating confusion where no confusion should ever exist.

I will not be engaging in any semantic discussions. They are pointless and a distraction from the topic at hand.

What was that??????Shaboozey should have run this statement by @mstinaknowles because it missed the mark on so many levels.

I rewatched the Grammy speech. He had notes written down. He said what he meant to say and he is essentially doubling down in the “clarification”.

This statement also makes clear to me that he is not in community with any foundational Black Americans. He is relying on the people around him to justify and clarify a speech that is historically and factually incorrect and extremely offensive. Instead of seeking clarity from the people he offended, he is attempting expound on his statement with the inspiration of the people around him in the form of a poorly written statement. He can keep it.

And I do realize that I am not his core audience and he couldn’t care less. I don’t care either except for the fact that the comments were made on a tremendous platform and the record must be corrected. Especially during Black History Month.

Let me go ahead and set the record straight just in case anyone was confused.

I am not an immigrant or a descendant of an immigrant. Nor am I a refugee. My ancestors built this country. Yours JUST got here. We are NOT the same and it shows.

😇Ajike “AJ” Owens. Florida.
 If you’ve watched The Perfect Neighbor on Netflix, you know this story didn’t begin—or end—with a single moment.

There were years of encounters with this neighbor. Some involved the police. Each time, the danger was minimized. The power of racism was underestimated. No one imagined it would end this way.

💔There were so many warnings that went unrecognized.

🐊That underestimation has many of us—asleep in the midst of danger. And that’s by design. The systems are designed to feel manageable… until they’re fatal.

The writing is always on the wall. You just have to know how to read the language.

Just a little PSA for day 1 of Black History Month.

👋🏾 This is a space that centers ME as a Black woman raising Black children. Everyone is welcome however this is not a space for people who expect to center their fragility in the conversation. Respectful dialogue is always welcome.

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Modern Millennial Motherhood

To Elf, or Not to Elf (on the shelf)

The Magic of Modern Motherhood

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