hi! i'm McCall!

I'm a proud and imperfect mom of two tiny humans and founder of Southern Smash. I smash scales for a living and help others smash the mental health stigma by sharing my eating disorder story. I believe resiliency is cultivated through the practice of gratitude and that there is always light, even in the darkest of times.

About

Southern Smash

Speaking

On the blog...

When You Don’t Fit the PTSD Mold

The Best News We Never Expected

Eleven Years Later and Still Recovering

Finding ME Again.

I am HERE.

The House Don’t Fall When My Bones are Good

mccalldempsey

👫proud & (very) imperfect mom
🔨scale smasher @southernsmash founder
🧠eating disorder recovery advocate
📝writer
⚜️louisiana born ➡️🏖 florida living

Marjorie decided it was time to pass on all of her

Marjorie decided it was time to pass on all of her beloved princess dresses. My momma heart had a twinge of bittersweet sadness as I fondly remembered how she LIVED in the gowns from the time she could walk. Marjorie (being the incredibly intuitive child that she is) quickly asked, "Momma, does it make you sad that I don't want these anymore?" Her big (and sassy) heart never ceases to amaze me. "No, baby. It does not make me sad. I feel so grateful that I get to watch you grow up." Eight years ago today, I was rushed to @wolfsonchildren after rupturing at 25-weeks pregnant. I spent every minute praying Marjorie would not come early. Seven months later, I stared at the clock on Wolfson's oncology floor. Time was literally frozen as we waited for what would be the news no parent ever wants to hear: "Your child has cancer." Time has painfully stood still more times than I care to recount in the past eight years. Between Marjorie's early birth, cancer and scary bouts of pneumonia, we’ve faced mortality's clock over & over. Watching Marjorie and Manning grow is a gift that I never take for granted. Today is the last day of childhood cancer awareness month. Some years I am all about sharing and other years I’m hit with grief and deep sadness. Childhood cancer changes you forever. It initiates you into a club that you never wanted to be a part of - a club where you meet the most incredible people, sharing the same painful bond. This year I’m gutted knowing two of our tiny warriors' heroic fights are coming to an end. They are literally on my heart & mind every day. While I totally get wanting to freeze our babies in time and space, preserving their squishy sweetness, embrace the privilege of watching them grow. Never forget about those families impacted by childhood cancer - Donate to research & help these kids get the medicine and science they need and deserve. Today we pass along these princess dresses. I am so grateful for all the pictures & videos I have of my twinkle toes twirling in them AND I know how lucky we are to watch our Miraculous Marjorie grow up. Squeezing my babies tight and sending love to two very special fighters and their families. 💛🎗

Happy happy heavenly birthday to my best friend, m

Happy happy heavenly birthday to my best friend, matron of honor and GaGa. You would’ve turned 9️⃣9️⃣ today, which Marjorie quickly recognized as three years older than the queen 😂 Your namesake continues to keep us on our toes and no doubt you are beaming at your precious Manning watching him flourish in academics with his sweet and kind heart. As for me, I’ll never get used to not having you on the other end of the phone, but I’ve learned to talk to you through the heavens and on my daily beach walks. I find you in the shells and waves as you continue to help me navigate this impossible road of motherhood and life. Grief never goes away. I still miss you with a deep ache, but I see and feel you daily. I hope you’ve got a cold glass of Chardonnay (and your favorite 🚬). We toasted to you tonight…your legacy and love that we still feel every day. Love you always GaGa. Talk to you tomorrow. 💕🌈

Math 🟰 Marjorie’s Way. Drama, scandal and abs

Math 🟰 Marjorie’s Way. Drama, scandal and absolutely no calculating. 🧮 🤦‍♀️ Bet let’s be honest…I can get behind her math method easier than common core.

If you need me, I’ll be under Elsa. New York,

If you need me, I’ll be under Elsa. New York, @southernsmash NYC ✅ Dare to Love Yourself Summit ✅ Ready to put our feet (and paws) up tonight. Thanks to everyone who made these events a success! Onto the next… @alliancefored NOT ONE MORE Rally! See you in Tampa THIS Saturday 🔨💙🔨

Homebound. Exhale. There aren’t many words. Just

Homebound. Exhale. There aren’t many words. Just gratitude. Just hope. Twenty years ago I lived in NYC in the grips of an eating disorder. To the outside world, I was living THE dream, but inside, I was slowly dying. This week I returned to my favorite city and met a rainbow of extraordinary humans who filled me with hope and healed that 21 year old girl who was terrified to not be perfect and did not know how to ask for help. Thursday evening I sat amongst champions, listening to how we can continue to advocate to fight and demand representation and inclusion in ever facet of our lives. Today, I watched the next generation take the bats to scales to SMASH the stigma, eating disorders and create a future where we can show up as we are. Dear 21 year old me, you are loved as you are. You are going to be okay. You’re going to fight like hell for your life, but you’re going to come out on the other side. Your 21 year old dreams might not come true. And that’s okay because you are going to create a new dream. A better dream. One day your story will create a ripple and it will grow with the courage and strength as others join, turning the tiny ripple into a wave that cannot be ignored. @alliancefored @dearmeprogram & @southernsmash watch out world…together we are smashing barriers and creating a better tomorrow. 💕🔨🌈💙 Massive gratitude to my newest heroes in change @aiyanaish @armielchandler @madebyalexnyc thank you all for lending your voices and creating new tables!! And special thanks to @veronicabeard @weareyearround for an incredible event. Thanks to our @southernsmash NYC sponsors: @veritascollaborative @equiphealth @eatingrecovery @monte.nido @emilyprogram @galen.hope @alsana_recovery @centerfordiscovery @waldenbehavioralcare @twelvenyc @peace.love.food.nutrition 📸 @lindsayfondo

Jesus. Take. The. Damn. Wheel. Y’all. Nightly PS

Jesus. Take. The. Damn. Wheel. Y’all. Nightly PSA: clothing sizes are the actual devil 👿 I hate shopping, unless it is online while sitting on my couch in my athleisure ordering more athleisure and flowy dresses. I realized yesterday I have ZERO work(ish) clothing. Pandemic and only working on college campuses have left me in the land of jeans and yoga pants. I made the harrowing journey to the Town Center to shop for my upcoming NYC trip and other work events. It’s too much…too many clothes…too many options and the most effed up sizing system. In one pant I was one size and in another it was two sizes too small, leaving me with a killer camel toe 🐪 . I was sweating taking clothes on and off and fire texting my mom to fly over and just shop for me because this shit is for the birds. Another nail in my shopping coffin ⚰️ is that my body has changed since the pandemic and from all of my surgeries. I’ll be totally honest - it is hard. Do I let it change how I honor, nourish and rest my body? Absolutely not. Does the effed up sizing system help this process? Effff no 🙅‍♀️ Sigh. It’s hard y’all. There isn’t a right answer or golden rainbow I can shit out to make getting dressed and body acceptance easier. It’s forever an on going journey. All I know is some days are easier than others and I’ll keep showing up…some days in my yoga pants and other days in new fancy pants 👖 AND I acknowledge that I stand in immense privilege. I live in an able, straight sized body that isn’t judged. I am able to walk in a store and find my size (well at least try). This should NOT be a privilege. All bodies should be able to shop judgement free and with ease. We march on (in yoga pants) fighting for representation for all bodies and for ourselves. I show up on the hard days by acknowledging the damn patriarchy of sizing, giving myself grace when it’s hard to sit in my body AND knowing that I must get up and keep fighting so that ALL bodies are seen and valued. Onward.

Today I received an email asking for Marjorie’s

Today I received an email asking for Marjorie’s Baptism Certificate. My heart sank and stomach twisted in a nauseous knot. Marjorie does not have a certificate. Marjorie was baptized the day before her biopsy surgery @wolfsonchildren. We were just days in to our fight with cancer. We had no idea what was to come and we were frozen in agony. Our dear friends and family orchestrated her baptism. While I had our family baptism gown, her condition limited me from putting it on her to just draping it over her. And while I envisioned a special church baptism with an after party, her hospital room anointment was the most beautiful and holy experience I’ve been a part of. Cancer is no longer in our daily lives, but it is forever part of our story. Tomorrow is the start of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. And I’ll be honest, I wish we weren’t a part of this month. But we are. So we move on and continue to fight for our tiny warrior friends who need us. Cancer is never over. Today was another stark reminder. Sending love to our fellow warriors always. And forever thankful to our fairy Godparents @katysuredid and @305cupcake. Thankful every day for our prayer warriors and our healthy, sassy girl. 💛🎗💛🎗 #pediatriccancer #miraculousmarjorie #gogold #morethanfour #wolfsonwarriors #neuroblastoma #baptism #jacksonville

This is 7️⃣0️⃣. All I have to say is my mo

This is 7️⃣0️⃣. All I have to say is my mom is Life Goals. She has THE GREATEST girl gang and we had the best time celebrating our Hurricane Annie’s 70th. Usually my mom’s birthday is overshadowed by hurricanes but she was the only hurricane to hit Nola this year. Thank you @galatoiresnola for an unforgettable lunch…we entertained the restaurant with my mom’s love of sipping on Fireball 😂 You’re welcome! Happy birthday ANNIE!!

No one. I repeat no one surprises Annie…except m

No one. I repeat no one surprises Annie…except me! I’ve plotted and planned and today pulled off the biggest surprise for her 70th!!!! There’s nothing greater than surprising your mom and there’s nothing sweeter than having your daughter along for the ride. We are ready for a big celebration tomorrow. The party has just begun!!

Monday Motivation courtesy of Marjorie. Keep Clam

Monday Motivation courtesy of Marjorie. Keep Clam Y’all. Follow Marjorie for more life advice. 💕🩰 #mondaymotivation #miraculousmarjorie #clamgoals #keepcalmandcarryon #calmclam #samesame

Hey Siri, play ‘Hallelujah’ 🙌 Peace out kid

Hey Siri, play ‘Hallelujah’ 🙌 Peace out kids. It’s been real 📕🎉 5th and 2nd grade here they come. God bless the teachers. Enjoy my “spirited” duo. 💙💙 #backtoschool #peaceoutkids #quietoffice #happymomma #hallelujah #godblessourteachers #momlife

Seven years ago, Marjorie’s hospital door cracke

Seven years ago, Marjorie’s hospital door cracked opened and two heads peeked in. @sblackstonesmith and @laurenbarksdalehill. I told them about Marjorie’s cancer diagnosis the day before and Shannon left her family in Disney and Lauren drove ten hours through the night to be with me at @wolfsonchildren. This week we had the best reunion with ALL of our healthy and amazing kiddos. We are all sunkissed and have stomach aches from all the laughter. I wish I had a crystal ball to this beautiful future all those years ago. Lauren and Shannon taught me what it means to show up for those you love. No need for gifts or casseroles. Just love, laughter and the ability to say I’m here. Thankful for my lifelong besties who will forever be by my side. ❤️❤️❤️

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