For 60 days most children are out of school enjoying the "Dog Days" of summer. They spend their time playing poolside and outside until the streetlights come on or until they're exhausted every single day. School is the furthest thing from their minds and many parents are thankful for the break in the "grind" of preparing for school. While the summertime may be a great time … [Read more...]
Sometimes the Best Thing You Can Do Is Shut Up
What's the first thing most of us wives want to do when our husbands come home from a long day at work? We want to tell him about our stressful day at work, we want him to discipline the kids for some embarrassing antic they pulled in Wal-Mart that afternoon, we ask him to take the trash out or even "nag" him about something he didn't do- like he promised. That's right many … [Read more...]
Is Sex a Weapon, a Reward or Both in Your Relationship?
The round of your behind, the curve of your breast, the middle of your spine, the sexy way you walk--these are all things that can get men into a frenzy about their wives. It's can be something as small as the way you walk, talk sometimes even breathe that can make your mate go crazy and want to engage in sexual activity. Sex is a normal activity between two married people. Sex … [Read more...]
6 Ways to Regain Control Over Your Grocery Bill
Being a mother to three children has its perks. On holidays I get lots of cards, every morning I wake up to multiple kisses wishing me a good day and I get to see three little people grow into adults. However, there is a downside to having a family of 5, the rising grocery store bills. It used to be that every time I got paid (twice a month) I would go to my local supermarket … [Read more...]
When I Don't Want to Be Superwoman—3 Jobs My Husband Has to Do
I'm not one who's big on predetermined roles in relationships but after 5 years of marriage (and 7 years of dating) I've come to realize that there are some things that my husband HAS to do. There's no negotiation, bartering or exchanging"”these are jobs I need him to do or else I'm a nervous wreck. The jobs I'm talking about have nothing to do with wedding vows but are … [Read more...]
VH1 Hates Black Women PT II: Self Hate is One Powerful Drug
From the moment a black girl is born we are subconsciously told we are not "good enough". Our hair is not straight enough, our lips are too full, our butts are too big we simply are not good enough to be loved. Our parents try their best to teach us differently, but the influence of society is too great on us and they stay fighting a losing battle. For years I struggled with … [Read more...]
VH1 Hates Black Women
Let me take a second and voice what has taken me several years to realize. VH1, Shed Media, Mona Scott (and all of the programming executives at Vh1) all hate black women. I know people will sit and say, "but Mona Scott (one of the creators) is a black woman! How can she hate us?" I don't know how but I am confident that she (along with all of the other producers, … [Read more...]
Spare the Rod—Abuse the Child?
As a parent you have two strong convictions the moment your child is born- the unconditional love you have for your child(ren) and the conviction that you will protect your child from harm by any means necessary. As your child develops into a young adult, your priorities change from giving unconditional love to them but at times having to "put them in their proper place" as a … [Read more...]
Why Trayvon Martin Could Have Been Your Son
by Franchesca Lane-Warren All of us have lived in neighborhoods with over zealous neighbors who have made it their mission to protect the neighborhood. They hound their neighbors about unkept yards, delinquent HOA dues and sometimes even keep watch over our houses while families are on vacation. Many times me and my neighbors would occasionally laugh, groan or even have … [Read more...]
Four Ways To Survive Your Spouse Being Laid Off
by Franchesca Lane-Warren When you take your wedding vows the lines "for better or for worse" are repeated but most people don't understand the magnitude of those words until something bad happens in their marriage. For me and my family the "bad" came when my husband was laid off of his job of eight years, right before we were about to relocate to a new city. For months we … [Read more...]
Thou Shall Not Lose Thyself In Thy Marriage In 2012
By Franchesca Lane-Warren As we go into the New Year many women around the nation are contemplating strategies to make their marriages and families better. Some of us have resolved to cook more, while others vow to get rid of the "mommy look" and polish up their personal styles. However before we consume our time looking to better ourselves on the outside let's first resolve … [Read more...]
Four Lessons Parents Can Learn From The Penn State Case
By Franchesca Lane-Warren (www.bossygirl1980.com) For years I have been that parent. You know the parent who is always around, runs complete background checks on the sitter, who rarely leaves their child alone with others, nixes them sleeping over their friend's house and who constantly has the "talk" about their "private parts" and about who is not supposed to touch … [Read more...]
Chronicles Of A Good Wife: 3 Ways I Learned My Role In My Marriage
By Franchesca Lane-Warren (www.bossygirl1980.com) When I got married 4 years ago I was so happy to become a wife. Me and my husband had dated for nine years and I was ready to be married. When he proposed I totally engrossed myself in everything to do with a wedding. I planned a beautiful wedding and honeymoon but after all of the hoopla was over I had a big shock. Not only … [Read more...]
Four Reasons a 50/50 Relationship Just Isn’t Possible
When I got married five years ago, I was under the impression that because I was now a married women that me and my husband would do everything equally. You know, if I cooked dinner one night he would cook the next night. If I happened to clean up the closet one week, the next week he would do the same. To make matters worse, my mother-in-law's favorite song, "When Someone … [Read more...]