Remember the Brady Bunch? When the show came on it played that much too familiar song that went something like... "Here's a story of a lovely lady... and a man named Brady ... and that's the way they ALL became the Brady Bunch... " In that perfect square with that perfect house and all six kids coming together in harmony. Every episode ended in a resolution to whatever … [Read more...]
15 Genius Adult Uses for Your Leftover Baby Products
As my 2-year-old son gets older, I find myself storing away more and more leftover baby supplies. Diapers he has grown out of, teething rings, and sippy cups crowd our shelves and closets going unused. I’d hate to throw anything away, but they are taking up valuable real estate in our apartment, so, I went on a hunt for ways I can put old baby products to adult use. I was … [Read more...]
Why Connecting with Your Child is More Important than Discipline
For those of us who were raised “old school”, we grew up knowing: Rule #1. Mom and Dad are always right. And even when they’re wrong—they're right. Rule #2. A butt whippin’ was standard operating procedure when you misbehaved. And don’t forget to pick your own stick off the tree in the front yard for that whippin’. And, Rule #3. When in doubt, reference Rule … [Read more...]
10 Signs You’re No Longer a Newbie Mom: Does this Sound Familiar?
Motherhood is a beautiful thing, it really is. And when you're no longer a "newbie mom" on the block, it's even better. By the time you have a second or third (or more) child, you get into a groove and a system that works for you. You're no longer spending hours worrying or researching on WebMD about a cough or runny nose. You're not frantically calling the doctor for every … [Read more...]
6 Simple Tips for Avoiding Summertime Slump
We all enjoy the lazy days of summer. No homework. No buses. Lighter traffic. Yesss! But, we have to remember that for every day that our kids do absolutely nothing educational, a part of every lesson they were taught and concept they learned can be lost. Let's be proactive and NOT depend on the beginning of the next school year for reviews and playing "catch up". Let's stay … [Read more...]
How to Know If You Are Prepared to Be A Parent
As the author of a book and blog about parenting, it should come as no surprise that I am often asked questions about – you guessed it parenting. Oddly, for as long as I have been writing and advocating for parents to revere parenting as a divinely granted and highly honored profession, it has been rare that anyone has taken the time to ask what I believe is the most important … [Read more...]
Parents Do You Take Better Care of Your Children Than Yourself?
Parenting is serious business. There are quite a few responsibilities that come along with such a significant role. We are solely responsible for the adults our children will become. Many parents understand that truth and act accordingly. Yet, others take the title lightly and won't always recognize the consequences of poor parenting. At the same time, some parents … [Read more...]
Why I Read to My Infant Son
Since becoming a first time mother in January, I knew that I had a miraculous opportunity to love and raise a gift from God. I also knew the extra special care and attention I would need to place on building my son’s self-esteem. Hardly a week goes by where a negative image in the media isn’t being played out, images that could create the narrative for my son’s outlook on life … [Read more...]
4 Reasons to Remember That Our Kids Are Watching Us
It's no secret that our kids are always watching us. They are watching our every move, as parents, whether good or bad. Not only are they watching, they are listening, too! I realized this a few years ago when my, then 4 year old, daughter called me out for abruptly ending a conversation with my husband without saying, "I love you!" Just to let you in on a little secret, we … [Read more...]
10 Obvious Signs of a Newbie Mom; Does this Sound Familiar?
Now that I have almost seven years of motherhood under my belt, I often laugh when I think about the things I sweated about when I was a newbie mom. Of course, it's amusing now because we look at the things we did or had to have for our first born, that we didn't even think about or realize we didn't do with our third born. When we found out we were pregnant with our first … [Read more...]
The 5 C’s that Great Father’s Teach Their Sons
"We never kicked it at all, never pitched or kicked at a ball, you never taught me how to fight, ride a bike, none of that....!" This a lyric I heard from a Jay-Z song as Beanie Seagle rapped about being a "fatherless son." While fathers usually do teach these things, there are some other lessons that great fathers out there teach. And hence, the reason we need their presence! … [Read more...]
Four Ways to find Activities for your Child with Autism
Summer is finally here. And for the first time in years, my husband and I are glad that we found recreational activities that work for our six-year old son, Angel. He is enrolled in a great baseball challenger league and at a sports gym program for children with special needs. We also try to take advantage of the various access and sensory-friendly programs in our … [Read more...]
5 Reasons Moms Lose Their Sanity and How You Can Keep Yours
This past weekend, I got to do something I rarely get to do but love to do...go out dancing. I went out to celebrate a good friend's birthday, and it was so fun to get dressed up to hang out with some great friends. Usually when I take time to hang out with my girlfriends, it's set around food and usually low key. But I love dancing and was so grateful that my hubby made sure … [Read more...]
3 Reasons Why I’m Teaching Abstinence to My Teenager
Now, I know what you're probably thinking. How in the world could you possibly think that your son/daughter will remain a virgin until marriage? Well, the answer to that is, I don't know. I simply do not. What I DO know is that children absorb and feed off of what you say to them and how you live your life. They also know at an early age, what's important to you as parents: … [Read more...]
5 Important Reasons Why Children Should Travel
I remember taking my first-born on his first plane ride. He was 13 months old and I was terrified to be traveling alone with this "baby". Of course I packed everything but the kitchen sink, just so I could be prepared for any and everything. On the way to our destination, he screamed his head off and was COMPLETELY and utterly inconsolable. On the way back, he had a bad case of … [Read more...]