Red Stick Mom

Disclosure :: This post is sponsored by BASIS Charter Schools.  BASIS Charter Schools’ Top Tips to Tackle the School Year In academics as in life, preparation starts with a solid foundation. Successful scholars find opportunities in everyday life to reinforce basic academic concepts. They also practice essential success skills, such as accountability, organization, time-management, communication, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. By building on the basics at every grade level, students stay active in their education, ready to learn and achieve. The toolbox Make sure your child has the right tools to succeed. A new school year, classes, and classmates can be intimidating, even for the most prepared student. Starting out with the necessary resources sets them up for success each day. Coming to...

My beautiful, sensitive, emotional first-born child sat in my bed last night, screaming in my face that he could not take it anymore. And then he said the words no parent EVER wants to hear: I am having suicidal thoughts. My entire world ground to a halt. HARD. STOP. When your child- your entire reason for being, tells you they want to die, NOTHING else matters. Not. A. Single. Thing.  I sobbed hysterically as I called my sister- a doctor, for advice. My stomach roiled as I talked to the pediatrician's after-hours nurse who had just recently gone through the same thing with her own child. She comforted me as I cried softly through her directions. When she asked if he would be admitted...

Soup season is upon us! The time has come to pull out our heavy pots and stock up on chicken broth. While the fall may tease us with back and forth weather, just cool down the A.C. on those warmer days and embrace soup. Being a Texas native, I’d never dream of sharing a Gumbo recipe, but I have plenty of delicious soup, stew, and chili recipes to last all fall and winter. I’ve decided that Wednesday will be the day I make soup so that we can easily warm up leftovers after soccer practice on Thursday nights. For me, soup is a full meal. Sometimes I’ll throw in my favorite autumn salad (or this one!), but honestly, it’s...

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo. Do you already know you want to run? Pre-registration is open now HERE.  Run Like a Cheetah to the 16th Annual Zoo Run Run Presented by Ochsner Health Run like a cheetah to the 16th annual Zoo Run Run 2-Mile Race and ½ Mile Kids' Fun Run presented by Ochsner Health on November 13th! At the run, enjoy the scenery as you scamper, trot or gallop your way through BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo. All proceeds from the race support your Baton Rouge Zoo and international cheetah conservation efforts. Again this year, all participants earn a medal! After the race, participants are invited to join us for food, refreshments, and an award...

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Red Stick Mom has partnered with the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence to help bring awareness to this important topic. Resources for getting help or reporting domestic violence can be found at the bottom of this page.  “Why didn’t she just leave?” The first question most people have when reading about the aftermath of domestic violence is, “Why didn’t she just leave?” I speak to this as someone who spent most of her life pondering (or rather, dismissing) domestic violence in the same way. After speaking with many victims, counselors, professionals, lawyers, and law enforcement officials, the below list is a summary to begin the conversation as to why “just leaving” is not that simple. ...