Red Stick Mom

I’ll never forget the moment I realized I was a danger to my children. My husband and I had just gone to the store with our four week old son, and were loading things into our car. As I grabbed the car seat carrier to put my newborn in the car, I had one vivid thought in my mind – throwing the car seat. Thank God, I didn’t. But having been diagnosed with postpartum depression the day before, I knew my family couldn’t afford to wait until the antidepressants I’d been prescribed kicked in. I needed more help, and I needed it immediately. That afternoon I went to the ER. I cried as I told the admissions representative what happened,...

When you move over 500 miles from your friends and family, you’re forced learn a few things about road trips.  I don’t know anyone who gets excited about traveling with babies and kids, but these tips will make it a little less dreadful. Safety First Make sure that your vehicle is up to date on required maintenance, has proper fluid levels, and air pressure in the tires. Double-check the installation of all car seats and boosters. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 75% of car seats are installed incorrectly! If you have any question about whether you have a proper installation, visit a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.  There are a few in the Baton Rouge...

When my husband and I were first married, we "dated" each other all of the time.  Whether we rented movies, cooked a nice dinner, or went to a concert, we definitely enjoyed our time together. Now, with children, it is so difficult!  Our days begin when our children wake us up, and our attention is focused on them for the majority of the time that they are awake.  Once they go to bed, my husband and I are lucky if we can spend five minutes alone together on the couch watching our favorite show before somebody passes out from complete exhaustion.  And while we absolutely love our lives and love our children, we realized that we were really missing out...

At the age of six, Pamela and her sister spent cold nights sleeping in the back of a U-Haul with no blankets. They didn’t know when they would eat. One night, Pamela’s mother awoke the girls suddenly and yelled at them to hide under a car in the parking lot. When a police officer pulled Pamela from her hiding place, she watched as her parents were arrested. She remembers watching as the police car left and her mother “faded away.” This is how Pamela became a foster child. Fortunately, a CASA volunteer was assigned to be a voice for Pamela. “When you’re a child, no one listens to you, especially in the foster care system.” Pamela describes her CASA volunteer...

Happy Valentine's Day friends! We are overwhelmed with lots of warm and fuzzy feelings when we think about YOU, our readers and fellow moms. We wish you a lovely day full of love, hugs, special treats, and maybe even a night off! Many of us will be out on the town, enjoying date nights, and we thought this was the perfect time to share our favorite sweets and treats in Baton Rouge.  This city is fast becoming a foodie-heaven, and we aren't complaining.  Here are some of our top picks for our favorite desserts in this great city! "The life-altering White Chocolate Bread Pudding from Parrain's." - Charlotte "Coffee Call beignets and cafe au lait, because anything that can be both...