Education

The recent death of beloved actor Robin Williams has really opened a lot of people's eyes to the impact that depression and suicide can have on even the most cheerful among us. Did you know that suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-24? As a mom it's hard for me to wrap my head around, but as a social worker I totally get it. Adolescence and early adulthood are tumultuous times, and kids often feel hopeless, misunderstood, and confused. Add to this a bunch of interpersonal conflict and the fact that teens are not yet capable of understanding the long term consequences of their actions, and you've got a recipe for disaster. So what can you...

Confession:  I'm a photographer, with very little photos of my own family.  Ya know, kind of like the road construction company with the owner's driveway the worst in town? I am that girl.  Too busy with clients and work to even want to take my camera out with my own family.  The sight of it makes me cringe....it's work to me and who wants to work on their downtime?!  After realizing about a year ago that I'd totally neglected capturing those special moments of my own, the ones that I'd hold closest to my heart I decided that I was going to be proactive.  With a major case of guilt because I had missed out on what seemed like an...

We are a TV family.  At one point, I would estimate that I had 30 different shows in my DVR queue.  So you can imagine my husband's shock when I suggested that we call DirecTV to cancel our service.  How would we live without 150 channels? Without live sports? Without at least 10 episodes of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood available at any given time and for any given toddler meltdown? To be honest, I didn't really know the answer to those questions.  All I knew was that the money going toward our cable bill would be very useful elsewhere. When I reached out to my Facebook friends for advice on dropping our television service, I was shocked by how many had...

Staying active has been beneficial for both me and my baby.  I am remaining healthy and fit.  Exercise has eased my back pain, boosted my energy, improved my mood, and helped with my sleep. I also feel less nauseous, especially in the first trimester.  And, of course, the more you exercise during pregnancy the more your body stays strong and toned. Here are some of the great benefits: Makes you feel better Improve your sleep It can reduce constipation and swelling Get your body back faster from childbirth Prepares your body for childbirth Less weight gain Minimize aches and pain Muscle tone, endurance and strength Staying active is an overall mood booster and body changer. Working out de-stresses the mind.  Exercise causes your brain to release endorphins-- those positive feelings that improves your mood and fight pregnancy...

Dear Teachers- Thank you for choosing this life path. This career is underappreciated in many ways. Please know that I appreciate, respect and admire your dedication to the future of our world. I hope to say at the end of this year that we were so lucky to have you as a teacher. As you work and nurture my child this year, I hope that you are not stressed by the standards that are expected of you. I hope that you do not stress over the day to day workings of your classroom. I hope that you are supported by your principal and other teachers so that you are comfortable and confident while standing at the front of the class. That...