Growing Up

My daughter turned 6 last Saturday; my youngest child went from toddler years to child years in a blink of an eye. On Monday morning around 3am I heard little feet walk into my bedroom then a tap on the cheek followed by "Mommy I had a nightmare, can I snuggle?" I instantly grabbed her up, scooted over, and she snuggled in. The next day I thought back on those sweet snuggles and wondered would those be my last late night cuddles? I know that one day she will no longer come to my room when she has a nightmare or when thunder wakes her up. As I thought about it, I realized my 8 year old has not...

Yesterday, my daughter’s class presented the “Letter Z” during their Wacky Wednesday Zoom lesson. Immediately she proclaimed “Mom, School is over and we won’t see our teachers and friends again.” The tears began to flow. For a while, I wasn’t sure where her tears stopped and mine began. How do I explain to my child that she’s exactly right?  You see this was her last year at Montessori School of Baton Rouge (MSBR). Next year she starts Kindergarten at a new school with new friends and new teachers. MSBR has been so amazing for us, I have often wished the school lasted all the way to high school, or at least middle school. Unfortunately, my son didn’t have the...

People always tell you about the firsts, but no one ever warns you about the lasts. -Jessica Simpson My sweet caboose, my baby number four, I know you’re my last baby. The day you were born, my mommy heart was complete. You filled every void. I held you in my arms and knew you’d be my baby forever. I brought you home and had you next to me in your bassinet. I nursed you, I held you (A LOT), I rocked you and I stared at you. I tried to soak in every sweet moment because I knew they’d be my last to experience. Looking Forward... I remember with my firstborn looking forward to every milestone. I couldn’t wait for him to...

Those three little words set my skin on fire every single time I hear them: Let's go back to the Good Ole Days (aka) when things were easier for me and my privilege was not checked? Hear me out for a moment: Don't read my very first sentence and get all defensive, I know full well that when my mom says something similar she means: ("I want to go back to when my mom was still alive, you saw your family every single day, and leaving your door unlocked was completely normal".) I assume that most people feel this way, in some small way we all miss childhood and the simplicity of it. HOWEVER, when a politician or someone in power makes...

As a middle school teacher and mother, I often see kids trying to compromise their true selves for the sake of “fitting in.” All kids are unique and individually made and I strive to build confidence in all my students, as well as my daughter, in embracing their authentic selves and being confident in who they are as a person. Kids tend to worry about what others think of them and will try to act, dress, and think like “the crowd” so they feel a sense of belonging. We all know that going along with “the crowd” may not always be in their best interest. Here are some ways to cultivate authenticity and confidence in our kids: Love Them Unconditionally Loving your...