Perspectives in Parenting

Discipline can be a touchy subject among moms.  And while all moms have experienced the good, the bad and the terrible when it comes to their children's behavior, every mother has her own tactics for how to discipline her children.  Unfortunately, the inevitable tantrum at (insert public establishment here) or the awful morning meltdown that can make even the earliest risers late for school and work is the dread of mothers everywhere.  And, as your child is screaming at the top of her lungs in the check-out line, you become the mom who silently judges the behavior of someone else's children and ponders, "How did she get so lucky to have such well-behaved children?" Well, I'm here to report that good...

Life in the South revolves around food, football, and fun times. And nowhere is this more true than southern Louisiana. These themes continue to ring true when it comes to how we mother.  But, bless our hearts, we all have a few Louisiana mom confessions. The Red Stick Mom contributors are no exception. We boldly (and perhaps proudly) confess: I carry a koozie in my diaper bag. I bought a two seater bike trailer to bike to college football games even though we only have one kid.  The other seat is for our beer. I put gumbo in the blender so my little one doesn't have to miss out on its goodness. I picked my kids' names based on how...

What follows is a post by my friend and fellow mom, Kimberly Tatum. In observance of World Clubfoot Day, she recounts her experience when she and her husband realized their baby would be born with clubfoot and the subsequent treatment that would follow. On a personal note, her calming smile helped to keep me sane (and a little less scared) throughout the deliveries for both of my children. I don't know how I would have handled those experiences without her, and I'm glad I'll never have to know. I'm so lucky to call this great mother my friend. ---Kristen   June 3rd is World Clubfoot Day. Clubfoot affects approximately 1 in every 750 births and is twice as common in males as...

If stories of adoption and fostering children in Baton Rouge are of interest, there are several wonderful pieces on the website including stories of adoption (here and here), advice on what not to ask an adoptee, and a real life glimpse about what it is like to foster children in Louisiana.  Fighting to Get My Kids Back: Ashley's Story I wanted to take the opportunity to share the story of a wonderfully warm and caring Baton Rouge mom. Her name is Ashley, and several years ago, her children were removed from her care and placed in state custody. She refused to give up on her family and fought to get her kids back. Here is her story, as told by Ashley... At the time, I had...

  Being adopted as an infant, I never knew anything else. My childhood was as good as it gets, and I was loved and cared for from the moment I came home. Everyone I knew was aware that I was adopted, but as I got older, new people would make comments, and acquaintances would ask questions. I've had several hilarious conversations, and also some awkward ones, because people simply don't know what to say or how to approach the conversation if they have questions. Here's a sample of what I hear, and some help in navigating a conversation with a family choosing adoption or foster care. 1. Do your parents have any "real" children?  (or actual, legitimate, normal...) If they're real, does...