Real Talk

I just made it to the second trimester with my second child, so I'm in preparation (and saving) mode for what will come in five short months. And while the planning becomes more real every day, I can say with most certainty that I am beyond ecstatic to be out of the first trimester. See with my first pregnancy I was nauseated, got sick once or twice, and then figured out how to keep it from happening. I never felt great, but it was manageable. Thinking I had it all figured out from the first time around, I assumed this one would be a breeze. WRONG. This kid has already thrown me for a loop. Morning, afternoon and night sickness....

Y'all, I'm struggling here. As prevalent as social media is in my life, this question infiltrates my mind over and over: "Should I ever post pictures of my children on social media?" I'm just not sure anymore. Yet I still do it. We all know it's incredibly easy for images to be stolen these days ... all it takes is a screenshot on a phone and boom, someone has a picture of my daughter forever. Even with the strictest privacy settings, it's still possible to steal images. I used to think those instances were few and far between, and it would never happen to me or my kids. But it does happen. It happened recently right here in Baton Rouge...

Parenting changes as the years go on ... the newest toy, dance moves and fashion trends keep us all on our toes when we are raising pre-teens and teenagers. Currently the biggest discussion in our house with my pre-teen is technology -- when, where, how he can have his iPhone so he can snap, tweet, and Instagram all day log. My son is almost 12, and he has had an iPhone since he entered middle school this past August. We have a few technology rules that has made this transition a little easier.   1. No Electronics on School Nights There are a few reasons for this rule - first it gives time for homework, bath time, and chores. Second, we can eat dinner...

Yesterday I shared my story about how I was bullied as a child. This was the first time I've ever shared about this in a public setting, and you can read it here. Bullied Part 2 :: How You Can Help a Victimized Child Thirty years later, here I am. Time and self-care have healed my wounds, but it's an experience that will forever be a part of me. I don't want any child to experience what I did. So today I am sharing some lessons I've taken from my life experience so that you as parents and caregivers can in turn share them with your children who are involved in bullying in any capacity. Let's put a stop to this...

If you've ever been bullied, I'm sure some well-meaning adult taught you to repeat, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." But they are wrong. They are so very wrong. Don't believe me? Did your parent or grandparent ever say something to you that to this day still has some sting to it? Childhood bullies can have that same effect, and it can stay with you for a lifetime. All words matter, and they are long-lasting scars that never truly heal. We carry the baggage for the rest of our lives. The load certainly feels lighter with time, but it never goes away.  To My Childhood Bullies :: Your Words Do Hurt I'm sharing my story...