advice
It takes a village to raise a family; advice and tips to make the most of yours.
Stepparenting for Beginners
Being a stepparent is the most difficult part of my marriage. I've known my husband since we were young children and we get along perfectly—well, most of the time. We communicate when something bothers us and we compromise with each other. And even before we were officially dating, I knew his son was always going to be part of him. His son is five now and officially being "stepmom" has come with more hurdles than I ever thought there would be. Hopefully these tips will help with some of your own hurdles.
By Hali Moore6 years ago in Families
How to Raise Kids Who Love to Read
I don't think I need to go into detail about how important reading is to developing children. The research is out there in heaps. For starters, fostering a love of reading creates strong critical thinking skills, better concentration, and can really give them confidence in school.
By Amy Jourdan6 years ago in Families
Breastfeeding
So you're about to have a baby. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Time to make some decisions! Picking names, decorating the nursery, buying clothes, furniture, toys, and car seats. You will carefully weigh each decision you have to make because you only want the best for your new bundle of joy. You also need to decide how you will be feeding your baby. The decision on how to feed that baby is up to you. Breastfeeding or formula?
By Amanda Vadeboncoeur6 years ago in Families
Being a Stay-At-Home Mama
Being a Stay-At-Home Mom (SAHM) can be a very tricky and, sometimes, very lonely job. Growing up, I always knew that when the time came, I would be a SAHM because I knew I wanted to be there for all the things my kids experienced growing up.
By Tabbitha Ingram6 years ago in Families
My Child Is Diagnosed with Autism, Now What?
The percentages of Autism are growing rapidly. No one knows exactly why their child was diagnosed. Sure there are beliefs out there that vaccines cause autism, or that it is genetic, but there is no scientific research to show why people are diagnosed. The important question is what do I do after the diagnosis? My child was diagnosed by Riley’s Hospital. Although it was a bit of relief lifted off our shoulders, they didn’t give us any answers on what to do next. They gave us piles of papers and resources instead. That is what leads to the first step...
By Alyssa Baur6 years ago in Families
PPD and First Time Mom
Brace yourself, this is going to get very personal. I just want other mothers that are going through this to know that they are not alone and shouldn't feel ashamed of talking to someone about their feelings. If your significant other can't be understanding enough to talk with you through all this, find a friend you can confide in. Make sure it's a close friend or family member you can trust because you don't want to tell someone that isn't your friend your deepest feelings about your new mom journey.
By Clarissa Candelario6 years ago in Families
It's Not Harmless
I have never been raped, for which I sincerely thank God. I have never been the victim of serious sexual assault. I have never been touched in an inappropriate way that left me traumatized. But I *have* been touched in a way that I did not WANT. Not for my own good (like being pulled back from something dangerous, or hauled off to time out by a parent), but purely for someone else's pleasure.
By Brynne Nelson6 years ago in Families
Five Things I've Seen or Have Learned as a Parent
NO parent is perfect and neither am I. But I'm raising my son to be a man. I want him to grow up happy, healthy, and in a loving home. No day is perfect in our house and I don't expect it to be. I never want to wish the time away that I have with him, but when he becomes an adult I want him to have morals, values, a good head on his shoulder, good work ethics, and one day a happy home for him to go home too. These are just some things, some big things I've either experienced, read about, or have seen along my journey as a parent so far.
By Rachel McNamara6 years ago in Families
My Journey
Let me introduce myself. My name is Summer and I am 37 years old. I am also the mother of two beautiful who both happen to have Autism. My oldest Sebastian is 7 and has ADHD/Aspergers Syndrome. My youngest, Ryder, is 5 year sold and has Nonverbal Autism. I never thought I would be taking this journey, but wouldn't change anything for the world. Being a parent is hard enough, but a parent with a child with Autism is a whole other level. Maybe discussing my experiences may help another parent dealing with the same thing.
By Summer Francois6 years ago in Families