children
Children: Our most valuable natural resource.
IRON BUNS (Not to be Confused with Buns of Steel)
One of the joys of parenthood is the plethora of hilarious events and conversations that occur usually spontaneously. In the ongoing series of "You can't make this stuff up," please accompany me on a seemingly normal evening errand…….
By Maria Calderoni6 years ago in Families
How to Help Your Child Stay Motivated in School
Parenting a school-age child can be scary and overwhelming. How do you keep your child motivated and teach them the value of their education? Every parent wants their child to succeed and it can be hard to know what to do. As a middle school teacher, I am frequently asked by parents how they can support their children’s learning. No two students are identical in terms of their motivation, interests, and attitudes towards their education, but I can offer three simple suggestions that will keep your child engaged in their studies long term.
By Erin Eliza6 years ago in Families
Let it Go
"Dad, dad! Wake up!" My eight year old son's voice rattled my sleep. I eyed the clock by the bed that flashed numbers like an NBA scoreboard and displayed 6:33 a.m. My brain, fogged for a second, thought someone's lost the game badly, 33-6. I gathered my wits and thought to myself,
By J. S. Wade6 years ago in Families
Mother Nature's Tattoo
Mother Nature's Tattoo Are you aware that the powerhouse of every one of your cells, every single one, is a gift exclusively from your mother? Yes, that legacy came down generation after generation to you ONLY through the mothers, one after another in your direct genetic line. I remember when I found out about Mother Nature’s Tattoo, or perhaps more accurately every mother’s tattoo, when my favorite Biology professor discussed research that proved that mitochondrial DNA is passed down from mothers to their children, exclusively. He went on to say that since the mitochondria of every cell, the critical powerhouse of cells, and in fact, of human life is provided by mothers only, no dads. It was just around Mother’s Day as I recall, and he made a point of saying that like it or not every single person in that classroom, including himself, was completely saturated with gifts from our mothers, and that we owed them a lot. Mother Nature’s Tattoo, as he called it, is forever embedded in the human story and biology, like it or not, the females of the species rule on this point, AND each of us women in the room would be continuing a legacy that started with the very first humanoid female that walked the earth.
By Rosanna Pittella6 years ago in Families
Raising My Son's With The Future In Mind
As a mother of two boys, it’s particularly important for me to raise them to be strong understanding men. Men who do not walk around as if they are superior or better than anyone. Men who understand that it’s not okay to laugh when "friends" catcall, disrespect, or objectify women. Men who will stand up and reach out in whatever way they can when they see other men harming. Men who will understand that it’s never just a joke.
By Blue Dymond6 years ago in Families
Making the Most of a Rainy Day
Who said rainy days can’t be fun? Rainy days also have a lot of potential when you know exactly which activities you can get your children involved in. Whether it’s organising indoor games or braving it outside for some drizzling ‘singing in the rain’ moments, there’s an array of activities to help keep your kids busy on a rainy day.
By Alicia Walker6 years ago in Families
Faded Youth
I remember it like it was yesterday and not half a lifetime ago. People that came before me would say, "Cherish every moment, every second, every milestone no matter how small." I remember rubbing my swollen belly, feeling the movement inside me and thinking they were crazy, we had a lifetime to live, love laugh and grow.
By Lee Naylor6 years ago in Families
This Little Girl Thinks I am Broke & Is Trying to Help… Gee Whiz…
We are Kari, Anarrah, and Menelik; Mommy, daughter of six years and son of five years. We have been on our own for just about two years now, and it has been a glorious time of reconnecting, relationship building, having authentic fun, reconstructing family, rebuilding a life, and healing.
By Kari Jones6 years ago in Families
Talk to me the way you would talk to Mrs. Teri Dammit.
Talk to me how you would talk Mrs. Teri, dammit… Those are the words that fell out of my very frustrated mouth and through the house to only fall loosely on the ears of my 8 (going on 16) year old daughter. It was the third time in less than a half-hour that I had asked her to just put the fitted sheet on the bed so that she could take her ass to sleep. A task that now takes us anywhere upwards of an hour and a half, bordering two hours. My patience was low. I could have been asleep now for hours and perhaps still needed more rest but not my little miss. The only motor with more juice, at this point, is her mouth.
By Miriam Gray6 years ago in Families
Mo's Dilemma
The one thing I really enjoyed about the apartment complex where I raised my three children (Che, Moe, and Lily) for 17 years was that it was multicultural and very diverse. My children had the best circle of friends, and they often shared time, stories, toys, games, etc. with each other; and you could witness the love among them just from watching them play or hang out together.
By S Nicole Callahan6 years ago in Families
Cognitively Delayed Children
There are a lot of unsung benefits to being the parent of a child who has cognitive delays. Being autistic is a factor, of course, as well as her speech delays; all of them combined play an integral role as to how I raise her as a human being that exits my own rules and enters her world of comfort.
By Dani Banani6 years ago in Families
