I used to say that I was a Mean Mom. It was in a joking way, but there was truth there. I felt like I was meaner than other mothers I knew, moms who responded to their kids in sing-songy voices instead of the way they spoke normally. Moms who played Disney soundtracks in the […]
It happens…it could be because we are tired of hearing their constant whining for a phone, or because we want to upgrade ours to the latest model, or because we think that all their friends have one…we succumb to the pressure. We act carelessly. Our brain seems to regress like theirs, and we give them […]
In the spirit of Sophia Petrillo, picture it: 2013. A beautiful Saturday morning in May. My nine-year-old son Jeremy and I are enjoying the warm sun on the back patio while my husband and six -year-old son sleep in. We are the early risers, more so during those days because we had an active puppy. […]
Raising a teenager, so far, can be summed up with two words: emotional whiplash. My relationship with my 14-year-old is a sweet one. He still talks to me, confides in me, and wants my opinion on his myriad interests. He still hugs me goodnight and, come morning, asks if I slept well. Our relationship is […]
In a perfect world, we are reading what our kids read, watching what our kids watch, and listening to the music they love, but the reality is that our preferences don’t always align. I, for example, prefer Mad Men reruns over anything on the Disney Channel and I could tell you nothing about current popular […]
When your child shifts from an elementary age child to a pubescent middle schooler, it can catch you off guard. The shoes you just bought him don’t fit three months later. A potent body odor takes over the house and no amount of bleach can kill. Simple instructions, such as, “Turn off your bedroom light” […]
With our first little tease of fall weather having come and gone, we can all be hopeful fall is actually just around the corner. Cooler temperatures or not, the season’s activities are approaching quickly, so get excited! Grab your PSL and get out your planners! Planning starts now! Listed below (in order of opening date) […]
There I sat, in the cushy corner of the couch at the end of a terrible weekend for our country. Charlottesville had just happened. It was Sunday night, and I was tired. Not the sort of tired that can be fixed with a dose of ZzzQuil or a glass of wine. I was tired in […]
Birthdays are a big celebration at our house. We love balloons, handmade gifts, and singing the happy tune too many times to count. And for those that know me personally, there is no hiding the fact that I love to plan a good party, birthday parties to be exact. Having three kiddos and our oldest […]
As a woman, you know how important it is to see a gynecologist on a regular basis—even if you are healthy and you don’t have any issues. However, going to see a women’s health specialist for the very first time can be intimidating. Knowing what to expect at that initial visit can help teens—and their […]
One of my very favorite things about parenting would have to be those moments when, after a bout of independence, your child comes running to you. They touch base and then they’re off again. It has many forms: the hug/tackle hybrid, the standing and waiting for a peck on the head or cheek, the delivering […]
Are you a mother of a daughter ages 14-17 and looking to make a little bit of extra money, all while improving communication and the general health of your daughter? You might fit in perfectly with an online communication program called TN Health Chat, which is focused on teen health. First, through the TN Health Chat website www.tnhealthchat.org, […]
