October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 1% of all pregnancies are stillborn, and each year about 24,000 babies are stillborn in the United States. Even more prevalent is miscarriage. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates 10-25% of pregnancies will end in miscarriage, usually in the first semester.…
Parents, we teach our kids at a very young age what we consider basic manners. At the height of those small teachable moments is saying two words. “Thank you”. This month we talk a lot about gratitude and being grateful but should we expect others to be and if we do…is that okay? Let’s explore the topic. Gratitude is one…
At 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31st my water broke. I didn’t think much of it, I actually thought my bladder was leaking, but after emptying my bladder at 4 p.m. and standing up to more fluid, I was pretty sure my water had broken so I called my doctor. The doctor instructed us to go to the emergency room,…
Resilience, defined by the American Psychological Association, is “the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threat, or even significant sources of stress.” Children that are resilient have the ability to self-regulate, are able to seek help from those around them, can problem solve, and can form relationships with others. We can all develop resilience and foster it in…
When you ask an elementary aged student what their favorite subject in school is, inevitably the majority will say “recess” or “lunch.” Occasionally you may hear “gym” or another special class. I know at the school where I teach (Library and Technology), there has been a shift to valuing recess and purposeful play, but that is not true for all…
Keeping kids safe is no longer as easy as telling them to look both ways when they cross the road. The majority of children have cell phones starting around the age of ten, and accidents caused by distracted walking are increasing at an alarming rate. Videos that show people walking into trees or falling into fountains because they are focused…
As much as you adore your children, there’s nothing wrong with appreciating the nightly break when they go to bed and the house becomes yours again. After all, when your little ones have a decent night’s sleep, there’s a good chance that you will too. Of course, it’s never that simple. Many children simply reject the bedtime process,…
“One kid? Just one kid?” “Your child is going to be lonely.” “I think that your son will need a playmate.” “Why would you just have one kid that is not good for your kid’s social skills.” These are comments that I receive often once I admit that our family only desires one child in it. Once I became a…
I have found in my life and in the lives of those who I help that many of us are very busy. We have full schedules, rampant deadlines and many people who require so much of us. Our children also have their own schedules to a degree…sports, homework and playdates also are activities that our kids engage in on a…
Micro-Aggressions revolve around Intention and Impact. In too many scenarios there is a dismissive and callous approach to stereotypical statements, racial jokes, and obvious offensiveness. Yesterday in Target a lady and a man waved at my son. He did not wave back (which is unusual for him I usually have to remind him not to talk to strangers). They continued…
