children
Children: Our most valuable natural resource.
Torn from My Arms, but Never from My Heart
August 15, 2016 was the worst day in my 30 years of life and is a day I will never forget. Middle aged, lesbian, fashionista, loving and attentive mother, full-time and successful carrier, a Leo, outgoing, friendly, social butterfly, independent.
By Vanessa Bettenhausen7 years ago in Families
Growing Up: Life After Abuse
Growing up, children seek to be protected, loved, and cared for—a basic human right. Yet that is not always the case. As the rates of harassment, abuse, violence, and anger rise up in this day and age, people fail to see the harm this is doing to the children in the world. Developmentally, children are growing cognitively, emotionally, and socially for many years, and exposure to such negativity impacts them beyond words. I grew up as a child witnessing domestic violence, a victim to emotional, mental, and physical abuse, and over a decade later I still suffer. Jamie Hanson, a professor from the University of Wisconsin released information from her research and studies that showed, "Orphaned children and physically abused children had smaller amygdala and hippocampi at age 12 than children without a history of stress. Those with the smallest amygdala and hippocampi also had the most behavioral problems, like getting in fights or skipping school."
By Makayla Richards7 years ago in Families
Baby Shark
If you are a parent, aunt, uncle, or grandparent...or if you have any association with children at all! Or have friends on social media that are associated with children...then chances are that you know this song! Is it annoying? Is it catching? Is it a lifesaver? Or is it just pure genius? The answer is yes! Yes! Yes!...and um, yes!...plus more!
By Daycare Momma7 years ago in Families
Nena
Heart beats trembling and treacherous effects, drippings of excitement as I press the "follow" button, hoping that you will not recognize me or even ignores my request. The floods of memory comes storming into my mind as I stared into the white screen and waited silently, but tornados of emotions travelled through me like an electric convulsion.
By Aiyan Turley7 years ago in Families
Why My Daughter Growing Up Scares the Shit Out of Me
My daughter is two-years-old. She is beautiful and happy. I am so blessed that I have such a happy baby. She smiles at everyone but screams for me. Timeout isn't my favorite but she's smart and beginning to understand it. She loves to brush her teeth. She's starting to talk a lot more. She's outgrowing clothes every month and goddamn is she tall. But that isn't what scares me. Watching her grow and learn is the greatest joy in my life. I love it. I don't care that I'm buying her new clothes every month or that I have pool noodles on every sharp corner in my house.
By Michelle Schultz7 years ago in Families
Parenting for Good Mental Health in Our Children
We read so much about how our overcrowded lives, lack of sleep and stiff upper lip mentality can lead us into poor mental health. We read even more about the benefits of practices to improve our mental health. Experts have noted a worrying rise in child mental health problems in recent years. Is there a way to parent our children so that they can learn to deal with their own pressurised lives as children and into adulthood? And at the same time take care of our own mental health?
By Laura Ansbro7 years ago in Families
Starving to Shame
Two weeks ago, I was babysitting at a five-star hotel. I was starving, so I put the little baby boy in the buggy and headed up to the lounge. They told me there would be free food up there, but there was nothing left but fruit. Fruit? What kind of joke was that? Maybe I could order a sandwich! But no one was around… I was going to faint any time soon unless I treated my stomach to a decent meal. The parents had made it very clear: you can either hang out in the room or in the lounge, but that’s all. Don’t go anywhere else. Don’t go outside. Why wasn’t I allowed to go to the restaurant on the ground floor? It made no sense at all. But well, you always have to please the customers…
By Mireia Prats7 years ago in Families
I Apologize
My darling Buggaboo, The last time we saw each other, hard words were spoken. You were angry about something involving your sister, taking it out on everyone, and that made me angry. The first thing I want to say is I'm sorry. I sometimes have trouble remembering that our situation is a hard one; and that being a teenager is hard. I said that you couldn't come back until you apologized to your sister and I. That was wrong and said out of anger. I want you to know that you are always welcome here. My home always has been, and always will be, your home. For a few brief, hard minutes, I turned into my mother, and that's not okay.
By Michelle Frank7 years ago in Families
Trying to Live with a Dying Heart
So I'll be straightforward with my situation. I am a 20 year old woman, with a 6 week old baby girl, and I'm just starting to really live my life. Of course, 20 years old with a baby isn't how I originally pictured my life when I was in middle school, telling my friends my goals and dreams. More like, how my life is, is what I was trying to avoid. But! It is amazing nevertheless.
By Francesca Joie7 years ago in Families
The Unknown Infection That Is Leading to Mental Health Issues In Kids
How many mothers out there were told that they tested positive for strep? How many of you knew what that meant during labor? What if the antibiotics didn't work and you passed this "strep" on to your children?
By Jacci Storey7 years ago in Families
