advice
It takes a village to raise a family; advice and tips to make the most of yours.
Things I Have Learned in My Eight Months as a Father
Being a father has been one of the most wonderful and educational experiences of my life. I have learned so much in eight months and am continuing to learn. I thought that I would share some of my insights and observations with the world.
By James Howell8 years ago in Families
Parenting and Depression
I've heard it all: "You have a beautiful, healthy daughter with another on the way. You shouldn't be depressed," "Others have it worse," "At least you have your kids," and so on. I have felt guilty for being depressed. I have felt like I don't deserve to feel this way. More often than not, I get down even more. I have been told that I should be thankful for being able to stay at home and raise my kids. The truth? Being a stay at home mom and having depression, or any mental illness, is a nightmare.
By Samantha Theall8 years ago in Families
What Role Does Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend Play in Your Child’s Life?
The story of Aniya Day-Garrett simply breaks my heart every time I read about it. This four year old angel was brutally murdered at the hands of her mother Sierra Day and her mother’s boyfriend Deonte Lewis. The medical examiner classified the death as a stroke in result of blunt force triuma to the head. The story gets even more devastating because the child’s father was in the middle of a custody trial with the mother. He had documented police reports and witness reports from the child’s daycare & nothing happened to get this child away from her abusive mother & “play father”. The American justice system failed this poor man & his precious daughter.
By Allison Copeland8 years ago in Families
It's Okay to Drop Toxic Family
"They're your family. You have to love your family." No, you don't. We give people the talk about dropping toxic friends or significant others, but what about family? What if your family does no good to you, or your health? What if your family is abusive?
By Nikolas Martin8 years ago in Families
Five Must-Have Products for the Colicky Baby
Being a new parent is one of the hardest jobs there is. Especially if you have a baby that suffers from colic. A lot of first-time moms don’t know what baby products work to help soothe their baby, so they unfortunately fall victim to spending their hard-earned money on products that just don’t work. As a mother of two myself, I have spent my fair share of money on those not-so-good baby products as well as those miracle products that every mom searches for. These are the five products I use every day that make having a new baby so much easier.
By Ashlei Rupe8 years ago in Families
7 Essentials Every Baby Needs
Having a child is indeed the biggest joy in the world. Becoming a parent is like being given a chance to play God, since your child is going to be totally dependent on you until the time he/she matures. Those magical words which every woman wants to happily say someday are “I’m Pregnant!” And when that happens, along comes a phase of excitement, health care, and advice from close ones. Husbands become more aware of their wives’ needs and the love the couple share increases many fold as both dream of having a beautiful and healthy child. Such is the power of a baby!
By Sukriti Taneja8 years ago in Families
Breastfeeding
So, you've waited the nine to ten months to greet your little one. Your body has changed in ways that you hadn't imagined it would. You've experienced things that you hadn't imagined you would before. And now it is finally time to meet your little person.
By Samantha Reid8 years ago in Families
Making Peace with the Fact That Your Child Needs Friends, Other than Yourself
I have tried to avoid eye contact with mothers wanting their kid to have a play date with my son for long enough. It’s not that I’m a self-controlling mom who wants her son all to herself, dooming him to a life of ongoing therapy. I’m not that needy, seriously. The dream of watching my son become a responsible man and leaving the nest as soon as possible is real. My issue is discovering how to maneuver my way around the land mines of guns, drugs, pedophiles, and thieves.
By Pamela Henry8 years ago in Families
Parenting
My son turned five months old as of today. He is a happy, healthy, and alert infant. We are truly blessed and are amazed at how much he has grown, especially considering that he was born six weeks early. People say that raising a child is the hardest yet most rewarding thing you will ever do, and I completely understand that statement. The baby books can only prepare you for so much. 99% of the time is great. Watching TV with him, feeding him while he strokes my beard and stares up at me. I can only hope that I always do right by him, and set a good example for him.
By James Howell8 years ago in Families
No Right Way
The moment you find out you're going to be a parent is incredible and unique. Some feel scared, others excited, and to some it is even akin to a miracle. No matter your initial feeling, each parent-to-be eventually comes to the same question: "But how do you parent?"
By Mikaela Merritt8 years ago in Families
Judge Yourself
There is a huge problem with society today where people try to make other people's lives their business. Maybe this was caused by the media, or over sharing on social media, or even just plain human nature; but it needs to stop. This problem exists everywhere but the worst one by far has got to be mom shaming.
By Heather Mason8 years ago in Families
