children

Children: Our most valuable natural resource.

Presence
When I was a kid, birthday parties weren’t exactly expected, but it was something people did. I remember going to school, getting invitations, and hoping I’d be allowed to partake.
By Casey. OneHighMom7 years ago in Families
The First 6 Months
Having a child is a wonderful thing. Society will go on and on about what a blessing a child is, how their presence changes your entire life, and how it's such a wonderful adventure.
By Samantha Reid7 years ago in Families
Your Life Will Change
Growing up in a big family with sixteen kids running around really gives you a little insight to what it is to be a mother, or so I thought.
By Lydia Cruz7 years ago in Families
Nursing
It took me a little over 15 weeks to come to grips with the fact that my mother was right..."We just aren't cows." I was determined though. Determined to prove her wrong, determined to not let the family statistics define me, determined to try every last hack or home remedy. The pain I suffered, the crazy nights of "he just finished eating", the helpless looks from my fiancé...it all wasn't for nothing. It was for the first 15 weeks of my son's life.
By Bryt Domine7 years ago in Families
Dealing with a Toddler
If you’ve ever had to take care of a toddler, you know it can have its ups and it’s multiple downs. It’s ups mostly consisting of just the fact that it is your precious child and the occasional “I love you’s” and “you’re my best friend, mommy” moments. But the downs can be, to say the least, frustrating.
By Jessica Hong7 years ago in Families
Golden Girl’s Guide to Surviving Your Cherub Morphing Into Satan
So we’ve all heard the horror stories from our emotionally harassed friends who have the blessing of being mummy (or indeed daddy, let's not leave the guys out here!) to a demanding toddler. Most of us at one point or another have been a shoulder to cry on for that friend who hasn’t had chance to wash her hair in days (no biggie... dry shampoo was invented for a reason!) because her beloved minion has had 8 million consecutive meltdowns so mama’s shower time never quite happened. We’ve probably passed the Chardonnay whilst thinking “shit what is she doing wrong?! My kids will NEVER behave like that!” Because it’s all in the parenting right?! ... Wrong!!!! Believe me, you can be the most lax parent going or you can parent like Jo Frost after 20 cans of Red Bull... If your darling offspring chooses to assert his or herself by channelling Satan at an ear splitting level then they will... whatever you do!!! So the key is learning how to keep your sanity when the shit gets real!!
By Emma Haywood7 years ago in Families
Raising a Man in a Room Full of Women
Raising a man in a room full of women... Often I read various sources posting about women getting a seat at the table alongside men, about equal pay, about equality that women still feel they don’t have in the workplace or the world at large.
By Hannah-Adjoa Smith7 years ago in Families
The Struggle Is Real... but Worth It!
Have you heard the saying "The struggle is real?" I finally know what that means. And let me tell you, it's true. I didn't plan to be a single mom. I married my high school sweetheart. We spent 20 years together, but ultimately his addiction to alcohol led to him cheating multiple times. I was raised to believe you get married once. If it's broken, you fix it. The problem was I let him walk all over me. I think it was out of the comfort of just having him there. He was familiar and my best friend. But people change. Sadly he changed for the worst. When he ultimately left us (I say us, because he left the kids too.) for another woman and her kids, it hurt, it hurt bad. I'm not gonna lie and say it's been easy. I do my best. But some days I don't have money to pay the bills or buy food. We struggle. I spend a lot of nights crying myself to sleep. I think the tears are more out of being scared instead of sadness. Scared that I'm not enough of a parent that my children ultimately need. I do my best and I try to remain strong for them. But somewhere along the way, I not only lost a husband but all of our couple friends are now friends with him and his new girl and I feel alone. More alone than I'd like to admit. But the truth is, I am alone. I have my kids, but that's not the same as a friendship or relationship. I can't vent to my kids when I've had a bad day. I don't want them to think momma is sad, worried, or even stressed. I like them to see me as strong and doing what needs to be done. I've gone plenty of nights where food was scarce, so "Mom was feeling sick" or "I had already eaten." My kids come first. They are my priority in life. It's my job as their mom to make sure they are safe, happy, and good people and I think I'm doing a pretty damn good job at that. Somewhere though, I lost me. My kids are my life, and that's not a bad thing. But I miss going out, even if it's to a movie. I miss companionship. I miss living that life that doesn't involve homework or video games. And feeling like that makes me feel so guilty in a way, so I push those feelings away and put on a smile. Don't get me wrong it's not all bad and tough, every day they amaze me in some way. I am so lucky to get to wake up to their beautiful smiles and hugs. Recently my oldest (19) moved out and that's been tough. We all miss her so much. But when I start crying missing her and I realize that I've done my job as a good mom because she is out living her life and pursuing her dreams. And she is a good person. That's all I want for all of my kids. So this is for any of you single moms who may feel like this or any women trapped in a bad marriage and are scared to leave. Let me tell you, it can be done! You are capable of doing this. Our kids are reminders every day of why we can do this. So I say to you, the struggle is real, but I got this, you got this...we got this!
By Amber B. 7 years ago in Families
Drugs, Violence and Self Harm—the Truth That Comes with Having a Teenage Boy in 2018
At 20 when I fell pregnant with my son; I thought life with him would be Tonka Cars, sand pits and video games It was... Until age 13 came. In fact secondary school came. Other boys, desperate to become the pack leaders—never worried about who they’ll stamp out along the way. Don’t get me wrong, I am a firm believer in children ‘finding their own place’ and ‘learning from their mistakes,’ but when those ‘mistakes’ become life-altering? I am the first mum in the queue with something to say.
By Twins Plus27 years ago in Families
When Your Celiac Warrior Starts Kindergarten
I’ve always wanted to stay home with my kids. I have fantasized about it my entire life. I wanted to have four kids and be able to teach them and mould their spongey little minds in the baby and toddler years before passing them off to a complete stranger to do the same. I’m sure a very capable, but very strangery stranger. I always thought maybe we could work our way around needing two incomes, but most likely that it wouldn’t be a possibility. But, when I had brain surgery I could no longer drive and I was healing physically and emotionally, and so I became a stay at home mom. It was the silver lining in the hardest time in my life. I, of course, needed a lot of help from family at first, but I was at home and able to see my kids all day every day like I had always wanted.
By Jennie Carr7 years ago in Families
What I Want My Daughters to Learn from My Health Struggles
Dear Maddie and Marlee, When I was 28-years-old my whole world was changed forever. I thought I had life figured out. I fell in love, I got married, I graduated university and I had a good career started. I bought a house and had a beautiful daughter and a second on the way. I was so happy and was excited for what my future held for me. Your dad and I had goals we wanted to achieve and plans we wanted to see fulfilled. The most important thing to us was to have a healthy and happy family. We were living our dreams.
By Jennie Carr7 years ago in Families
Why Working with Children Is the Most Rewarding Job You Could Do
When I first told my tutor that I wanted to go into childcare, he told me that I was throwing my life away because I could achieve better. Luckily childcare proved him wrong. Since I was young I always wanted to work with children (apart from when I wanted to be a fairy). My heart has always been set on working with children, so hearing that I was throwing my life away by going into childcare was a very hard statement to hear. It made me more motivated to prove him wrong.
By Old Souls7 years ago in Families