children
Children: Our most valuable natural resource.
Life As a Single Mom
The life of a single mother isn't all fun and games. It's not at all glamourous. It's dirty, upsetting, tedious, and hard work. It's having to play both good-cop and bad-cop. It's having to say no when deep down you wish you could say yes. It's missing out on sleep when your little ones are sick. It's impromptu doctor visits. It's cleaning food up from off the floor. It's scrubbing permanent marker from the walls. It's tripping over Legos in the dead of the night. It's kissing boo-boos and chasing away boogey monsters. It's hospital visits for broken bones and stitches. It's helping with homework. It's sleepless nights filled with lots of endless worrying. It's missing out on meals so that your children can eat. It's passing up a new pair of shoes for yourself so that your children won't have to do the same. It's making sure your bills and rent are paid so your children won't be homeless or have to go without heat and electricity. It's mending broken hearts and helping your children to achieve their dreams. It's attending concerts, sporting events, spelling bees, and school plays. It's bath-time fun and bedtime hassle. It's balancing work and home. Being a single mother isn't an easy job and it sure as hell isn't for the weak. Being a single mom has its ups and it's downs. I didn't sign up to be a single mother. Believe me there was never a time in my life where I woke up and thought "Gee, I wonder what it would be like to be a single mom." If I'd wanted to love and care for children on my own I would never have wanted a man in my life, I would have just gone to my local sperm bank and told them to fill me up. It would have saved me a hell of a lot of time and trouble. Being a single mom is a thankless job. I don't get paid for what I do. I don't get any awards or any vacation time. What I do get is a lifetime of hugs, sticky kisses, lots of "I love you" and a lifetime of knowing that my children are who and what they are because I, as their mother, cared enough to not only have them but to give them all of my time, love, and attention. Seeing my children grow into loving, responsible human beings and knowing that it is due to my influence is all the reward this single mama could ever ask for. I got a message to all of the single moms out there who may be reading this article at this very moment: I know it's hard. I feel your struggle. Just know, that in the end, it will all be worth it. I promise.
By Phoenix Cobain8 years ago in Families
They Only Come with a Placenta
Have ever noticed a mother? What they do, how they all do it differently? You know, none of us know how we got there, or how our minds triggered the words "quick, breast out, or fill a bottle with formula" the moment—the literal moment you have that child. Your body is telling you a million things. But you never knew this stuff? Well only the basics like breasts do have milk and can feed an infant, but how? Did you know every breast has its individual way of being held to feed a newborn child, and every child needs to be held a specific way to be fed, too?! What about the pinky hook? Take a guess...it's to stop them latching so your nipple doesn't fall off.
By Happy to Love8 years ago in Families
Forever Our Children
Children are our future, our legacy in which we shape with our words, actions, example and presence. It is not an easy job for any parent trying to do the best we can for them and there seems to be no one way or guide book to how we should do these things—if there were I could imagine it being only slightly easier to understand than a Ikea manual.
By Shamus Roan8 years ago in Families
A Change in Heart
When you're a young girl, you dream of the fairy tale life and growing up to see your prince charming. It's not the reality of life that comes to your mind as a child, but the dream and the notion that things will turn out to be alright—or at least that's what I thought. At the age of 16, I was raped and the scare still haunts me to this day. I didn't know, one year after, that my past was going to come back and do it again. When I was 17 going on 18, I got pregnant from my attacker. At the time, I was living with one of my older siblings and I did know how I was going to explain to her about the little innocent angel I was carrying. I wasn't sure to keep the child or not, but everything in me said to keep it. Not many women would keep anything, no matter what it may be, that will remind them of the horror and violation they have endured. Instead, they either give it away for adoption or have an abortion. By making this decision, I mustered the courage to notify my sister. With one quick yell and a scream, she told me to get out of her house. Alone and pregnant, I decided to go to my other sister's house. With no hesitation, she took me in and I stayed with her, but that came out to be jumping into the frying pan, but missing it and jumping into the fire. Although my sister was loving and caring enough to take us in, she was dealing with her own issues that caused her children to be taken away.
By Monique Dantzler8 years ago in Families
Boys, Boys, Boys
I have not one, not two, but THREE smelly boys. They range in age from: 15, which translates to eating every minute of the day, body odor, a constant boner, very long showers, his phone is now a growth on his hand, and my aversion to EVER stepping foot in his bedroom again.
By Jennifer Terrell8 years ago in Families
Living in Silence
Imagine for a moment, you ask your 2 year-old to say Apple or Mommy. Son, would you like some More Wah-Ter? Say Plee-ease. Now imagine that you won't hear him say these words until he is almost 5 years old. He is quiet and will often not engage in eye contact for fear of being spoken to and to have to reciprocate. Not even a simple Hello. How long had I waited for him to say Mommy or say that he loves me too.
By Christine Holden8 years ago in Families
Momma's Little Mermaid
She danced and played throughout the waves. The familiar sounds of currents hitting the rocks nearby brought a smile to her bright, little face. She flipped her tail up and down. In circles she swam round and round. The icy water brought her great joy. And she giggled as it enveloped her tiny body. She splashed and jumped with so much courage, it brought me pride and I waved.
By Breeze Ghaluntah8 years ago in Families
Don't Raise Your Kids to Be D*cks
Parenting is difficult for anyone, but as parents, we must do all we can to raise our kids the best we can. They are our legacy and the future of the world. They will encompass all that we are in a tiny package, so for God’s sake, raise your kid’s not to be dicks to others.
By Shamus Roan8 years ago in Families
5 Ways to Help Your Kids Develop Healthy Eating Habits
Kids! Some of the pickiest eaters I’ve ever met. Getting them to eat healthy can be tricky for sure. I don’t have my own but for over 10 years I’ve been a teacher, an aide, and/or a nanny and I’ve found myself looking over the shoulder of hundreds of different children as they eat during the day. I truly believe childhood sets the stage for our lives and that includes which eating habits we adopt. So how can you set your kids up for success rather than a lifetime of battling their weight and health?
By Lindsey Kenmore8 years ago in Families
