The Parent Voice

Recently, someone recommended a book to me to help me feel less overwhelmed at home. It was checked out with a long line of people waiting, and the hefty waitlist made me think that this was a book and, more importantly, a topic that was important to people and probably to parents like you and me. So, I got the book and am breaking it down for anyone interested or curious in what staying above water while drowning in your home looks like.

A huge part of preschool is learning social skills and problem-solving strategies to navigate turn-taking and sharing with peers. When you are 3, this stuff is really challenging. You may ask, “Ok…but where do slugs fit into this?”

Hearing “I am Tucker Turtle” from a proud and regulated preschooler is just about as happy as this Inclusion Specialist can get in a day of work.

I knew my daughter was having trouble early. But everyone simply said she was fine and dismissed my concerns, saying, “she’s just this” or “she’s only that.”

If you’re a mom, you’re likely pressed for time and overloaded with to-do lists waiting to be completed. And isn’t it the worst feeling when you’re right in the middle of something, and your child comes and asks, “Will you play with me?”

When you're panicked, hopeless, so tired you can’t see straight, and there is no end in sight, what do you do?  If you're lucky enough to have a friend or family member that you can call to come over while you nap or scream, then great. What about the rest of us?

Here are some practical ways to make the holiday season magical, without losing sight of what your kids and your family really need.

There’s no real way to be totally ready for school, especially when you have little kids. With that in mind, there are a few ways to manage the new school year.

According to the theory creator, there are five love languages: words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, gifts, and physical touch. What does this look like in our relationship with kids? And how can we tell what our kids' love language is?

The potential that summer holds doesn’t cost anything, it doesn’t need your husband or wife to pitch in and it can happen anywhere. I hope you get some time to sit back, let go of everything and enjoy the magic of summer with the people that make your life worth slowing down for.