As I was snapping my token first day of school picture this morning, I started thinking about all the pictures that have been taken on this front porch and how much my children have changed over the years. It is hard to believe they are both in high school, and the teen boy will be … Continue reading Back to school over the years →

It happens every summer, but this summer it feels so much worse. I call it the end of summer stress. That time when all scheduled activities are done, but it is still not time for the start of the new school year. We tried to be proactive by scheduling back to back vacations with the … Continue reading End of summer stress →

The teen girl had the opportunity to see Khalid in concert... in Charlotte... on a work night... this summer. That was a big nope for me, for many reasons. So like I did for her very first concert, I paid for the ticket and sent her with a cool mom who was willing to make … Continue reading Managing your needs and your teen’s needs →

The teen girl has had a rough summer, but I am proud of how she has handled some truly hurtful behaviors. She has a great support network of friends as she prepares to start high school and plans on playing sports, which I hope will help keep her brain and body busy in a positive … Continue reading Communicating with teens →

We have always been good about recycling, but after the teen girl attended a Special Studies Day at the end of 8th grade, we kicked it up a notch. For the changes we made then, click here to read that post. In true 14 year old girl fashion, she started the discussion about the changes … Continue reading Saving the planet part two →

I crafted some unique volunteering opportunities for my teenagers this summer. I figured since they were not so straightforward for me to find, I would pass along to fellow parents of teens. Sharing is caring when parenting teens, especially during the summer months before they can work and drive independently. First opportunity - The oldest … Continue reading Teen volunteering opps →

My Best Running Friend (BRF) and I have little contests between us from time to time. One is to see who can get the closet to an empty tank of gas before refueling. I can no longer play the game because my fancy new car tells me exactly how many miles I can drive before … Continue reading Childhood memories →

Y'all. It is official. Having a close group of girlfriends is good for your health. Science (and the internet) say it, so it must be true. Having a close group of friends can make you feel less lonely, help you cope with bad experiences in your life, reduce stress, and boost your mood and overall … Continue reading Finding your tribe →

In the 1980s our version of social media were Slam books. Spiral notebooks that you could write about your interests and hobbies, and more importantly, who you liked. I remember this looking like a rating scale of 1-10 based only on appearance. Yuck. Boys would rate girls, girls would rate boys. Slam books would have … Continue reading How to help your teen stay healthy on social media →

If I am being honest, I have not felt very patriotic since the fall of 2016. After the election and the aftermath that followed, I quit reading the news. It made me too anxious, and almost made me get a ticket. Here's that story. Apparently in the winter of 2017 there was a new law … Continue reading Not feeling very patriotic this year →