Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise. Maya Angelou “Still I Rise,” from And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems (1978) It is …
MOPS Black History Voices from Mothers of Color- Part 1
Black History Month is annual month long event in February that has been in place since 1976. The focus is to set aside time to observe significant accomplishments of African Americans in the USA. Here are a few collective voices …
When My Parenting Isn’t Enough
“I hate you and I wish you were dead.” The words stung, though not as much as they did the first few times they were uttered. My 5-year-old looked at me with fire in his eyes and in that moment, …
GIST: Who Am I, Why Am I Here and Where Am I Going?
These are the three great questions about life that we all must answer at some point in our lives. And it starts in childhood with “Who am I?” One goal for parents is to help establish an accurate self-assessment to …
GIST Question: How do I encourage patience in an instant gratification world?
How do I encourage patience in an instant gratification world? IN OUR OFFICES, we hear the term “instant gratification” a lot. Sometimes it is used to describe an individual: “Megan is driving me crazy about getting the new iPhone,” and …
GIST: How Do I Know When I’m Over-Parenting?
Maybe we can make a deal. We’ll agree that “doting” is OK for a baby – if you agree to discontinue doting as soon as your child gets a little older. Deal? Doting over a baby in its first 12 …
How I’m Choosing to Parent Differently Because I’m Married to a Man That Used to Look at Porn
I don’t want to be different! I want to fit in, be part of the crowd! No, this is not your child talking. It’s me – hitting my fists against a pillow. Resisting, screaming, begging to be normal. So many questions surface: Will …
Does Your Parenting Style Hurt Your Marriage?
When I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter, I had visions of our family sharing Hallmark movie-inspired moments together as we sang happy little children’s songs, enjoyed beautifully cooked meals, and ended each day after the kids …
How Parenting Changed my Marriage
Derek held our baby first. I couldn’t. I was shaking from the labor and the, oh so many drugs that had been pumped into my body. Besides I was leaning over the side of the hospital bed puking into a …