Like a stone into water, the ripple effect of our actions can make big waves. And that’s an important concept to teach our children as they explore career opportunities or even just how to be an active citizen in their community. From an early age kids start telling their parents what they want to be…
As a former high school teacher, I had students ranging from 16-19 who had book smarts but not simple life skills or job etiquette. I told them from day one that no matter what they learned about history, I wanted them to, above all, walk out of my classroom with organization strategies, the ability to…
I am not sure that as a child I learned to develop emotional strength in a way that would serve me well as an adult. In fact, I’ll be honest that I am more than just a crier, I’m an all-out hurricane of big emotions that tends to unravel right when I am needed most….
I am passionate about internet safety and protecting the digital footprint of my children. A huge thank you to the Mom it forward Influencer Network and to Google for sponsoring this conversation about how to discuss internet safety with young kids in order to Be Internet Awesome on Safer Internet Day and every day. “You…
Starting a business is a big job that requires determination, motivation, and a willingness to learn new skills and information. Teenagers can have some great ideas about businesses and they’re passionate. And both from being a high school teacher and a business owner, I know that it takes passion to have a great business and…
Now that the summertime is almost here where the nights are calm and long and weekends are sun-drenched, you may not know it but it’s the perfect period to relieve school and spring stresses. There are bountiful activities you can engage in with your teen children. Some of which you tried when you were a…
Our family had an eye-opening experience this past weekend. We were able to go to the American Museum of Natural History in NYC where they have this new exhibit all about the senses. It was a fascinating display of how we all perceive things differently with our internal senses (cold, hunger, etc) and external senses…
This morning I sat down and mapped out a route and just how long it would take to walk the 2.1 miles to Jenn’s school to pick her up. I thought that maybe since the weather is nicer and because the emotions have been running so high in our home that a quiet walk in…
I still have the blanket that my brother gave me when I graduated high school and the rolling cart for my classroom my mom got me when I finished my undergrad. They were practical graduation gifts that have gotten years of use. Looking at the current needs of kids and young adults, there are some…
I was once told that I would really value my strong willed kids one day, but that it would be hard raising them. But at the time I didn’t realize that strong willed and defiant were not the same thing, even if it was a fine line. I had to come to the conclusion on…
In 2011, I started shifting away from negative language in my high school classroom to a more positive beat. It’s part of what I studied and researched throughout college. Even so, to my astonishment, I started seeing results almost immediately. As if I was holding some sort of magical potion, these teenagers started behaving differently…
This isn’t a political post. In fact, I will never tell you how I feel about guns or the 2nd Amendment. But this is about our kids. It’s about their need to stand up, be heard, and make change as they see necessary and to be better citizens. In high school, I remember both witnessing…