Encouraging Words

“You is smart, you is kind, you is important”, is a quote from the award-winning movie “The Help”. In this scene, the maid played by Viola Davis is caring for her bosses daughter who didn’t receive much love or attention from her parents, so Davis formed a ritual of daily affirmations for this toddler.

Studies have shown that positive words make us feel better, unfortunately, negative words are more common. As parents, it’s vital for us to not only give positive words to our children but also give them a sense of who they are. We should follow suit and help our children believe the best about themselves, before life chimes in.

Don’t Tell Me How to Raise My Kids

When our kids are born, no one gives us education or certifications, they just say, “here you go and good luck”.

Unfortunately, good intentions and love aren’t enough to ensure your child reaches their full potential. They also need role models, praise and positive parenting.

In many professions, you need a four-year or advanced degree to qualify for the position. To legally drive a car or to get married you must get a license, to show that you qualify. So why do we not need some form of training when we have children?

I’ve worked in the parenting space since 2013 and I constantly hear that parenting classes are for those that get in trouble with social services. Although this seems to be a reality for many, it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Parenting classes are designed to help people navigate the most trying times of parenthood. These classes should be supportive, exploratory collaborative and fun. There should be a mutual goal of facilitators and parents working together to find solutions to common concerns like, temper tantrums, hardheadedness, fighting, biting, and general disobedience.

These are a few of the biggest issues parents face, but classes should also address positive parenting principles like praise, how to strengthen social skills and positive discipline.

Parenting classes shouldn’t be preachy or judgmental! They also shouldn’t tell you how to raise your children.

There isn’t a perfect way to raise children, so attending a class doesn’t mean you are a bad parent, it simply means you are getting more education so you can be your best.

All Children deserve parents that are willing to go the extra mile to ensure their happiness and success in life.

It’s our responsibility to put our children in the best position to succeed in life. Personally, I believe that parenting is a privilege and shouldn’t be taken lightly. My children are not a burden, but a blessing and it is my duty to get the best information and new ideas to grow as a parent and leader of my home.

For many years I believed that providing for my family, and being present was all I needed to do, but I was wrong.

I didn’t know how to nurture and express love. I didn’t understand early on that children aren’t the same, therefore they learn differently. Fussing and spanking was how my parents disciplined me so I thought it was the way to go.

It took me almost losing my family before I saw the light and now I’m an advocate for those who don’t know what they don’t know.

Give parenting classes a chance! Let them be more than a place for people who got in trouble. How about helping them be a place where we all put our heads together to change the culture of abuse and neglect.

Where two or three are gathered together in agreement, great things happen!

Will you be part of this movement?

Success Begins at Home

Confidence can be faked, but not for long. Real confidence, comes from experience and a true understanding of who you are.

Children with a healthy self-concept, tend to have more success in life than their peers.

As parents, our job is to instill a healthy self-image and teach independence, so our babies can develop their confidence early.

The basics start with expressing your love for them! They need to know that they have worth and value. They also need an understanding of healthy eating and hygiene. No one wants to be the stinky kid in class, that gets picked on. Eating well makes you feel good and smelling good makes you confident around others.

A little Self Esteem Goes A Long Way!