Search Results for: blog what would you like to ask a teen mom

It’s Okay to Be Cool

“Please don’t do that,” famous words that come from my daughter’s mouth whenever I try to be cool or funny.  Or better yet, “Don’t ever do that again.” Despite acting horrified at my attempts to act much younger than I am, there is something that tells me she enjoys it.  Here’s why.  It’s okay when her friend’s parents act cool or goofy. When I question her about this, she says that it’s different.  It’s not her parents.  But if she thinks its okay for other adults to act that way, she must secretly enjoy it when I do. Actually, I … Continue reading →

Generational Differences in Marriage Dynamics: Cooking

Due to all of my volunteering, I spend a lot of time each week with people who are more in my parents’ generation than mine. That’s normal enough; once we graduate and enter the work force, our pool of peers naturally expands beyond our age group. I have no problem with this most of the time, but once in a while I feel our generational difference, and that usually relates to our views on marriage. My friends don’t have extremely different views on marriage than me; they’re certainly not the types who think their husbands rule the roost. I don’t … Continue reading →

Barking Orders

Wouldn’t it be interesting to be able to playback the things we say throughout the day? I think it would be pretty enlightening. For whatever reason, there was this moment I experienced a couple of days ago when I really heard myself. And I didn’t like what I was hearing. The realization hit me that I give a lot of instructions, particularly with my youngest child. “Put your shoes away.” “Feed the dogs.” “Turn down your television.” “Do your homework.” It’s not that giving instructions is wrong. But is most of our communication spent barking orders? I had to ask … Continue reading →

Letting Hope Light Your Path

When a teenager decides to take a path you never hoped they would travel, nor did you ever imagine they would, it can result in a mother questioning her abilities. I know because I have been there. You ask yourself what signs you might have missed. I know because I asked myself that. You wonder if you could have changed the course. I know because I have wondered the same thing. You wonder if it will ever get better. I know because I had those concerns. And you ask yourself, “What can I do to make sure this never happens … Continue reading →

Teen Driving Disaster

My 67-year-old grandmother taught me how to drive. True story. The woman had the patience of a saint. My parents didn’t step foot in a car that I was navigating until I was fully licensed. They didn’t teach any of my brothers how to drive either. We were all sent to Driver’s Ed, and logged our permit hours with our teacher or other family members in various public parking lots and on empty rural roads. Needless to say, my mom won’t be teaching my daughter how to drive when that dreadful day comes. Rather, the job will likely fall to … Continue reading →

Finding A Babysitter

Getting a babysitter for the evening when you are a single mom is almost like getting a little vacation. It’s wonderful if you have family that can care for your child, but sometimes you have to get a babysitter, and that can be scary. Most teenage girls baby-sit at one time or another and the majority of them are really good with the kids. They are close enough in age to remember what is was like to be smaller. When you are looking for a teenage sitter, word of mouth is the best way to find a really good one. … Continue reading →

Not-So Safe Side of Strolling

Summer is the perfect time to load your child in a stroller and enjoy Mother Nature. Sadly, it only takes a few minutes for a relaxing stroll to go south if you don’t take a few basic precautions, such as: *Buckling up your child with a five-point harness *Not letting older siblings run while pushing the stroller *Not putting excessive weight in the stroller’s basket *Making sure to employ the stroller’s brakes after you park it And last, but not least, not letting your baby wear his expensive bling on a stroller ride lest he get mugged. I wish I … Continue reading →

What Happened to Common Sense?

Growing up in Hawaii long before SPF was part of the ABCs of sun safety, I would regularly sport a mean red glow. Back then, parents could douse their kids with baby oil and let them play in a yard of aluminum foil and no one would bat an eyelash. Fast forward 25 years and those same parents would likely end up in jail or at least make headlines like Tan Mom for being so negligent. When you know better, you do better, right? It took a skin cancer scare to get me to break my bad habits, and now … Continue reading →

Be Present and Connect With Your Child

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I live a busy life. As a single mother with a full time job, I don’t always have the time to do what I would like to do. One of the things that is most important to me is connecting with my daughter. I want to be present for Hailey’s life, I want to be involved, I want her to know that, not only do I care about her, but that I’m interested in her as a person. The challenge is always, how to find the time to really connect with my child. Time is precious but so is a … Continue reading →

Monkey See, Monkey Do

If you ask Dr. Drew, MTV’s hit shows “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom” work better than condoms when it comes to deterring high school students from becoming parents long before they are ready. Of course, the good doc is employed by MTV as host of the aforementioned shows’ reunion episodes, so he could be towing the company line. Still, there is no denying the popularity of “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom.” The series has made rock stars out of its teen mothers and it’s no surprise that some claim “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom” actually encourage girls … Continue reading →