no, you’re not hardcore 

unless you live hardcore

(Source: nubiaavantgarde, via blck-grrl)

Most of us can remember being pressured to just “suffer through it” from our own childhoods. Who doesn’t recall being forced to kiss “Great Aunt Edna” as a kid, or getting scratched by Uncle Bob’s beard as he leaned in for a squeeze? Or, being told to just ignore the teasing and roughhousing of our cousins?

As a mother, I can relate to the embarrassment that a parent might feel when a child doesn’t want to give a big hug to Grandma when she walks in the door—especially if Grandma has been eagerly anticipating the visit for weeks and months. But through my work teaching personal safety as a Kidpower instructor, I have learned that supporting our children when they set boundaries is a very important practice.

Backing up a child who doesn’t want to be kissed or hugged does not mean that Grandma, or Great Aunt Edna, or Uncle Bob or Cousin Sara are doing anything wrong, but it does demonstrate that touch and play for affection or fun is your child’s choice in all situations. The holidays are a perfect time to work on “boundary setting” with our kids, so they feel confident and empowered as they move through different ages and stages of life.

(Source: keepyourbsoutofmyuterus, via historicalslut)

(via theriotmag)

Mwen, Renmen and Sa.

Timoun Lavallee means “children of Lavallee.” Our mission is to positively impact the lives of children in Lavallee, Haiti, by providing access to education. There is no public school system in Haiti, so Timoun Lavallee connects sponsors with children who have no other way to get to school. Imagine, for $30, a child gets a full year’s tuition, a school uniform, and 2 meals a day. Most importly, the children will gain the literacy skills to help them improve their future. Timoun Lavallee also provides tutoring for students that need additional supports. Sometimes it is hard to know how to help in a situation as overwhelming as post-earthquake Haiti. But at Timoun Lavallee, 100% of the money donated goes directly to sponsoring education for the children of Lavallee, Haiti.

ebullientefflorescence:

Today Tristin wore his dress. Not a huge thing as he wears it quite often but this was different. Today was the first time he kept it on when we left. Usually when he wears it he will change, completely his choice, if I say we are going somewhere. He just wasn’t quite comfortable going out in public with it. Today he just put on his sandals. I asked him a couple times if he was sure and he was. So with a boy in a pink dress and Tinkerbell flip flops, we went. 

We hit up Goodwill (finally found some teacups I liked!), Lowe’s and Target. I kept a look out for how people reacted to him, just so if he noticed I could talk with him about it later. There were some curious looks but nothing major. Most people were looking at my hair anyway. The only negative reaction I saw was actually a surprising one. A young girl maybe nine years old gave him a dirty look as we were walking out of Target. Tristin didn’t notice since he was talking about his new Hello Kitty flip brush/mirror.  

I know there will be a day when he will notice how some people treat those who are “different” but I’m glad that for now he took a big step for himself and the world as he knows it is alright. 

Mom of the year award ^^^

Oh, Netflix. 

So last night, Dan and I are scrolling through categories on Netflix, trying to find something to watch. Due to all the pregnancy/baby films I’ve been watching, “Parenting” comes up as one of the categories. The first movie in the list?

“6 Films to Keep You Awake: The Baby’s Room”

In Spain, the sports journalist Juan has a perfect life with his wife Sonia: they have just had a baby and moved to an old house that needs to be repaired in a fancy neighborhood. When Juan’s sister and her husband visit the couple, they give them an electronic nanny to monitor the baby’s room. During the night, Juan and Sonia hear voices in the room but they do not find anybody. On the next day, Juan hires an alarm system for the house and a monitor to observe the baby’s room. When Juan sees a man in the room, he gets a knife to protect his son.

Yep. Movies about Parenting, alright.

damnitamber:

I just don’t think it’s okay to treat kids like shit. I’m not talking about abuse (obviously NOT okay under any circumstances). I’m talking about that shitty way people talk to children. “SIT DOWN. SHUT UP”. That thing, you know? Would you speak to an adult that way? And what’s up with making kids share. Why? Would you insist an adult share their things with someone if they didn’t want to? As a mother, I’m fully aware that kids need guidance and boundaries. I just don’t see why people have to be such assholes about it. 

And no. I don’t spank. I don’t yell. I don’t use time-outs. And my kid? She’s a well mannered, considerate, and reasonable human being.

/end rant

I COMPLETELY AGREE. I work with kids with developmental disabilities and I nevernevernever talk to them like they aren’t people. When I babysit, I don’t boss kids around. When I am hanging out with friends’ kids, I don’t demand they share with me or anyone else. Kids are just little adults who have way more fun than we do. I hope I can be as good a mama as you, Amber. You’ve got your shit pretty well figured out.

(via damnitamber-deactivated20120116)

Actual Children’s Answers to The Question “What Is Love?”

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.” - Chrissy, age 6 

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.” - Terri, age 4

“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.” - Danny, age 7

“Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss.” - Emily, age 8

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” - Bobby, age 7

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,” - Nikka, age 6

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.” - Noelle, age 7

“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” - Tommy, age 6

“During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore.” - Cindy, age 8

“My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.” - Clare, age 6

“Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.” - Elaine, age 5

“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Brad Pitt.” - Chris, age 7

“Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.” - Mary Ann, age 4

“I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.” - Lauren, age 4

“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.” - Rebecca, age 8

“When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.” - Karen, age 7

“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.” - Jessica, age 8

PRECIOUS <3

(Source: harlemink, via laurannevans)

This is my friend Dillon. He is made of carbon, water and awesome. Dillon is a fantastic young actor living in Rhode Island and the summer I was seventeen, I got to spend ten days with him and bounce around Bristol and Boston in the sunshine. It is one of my favorite memories and I’m very glad he is still a friend. As you can see, he is hilarious and a great story-teller.