Toddler tantrums are a part of every child’s life. Why? Because the logical part (aka the frontal cortex) of a human’s brain doesn’t fully develop until age 25. Yep. Age 25. Woah, right? It makes total sense that toddler tantrums occur over completely illogical things and ideas. That part of their brain doesn’t actually work yet! [...]
Archives for January 2016
Military Spouses and Teaching: What You Need to Know
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Teach For America. All opinions are 100% mine. I remember sitting in high school math wracking my brain over algebra. I struggled to figure out each painstaking problem. My brain could not make sense of the numbers. My heart thumped against my chest with each passing moment. My forehead [...]
How to Respond When Your Military Child Feels Anxious
I watched the military child stand next to his daddy in uniform. He was saying goodbye that day. Simply by looking at him, you could tell this little boy utilized every ounce of effort to appear brave. Taking short guppy breaths, two tears rolled down his cheek and onto his red t-shirt. He wore a look that begged anyone to stop the [...]
7 Myths About Military Life Debunked
When I first began my military life journey, I was working as a cardiac nurse down in coastal North Carolina. It was winter time and many families were busy coordinating ski vacations and holiday plans with loves ones across the miles. Despite working in a community surrounded with military bases, I realized not everyone seems to have a [...]
How to Help a Toddler Adjust After a New Baby
As I was folding laundry, my toddler reminded me, “Mama. Baby cry. Mama.” I continued folding. He continued reminding me. This is our new routine to help our toddler and newborn adjust. When we first brought our daughter home from the hospital, I was overwhelmed about how to help my toddler prepare for the new baby. I knew we [...]
Why I Finally Quit Doing It All
My husband and I were picking up the house after we finally got the kids in bed for the night. Toys, laundry, cleaning up after dinner, and finally throwing away the hidden snickers wrapper from earlier in the day. Yes, I eat hidden snacks when my toddler isn’t looking. I’m not ashamed to admit that. By the time we finished picking up [...]
The Magic Way Military Families Stay Connected Across the Miles
I heard the phone ringing and the feeling of pins and needles immediately rippled from my shoulders down to my fingertips. I was right in the middle of giving my son a bath. With urgency in my voice, I told my son, “Hurry daddy’s on the phone. It’s time to get out.” I scurried to pull my son out of the bath, grab a towel, and run to the [...]
15+ Best Ways to Manage Aggressive Behavior in Toddlers
When my daughter was born a few months ago, I was anticipating lots of hands-on management of aggressive behavior in toddlers. It's no secret around here that my toddler struggled with biting for over a year. He is energetic, curious, and often unaware of his own powerful strength. Related: Why is my child so angry and [...]
25 Life-Changing Essential Oil Hacks for Busy Moms
Essential oils are all the buzz and craze it seems these days. A few years ago it was the snuggie. You know, the onesie pajamas for adults? Last year it was the Paleo diet. I recently heard wood sunglasses are taking the world by storm. So the real question is do you really need essential oils and do they really live up to the hype? In a [...]
7 Small Ways to Help a Military Spouse and Make a Huge Difference
A few years ago when we were still stationed on the East Coast, my husband was gone for several months at a military school. Right before he left, I quit my job as a nurse to be a full-time stay-at-home mom to our 6 month old son. I didn't know it yet, but I was about to turn into a lonely military wife. It was an odd feeling at the [...]