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Friday, August 24, 2018

Hot Mess Mom vs. Back to School


Now that the first few weeks of school are under our belts, we can all take a collective sigh of relief. We all made it through the start of a new school year — and that’s something to be very proud of. If you’re anything like me — a hot mess the majority of the time — you had a pretty rough first week back. 

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Tips on How to Talk to Children about Disabilities and Special Needs

Alyssa Claire Greer

In a perfect world, my daughter would never be stared at, whispered about, made fun of, or mistreated by people who don’t understand her. Instead, she would be praised for her individuality, unique abilities, beautiful personality, and her capacity to overcome any obstacle put in her way. Although she faces many physical and cognitive challenges, she is still a six-year-old child — and it is my hope that she will grow up in a world that is more understanding and accepting. 

In order to make sure that our future generations grow up in this idealistic world, it is vital that parents spend more time talking to their children about disabilities and special needs. By normalizing disabilities and exposing our children to people with special needs, we are encouraging the creation of these relationships. 

Finding the right words and timing to talk to your child about disabilities is challenging. Below are tips to help break the ice and begin the discussion. 

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

The Truth About Weight Loss: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly



The Truth
If you’ve been struggling with your weight loss—getting started or staying on track—don’t get discouraged; you’re not alone. Losing weight isn’t easy. It takes a lot of determination and self-motivation. It takes sacrifice and making hard choices that put you outside of your comfort zone. It forces you to look inward and assess why you’re in the shape you’re in—and that’s hard for a lot of people. Because losing weight isn’t easy, not everyone can do it or be successful at it. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the obesity rate in America is somewhere between 26-32%, almost one in three Americans. Nearly all dieters (90-95%) regain the weight they lost within one to five years.

It’s a lot easier to stick with your current way of eating and not think about how the food you put into your body is affecting you both mentally and physically. It’s also easier to make excuses for why you aren’t working out. After all, we’re all busy. And when you don’t see results instantly, you throw in the towel without ever giving it your full effort. We’re a culture obsessed with instant gratification, and weight loss isn’t one of them. 

After you can get past all of the things that have been holding you back and decide that you are worth the risk and investment, you can finally set your mind to changing your life for the better by losing the weight and getting in shape. Getting to that point is actually the hard part—not the journey itself (or so I thought).