The Problem with Gentle Parenting in the Black Community By and large, Black Parents aren’t here for Gentle Parenting. We aren’t a monolith, of course, so there are some Black parents who feel aligned with this parenting philosophy, but it’s safe to say the vast majority of Black parents reject it outright. But why? On its surface, Gentle Parenting is a parenting philosophy that can and should be adopted by all parents. It falls under the umbrella of Authoritative Parenting, one of the four main parenting styles identified by psychologist Diana Baumrind in the 1960s. The authoritative parent ..read more

Deciding to take a family vacation to Bar Harbor with kids ended up being a thrilling adventure filled with captivating scenery, outdoor wonders, and memorable experiences. At the time, we were just discovering that we are a neurodivergent family, so we didn’t take into consideration whether Bar Harbor would have some Autism-friendly establishments for us to visit. We just knew it was surrounded by water and ocean air is our vibe, 100%. Now that we’re a couple of years into navigating life knowing we are an autism-family, we realize that planning activities that cater to our unique needs ..read more

How to get your child to listen without yelling One common hurdle many parents face is how to get a child to listen without yelling. We all watch these Gentle and Conscious Parenting videos on social media, and many of us really do want to be the mom who can keep her cool while parenting. Be that as it may, all that consciousness seemingly goes out the window when we’ve asked our child to do the same thing over and over again, and they still don’t listen. But don’t worry. I got you. In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of effective communication with your kids, exploring ..read more

Why We Should Validate a Child’s Feelings: An In-depth Look at Emotional Validation *Trigger-warning: This post discusses self-harm* For many of us, what I’m about to share will fly in the face of everything we know about how to ensure our kids aren’t “spoiled brats.” Most of us were raised by Boomers, and that generation didn’t tolerate any kind of validation of feelings. Growing up, we all heard a variation of the statement, “You get what you get, and you don’t get upset.” And if we did get upset, we knew to hide it as best we could. After all, it was hardly worth the shaming or spanking we ..read more

Autism-Friendly Vacation Destinations for Kids Travelling with kids can be challenging, and it can be especially difficult when you and/or your kids are autistic. But fear not, there are plenty of autism-friendly vacation destinations for kids that can turn a trip into an exciting and enriching experience. To be transparent, this list has been pulled together from my own research. My hope is to write about Autism-travel, so I can manifest more travel opportunities for my family. I would love to be able to share more of our experiences traveling as a neurodivergent family, and look forward to d ..read more

*this article first appeared on MadameNoire* Gratitude must be taught. Full stop. It is not an innate feeling children understand without guidance. When I was a child, I remember hearing, on more than on occasion, that I was ungrateful.  I learned early on that if I were to get along with my parents, I could never complain, and that I had to show appreciation for whatever they did for me.  As two hard-working immigrant parents, they were not wrong to expect that we should appreciate all of their efforts.   Believe me, it was no easy feat feeding and housing 4 children. That ..read more

*In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 essential online safety tips for kids, enhanced by the protective features of Aura* My kids love to download games and sign up for special promotions with little to no care for malware, viruses, or even hackers. If it looks cool, they hit download.  Thankfully, they don’t interact with anyone online, but as my oldest is becoming a gamer, I’m sure this will soon change. My husband and I have even been subject to online threats. We’ve had our email accounts compromised, and I’ve even had my credit cards hacked. And while we are aware that we can take ste ..read more

Embarking on the homeschooling journey is scary. While I have some teaching experience, having taught SAT prep and writing classes many moons ago, this experience didn’t really come into play when I began homeschooling a year ago. One the contrary, I spent the first several months trying curriculum after curriculum, until I found myself ready to throw in the towel. If you’re feeling this way right now or you want to avoid feeling this way, look no further. In this article, we’ll explore 15 homeschooling hacks to help you get started on the right foot and set the stage for a successful learnin ..read more

50 Positive Affirmations for Kids You are what you believe. Positive affirmations are powerful tools for boosting children’s self-esteem, promoting a positive self-image, and encouraging a resilient mindset. These simple, encouraging statements can help kids develop confidence, inner strength, and a belief in their abilities. Learning positive-self talk as an adult is no easy endeavor. It essentially requires you to rewire your own brain by feeding itself the ideas and affirmations you should have been receiving as a child. It’s not impossible, of course, but it takes work. Work we can spare o ..read more

Emotional regulation is a crucial skill for children to develop as it helps them manage their feelings and reactions in a healthy and constructive way. It lays the foundation for better mental health, improved social interactions, and enhanced overall well-being. Children, like adults, experience a wide range of emotions, from joy and excitement to anger and sadness. Teaching them how to regulate these emotions empowers them to navigate life’s challenges with resilience. Kids of all ages and abilities can learn Emotional Regulation Last summer, my 10 year-old Autistic son found himself experie ..read more