immediate family
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My Top 8 Picks For Pre-School Age Learning At Home. Top Story - September 2020.
When I made the decision to postpone preschool for my twins after COVID-19 hit, I was definitely overcome with a mix of frustration and happiness. I’ve truly loved teaching Ames and Joules new things at home, but—to be totally honest—it can be a little tiring when there’s nobody else to help. For the past ~3 years, the twins have been at home with me. They’ve never been to a mother’s day out, daycare, or any type of organized schooling during the week. We tentatively plan to put the twins in preschool this next Spring 2021—but, until then, I am doing what I can to keep Ames and Joules learning at home. That said, through research online, reading reviews, and talking with other moms, I’ve found some very useful educational material to ease the process of keeping my twins learning at home in the interim.
By Michelle Joyner6 years ago in Families
BLUEPRINT
BEST FRIENDS, USUALLY ARE NOT THE ONE TO COME AND GO OUT OUR LIFE! LET'S TALK NOT JUST OF A FRIEND, HERE I SAY MY BEST FRIENDS I'VE TREATED AND CONSIDER AS A SISTER OR BROTHER. I AM NOT SURE IF IT'S FAIR TO HAVE MORE THAN A BEST FRIEND, OR AS OUR SOCIAL WORLD WOULD SAY, MY BESTIE. FORMERLY, COULD IT GO ANY OTHER WAY IF IT WERE'NT FOR THIS ONE PARTICULUAR BEST FRIEND?
By KayKay_Island6 years ago in Families
Our House: the Days of Covid 19
Even before the pandemic was declared, my year started with a stressful 'bang'! My boss of many years had suddenly made the decision to retire. He left in mid-January; then my daughter in law's best friend and first cousin in Turkey passed away suddenly and she made a quick trip home to say good-bye just as we were first hearing about Wuhan. It was scary to think of her traveling so far so she made the decision to leave my youngest grandson home with his dad. My son and I altered our work week to take care of him.
By Sharon Smith6 years ago in Families
Just Keep Going
As a kid my mother would work what seemed like forever, but it was, just almost all the time. And I don’t know how she was able to get extra hours on top of the twenty-four in a day but she did. My mother migrated to America with her parents back in the 1960s with hopes of a glorious life. And in my childish innocence I honestly thought money grew here on tress in a city with golden paved streets. That picture got lodged in my mind leading up to the months before we left the island. I overheard some relatives talk to my father about what sounded like a magical place this America, that would transform us from the simplicity of living in a strong family and community knitted together by a sense of being one people to wealthy household that would be able to help so many others. My father was given an opportunity and although he was reluctant he couldn’t pass up the offer to go and work with his uncle in the ‘New York City’ and make a better life for his family. But the reality we woke up to after two weeks of long work days, racism and a different kind of social injustice, and disillusionment of a better quality of life planted themselves like the coconut trees back home in Jamaica that withstood category five hurricanes and times of drought.
By TanYah Global6 years ago in Families
Growin Pains
My mother had me at 22 my bio dad was 27, I'm not 100% sure since I barely knew him. I was born August of '94 to a mother who loved me all of her heart and a father who was battling demons that they knew were there; but he didn't want to admit to them being there. My mom stuck by him for a long time putting up with all of his problems I know she loved him and was trying to keep our family together, but in the end, it got to be too much. My dad ended up choosing his addictions over her and me. She called my Grandma and Grandpa packed all my stuff up and left with only her clothes, leaving everything else behind. She was strong enough to make the choice she did to try to give me a better life.
By Melina Duncan6 years ago in Families
Gasping for air
I think at points and particularly this year with the changes COVID-19 has brought to our lives that many of us have felt like this for similar & different reasons. I know I have certainly felt like this many times, been overwhelmed by the moment, the pressure building up so much that I have slammed doors, thrown things across the room, made funny animal noises to get the stress out, screamed and shouted. Yes this is not to say I’ve totally loved other moments it’s certainly been a tale of 2 halves, being with my babies and step children having the time to adventure with them; chase sun sets, jump in puddles, explore woods and run on beaches. All of that has been completely delightful and given me some of the best days of my life. But this blog is about those points when your chest gets tight and you are struggling for air as you assess the challenges in front of you... dogs poo by the kids play area in the garden, smashed glass in the lounge, eldest son needing help with his maths and never being able to fit in that one to one you promise to make cookies with you step daughter. You pause, grab the dustpan and brush and get back to it. Knowing you will face the same thing again maybe that day, or it might be tomorrow if you are lucky. It’s a merry go around. Emotionally I never seem to meet anyone’s needs and I know that’s ok but it hurts to hear my eldest son telling me I don’t put him first knowing that he is right because he is bigger he can wait that hour for me to trouble shoot all these urgent things before I get to him. He feels unimportant and unloved. I explain & think of solutions to make him feel better. He’s also the one that senses my stress and anxiety before I do and can say mum just lie down for 5 mins and listen to your favourite song, you’ll feel better. Bless him, he’s also the son that can be mean and spiteful to his step dad and sisters, not understanding because I love them to I don’t love him less. This year we also got our lovely puppy Lexi, perfect timing in so many ways and she has been so good for us all but sometimes and I feel desperately bad for saying this I do struggle with the constraints that she imposes on me, the additional mess, stress and admin. Someone else to look after and love, it can spread me thin. The loss of freedom in an already busy life. She’s also got used to us all being home and so it’s horrid having to leave her to wine and cry which she does even if we are out for such a short time. But my word the unconditional love we all get in return and the wonderful adventures we have had all across our Island paradise. I know she is a factor which has tipped me over the edge on occasions but I love her so much. I know I knew how our lives would change with her and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I know to many it looks like this year has been a jolly holiday and in ways it has been, I’ve never had such a good tan in adulthood but behind the scenes there are points I have drowned, bills to juggle that you only get around to at 2am in the morning, forms to fill in to get the financial help you need but requiring documents to be uploaded putting another barrier in the way, contracts to win and jobs to find. But the blessing for me has been to have such wonderful friends and family where we catch each other at these burn out points, love each other unconditionally, are kind to each other, listen and don’t judge, listen without providing solutions unless asked. I wouldn’t have survived without those people and it’s given me the fire in my belly to carry on, the permission to have that bubble bath guilt free but most of all it has kept ‘Loz’ alive when I have drowned in laundry and the like. This morning I cherish the early morning, my time, my space, my sanctuary! I feel blessed to have this little break before the chaos of another fabulous day in paradise begins. I end with when you are grasping for air, reach out... to me, to your neighbour, to your friend, your family as those helping hands will enable you to breath deeply again and know you are not alone! So find your rope to cling onto and offer a rope to others as well to grab hold of #Covid19Challenges #FamilyLife #TakeaBreak #Friends #family #itsoktonotbeokay
By Lorraine Lawton-Berry6 years ago in Families
The Middle Child
The middle child. Six years the younger brother, and two years the elder brother. I feel immensive weight on my shoulders most days in the week. it feels like I am supposed to live up to someones expectation of me on both the older and younger side.
By Milus Sutton6 years ago in Families
Caught Up:
“Beep, Beep, Beep.” Ryan’s alarm clock was going off. “Beep, Beep, Beep.” It sounded again, but he could have sworn those beeps were from his on-going dream. However, when the sound grew louder and louder versus fading away, he knew something was up. It was almost like when you have to use the restroom in your sleep, but, as soon as you get ready to go, you wake up and realize you’re still in bed.
By Pamela Cornes6 years ago in Families
A Master of Her Own Words
Sarah Cooper was born with a disability that she hated since she was able to crawl, walk, hear and talk. Since kindergarten she was most of the times left or rejected from the circle of students in her class. Her only proud and cherished moment was when she was recognized for her best and excellent end of year results where the whole class was ordered to clap for her. She could not have a sincere and single friend for her emotional, psychological and mental support. But all changed from the day she met John Carnegie, her senior and mentor in public speaking. She was fighting hard against her long-lasting disability as she was desperately forlorn about it, the speech-language impairments.
By Kawthur Khan Juhoor6 years ago in Families
Green Garden Friend
This fine gentleman is a green anole, a common visitor to gardens here in New Orleans. They are known for eating bugs and I have even seen one eating a cockroach. They have faced some competition from larger, more invasive brown anoles in recent years. My little, green friend is a good indication of how my avid gardener of a mother creates a space for wildlife in her magical “fairy portals.”
By Caitlin Cooper6 years ago in Families
