One Day At A Time

                                   The Terrible Teens As a first time parent there is so much to learn and experience. From diaper changing and feedings to walking and potty training, you learn as you go. And as many of you know seasoned parents are all too eager to inform you of the best way to do this or just wait until this happens. You are warned about the terrible two's, which make you realize they were really talking about the terrible three's with tantrums and the stubborn streak toddlers discover at this time. But you are rarely warned about the terrible teens.  As my teen would say OMG! You look back at when you were a teen yourself and go I get it I was your age once, and your son or daughter looks at you like your I.Q. just dropped. Though so many things remain similar to each generation, there are certainly a lot of differences as well. But it is the similarities and s...

It's so strange how memories work and how a sight, smell, or sound can bring them back to life. I remember hearing my parents talk and recall fashion, music, friends, and other events from their past. They would almost glaze over with a smile as if they were transported to this magical happy place for just a moment in time. As I approach the fabulous age of thirty-five I now find myself getting that starry eyed look and Cheshire grin when a memory strikes.  It hadn't happened until I was frolicking through Pinterest (this is not only an addiction, but a guilty pleasure) and I came across 80's toys. I saw popples, strawberry shortcake, my little pony, Jem and the Holograms, Voltron, pound puppies, seawees and more. I just about had an out of body experience. The joy of childhood was glorious. I could remember playing with my sister in the bathtub with little plastic mermaids and rolling up the popples and tossing them around at bedtime. Oh and don't forget it ha...

It can be a co-worker, a friend, a relative, or stranger that is unaware of how powerful the words they release are and the damage they can cause. I remember far to well the hurtful words of bullies in middle school. The remarks from boys in high school, and even the gossip of aquaintances in my adulthood. Whatever happened to thinking before you speak or if you can't say anthing nice don't say anything at all. As much as snide remarks and hateful teasing can hurt the pain that is the most intense is the powerful words spoken to you by a loved one. A parent, spouse, or other person that is closer to you than most can cause deeply felt damage with misguided words. I am not saying that he or she uses their words as a weapon on purpose, though there are some that certainly do. Perhaps he or she speaks this way due to personal pain from experiences in his or her life, though this does not make it right. It is possible that he or she simply is unaware of how their words have been sp...

Last week I was feeling majorly stressed out. There was stuff going on with friends, family, work, self, and it was all piling up. I spent a nightmare-induced evening that led to a painful cold sore the next morning. I realized I have to start letting things go and start working on stress reduction. You do not really know either how dangerous or damaging stress is until it directly affects your health or you educate yourself on the risks of unmanaged stress. Who knew stress could lead to advanced aging and disease? Why are we stressed out? How can you both prevent and treat stress without a prescribed pill? These questions have me searching for answers. I watched a documentary on stress that showed how baboons that live a stressful life die earlier than those with less stress do. Research shows that humans affected by stress suffer from heart disease, hypertension, anxiety, digestive disorders, and the list goes on. As I learn more about stress and how to fight it naturally, I wan...

Not many people know what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is. PTSD is a mental health problem that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. Assault (rape), a traumatic accident, combat, and other traumatic events can cause a person to experience nightmares about the event, lead a person to avoid situations or stimuli that remind them of the event, create a guard or watchful sense. It can also cause a person to experience a numb or detached feeling.If left undiagnosed or untreated PTSD can lead to depression, substance abuse, and suicide. Early treatment can make a big difference. Therapy and medication can help a PTSD sufferer cope with their symptoms and enjoy better mental health and a happier life. Those of us who deal with PTSD in our lives know that PTSD is not instantly cured or fixed. You learn what it is and adjust to life accordingly. June 27, 2012 is National PTSD Awareness Month. I urge everyone to visit http://www.ptsd.va.gov/ or http://www.ptsdinfo.org...

Our family has moved quite a bit over the years. Military moves and around town moves. Moves to be with family. We are looking to move one last time. House hunting is a mixture of excitement and frustration. I have been told by my wonderful husband that I am by far too picky, but a house is more than a structure to store your things and provide shelter. A house becomes your home. It is the place where you feel safe and comforted. It is the place where family memories are made. My family and I looked at a sweet little house that has been through the mill. The carpets look like used napkins and the interior doors have been used for soccer practice. I stopped to think what if this little house is looking for a new owner. Someone to love it and care for it as it deserves. Someone to patch up its boo-boos and breath fresh life into it. This thought makes me a little sad. If a house could talk what would it say? My previous owners took me for granted. They did little to notice I was even ...

I will never forget when my doctor told me that I am considered obese. I knew I was overweight, but obese is such an ugly word. More Americans (adults, teens, and children) are overweight than ever before. I am often shocked to see pre-teens that are carrying more weight on their bodies than I am. I did not have problems with my weight until I became a teen. Around age 14-15, my weight seemed to explode overnight. School photos show a dramatic change in my face. I had chubby cheeks. My weight gain seemed to happen so quickly that no one said hey put that second serving down. Matter of fact my dad was my food friend. We ate together because it was enjoyable. My sister and mother were tiny, with petite frames, while I was 182, 5’6, and a size 16. I lost weight my junior year and joined the army at 17. Then I really lost weight. At my smallest, I was 128lbs and a size 8. That may not seem small to some, but after I met my husband and had our daughter, wow did the weight come back and ...