Letting Go and Letting Dad

May 7, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom 1 Comment

Question to the Moms: Is it just me or do you sometimes feel nervous when you leave the kids ALONE with Dad? I can’t be the only one….I’m guilty of subconsciously (and sometimes consciously) thinking that my intelligent, capable, lovable and attentive husband can’t fully take care of his own kids when I’m not around. WHY? There are several answers, some of which I will share, but for now I’m just trying to let go and let Dad!

I will admit. I’m a control freak. Like any mother, I know how I want our kids to dress, behave, eat (well) and not lose any limbs. Dad on the other hand will let the kids leave the house wearing plaids and polka dots (yes, at the same time) and clothes two sizes too small. Let’s not get started on my daughters’ hair. Oh Lord! If I know I’m leaving for a few days in a row, its imperative that I make sure the hair thing is on lock before I’m on my way.

There’s a lot to be said about his style of seeing after the kids as it compares to mine. For instance, when my husband decides to take the kids to the park, he puts them in the car and drives away. What’s wrong with that you ask? Nothing, except for the fact that there are no healthy snacks packed, no bottled waters and no change of clothes. It’s just him and the kids. While I find this remarkable, as they drive away, I’m thinking, “He needs this….and what if the kids need that….” Well, guess what? They won’t go without and I’m sure they have whatever it is they need and probably want. I honestly just don’t see how he does it. Yet, when they return, the kids have eaten, they are tired (and dirty) and are extremely happy.

Dad’s approach to being a caretaker is so much different from mine. Yes, I get that I’m a nurturer by nature. I am a mother hen, a mother bear at times always protecting her cubs. He, on the other hand, has the same intentions, but shows it in a completely different way. The good thing is whatever Dad does, he must be doing it well, because the kids love their “Daddy time”! I believe there may be some frozen yogurt bribery involved, but nonetheless, my cherubs return home safe and sound, needing no more than an occasional dab of Neosporin and a Band-Aid.

No, he doesn’t keep hand sanitizer in his pocket, nor does he always have any wipes, but this doesn’t mean that he loves them any less or that they’ll catch a cold or a virus because Mommy wasn’t there. It just means that the man that has repeatedly shown how much he loves and cares for his children, needs a little slack and some occasional praise. So, when you see dad with two little girls with fuzzy hair and clothes that are too small, just smile and wave and know that Mom must be out of town, but “Dad’s got it”!

P.S. Big shout to all of the Dads who do “it” better than Mom. He cooks, he cleans and does a mean two strand twist with matching barrettes! I know you’re out there and I salute you!

Do you secretly have control issues when Dad’s alone with the kids?

Photo credit: webmd.com

Filed Under: Children, Motherhood, Parenting, Tweens/Teens

April Is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

April 23, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom Leave a Comment

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This is a time for all of us to recognize to that we each have a job to do – and that’s paying extra special attention to the social and emotional well-being of our children. They are blessings…not burdens.

Why?

To you this may not even mean anything, because it’s just not an issue for you and your family. Unfortunately, this is a reality for tons of helpless, innocent children who cannot defend themselves. The truth is, children are suffering from this hidden epidemic of child abuse, as well as neglect. Every year 3.3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving nearly 6 million children (a report can include multiple children). Here in the U.S., we have the worst record in the industrialized nation – losing five children every day due to abuse-related deaths.

History

Alarming statistics like these are the reasons that awareness needs to be brought to the forefront. Thankfully in 1983, April was proclaimed the first National Child Abuse Prevention Month. As a result, child abuse and neglect awareness activities are promoted across the country during April of each year. The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN) within the Children’s Bureau coordinates Child Abuse Prevention Month activities at the Federal level, providing information and releasing updated national statistics about child abuse and neglect.

Child Discipline vs. Child Abuse

This is a gray area for some parents because of our different perceptions of parenting. Do you use the “time out” approach? Do you spank? Do you ground your children? People discipline children in various ways, we know this, but child abuse is just what the words imply. . .abusing a child, and that consists of ANYTHING that endangers or impairs a child’s physical or emotional well being and development. Some people, sadly mistake abuse for discipline. In contrast, child discipline should be looked at as simply training. God has given us parents a duty to train and teach our children appropriate behaviors and actions. Therefore, consequences are necessary.

Bottom line is, our precious children did not ask to be here. Nor are they born knowing how to behave or what is acceptable and expected. This is taught. As parents we must invest time, energy and most of all patience when it comes tour children. displaying lots of love and modeling exemplary behaviors for their children to mirror. Nobody ever said being a parent would be easy, but when done the right way, is very rewarding!

Sources:
www.childhelp.org
www.childwelfare.gov

Do you have any advice to share on how to prevent child abuse?

Filed Under: Children, Motherhood, Parenting, Tweens/Teens Tagged With: April is child abuse awareness month, Child abuse, child abuse awareness

Natural Help for Allergies and Asthma

April 17, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom Leave a Comment

Does your child or a child that you know suffer from asthma or allergies? Asthma attacks are triggered by things such as exercise, temperature changes and also environmental irritants. While there are some things you can’t control, other things you can. As a healthcare professional and an asthma sufferer myself (along with my kids), I try to avoid certain triggers to keep bad days at bay. Here are a few ways to help you and your family stay healthy at home.

1. Natural air freshener

Because a lot of us like to spray our homes with popular air fresheners that contain multiple chemicals, this can be quite irritating. So try this alternative:
All you need is an empty spray bottle, one cup of water, 2 tablespoons of vodka, and about 20 drops of an essential oil. (These are generally small 15mL bottles of potent but natural fragrances found in health food stores)

2. Perfume

I LOVE designer fragrances and parfum. At times, I still spray a little when I’m not around the kids and I want to feel “fancy”. If you want to try something a little different, try natural perfumes. These types of fragrances are making their way into mainstream popularity now. A lot of them are free of phthalates (which have been scientifically proven to cause health problems) and made with natural grain alcohol. A plus is that natural and essential oils work with your own body chemistry to become YOUR signature scent.

3. Cleaning your home

More and more, I am beginning to use environmentally-friendly cleaning products. This is for several reasons. I want my kids safe when they do their chores and and its a lot less irritating. I have even made several of my own cleaning solutions, thanks to Pinterest. I like to call it The Homemade Miracle Cleaner. Why? Because it works on virtually all stains and a great surface cleaner. We all know that Kids = Stains. So, here’s the 2 ingredient recipe for the natural cleaner: To a spray bottle, add 1 part Dawn dishwashing liquid (original blue kind) to 2 parts hydrogen peroxide.

4. Freshening up your home

Some of you may actually use the popular brands of household odor eliminators, like Febreze on your clothes, rugs and upholstery. Well, here’s a more natural alternative for refreshing your home. In a spray bottle, simply add 1/8 cup of fabric softener, 2 tablespoons Baking Soda, hot tap water. Voila!

Asthma can be triggered and exacerbated by exposure to many environmental factors. The American Academy of Pediatrics states: “Avoiding environmental allergens and irritants is one of the primary goals of good asthma management”. While I make no claims that these suggestions will provide the same results or evoke similar excitement, these have proven helpful for me and my family and hopefully the same for you! Not only are we striving to live healthier, we are “being green” in the process. Every little bit counts! Here’s to healthy living and a breath of fresh air for you and your family!

What do you do in your home to keep allergies and asthma under control?

Filed Under: Baby, Children, Health, Lifestyle, Tweens/Teens Tagged With: cardio, children, health, healthy, healthy lifestyle, healthy living, kids, Pinterest

Cherish Your Children Each and Everyday

April 8, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom Leave a Comment

As I looked through some of the photos from our recent Spring Break vacation, I began to hear the proverbial thousands upon thousands of words that came from them. This one particularly echoed the word, “Cherish.”

Each of my children are growing at lightning speed and I wish at times the hands of the clock would sometimes just sloooowwww dooowwwnnnn…I read a poem that is so fitting when I’m feeling sentimental. Yes, the house can sometimes be a mess. Yes, I want to pull my hair out at times, but I wouldn’t trade these gifts from God for anything the world has to offer!

I hope you enjoy this sweet poem as much as I did. If you have children, I’m sure you will.

Handprints on the Wall
by
Anonymous

One day as I was picking
the toys up off the floor,
I noticed a small hand print
on the wall beside the door.

I knew that it was something
that I’d seen most every day,
but this time when I saw it there
I wanted it to stay.

Then tears welled up inside my eyes,
I knew it wouldn’t last
for every mother knows
her children grow up way too fast.

Just then I put my chores aside
and held my children tight.
I sang to them sweet lullabies
and rocked into the night.

Sometimes we take for granted,
all those things that seem so small.
Like one of God’s great treasures…
A small hand print on the wall.

Filed Under: Baby, Children, Parenting, Tweens/Teens Tagged With: baby, blessings, children, family, love, parenting

Childhood Obesity – An Avoidable Epidemic

March 21, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom 3 Comments

“The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake.”
~First Lady Michelle Obama (Let’s Move Campaign)

If it were medically feasible, would you consider allowing your 10 or 12 year old to go under the knife for gastric bypass? This is a decision that as a parent, most of us would probably answer, “No.” However, there are a lot of overweight/obese children and adolescents that despite known risks, actually want this procedure, because their life would be so much easier. Less bullying, less stress, and a better life…or so they imagine. For some, this is simply hypothetical. For others, this is a reality.

What’s the deal?

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years. What are we doing as a society that has allowed our children to succumb to such a growing epidemic? During a keynote address recently, First Lady Michelle Obama had a message for parents with questionable eating and exercise habits:

“We as parents are our children’s first and best role models, and this is particularly true when it comes to their health,” she said, pointing to research that kids with one obese parent are more than twice as likely to become obese as adults. “We can’t lie around on the couch eating French fries and candy bars, and expect our kids to eat carrots and run around the block. But too often, that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
We always say that the children are our future. Let’s help them MAKE it to the future. There are several harmful long term effects that could be potentially fatal, if childhood obesity is not curbed. The fact is, children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults, and are therefore more at risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.

How did we get here?

Well, as mentioned earlier, thirty years ago, most people led lives that kept them at a healthy weight. Kids walked to and from school everyday, ran around at recess, participated in gym class, and played for hours after school before dinner. We prepared home-cooked meals and served reasonable portion sizes and there was always a vegetable on the plate. Eating fast food was rare and occasional treat.

Today, some of our children live and experiences a totally different lifestyle. Walks to and from school have been replaced by car and bus rides. Gym class and after-school sports have been cut. A lot of times, their afternoons are now spent watching TV, playing video games, and on the Internet. Nowadays, parents are busier than ever and home-cooked meals may be far and far between.

As a society, it seems that we have become habitual snackers. Snacking between meals is very commonplace. Whereas thirty years ago, kids ate just one snack a day, now they are trending toward three snacks, resulting in an additional 200 calories a day — and one in five school-age children has up to six snacks a day. Lastly, our food and beverage portions have grown tremendously. They are now two to five times bigger than they were in years past. The average sugar-sweetened beverage was 13.6 ounces compared to today. A lot of kids think nothing of drinking an entire 20 ounces of sugar-sweetened beverages at one time.

What can we do?

There are a lot of online resources that give us options when our goal is guiding our kids (and family, period) towards a healthier lifestyle. Here are just a few:

1. Lead by example. Let your kids see YOU munching on raw fruits and veggies and drinking water instead of soda.

2. Reward with attention, not food. Let’s not reward our children with sweets. It leads them to believe that those foods are “better” than nutritious foods.

3. Make physical activity fun for the whole family. When the weather permits, go for walks or jogs and just have fun together.

4. Take your kids grocery shopping with you (I know, I know…sometimes this can be a headache.). This is a great opportunity to discuss food and nutrition and allow your children to make healthy choices.

We are our children’s biggest influence. Let’s help them develop good healthy eating habits and be proactive with their good food choices versus trying to change some bad habits that could potentially cost them the quality of their lives!

Sources:
Center for Disease Control www.cdc.gov
Let’s Move www.letsmove.gov
www.healthykidshealthyfuture.org
Photo credit: agla4all.tumblr.com

Filed Under: Children, Health, Tweens/Teens Tagged With: baby, children, cooking, dinner, fitness, food, health, healthy, healthy lifestyle, healthy living, weight loss

6 Successful Secrets to Ending Sibling Rivalry

February 24, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom Leave a Comment

photo credit: www.tiffanyraecoaching.com

As long as there are siblings, there will be some type of rivalry. Children are people too, and will not always agree. They fight over toys, as well as your love and attention and will always find a way to annoy each other, but as parents we have to make sure that the banter is harmless and in no way reflects any type of verbal abuse. While the bickering is harmless, it’s just enough to work any parents’ nerves. While, I claim to be no expert, here are few things that seem to work in our home.

1. Take advantage of the age differences.

If the older sibling has a significant age advantage over the younger, make sure that they are allowed to “feel older” and be older. Saying things like, “I need you to look out for your little sister.” Or to the younger, “Be a good listener to your older brother. It really helps me out.” Making these defining statements and re-iterations help them with their roles, because they know what is expected.

2. Teamwork is vital.

When is this NOT the case? Teamwork is so important, that’s with any family matter. When it comes to the battling siblings, practice sometimes makes perfect. Create scenarios and situations that force them to work together or else the result is failure. Think of baking a cake together, or cleaning the kitchen. Give them specific instructions and delegate with clear understanding that teamwork is essential. A lot of times, kids are spending way too many isolated moments on their electronics, or if they’re older, with their respective friends, and they just don’t work [well] with their brother/sister.

3. Use technology.

I was at my wit’s end one day and I decided to make my kids interview one with the iPad/iPhone. The idea behind this was actually seeing and hearing themselves, may actually help. I had them tell each other five things that their sister/brother do to make them feel loved. I ask them periodically through the week if they’ve done any of those five things for their sibling. This keeps the needs of their siblings fresh on each others’ minds. I also feel like it shows the human side of one another.

4. Treat them like individuals.

Much like secret number one, we learn early on that as parents we don’t use the “cookie cutter approach”, because not all children are the same, nor should they be treated that way. Even twins, or children close in age should be praised for their individual strengths and we should be sensitive to their weaknesses. Being open about bringing out the best in your kids, will hopefully help them to do the same with and towards each other.

5. Praise them in public.

As a piggyback to secret number four, I’ve found it very beneficial for sibling relations not to chastise them in front of one another, but to save those public moments for “praising” them. Sometimes chastising our children in front of their siblings make it easy for their siblings to feel like they can do the same. I will admit that this is a hard one, because we sometimes parent emotionally and it’s especially hard if you have a knee-jerk reaction to the inevitable craziness – which is our kids. When I am being diligent about this, I see results.

6. Prayer.

As a family, we have morning prayer. Our goal is to come together as a family, before God, and to also share our spiritual needs openly. We can see the changes in our kids, as they ask during dinner about each other’s days. It’s a beautiful thing to see your children showing compassion towards one another!

While it is a completely expected and normal occurrence for siblings to argue, making sure that they know the importance of respecting and loving one another is extremely important. When you think about it, this is just rehearsal for them learning to be team players and resolving conflict in the real world. Again, these are things that have worked for us and I’m hoping that if this issue is plaguing your lovely little lambs, that they will work for you, too!

Do you have any secrets to successfully keeping the sibling banter at bay?

Filed Under: Children, Motherhood, Parenting, Tweens/Teens Tagged With: children, kids, kindness, love, parenting

Muffins with Mom #DeliciousPairings Starbucks and Wal-Mart

January 17, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom 7 Comments

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you know that there are two things that I love in my hand. In the evenings, it’s VINO. In the morning, it’s my JAVA!! I am a lover of the coffee bean…so much that at one point, my kitchen decorations were centered around it. (I know I know). When I found out about the #DeliciousPairings Starbucks display in Wal-Mart stores, I was a tad bit excited….OK..I was hysterical! The masterminds at Starbucks have teamed up with The Bakery at Wal-Mart for a beautiful display pairing up their goodies with the perfect blend of coffee…GENIUS! So off to the store I went…

Walmart Delicious Pairings

When I got there, I was impressed by the lovely display of all the pastries. Bagels and Doughnuts and Muffins..Oh my! Presentation is everything! I’m loving this whole #DeliciousPairings thing. Aren’t you?

Delicious Pairings Display

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We make every effort to eat our meals together as a family. This is really tough, because like any other family, our mornings are HECTIC! The easy part was knowing that I had something delicious and quick already planned for our breakfast. The hard part was deciding which one. Decisions, decisions.

We chose Wal-Mart Banana Nut Muffins. Yum!

Many Muffins at Walmart, Delicious Pairings

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But wait! It gets better….Starbucks gives you pairing suggestions to match the coffee blend with the most complimentary pastry of your choice. Since we chose Banana Nut, it was recommended that we pair it with the House (Medium) Blend of Starbucks coffee. I’m a fan of all the Starbucks varieties, so this a great addition to my collection!

;

What better way to make my morning crew smile at breakfast than to promise them muffins? One for Dad on his commute and the rest for me and the kids. Mommy gets her Starbucks coffee and everyone’s happy! I bring them home and can’t wait for the next morning. I couldn’t wait, so I brewed a cup when I got home. One word. Delightful.

;

The next morning, I bite into my muffin. Incredible (and moist)….I pair them together and I can truly say that they matched PERFECTLY! I cherish these sweet little moments with my kids. They grow up so fast! All smiles…PLUS no breakfast dishes to soak! Woohoo!

Delicious Pairings

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So, after putting the kids on the bus, I get to sit back relax for a minute and look back at what once was a very delightful breakfast and decide that we’ll do it again tomorrow.

Empty Plate, Delicious Pairings

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Starbucks #CBias #SocialFabric”. All opinions and excitement are authentic and my very own.

Keeping It Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: Children, Food, Lifestyle, Shopping, Tweens/Teens Tagged With: breakfast, coffee, family, Starbucks

25 Amazing Uses for Coconut Oil | Smart & Sassy Mom

January 16, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom 10 Comments

Coconut oil uses
The winter air is brutal here in the Northeast. Add this hard water that I’m dealing with…just know that I am STRUGGLING!!! I have been adding coconut oil to our lotion and basically slathering all over myself and the kids before we head out each day. I’m a huge fan of the stuff, so I’m sharing some of my own uses for this wonder oil plus some uses that were actually news to me. Enjoy!

1. Moisturizer. Just apply all over your body, including neck and face.
2. Eye cream. Apply under the eyes to reduce the puffiness.
3. Hair Conditioner/Deep Treatment. I don’t have a relaxer, so i use this as a “pre-poo” AND as a leave in hair conditioner. Pre-poo, just apply generously and wear a plastic cap for at least 30 minutes. Leave-in, simply applying a little coconut oil to your ends and then running your fingers through your hair to distribute the rest! For a deeper treatment, rub in a tablespoon of coconut oil onto your dry scalp and gently work through to the ends.
4. Make up remover. Put a little on a cotton swab. It really works!
5. Lip balm. Great stuff. Smells good, too!
6. Massage Oil. Need I say more? Great friction…Mmmm…
7. Sunscreen. Take precaution when using it this way, because it provides SOME not a lot of SPF.
8. Nipple Cream for nursing moms. This works great to nourish cracked, sore, or dry nipples. Apply to a cotton ball and leave on your nipples between feedings.
9. Diaper cream. This a nice barrier cream for baby’s bottom. A very gentle, chemical free way to pamper your bundle!
10. Cradle cap. Works like a charm without spending $$ on special shampoos.
11. Body scrub. Just mix coconut oil and sugar together and rub all over! Rinse off and your skin will be super soft! You can add in essential oils if you would like a certain scent.
12. Healing. When applied on scrapes and cuts, coconut oil forms a thin, chemical layer which protects the wound from outside dust, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil speeds up the healing process of bruises by repairing damaged tissues.
13. Skin problems. It helps soothe skin problems such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema.

Below are ways to use coconut oil that I found very interesting but have not yet tried for myself. (Sources vary)

14. Stress Relief. To relieve mental fatigue, simply apply coconut oil to the head in a circular, massaging motion. The natural aroma of coconuts is extremely soothing thus helping to lower your stress level.
15. Digestion. The saturated fats in coconut oil have anti-bacterial properties that help control, parasites, and fungi that cause indigestion and other digestion related problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. The fat in coconut oil also aids in the absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, making you healthier all around.
16. Fitness. Since coconut oil has been proven to stimulate your metabolism, improve thyroid function, and escalate energy levels, why not?
17. Nose bleeds. Coconut oil can prevent nose bleeding that is caused by sensitivity to weather such as extreme hotness and extreme coldness. Put some on your finger and then lie down, putting pressure on your nose.
18. For breastfeeding moms, consuming 3 ½ tablespoons of coconut oil daily will enrich your milk supply. (Hmmmm…sounds interesting.)
19. Helps with weight loss & controlling cravings.
20. Helps keep blood sugar levels stable and/or helps with cravings.
21. Toenail fungus
22. Hot flashes
23. Bleeding hemorrhoids. (Makes sense if they’re not severe.)
24. “Gum-in-hair” remover
25. Leather moisturizer/cleaner

This quality oil can be costly, but we all know that your health is your wealth, so spare no costs. If you have any uses to add to the list, please do so, we’d love to hear them!

Keeping it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: Baby, Children, Health, Lifestyle, Tweens/Teens Tagged With: children, DIY, fitness, healthy lifestyle, healthy living, weight, weight loss

The Jar of Awesome – Why You Need One!

December 31, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 4 Comments

It’s the New Year and I’m sure you’ve made all kinds of resolutions and set your goals for 2013. Well, I challenge to do something that you just may actually do AFTER the month of January comes to a close. I’m definitely excited about it, so here goes! Why not start a “Jar of Awesome”? I was surfing through the blogs of some fabulous blogger friends and was inspired by Uncommon Chick, who is also start her very own “Jar of Awesome”. Here’s how it works:

This January, start out with an empty jar and fill it with notes about all of the awesome things that happened to you throughout 2013. Then on New Year’s Eve next year, open it up and reflect on all of the awesome things that happened to you. This is great for singles, couples, as well as families, give it a try, we are!

I thought this was a pretty neat idea and I’m so glad I found it. I’m also excited because I get to involve my entire family and help the kids understand perspective and reflection. I don’t know about you, but I know I will need about 2 or 3 of these jars, because I’m claiming 2013 to be über-awesome! So, are you in? Drop me line to let me know if you’re up for it…And I wish you and yours a very Happy New Year!

Keeping it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: Children, Marriage, Parenting, Tweens/Teens Tagged With: family, jar of awesome, new year's goals, new years resolution, reflecting on the past

The Elementary School Tragedy – An Eerily Familiar Story

December 14, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom Leave a Comment

My heart bleeds for the families that have to endure the loss of their babies due to the recent massacre in Newtown, CT. I was in a toy store when my mom called me with the news, but it didn’t hit me instantly. As you see, we are a nation that has endured many senseless tragedies. From Columbine to Arizona to Colorado…we’ve seen it happen. We live. We grieve. We heal. Never completely, but with time, we do get better. It wasn’t until I sat down to eat lunch, did I fully realize the extent of what happened.

There were several conflicting reports about the shooter, the number of casualties and exactly what happened. But, there was one thing that was certain. There are mothers who unknowingly kissed their babies goodbye for the last time. There are fathers whose promises to their sons about the weekend’s activities that will go unfulfilled. There is most likely an older sibling that is grieving even more, because the last words at breakfast were something like, “I hate having a little brother/sister!” And sadly, there are gifts under the Christmas trees, that will never be opened by the intended sweet angel.

As I ate my lunch in a public place and perused social media, it became real and then suddenly surreal. I began to think, <em>”That could have been one of my babies….I could have been on the other end of the phone conversation hearing those God-awful words…This could have have been me.”</em> Uncontrollably, I began to sob – to the point that a concerned patron came over and asked if everything was ok. I told her why I was so upset. She said she hadn’t heard the news and immediately, we began to pray. There we were, a stranger and myself off in the corner of a popular restaurant at lunchtime, posturing and clasping arms and hands as if we were old friends or family. At that moment in time, we were family.

Anticipated but always caught off guard, I cringe when I have to answer my children’s inevitable questions about things like this, except for: “God knows what he’s doing…we often times don’t.Yes, this is extremely sad, but God will take care of everyone during this time. The best thing we can do is to just pray.” As parents, we sometimes worry about our kids hurting themselves or being hurt by others, but it is quite unimaginable for us to fathom that we would ever have to lay our children to rest. Sometimes there are sacrificial lambs that God uses to bring us closer to Him, to those we love and those we need to love more…before our own personal tragedies.

Such a dreadfully familiar scenario, as a country, we are once again clasping virtual hands and mourning together as we grieve this loss of such precious little lives. May we continue to pray for those that lost loved ones in this tragedy. This truly makes me want to squeeze my cherubs even tighter, kiss their faces and tell them incessantly how much I love them. We need to make sure that they know – not just today, but everyday.