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  • To know Jenna is to know love

    Jenna is 11 years old, but wise beyond her years. She loves fiercely and unconditionally, because she has been loved fiercely and unconditionally. Jenna has fought for her life many times, but she lives each day in peace, full of kindness and laughter. She is surrounded by the love of her devoted family: her mom Kristi, dad Bruce and older brother Jared. Together, they have faced challenges they never expected.

  • Celebrating moms (and mental health)

    A few days ago, I went shopping for some things for our family’s upcoming beach trip at Target. As I looked through the boy’s bathing suits, I noticed another mom nearby with her own little boy. He looked and sounded to be about 2 years old, and they were having a debate about shorts. He wanted long shorts, and she was reminding him that he doesn’t like to wear long shorts. They went back and forth, and things got a little heated. He got whiny; she got irritated. Eventually she told him, loudly, to stop talking and announced to him that she was “done.” He promptly began wailing about the shorts, and her reaction was to drop her stuff she was buying, pick him up, and yell at him, “You are embarrassing me!”  She stomped her way out of Target, carrying him, yelling at him about how he will not be going to his play date later.  Yikes!

  • Teaching your kids about sun safety

    The heat is rising, the sun is shining and school’s almost out. That can only mean one thing, right? Time to hit the beach!

  • Virtual School? Don’t Forget ‘Gym Class’

    With many children attending virtual classes, parents and educators find themselves asking questions about new health risks. They worry about a lack of physical activity, eye strain , various aches and pains from those hours of screen time and the absence of unstructured playtime with friends. To offset these risks, it’s important to add in as much physical activity as possible and to commit to having “gym class.” 

  • Your Child’s Sick: Is It Asthma or a Cold?

    Your child is coughing and sniffling. Is it a cold or virus? Let’s look at the differences to help you soothe your child and know when it’s time to see a doctor.

  • Most teens want to build muscle, even if it means going to great (and unhealthy) lengths

    Gym rats, pro athletes, and teens- what do these three groups of people have in common? They all want to build muscle, and may even go to great lengths to do so. It is common to hear of gym rats, and even some pro athletes (even if it’s against regulations), who use steroids, or other muscle-enhancing supplements to help gain muscle mass, but now teens are mirroring these risky behaviors, too. While it’s great that teens have an increased interest in exercising, the desire for a certain body type can lead teens down a slippery slope of dangerous behaviors.

    The Study

    With the perception of popular body images in the media shifting from those who are just thin, to those who are muscular and lean, teens are becoming more dissatisfied with their outward appearance, causing them to be easily influenced by the market of muscle-enhancers and body-building lifestyles.

  • Think Like Pinkalicious for a Chance to Win Free Giveaways!

    Did you know that eating too many pink cupcakes can give you pinkititis? It’s a very scary disease that can make you turn pink all over!!

  • Caden visits WFTV Channel 9 News station

    A few months back, I shared and told you how he and his family have overcome incredible obstacles as he deals with autism.

  • Preparing for Baby's Arrival... Continued

    Earlier this week, we talked about several ways for new and expectant parents to become prepared for their new arrival. Here is some more helpful information that every parent should know:

  • Report cards for your child's weight?

    It’s all over news headlines: childhood obesity. It now seems to be an issue that just won’t go away, despite all of the programs and campaigns to help encourage kids and families to become healthier. It’s just so hard with countless fast-food chains, ever-evolving technology that gives kids one more reason not to move from the couch, and school systems that have been resistant to change. However, the school system has been attacked hard, and slowly, schools are now making a greater effort to become healthier. Some schools have even taken it to the next level with what are called, “BMI report cards”.

    What on earth are BMI report cards?

    Let’s first start by defining BMI. Body mass index, or BMI, is the ratio of a person’s height and weight as a way to determine whether that person is overweight or obese. It is often used to help identify those who are at risk for weight-related health problems.