Tag Archives: Birmingham

Bullying and Depression

8 comments Children's Mental Health, Health Education, Mental Health, Schools , , , , , , , , ,

Devastating News A few days ago, I learned that 9-year-old Madison Whitsett from Birmingham, Alabama, committed suicide. I have gleaned 3 facts from major news outlets – Madison was diagnosed with ADHD, she was being bullied at school, and she had recently started new medication. Although Madison’s parents have not divulged the name of the medication, some have stated that suicidal thoughts are listed as one of the side effects. I am profoundly devastated by this news. My heart breaks for this precious baby, her family, and the entire community. I thought long and hard about writing this blog post, […]

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You Know You’re a Mom When

2 comments Parenting, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

Election day is here. The politics have been divisive. Tensions are running high. I have crafted a lighthearted blog post so that we can share a chuckle and have some fun. Laughter is good for the soul. Here are 10 signs you are a mom: You ask other adults if they need to go potty. You can quote lines from multiple Disney movies. You keep baby wipes on your person at all times because, well, baby wipes can fix anything. When riding in the car with your adult friends, you check and make sure everyone’s buckled up. Loud burps and […]

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Antidotes to 5 Parenting Pitfalls

0 comments Children's Mental Health, Healthy Living, Parenting , , , , , ,

Parenting is hard work, and the pitfalls are many. Our children don’t always listen, the try our patience, and they frequently test limits. Here are 5 ways to conquer common parenting hazards: 1. You’ve got to be more flexible Families are as diverse as the parents and children that comprise them. We bring our own personality traits, strengths and weaknesses, gifts and talents, preferences, and hang-ups. Those similarities and differences define the core of our identity and make our lives and relationships rich, interesting, and unexpected. To think that one broadly applicable parenting strategy would work for all children and […]

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5 Lessons #Thismama Learned

1 comment Parenting, Women's Health, Women's Mental Health , , , , , , ,

She is Serena Williams. Widely celebrated for her indomitable spirit, relentless pursuit of excellence, and unrivaled strength A powerhouse, a champion, and a legend Outspoken, brash, bold, and beautiful Witnessing the evolution of Serena Williams has been tremendous. She began her journey as Richard’s daughter and Venus’ younger sister. Now her accolades are many – Olympian, 23 Grand Slam singles titles, and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles to name a few. She has faced professional and personal challenges, triumph and tragedy, and is no stranger to controversy. Despite unexpected outcomes and setbacks, she has faced each obstacle  with ferocious tenacity. […]

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Who Would Win?

2 comments Parenting , , , , ,

The Cox family of 5 lives in Hoover, Alabama, a suburb just south of Birmingham. My 2nd and 6th graders attend Hoover City schools. In our school system, we can purchase books for our children through the Scholastic Book Club. Who Would Win by Jerry Pallotta is a popular series sold through the Scholastic Book Club. The premise of this creative series is to pit two ferocious beasts against one another and then determine which one would win in a fight based on the unique characteristics of these two animals. Doesn’t that sound like parenthood? It often feels like a […]

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Back to School Prayer

0 comments Faith, Parenting, Schools , , , , , , ,

As many of you know, I have 3 children. My son is 7 and my daughters will be 4 and 11 in just a few days. A new school year is rapidly upon us and always rouses mixed feelings in the Cox house and heralds beginnings and endings simultaneously – the end of summer and fall’s arrival; late nights become the morning rush; we swap summer vacation in eager anticipation of winter’s holidays; and the crack of the baseball bat and homeruns turn into quarterback sacks and touchdowns. In preparation for the new academic year, I want to share my […]

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