9/21/2023 1 Comment Nana's Notes:For many students, it’s the beginning of a new school year. The exciting energy of all things new is a feeling we’re all familiar with, even as adults. There are the new school clothes, new teachers, next grade level and in
most cases a few new friends. The first day of school can bring with it its own bag of anxiety. The goal is for our children to have a successful year. Though my children are now adults, I’ve listed a few tried and true techniques of what worked for us. I’ve also included a few tips from the professionals. Here’s to wishing your children one of the best school years ever! 1. Remind your children that God is always with them. 2. Remind your children that you are always praying for them. 3. Start the school day bedtime schedule at least 10 days prior to school starting. 4. Talk about what to expect. 5. Prepare yourselves for big emotions and encourage your child to talk about them. 6. Express your confidence in them. 7. Most schools have a meet and greet before school starts. Be sure to attend and bring your child along. 8. Teach your child relaxation techniques. 9. Ensure that your child has a well-balanced breakfast. 10. Allow your child to help prepare their outfits for the week. 11. Volunteer in the classroom 12. Assist your child with their homework, finally, 13. Review the day and always offer affirmation. This list contains only a few suggestions to limit your child’s first day of school jitters. There are many more. The first day of school can really be a challenge for students, be sure to acknowledge their feelings and offer reassurance. You know your child better than anyone. Trust the God given “parent-superpower” within. Do your research and critique the list according to your child’s needs. -Nana
1 Comment
4/6/2023 0 Comments ACHOO!! Spring has Arrived!
With the change of seasons comes a need for adjustments. As soon as we become comfortable with wearing our winter coat, the scarf grandma knitted and the ski masks, Springs peeks with the morning sun. With gleeful hearts we always welcome the majesty of it all. The grass is greener, and we are awakened by the melodic chirping of the blue birds outside our window seal. There is something inspiring about the arrival of Spring. It causes our “spider” senses to tingle. Many businesses are imagined during this time of the year and students are more productive in school as they look forward to the school year coming to an end. The arrival of spring oftentimes puts the fire under us that’s necessary to make those needed seasonal life changes. Change isn’t always easy or fun but is certainly necessary. This is a great time to take that leap. Draw from the transition of this season and make the move to start the business you’ve wanted to start; register for that spring/summer class you’ve been longing to attend or take that long awaited international trip. Better yet, loosen the apron strings just a bit, and allow your little darling the opportunity to attend the spring camp you’ve been hesitant about him/her attending. A little secret, the days are longer, and the nights are shorter, this means we have more than 24 hours in a day, right? Believe me you will enjoy the break! Seeing that we are held accountable for what we do with our gifts, let's make our gift of perfect spring days sprinkled with a little rain rewarding, soulful and profitable. Happy new beginning, Nana 2/5/2023 0 Comments I've Seen This Before...“I’ve seen this before.” A colleague of mine often uses this phrase.
It always allays the anxiety of clients who come into the office with a problem that seems overwhelming. His phrase offers reassurance that what they are experiencing isn’t anything new - someone has seen and solved this problem before. When we are feeling overwhelmed and at our wits end, it’s usually because we don’t have the immediate solutions to our problems. However, this is the moment where our faith comes to our rescue. I Peter 5:7 gives the instructions for believers to lay all of our concerns at His feet. The very meaning of Jehovah Ezrah should remind our troubled hearts that He is our helper. (Hebrews 13:6) It does not matter how often we have to cry out to God, just remember that His love and grace never run out. And just like my colleague, our Jehovah by His mighty hand is saying to us, “I’ve seen this before." 10/30/2022 1 Comment Blah, Blah, Blah - It's Election SeasonOne of the most dreaded times in America is our election season. It’s a season when you hear more empty promises and half-truths than facts. It’s complicated enough to do your general research on a candidate now we have to decipher through the multiple commercials filled with exaggerations and innuendos. It’s quite taxing on the psyche. When I turned 18 years old, not registering to vote was not an option in my parents’ home. My dad reminded us that voting was our right and our responsibility.Through the years I’ve learned to do my homework on each candidate. Doing homework is not foreign to most parents. We often do our child’s homework and put their name on it as if they completed it, all the while hoping that it's a passing grade. So don't shy away from homework. During this election season it’s important that we stay focused. Remembering that choosing the best candidate for our children’s future is one of the most important decisions we’ll ever make. Georgia’s senate election, once again, is front and center in the national news. It’s vital that we ask the candidates the difficult questions like:
· Which candidate do you feel best represents your family; · Which will create and enforce laws that will result in your child having a great future; · Do you support school choice; · What about improving our public schools and/or pulling your county or state dollars out of public schools and investing in a private school that best support your child’s needs; and finally · Do they support special education? One thing that’s encouraging, in spite of all the bashing, is that we have an opportunity to be heard. The right to vote for the person of our choosing. Or we can allow someone else to make the decision for us. I want to encourage you to do your homework and with the information, pray for spiritual guidance then make the best decision for your family. I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people; for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness 1 Timothy 2:1-2 8/11/2022 3 Comments Summer is OverSummer is over! Three of the most freeing words ever spoken by a parent! Of course,
it’s not that we don’t love our children or grandchildren, it’s just that, well, you know.... sometimes we can appreciate not hearing our name being called every three minutes and 42 seconds. But now that our children are returning to school, there’s a little more “me time.” As this season ends and a new one begins, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on transitioning. If we’re honest, we don’t always welcome change. Generally, this is because we seldom desire to abandon our communities of comfortability and the habits that accompany them. I can’t think of a single change that didn’t cause some form of discomfort, whether in my own life or in the life of my family. At times it was the fear of the unknown, or self-doubt. Other times it was a lack of faith. For me, I always viewed transition as a disruption. Just as we tell our children to ‘trust the process”, we too must draw from our bag of quotes and wear those words like a cloak of armor. I can certainly, attest that it’s easier said than done. Very recently at the ripe young age of 59, I decided to part ways with eating fast foods. On my daily drive to work, it seemed like a life requirement for me to stop and purchase a large cup of coffee. “Good morning Ms. Dana will it be the same?” the cashier would often ask. This was a daily habit until I decided to create a healthier lifestyle. It’s been over 8 months since this journey began, and now I can go days without a hot freshly brewed cup of French vanilla, with no sugar and.... I’m sorry, I got lost. LOL! 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” This is a reminder that change is inevitable. Though transitions are uncomfortable and sometimes difficult; we simply cannot avoid it. God expects and helps us to navigate these shifts in our daily lives. Remember you are never alone in your transitions. You have a community of individuals who, like you, are navigating through their season of change as well. Learn to embrace this new season of change, because eventually this will end, and another will begin. Blessings, Dana, Superhero Leto’s Nana |
Archives
September 2023
Categories |