THE AWKWARD MOM

because uncomfortable conversations are the ones worth having

Category: current events (page 1 of 4)

How to Talk with Kids about the Israel-Palestine Conflict

Reading Time: 8 minutes

how to talk to kids about the israel palestine conflict

A note from Janel: 

This week, I’m welcoming guest authors Donna Kushner and Amy Schulte, a mother-daughter team who, in Amy’s childhood, served as missionaries in Palestine. Both currently work with refugees in professional and personal capacities. (I personally worked with Donna on a free resource to guide immigrant and refugee families into healing.) read more

“I just don’t understand”: What it says about me

Reading Time: 4 minutes

I just don't understand

“I just don’t understand how…”

I heard it again this week from someone else. This is after hearing it more times than I could count with someone else’s conflict. read more

The Events of January 6: 5 Ways to Talk and Deal as a Family

Reading Time: 4 minutes

January 6

My eleven-year-old put into words what likely more than one American has been thinking about the tragic and troubling events of January 6. “2021 was supposed to be better than 2020! We’re only six days in!”

And then there was my 16-year-old’s assessment. “If we were describing the U.S. in terms of health, I’d say we’re spiking a fever.” read more

Fear: 4 Ways It’s Robbing You & Your Kids Blind

Reading Time: 5 minutes

fear fearful worried

“What’s one word you would use to describe your 2020?”

I heard someone ask this last week, and was a bit stumped. How do you shoehorn this year into a word? read more

Navigating Political Polarization in Your Family

Reading Time: 2 minutes

political polarization

My 16-year-old was recently awarded his driver’s permit–okay, yikes–and with it, was pre-registered to vote. We don’t fall down the line politically, which I’m generally okay with. (You may remember we’re a lot different: see When Your Child is Different from What You Expected.)

As my kids grow older…so do their opinions. Sometimes I’m unprepared for the ways my boys and I don’t see eye-to-eye. read more

Is Your Friend Considering Divorce? Ways to Help

Reading Time: 2 minutes

divorce

Heartrending news landed in the New York Post this week: Divorce rates spiked 34% between March and June this year.

According to the article, 31% admitted quarantine caused “irreparable damage” to their relationships. read more

Personal Update: The Latest in the Little Stuff

Reading Time: 8 minutes

So usually you’re following my life at a bit of a remove. But it seems (weirdly) you like a personal update on my life this side of the screen. You will not get them crazy-often, because I find The Janel Show makes me cringe like you might with a loud potato-chip eater.

But I do enjoy connecting with you people.

So here’s a list of 8 things swirling around in my life right now–as if we were sitting down for a latte. (Decaf, please. I am told people like me should not be caffeinated.) read more

End Racial Discrimination. Start at Home, with These Ideas

Reading Time: 3 minutes

end racial discriminationI know I wasn’t the only mom whose gut sunk like a stone when I heard of the death (“passing” seems a misnomer) of George Floyd. Just weeks after our family discussion about Ahmaud Arbery, we sat down in lieu of online church to talk again about racial discrimination.

Truth: Sometimes I wish I didn’t tell you I’d help with “uncomfortable conversations…worth having.”

But here’s another truth: Those of you readers of color probably didn’t have an option for this uncomfortable conversation with your kids. read more

So You’re Bored in Quarantine: 6 Ideas

Reading Time: 5 minutes

bored in quarantine

So for a lot of the world, boredom is real. I read in a meme that pandas can eat 13 hours a day…hence calling this a “pandemic.” Need a couple of fresh ideas while you’re bored in quarantine?

Jigsaw puzzles that get you talking.

Try these jigsaw puzzles from White Mountain with icons from the 80’s and the 90’s–serious conversation starters. (“Dad, who was Michael Jackson?”) read more

Homeschooling: 50 Ideas for Pre-K thru 1st Grade

Reading Time: 6 minutes

homeschoolingSo like it or not, we’re all homeschooling now, right?

I personally was World’s Most Reluctant Homeschooler…until surprisingly, I ended up loving it. I even learned some things about my own strengths and passions I wouldn’t have known.  (My kids eventually transferred with relative smoothness to public school.)

That very well may not be you. You might just be looking for ideas so your child, the walls, and the permanent markers stay socially distanced. read more

« Older posts

© 2024 THE AWKWARD MOM

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑

Show Buttons
Hide Buttons