Parents: Give The Gift of Music

I love music and so does my daughter.  Although neither of us is a gifted singer or musician, we have always shared our love of music with each other.  Music is a universal language. “Mommy and Me” classes that encourage parents to bond with their young children through singing and dancing have increased in popularity in recent years.  Whether it played on the radio on their first date or they selected it to commemorate their first dance at their wedding, all of us know couples who have a special song.  One of the most memorable episodes of ‘The Cosby Show” was when Rudy led the family in a musical performance for the Huxtable grandparents’ anniversary.  Unless you’ve been under a rock, you’ve heard about rapper Jay-Z’s musical tribute to his daughter Blue Ivy.  The song “Glory” may be the most popular celebrity song at the moment but Jay-Z is not the first artist to create a song for their child.  Lauryn Hill created the song “Zion” for her first born.  Will Smith dedicated the song “Just The Two Of Us” to his son.  K-Ci and Jo Jo’s hit “All My Life” was penned for Jo Jo’s daughter.  The song that most celebrates my love for my daughter is “For You I Will” by Monica from the Space Jam soundtrack.

Foster Teens: Handle With Care

Resilient – rebounding; recovering readily from adversity; returning to its original form after being stretched or bent

Do you recall your teen years with favor and joy?  For many of us adolescence was a challenging time.  Acne, raging hormones, peer pressure, and uncertainty plagued many of us.  Although we may have had the body of an adult, our teen brains had not fully developed.  Our views were shaped by other teens that were just as unsure of where they fit in the world as we were.  We were stuck in an unfamiliar place — no longer children but not yet adults.

Stability and positive discipline help teens thrive. Rules and boundaries offer safety and security.  Rules and boundaries also show teens that someone cares about their present and their future.  The obstacles in adolescence are often magnified for youth who are a part of the foster care system.  Think about it.  Who do you trust when you are unsure of how long you will live in the place where you are right now?  Who can exhibit patience and understanding to help you overcome abuse, abandonment, or apathy?  Who do you believe really “has your back” when you have lived in 3 different places in the last year and a half?