For decades, working parents — and mothers in particular — have been calling for more flexibility to juggle their personal and professional responsibilities. Finally, a global pandemic forced many employers to give it to them. Office workers were sent home en masse to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, along the way testing out their companies’ capacity to maintain operations with a dispersed workforce — and challenging some long-held notions about how productivity is best achieved.

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Perception is a powerful thing. It is a way of regarding, understanding or interpreting something; a mental impression. Simply put… the way we see things. 

Never in a million years would I have thought that I’d be graced with an opportunity to raise two amazing young men. I am truly honored to share the role of a parent with both my husband and our oldest son’s biological mother. We are so very proud of the man that he has become! We also have a seven-year-old, our youngest son… well, let’s just say we met in the principal’s office.

Two years ago, I served as a principal at a Christian school. Every day was filled with laughter, tears, and adventures. Eighty percent of those adventures revolved around one student. Clyde.  Amongst all of our students, I’d never seen a kindergartener with such heart and character as Clyde. Clyde was the smallest little boy on campus, yet he was the school’s greatest advocator. It was nothing for little Clyde to walk up to an eighth-grader and make demands on behalf of his kindergarten classmates. He would never pick a fight, but he always seemed to know just how to end one. When he didn’t have enough muscle power to win a fight, he used love and forgiveness to win the war.  These are the kinds of lessons that I learned from little Clyde on a daily basis. 

Fast forward to the end of the school year… Clyde and I are officially mother and son! God is good and faithful. I would have never imagined on the first day of school that Clyde and I would be bonding in more ways than one. One of the most meaningful factors about our relationship is that I am very transparent with him. I share with him that he is my teacher. My son has my eyes. God uses him to teach me about myself and how to respond to others in need. God uses his eyes to help me see things from a different perspective. I told Clyde that I gain a better understanding of life and God through his perception of life and who God is. It is amazing to see how much pride he takes in knowing that he is a part of my growth just as much as I am of his or more. I encourage my son daily by reminding him that as he continues to learn about God, life, and people it is his duty to teach others what he has learned. Make a mistake, learn from the mistake, testify and share with others what was learned. This helps him to become a realistic, touchable and empathetic role model. 

One more thing. After about three months of living with us, Clyde woke up one morning and ran downstairs to the kitchen declaring that God showed him what he was supposed to do with his life and the reason he was born. Imagine a five-year-old, running downstairs screaming, “I’ve got it! I’ve got it! I know what God wants me to do!” 1. Tell people about God and 2. Play baseball. What’s so special about this is that, just three months prior, he was unexpectedly removed from his family and wasn’t sure if he would ever get to see his mom again whom he loves so much. Clyde had already declared that he had forgiven the people who had taken him away “(CPI/DCF)” and he still loves everybody. It was after he had openly and willingly forgiven “everybody” that God revealed to him what he was born to do. What did I learn? I learned that you really won’t know who you are and have an understanding of your full potential until you demonstrate love and forgiveness. Moms, please tell your sons how important they are to your personal and spiritual growth. Tell them that they have your eyes.  You want to see what they are seeing so that you can be a better mom.

I was his Principal. Clyde was my teacher. Now we are mother and son and together we are students in the school of love and forgiveness. 

He’s Got My Eyes – ‘Shea Edwards
November 1, 2019
You can reach Shea Edwards at   Education Rebound     Shea Edwards

Our season is changing. Preston is 18 and Ashton is 12. Growth appears to become faster with Ashton. He admires his older brother so much. I am trying to embrace it, but my heart is aching.

It aches for those days when they wanted their mama. The days that they’d hop into my bed and giggle about something corny or when they’d just give me a hug, for no reason at all. The most handsome faces and tall bodies have taken the place of chubby cheeks and tiny hands. I often find myself staring at them with a smile. I am Just proud of their growth. Physically and spiritually.

Their little sisters are 4 and 6 so I still get to hear little voices every day, I will forever miss the sound of my sweet boys’ voices. There is something so special between a mom and her sons.

The seasons of life…. boy, do they creep up on you. God’s plan is so much better than ours but today, I am pondering on those days that are past. Remembering my “little” boys.

Kim Strother
Proud Mama
Louisiana

It’s important to get enough sleep. Sleep helps keep your mind and body healthy. As a new school year, starts sleep will definitely be important for your children and you as the busy schedules begin.  Many people believe they can work well with limited sleep, but it will catch up with you.  Encourage your high school and college students to not do all-night study sessions before a test.  They should study a little each day which will better prepare them to have clarity and focus when taking a test.  SLEEP IS YOUR SUPERPOWER

How much sleep do I need?
Most adults need 6 to 8 hours of good quality sleep on a regular schedule each night. Make changes to your routine if you can’t find enough time to sleep.

Getting enough sleep isn’t only about total hours of sleep. It’s also important to get good quality sleep on a regular schedule so you feel rested when you wake up.

How much sleep do children need?
Kids need even more sleep than adults. (Recommendation)

• Teens need 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night.
• School-aged children need 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night.
• Preschoolers need to sleep between 10 and 13 hours a day (including naps).
• Toddlers need to sleep between 11 and 14 hours a day (including naps).
• Babies need to sleep between 12 and 16 hours a day (including naps).

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1. Set your kids’ sleep schedules back to “school time” two weeks before the first day of school.

2. Get your kids involved in programs they can do after school to keep them active.

3. Visit cultural attractions like museums to shift their brains into “school mindsets”.

4. Hire an after-school sitter or Nanny In the City if you are in Nashville, TN to help care for your kids while you’re at work.

5. Have your kids visit a library or bookstore to pick out a book to read before the school year begins.

6. Remind your children about the calendar schedule they’ll use to manage their activities.

7. Try apps like Homeworksuite or my homework to help your kids organize assignments.

8. Set up weekly meetings to review your kids’ schedules for the week(s) ahead.

9. Create a family calendar that tracks everyone’s activities and schedules

10. Revisit your rules about screen time for the school year.

11. Give kids a specific day when they can choose all the activities you do together.

12. Determine your family prayer time for the week

13. Teach your kids to prioritize their assignments by making to-do lists with deadlines.

14. Make sure to also include fun times after a long week of homework and busy schedules

Yolanda Shields, Author Speaker

All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace. Isaiah 54:13

1. Let your children see you praying

2. Pray with your children

3. Let them know that prayer is just a conversation with God

4. Talk with them about answered prayers

Order your Letters to Our Sons Book and Journal

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As we celebrate another Mother’s Day this would be a great time to write a letter to your son(s). Tag us on FACEBOOK if you have a letter to share

Letters to our Sons, Yolanda Conley Shields debut book is penned in a heartfelt, entertaining and motivational tone offering scriptural support as well as insightful steps to encourage mothers facing life’s challenges. With diverse, comedic and heartbreaking stories, Letters to our Sons captures the struggles and victories mothers face day-to-day raising their sons and offers helpful and relatable words of wisdom and inspiration. As a mother, you want the finest for your son, but the battle can be tough with peer pressure and societal

influence. Letters to our Sons is sure to leave you encouraged and equipped to not only write your own son a letter but to partner with God to shape and move your son to live out the purposes God has designed for his life. This book is sure to create, grow and shape the unique bonds mothers have with their sons and make it last a lifetime!