Let me begin by telling you all that I have never been a big fan of minivans. When I was a teenager, my father had one and it was never my favorite vehicle of all the ones he had over the years. Last Spring, we had the opportunity to check out the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and I definitely changed my mind! This is definitely not my father's minivan! Imagine my exhilaration this past month when I was told that I would actually have the opportunity to drive the new Pacifica and enjoy it with my family. You guys know that I am always very honest with you guys about products or vehicles that I have had the pleasure, or displeasure, of reviewing with my family. I simply cannot stop raving about how amazing this car is, it really does everything that you could possibly imagine a car doing. Not to mention that it is just stunning to look at. We … [Read more...]
Increasing Communication Between You And Your Tween
Wouldn’t it be great to increase communication between you and your tween? The question is: how do you make that happen? Communication is an important part of parenting, no matter what stage you are at. Here are some tips to help you make increased communication a reality. Have a Date Night Spend time one-on-one with your tween. Some parents refer to this as a mommy-daughter date night or a father-son date night. It’s just a special night where the parent and tween spend time together. This is a time for you to know what’s going on with your tween and to hear what they have to say without much interruption. Talk About It It seems as though talking about things is such a thing of the past. Families are too busy with life that they forget to chat and catch up. Talking about life is one way to increase communication between you and your tween. It’s possible to understand what’s going on in your tween’s life, you just have to make that effort. After a while, they’ll see you … [Read more...]
Boost Your Teen’s Confidence With Clearasil! #ClearasilMom #MC @Clearasil #Sponsored
*I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Clearasil. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. My tween son is always on-the-go. He has basketball practice twice a week as well as at least two basketball games per week. As if that wasn't enough, he is also involved in his school's drama team and participates in a traveling basketball team that competes out of state during the Spring. As he is getting closer to officially becoming a teen, I have noticed some subtle changes in his skin. Not only is it oilier, but I have seen some slight acne rear its head from time to time. Both his father and I have always had oily skin and dealt with acne during adolescence so we are trying to instill in him the importance of keeping his face clean at all times to prevent breakouts. We know how embarrassing acne can have a negative effect on a teenager's self-esteem and … [Read more...]
Monitor Your Child’s Mobile Phone Or Internet Usage! @WebSafetyInc #Ad
As many of you know, my eleven-year old son just recently got his own mobile phone less than a year ago. I really wasn't considering even getting him one until he started playing basketball for his school team. Due to regular practices during the week and games on the weekends, it became important for his father and I to be able to communicate with him to find out when we should head out to pick him up. Before we even purchased the phone, we had a long family meeting where we established the rules around him having a phone and asked him to commit to abiding by those rules at all times. Although our son has done a pretty good job of using his new phone responsibly, there have been a few instances where I had to use the parental controls to limit the access to some of the websites that he was visiting. Many of them weren't overtly inappropriate but I felt the humor or content wasn't a good fit for a boy his age. As a parent and educator, I'm also worried about the threat … [Read more...]
We Attended The Toyota Teen Driver Safety Clinic! #TeenDrive365 @Toyota #Ad
*This is part of a sponsored campaign with Toyota. However, all opinions expressed are my own. Last week, my tween and I had the pleasure of attending a FREE “Teen Driver Safety Clinic” for teens and their parents at the CityWorld Toyota dealer here in the Bronx. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to demonstrate to my son how critical it is to learn as much as we can about the vehicles that we drive, the roads that we use, and to teach him what a serious responsibility being a driver is. Toyota dealers in the New York and New Jersey Tri-state area are hosting a series of FREE TeenDrive365 Safety Clinics in the months of September and October. The experience includes a safe driving simulator along with a classroom learning session that covers defensive driving tips, car operations, car safety features, and basic maintenance. Toyota understands that the driver is the best safety device in any car and want to teach teens that, once they get behind the wheel, it's up … [Read more...]
Keep Teens Safe: Free Teen Drive Safety Clinics In NY And NJ! #TeenDrive365 @Toyota #Ad
*This is part of a sponsored campaign with Toyota. However, all opinions expressed are my own. As a parent of a Tween here in New York City, I know that it is only a matter of time before he is old enough to want to go and get his driving permit. Although I understand his excitement at being able drive and asserting his independence, I worry about him driving safely in an urban environment. I was a teenager once so I understand how peer pressure and the fact that teenagers think they are invincible can be a dangerous combination when it comes to driving. Looking back on when I started driving, I wish someone would have taught me how to do some basic upkeep on my car. It would have been great to know how to check the oil and possibly change a tire back when I was driving around in my old jalopy. It's actually quite embarrassing how many times I became stranded on the side of the road and had to call my parents to come and pick me up because something went … [Read more...]
Commit Your School To Safe Teen Driving! #ManejaConCuidado @StateFarmLatino #Giveaway #Ad
*This is part of a sponsored collaboration with State Farm and Latina Mom Bloggers. However, all opinions expressed are my own. Two years ago, I attended the wake of one of my former students who was killed in a car accident. He was not the driver of the vehicle but the driver was another teenager who had just recently gotten his driver's license. It was heartbreaking to see such a young person have his promising life cut short so early. I vowed that day to help raise awareness about safe teen driving which is why I am proud to support State Farm's Celebrate My Drive® campaign. It is geared towards sharing the belief that safe driving is a lifelong commitment from the first moment each young driver sits behind the wheel. The number one cause of death among teens in North America. As the mother of a tween son who will soon be old enough to get a driver's license, I love that Celebrate My Drive® helps to promote responsible driving practices like 2N2®: 2 eyes on the … [Read more...]
