Enough Is Enough! #SandyHook #Newton #DemandAction #VoteGunSense #Moms

*This post is part of the project, "Sorrow, Anger, ACTION! - A Gathering of Voices Against Gun Violence," organized by MomsRising, PICO Network, UltraViolet, Children's Defense Fund and the National Network to End Domestic Violence.     I have been a New York City public school teacher for the past thirteen years and, during that time, I have attended my share of funerals for past students.  Way too many of our children have become casualties of war in this feud between gun companies and our federal government.  The sad part is that it seems that the gun companies are winning the battle because more and more guns are becoming available on our streets and Congress seems to think that if we don’t talk about it, it will all go away.  "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil."     I’m here to speak for all of the mothers, fathers, family members, friends, and educators who have buried their children due to the terrible gun violence that plagues our communities like a thief that … [Read more...]

Calm Parenting: 3 Ways to Stay Calm When Your Child is Angry

  The following is a guest post by Debbie Pincus, MS LMHC.     Are you a parent who feels at a loss when your angry child screams or throws a tantrum? Do you try to “fix” your child’s behavior only to feel frustrated yourself? As a mom of three, I’ve gone through it myself—it’s not easy! The entire family seems to get turned upside-down during the chaos.     While we can’t control how our children feel, we can control how we feel. In turn, our children will learn how to better manage their own emotions. Getting calm is hard when children are reactive, and staying calm is a whole other story. But it is possible to be a “calm parent.” How? Here are three tips: 1.  Don’t take it personally. Your child is not you, and you can’t control their reaction. So many parents think their children are extensions of themselves, and that’s not true. Don’t fall into the trap of taking on their emotions or blaming yourself. By not taking their screaming or anger personally, you will stay … [Read more...]

Competition’s Influence on the Executive Image

This post is part of the Executive Image series started by Daria (aka @MominManagement). I am honored to participate with her and five other amazing women on this topic. For more about the series, visit Daria’s website, MominManagement.     You are a complete package, professionally.  Every aspect of your persona within your career is crucial to your long-term success and how you are perceived by your colleagues.  Unfortunately, there is a lot of competition involved in being a member of the workplace.  Everyone wants to be the best in their field or at the top of their game so it is imperative that you focus on always improving yourself internally, externally, and professionally. Also, always take inventory of the agendas of those working around you. Unfortunately, there are many factors that influence the competitive agendas around you.  These factors can have a broad range but, for women in the workplace, it seems that their own worst enemy in terms of competition is other … [Read more...]