Everyone’s Talking
About the United State of Women Summit being hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Why do I care?
The summit will bring to the forefront conversations of equal pay, women’s health care, education, violence against women, entrepreneurship and leadership, and civic engagement. If you are a woman or you are raising a daughter, this summit is compelling. Plus, Oprah and Tina Fey are part of Michelle’s squad for this event. #SquadGoals
Tell me more.
While the summit has been maxed out at 5,000 participants and is no longer accepting new registrants, you can access the summit live, June 14th online. The summit promises to be chock full of fantastic information and empowering discussions for all women. We for one plan to tune in and follow the hashtag #UnitedStateofWomen on all social for the summit duration June 14th and 15th.
That’s What She Said
We all have ‘Sh*tty Mom’ moments, and in recent years, those moments have been embraced in the form of books of the same name by TODAY Show producers Alicia Ybarbo and Mary Ann Zoellner. The beauty of books like this is they make us all feel less alone in our epic fails as parents.
So as we begin the summer routine, the authors of Sh*tty Mom have some great tips for how to embrace the crazy and cut yourself a break. Our favorites include:
- Don’t hallucinate about a summer reading list. Let’s be real, if they crack a book because they want to, it’s a win for you. Otherwise, keep your expectations in check.
- Letting your kids weasel out of activities you’ve already booked is a no-go. You’ll regret it, we promise.
- Drop them off at library activities. They’re free, it’s a no brainer.
Don’t be afraid to do other Sh*tty Mom things as well, like:
- Use the ‘toxic death cream’. Do like Sara Kallies, a mom to twins toddlers, and lather them in what she calls the ‘toxic death cream’, also known as sunscreen, if you already paid the money for it. You can purchase the safer version the next go around. We all know we’ll be going through vats of it this summer.
In the Trenches
Memorial Day began the 100 deadliest days for teen drivers. So how do we help them with their distracted ways to keep them safe in these summer months and beyond while they are behind the wheel?
- There’s an app for that. While your teen may have the best of intentions to do the right thing while driving, and not pick up their phone, that can be tough to follow through with if the phone goes off. Let’s be real. Download an app that activates when a car is in motion, and locks the phone – you’re increasing your child’s chances for safety. And, yours for that matter.
- Model the behavior you want to see. How many of you have picked up your phone at a stop light with your kids in the car? How about while actually driving? In 2012, a study was released that showed that teens often learned their behavior from their less than stellar parents who drove while distracted. Texting is the worst distraction for drivers, and not worth it. Just say no.
- Establish rules together for safe driving. A recent report shows that teens who had firm rules discussed ahead of getting behind the wheel were safer drivers. They were 10 times more likely to not drive after drinking, less likely to text and drive, and more likely to wear their seat belts. Consider a written agreement to establish the rules and set the tone for accountability.
Parting Thought for the Day
It’s easier to build strong children, than to repair broken men. -Frederick Douglass
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