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Tuesday, March 14, 2023

MOTHER'S DAY SHOPPING IDEAS

As a work from home mom, who runs a few online businesses (affiliate, graphic design, health & wellness and beauty) and also spends most days, home-schooling and "Ubering" my kids around, I know things can get hectic sometimes, especially, when it comes to remembering dates, birthdays and making time for shopping.  However, one date I think we can all agree to remember is: MOTHER'S DAY!  

Whether you are shopping for your own mom, bonus mom, grandmother, aunt, wife, sister, best friend, a dog mom or that special mother figure in your life, below you can find some great gift ideas and links, you can purchase straight from your laptop or phone.

SHOP FOR THE WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE

BEST MOM EVER GIFT BOX

Avon
                BEAUTY GIFTS
JEWELRY FOR MOM
              
    



Self Love
SELF LOVE HOODIE

                   
                         CHAOS COORDINATOR COFFEE MUG
                                   




Moms
MOMMIN' AIN'T EASY T-SHIRT

                    
Gift Basket for Mom or Wife
MAKE THEIR DAY GIFT BASKET
          


CANDLE FOR MOM

           Mother's Day Gifts
            YOU ARE AWESOME GIFT BASKET
CANDLE FOR WIFE

              
   
Toiletry Bag
THANKFUL CANDLE
Best Mom Ever
BEST MOM EVER PLANTER


Mother's Day Gift Ideas

MOTHER/DAUGHTER CANDLE              


PLANNER - AWAKENED SELF


Saturday, March 11, 2023

A POSITIVE DIRECTION: Helping Your Kids to Make Healthy Decisions

Modern life can bring with it all kinds of risky temptations for teenagers, and as a parent, it is not always easy to stay on top of things. But if you’re willing to read up and exercise some patience, it is possible to educate and help your children make healthy choices. 

Here some examples of how to start: 

Healthy Eating

In the age of smartphones, junk food is only ever a tap away. With the unhealthy options so easily accessible, it can be difficult for children and teenagers to resist indulging in fried foods, burgers, and soft drinks. Fortunately, there are also incentives to drag us all in a more positive dietary direction - Instagram, for example, has given rise to a healthy-eating counterculture. Sometimes, just by introducing a young person to positive, diet-focused influencers, you can shape their eating habits for the better.
 
Another great way to get the kids eating healthier is by introducing them to new recipes. Cooking is, in itself, an enjoyable activity when done right. Many children (and especially teenagers) would love to be more self-sufficient, and cooking could give them more independence as well as an outlet for stress. If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of excellent recipes online that can be prepared by amateurs.

Exercise
 
It’s difficult to overstate the importance of exercise in the life of a growing child but many kids aren’t getting nearly enough daily exercise. Trying to get them engaged in sports and physical activity is a struggle when there is so much viewing content and video games on offer. The key is often to give them the choice - by appealing to a child’s self-interest you can often incentivize them to volunteer to exercise.
 
Another way to interest them involved in physical activity is to possibly add a home gym. A basement, garage, or unused bedroom makes a great spot for a gym. Start off slow by investing in some rubber flooring, resistance bands, and a few weights. If you’re planning on making more substantial upgrades, be sure to track updates as certain improvements can raise the value of your home. 
 
If your child is someone who engages with online multiplayer games, there’s a good chance that he or she is competitive. This is also an advantage if you’re trying to steer them towards exercise, as team sports will appeal to their sense of competition and often provide some much-needed relief from any pent-up stress or frustration. If they have had bad experiences with one sport, it might be worth suggesting another - just remember, ultimately this will have to be their choice and by pushing too hard you can create push-back.
 
Dating
 
Dating apps are now an inextricable part of life for young people and there are some built specifically for teenagers (ages 13-18.) Many young people have positive experiences through these apps but they also come with some risks. As a parent, it’s useful to define your own parameters on what is and what isn’t appropriate when it comes to online dating but, if you can’t keep the kids away from their phones, the next best thing is to open a constructive dialogue. By listening to their point of view and sharing your own, you may find you’re able to compromise and create some rules together.
 
Safety is always the primary concern when it comes to teens and dating - this is true on and offline. To help keep your child/teenager safe when exploring new apps, it is important to observe good advice. A match should always have a verified profile, and it’s not uncommon to talk virtually on video before meeting in real life. Just keeping your kids informed on these issues is a surefire way to encourage caution.
 
Growing up is never easy and part of that is making mistakes and part of being a parent is forgiving them and understanding their "growing pains." And it is very important to always try to steer them in the right direction to make healthy decisions. 

Just remember to always keep conversations light and open.

 

Guest Blog Post:
Cheryl Conklin
Wellness Central

Wellness is central to a happy life.




(Image source by Pexels)

 
Visit Mommy Warrior Lady for family-oriented articles, recipes, shopping links and tips on life as a mom raising kids, running a business from home!


Self Care Sticker




Wednesday, March 1, 2023

EATING YOU ALIVE

 

Recently, I watched a documentary called, "Eating You Alive," which only re-emphasized what most of us know, that the obesity problem in this Country is only getting worse. “Nearly 30.4 million people die each year from chronic diseases and $3.8 trillion spent in healthcare costs in the U.S. alone for treating what the CDC defines as "among most common, costly and preventable of all health problems." 

Through their slick marketing and corporate greed, "they" are killing us all! Whether we live in subsidized housing or affluent neighborhoods, one thing we have in common is that we are getting addicted to sugary drinks and seriously unhealthy foods, being marketed to us all.  

"We are eating ourselves into our graves." There is no profit in health and ultimately that is what it boils down to...greed, power and money and all at the cost of our health.

 

Sugary drinks

 

Most of us remember those science projects ^ we did or even helped our children with, that showed a visual representation of the amount of sugar in our soft drinks and juices.  Not much has changed - only the number of people addicted to soft drinks and sugary sodas and more options with tons of sugar or artificial sweeteners. Sugar causes measurable inflammation inside of our artery walls causing major damage to our cells.


Please take the time to watch, preferably with your spouse/partner and/or family members. It is not anything we haven't already known, but once in a while, it is good to be reminded of the harm we are causing our bodies, simply with our diet.


WATCH HERE:

Eating You Alive Video


We have to take charge of our OWN health as best as possible because the obesity epidemic is a serious problem in this country, actually, globally, and only going to get worse, especially if we don't change our eating habits and focus on BALANCING our LEPTIN & ADIPONECTIN levels!



Monday, January 9, 2023

14 POSITIVE PARENTING STRATEGIES TO RAISE A HAPPY CHILD

Parenting is one of the most fulfilling jobs imaginable. Yet, it can also be one of the most difficult - mainly because you are tasked with raising a tiny person who is helpless, dependent on your guidance, and will be fully formed by the time they can decide on their own. But there is hope! Significantly improved parenting styles have been created in recent years to make this process easier for both parents and children.


Positive parenting is a unique style of parenting that provides a relaxing, nurturing environment where children can feel secure and develop as individuals. Children need both structure and freedom in their lives but can be exposed to unconditional love (i.e., not being disciplined by varying degrees of anxiety, anger, or frustration) - which is the heart of positive parenting.


Children may not have words to express their feelings. They are more likely to act out their anxiety and stress through their behavior. As parents, you must teach your children discipline in a positive manner to strengthen your bond with your kids. So here are the best positive parenting strategies you can use.


Positive Parenting Strategies to Raise a Happy Child


1. The Early Years Matter

The early years are crucial for children, especially in the first five years of their lives. During this time, children can store and learn the basic information that enables them to carry out certain tasks. During this period, parents must ensure that they instill confidence and trust in their child, which will facilitate child cooperation, healthy interaction, and social skills.


2. Follow a Routine

Babies and small children love routine because it makes everyday activities easier. Schedule a time each day where your child will have fun with a routine like feeding and rocking the baby to sleep, reading bedtime books together, or playing a game. These simple activities will teach your child confidence and happiness, which will help your child thrive mentally, socially, and physically. In addition, regular meals encourage the healthy growth of children by keeping them full of energy throughout the day.


3. Learn the Basics

It is essential to understand that kids grow every minute of the day and that particular tasks like crawling, sitting, and standing are age-specific. Provide your kid time and space to be ready to cross a certain milestone. There's no need to rush! Each small child is unique and grows at different paces. What's ideal is not to compare your small child with other kids, and that can be one of the best parenting strategies parents can learn.


4. Be Good Role Models

Children love to imitate their parents, so provide a role model by demonstrating good behavior and being a dependable leader for your child to follow. Practice what you preach by being generous around the house, for instance, offering to pick up toys as well as helping your kids with their homework. Or, If you want your kid to wash their hands after playing outside, you should wash your hands too after getting back from your work.


5. Concentrate on Daily Chores

It is important to include your child in the day-to-day activities you do at home. Getting your kid involved can help them get used to daily routines that involve chores. Let them play with your keys, let them clean up their toys, and sit on the toilet seat! It will help them understand how to control themselves and develop confidence in doing household chores for later life.


6. Bond Over Fitness

Exercise as a family can be an enjoyable experience for you and your small children. Take up activities that you all like, for instance, swimming, playing basketball, or attending dance classes. Spending at least an hour every day on exercise and physical activity can make a world of difference to children's overall development and growth. 


7. Family Meal Time

Eating a meal together can help to strengthen the bonds between parents and children. All the important features of positive parenting strategies can be encapsulated into that family meal, building a positive impression on your kid's future. It is an ideal time to engage in conversations and discuss each member's day and how it went. Mealtimes are excellent for meaningful conversations and laughter. Family mealtime is also an excellent opportunity to foster early healthy eating habits in your child.


8. Invest in Yourself

You are the most important parent as you are bound to shape your child's future. So make sure that you get enough sleep and manage your stress levels. If you are out of balance, then it will be hard for you to create a healthy and secure environment for your small child to live in. It is important to regularly shower, keep yourself fit with exercise and eat well because these things will help your child regulate their moods. 


9. Work as a Partner with Your Child

Children are more likely to be more cooperative with their parents when they feel as though they are a part of the family. When spending time with your child, talk and interact naturally. Children can't tell you how they feel, but it is important to listen and respond according to how they are feeling. Often, children don't know what needs to be repaired or what is broken or damaged but only know that their world has shifted from under them, and the way forward is unclear.


10. Let Your Parenthood Define You

Another parenting strategy you can follow is to manage your own time accordingly. Let your coworkers or colleagues know that you have a young child waiting for you at home. So instead of expecting your coworkers to understand that you need to leave on time, set your boundaries yourself, right from the start. Be a wise worker and use your time wisely to finish your work and have adequate time for your family.


11. Grandparents Are Blessings

A grandparent can be a great support system for a young couple with small children. They can help babysit, allow you to go out for dinner or a date night, help you with laundry, housecleaning, and cooking meals when you are too tired. Above all, grandparents have years of experience, so they offer their wisdom and help guide parents through the maze of parenting strategies. The more interaction with the extended family, the better your kid's overall development. 


12. Kids Need Kids

Another parenting strategy is to allow your children to be around other children. You can arrange playdates with your kid's friends so that they can share experiences, get to know each other better, and learn to become socially conscious. They develop language skills and learn new activities from each other. They also learn how to be a friend, share things with friends and get along well with others.


13. Understand and Acknowledge the Disappointments of Your Kids

Good parenting strategies involve understanding and acknowledging the disappointments of your kids. Ask them what is bothering them and why they are sad because that will give you an insight into their world. It will help you to understand your kid's minds better, increase their confidence and make them feel more secure. It is important to listen to your kid's stories, show appreciation for their efforts, assure them that they did a good job, and be proud of it.


14. Self-Control for Screen Time

There is no denying that video games and television can play a major role in child development. But the parents must monitor how much time the kids spend on screen and their emotional reactions after playing such addictive games. The screen time should be minimal, as too much screen time during childhood can have a negative impact on children's well-being as adults. You should also communicate to your children what you think is alright for them to watch or play and which activities are okay to avoid altogether.


Parenting is indeed tough, but it is priceless when you see how your kid grows up to become a responsible and thoughtful human being. While raising your kids, you may consider following these strategies to make their childhood more enjoyable and help them become responsible adults.


Guest Author Bio

Andrea is currently the head of content management at SpringHive Web Design Company, a digital agency that provides creative web design, social media marketing, email marketing, and search engine optimization services to small businesses and entrepreneurs. She is also a blog contributor at Baby Steps Preschool where she writes story time themes, parenting tips, and seasonal activities to entertain children.






Friday, December 30, 2022

HUMANITY NEEDS TO HEAL AS WE ENTER 2023

HELLO! 🙋🏼🤗 As we get ready to start another new year, I thought it would be perfect timing to share some take-a-way points I got from a video I watched on Instagram live, a while back by Jolene Star on how "Humanity Needs to Heal!" 🙏🏻

Please take the time to watch this with an open mind and an open heart! 💙🙏🏻 Please share (re-post) so more people can listen to how important it is that HUMANITY HEALS, as ONE! 🌎 We are at a very crucial time in humanity, where we need to put in the work individually on "leveling up," so that we can collectively come together and rise up to help heal humanity and the Universe.

 

 Here are some take-a-ways from this video:

  1. Humanity is addicted to chaos. It is so easy to get drained."
  2. We have an entire life to live out and we have contracts sometimes "soul contracts."
  3. We have come here (Earth) to finish contracts."
  4. We need to raise the frequency inside of ourselves - self love
  5. Pick where your energy needs to go, where you can help.
  6. Forgive yourself
  7. How we forgive ourselves is how we do the work.
  8. Can we forgive ourselves for the choices that we've made?
  9. Do not look outside yourself for your leader.
  10. If it's not a "hell yeah" in your gut, then don't attach to it.
  11. It is time to speak our truth, to be good to each other.
  12. Create your own community.
  13. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. 
  14. It is all a journey back to the self.
  15. We need to find our "magic," our power.
  16. We ARE the ONES we've been waiting for!!!


We must FOCUS on bringing LIGHT back into the world so that LOVE trumps hate.  LOVE ALWAYS WINS!

 

 

Love is the ultimate source! Love Always Wins 💙❤️

 

 

Love Always Wins

 

Saturday, September 17, 2022

EXCITED TO BE AWAKEND

Awakend Founding Club Member
I haven’t been this excited about a product in a long time! 🙌🏻 Actually, probably never and I have been with my fair share of health and wellness companies. This is going to be life-changing for sooo many people! 🎉

If you are like me and you’re tired of those extra pounds that you can’t seem to lose no matter how much you exercise and diet, you’re going to want to read this. 👇🏻

Whether it’s because you put on extra weight during quarantine time or whether you’re in peri/pre-menopause, maybe your hormones are out of whack or maybe you just simply can’t get to your goal weight, this may be for YOU! 👀

Here is an explanation as to why you may be gaining weight no matter what you do:

As we gain weight, our fat cells and leptin levels increase. This increase creates what is known as LEPTIN Resistance. This increased LEPTIN disrupts the communication to our brain and therefore causes us to over eat. 

Snacking, looking for food in the pantry even after you had dinner, incessant nighttime food cravings, feeling hungry all the time? 

Sound familiar? 

This disrupted communication from excess leptin, tells us to keep eating and store more fat instead of “stop eating and burn fat,” which consequently results in eating more and unwanted weight gain. It’s a vicious circle of hormonal imbalance.

The good news is…I have a product that can help with this! 😎 I partnered with a company that has the exclusive global rights to this product, that helped the average participant lose 21.3 pounds in a clinical study. 

It is an all-natural fat-loss accelerator that specifically targets LEPTIN Resistance, with no stimulants, no caffeine, and is gluten-free, & soy-free. 

🎯 If you too, are carrying more pounds on your body for your height, you may be leptin resistant.

This product is not only effective but it is backed by science with an eight week clinical trial and the formula has a double patent and is made in the USA! 🇺🇸 We are launching in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and Canada too! 

No matter where you live, if any of this resonates with you, or you know someone who may be impacted by this positively,  let’s chat so we can get your order in now while we are still in pre-launch mode. Once the word spreads on this, it will go viral just like before! 🔥 You can comment here, send a direct message or email me at: LissetteRo@gmail.com

We have been settling for the status quo for way too long! It is time to get to “A Fit Place” and awaken our mind, body and soul! ✨ And that starts with the decision to say yes, a commitment to continue and the decision to be disciplined!  

Let’s crush this wellness journey and step up our game! It’s a lifestyle to be this Awakend.





Wednesday, July 13, 2022

GLOBAL WELLNESS TREND


One of the best things for me about being in the wellness industry is being able to make a positive impact in the lives of others.  In my opinion, we have come a long way since the pandemic, (and even a few years before that,) in terms of how we view wellness.

Most people, who are in the wellness industry or on a holistic health journey, are no longer willing to just “pop“ supplements without “evidence-backed immune health information.”  After a couple of years of living with the pandemic (Cv19,) most of us have learned that indeed, good health is wealth and we are demanding more of it. 

And on that note, shifting to a business perspective, I have to point out that the global wellness economy, is valued at $4.4 trillion, (as cited in the 2020 Global Wellness Institute) with the mental wellness industry being a $131 billion industry
within that category. This industry is not only growing but has gained momentum not only in our country but worldwide - it is a global trend. 

(Note: Specifically in the U.S., we are the largest market, at $1.2 trillion–nearly double the size of the second-largest market, China, at $683 billion. In fact, the US accounts for 28% of the entire global wellness market, while the top ten markets represent 71% of the world total.”)

Below are 10 Wellness Trends for 2022:

  • Dirt-y Wellness: The Health of the World’s Soil–and the Impact of Soil Exposure on Human Health–Become More Important
  • Toxic Muscularity Comes Clean
  • From Wellness Tech to Technological Wellness
  • Senior Living Disrupted
  • Wellness Travel: Seekers, Welcome
  • Innovative Tech Closing the Gender Gap in Medical Research
  • Urban Bathhouses & Wellness Playgrounds
  • Next-Gen Naturalism: The Return of Self-Reliance
  • Health & Wellness Coaching Gets Certified
  • Wellness Welcomes the Metaverse 
As we lived through our new collective reality, people began to recognize that strengthening their immune system was key to good health and protecting themselves as much as possible.  


However, many people did not have all the facts straight in their efforts to do so. 

Since then, there have been many developments in the wellness industry and in scientific research as well. 

According to an article in the Global Wellness Summit of 2021, the number one thing that can strengthen our immunity (personally and as a culture) is: to focus relentlessly on sensible, science-backed diets that drive metabolic health (and stop the profusion of trendy, complex ones that don’t).

As well as, to focus on the microbiome - that has an incredible 70% of our immune system headquartered in our “gut!” A healthy microbiome is an integral part of a health body.

The microbiome is “an outrageously complex system, and researchers are trying to crack the microbiome code, and testing will get better, with A.I. and machine-learning helping apply your byzantine gut data for personalized nutrition.”

It is this kind of information that reaffirms my alignment with that being in the health and wellness industry is the right place to be.

The Health and Mental Wellnes field is where it’s at. 

The world needs more love, more healers and more people willing to make a difference!

To learn more about some of the companies I am partnered with, visit my website and how you too can improve your hormone health, mindset and maintain a healthy work/life balance. 

Feel free to reach out to me: Lissette . My personal email is: LissetteRo@gmail.com



Heal the World


Wednesday, May 25, 2022

THE SIGNS ARE THERE

Uvalde School Shooting

PARKLAND, FL - Once again we are left with so many questions. Once again we are left heartbroken.  How does it start? How does an 18-year-old get to the point that he would wear tactical gear and arm himself with weapons and ruthlessly kill his own grandmother, 19 children and two adults? There are no words and no justification for this. What I can tell you is that this did not happen overnight. The 18-year old did not become a “killer” from one day to the next. The signs were there but no one said anything, no one did anything, he just fell through the cracks,  as so many have. Perhaps he was suffering silently with his anger or hate or insecurities? Only God knows and whether you believe his emotional well-being had anything to do with his actions or not, the fact is, in his mind, they did. 
Here we are as a nation, heartbroken at the news that young children (younger than we are use to since Sandy Hook,) were shot and killed in school in Uvalde, Texas on May 23, 2022. 

Just another day in America.

They were just little kids, ages 8-11 years old. And their teachers - my goodness, all they did was walk into work with the hopes of making the lives of their students a little better, and now 2 of those teachers are also dead. 

Now what? It’s been 4 years since the Parkland (2/14/18) school shooting and what have we done to keep our children any safer in schools? Anything that really makes a difference?

Students deserve to learn and to live without the fear of getting shot in their school or their neighborhoods. Wouldn’t you agree? 

Less than two weeks ago, a white supremacist shot and killed multiple Black people in Buffalo, New York, adding to the list of shootings and targeted violence in this Country. We have had over 200 mass shootings and it’s only the 144th day of the year. We can no longer even keep track of how many shootings and who to mourn for. It is a disgrace on a global scale. 

Again, where does the anger and hate come from? 

People will blame guns. They will argue that access to guns is way too easy in this Country and I have to say, I do agree. Then you have the other sector of society, that believes we need more guns to protect our kids in school- more police, more resource officers, more weapons, more militia etc..but how much is too much?

When you look at all the points they seem valid in their own way but why haven’t we really delved into WHAT & WHY?

What causes someone to snap and commit such evil crimes? Why did they get to this point in their lives? I have been writing about this since before my child became a survivor in a school shooting. I have always wondered why? 

I will tell you why. It is because in most cases the signs were there ever since these perpetrators were children and as parents, teachers and a community, we chose to overlook it. In some cases, it was simply because there was a lack of resources, a poor school system, or bureaucracy that got in the way.  And when you add the component of easy access to weapons, we have a volatile combination. This is the current recipe for disaster that we are living in this country.

We are allowed to believe that BOTH those factors play a role in the crisis we have on our hands. I can only hope that we are all in agreement that we cannot continue to live like this, with our children growing up in fear.

So, what are the solutions? What can we do as a nation, as a society, and as parents? 

One of the hardest jobs in the world is to be a parent. We often see our children going through things and we always believe they will “grow out of it” and almost always, they do. 

You wonder, is your angry teenager going to grow up and be an angry adult? Are their hormonal outrages something bigger - something to be concerned about? 

These are troubled waters we must navigate as parents but there comes a time when we have to recognize if something is really wrong with a child. And in my opinion, as a parent, you know. What you do thereafter is completely on your shoulders. 

We cannot continue to ignore mental health issues, nor can we promote access to weapons to children who have not fully developed in their brains. 

According to studies the development and maturation of the pre-frontal cortex, responsible for executive functions of the brain, does not fully develop until age 25. This only supports the argument that an 18, 19, 20 year old is not mature enough intellectually to make certain decisions. And in my opinion, that would include owning a weapon. 

How many times have we seen across social media platforms specifically on Twitter, families flaunting their Xmas pictures or family photos with their children holding weapons? How is this okay? 

Don’t get me wrong this has nothing to do with the Second Amendment. I am all for the right to bear arms.  However, where do we draw the line? Where does common sense begin and end? What are we teaching children when we encourage them to hold and flaunt military style weapons in family photos? You can do whatever you want but at what point do we say, society has to do its part? We can disagree on many things but we have to be in agreement that our children deserve better. No?

The right to bear arms should not outweigh the right for children to be safe in their own schools. You can be a law-abiding citizen, who owns a weapon but what I will never understand is gun owners who are not in agreement for background checks and restricting easy access to weapons. 

I don’t get it, but I digress. While I strongly believe that there must be some common sense gun reform, the purpose of this writing is to shine a light on mental wellness or lack there of.  

I worked briefly at a place that was dedicated to focusing on the cognitive behavior of children with ADHD, autism, defiance disorder and other issues that were affecting them in school and in their relationships. I chose to work there because I felt it was somewhere that I could make a real difference. I learned a lot during my brief time there.

I learned that there are parents who are really trying to help their children that have issues but that it also comes at a very high price, literally. This program cost hundreds of dollars sometimes thousands. There were many parents that seemed desperate for help but just couldn’t afford it. 

I began to question, what happens if these kids cannot enroll in the program or do not follow through in the program once enrolled? Do they get worse? Do they grow out of their troubles or could they possibly become the next school shooter? Sounds a little dramatic right? 

I saw more than a handful of kids walk through that program, that had all the tell-tale signs of being potential “trouble.” And that is not profiling - that was based on test results, behavior and past records. Of course, not all the kids were in such dire straights but those very few - those were the ones I wondered what would become of them if no one truly intervened. Those are the ones that frightened me. 

As the parent of a child who survived a school shooting, I can tell you that the perpetrator in the school shooting in Parkland, Florida was a troubled child and a bully since early on - there is evidence and testimonials to concur.  Where was the intervention then? Why did the system keep passing him along ignoring the real issues? Not every “bully” becomes a school shooter but we do have to address the fact that way too many young kids and teens are suffering in silence with their mental health. 

We are failing them somewhere along the line. Is it because of their family life? Their friends, or lack of friends, is it because of faith or lack of faith, is it because of video games or social media? It could be one of these or all of these. The questions and possibilities seem endless but doing nothing about it should not be an option. 

When are we going to step up to the plate and help troubled kids and teens? And for that matter, adults who suffer with mental health. 
It is true that there are many wonderful programs and organizations out there focused on helping these such issues but we have to DO MORE as a Country and as a collective because right now, we are failing this course in humanity. 

As a mother, as an American citizen, as a humanitarian and as a writer, I am going to do everything in my power to advocate and change the narrative around mental wellness. 

We may have grown up in a generation where this was not an issue we discussed and we didn’t know how to address it, but here we are, in 2022, in a Country broken by division, hate and a mental health crisis of epic proportions. 

It is possible to advocate for common sense gun reform, while also advocating for mental health awareness. I believe that they are intertwined.  

It is because these perpetrators have mental health issues from early and they know that they have easy access to weapons - this combination, in my opinion, breeds the atrocities we see happening that are mass shootings. 

At what point do we stop arming ourselves to the tee? Do we not realize we’re the only country that has the level of mass shootings that we do? Obviously, more guns is not the answer. 

Over 200 mass shootings and we are okay with it? Actually, not okay, but sometimes apathetic about it. The answer is not to have more guns, nor to stack schools up with more police officers. In my opinion the answer should lie in getting to the root cause of how and why did a child grow up to have such evil in their heart? Or why does an adult have so much hate in their heart that they would turn to violence? We can definitely protect our schools and our children while simultaneously addressing the root cause of the mental health issues. 

It is just like a person who is not feeling well and goes to the doctor.  If you keep giving them medicines and putting on “band-aids,” eventually the diseased body will erupt at some point, if you don’t get to the root cause of what is actually causing the problem, it will continue. 

We can no longer keep ignoring the signs we see in troubled children. We can’t save every troubled teen but they do say it “takes a village,” and it is time for that village to come together. 

The village does not mean that others will raise your child for you. Obviously, parenting is the responsibility of those who chose to have children, however, as a society and anyone with a moral compass, we should take a vested interest and do what we can to help others whether that is a child, a teen or an adult, who is struggling with their mental health. 

If we are not here to help each other and live better lives, then why are we here? 

You might think the problem is too big or we’ve gone too far to turn back. I am here to tell you that is not the case. Every piece of this puzzle counts and if you have an opportunity to lay down a piece and make a change please do so, even if that just means being a little kinder to your fellow neighbor, colleague, classmate, co-worker or anyone you think is struggling. 

So how do we begin to address this problem?  

Let me just reiterate that not only do I think there is a major mental health epidemic in this Country, but I also whole-heartedly believe that the problem is exacerbated because of easy access to weapons! And BOTH of those issues MUST BE ADDRESSED on a national level.  

In the meantime, what can we do:

✅ Vote for common sense gun reform.
✅ Call out politicians who support the NRA.
✅ Vote with your pockets/money. 
✅ Volunteer in charities that make a difference. 
✅ Advocate for better resources in our schools.
✅ Advocate for mental health awareness.
✅ Speak up or write how you think we can make positive changes.
✅ Be kind to your fellow human beings, regardless of their color or race and at the very least do not hurt them. 
✅ Thank the teachers who everyday, now put their lives on the line for our children.
✅ Ask for help! If you or your child are struggling with mental health issues, please do not be afraid to ask for help or seek holistic health solutions.
✅ Promote positivity and kindness whenever possible. 
✅ Be a mentor to a child, tween or teen - you could be the one to literally save their life. 

And in my opinion, one of the most important things we can do as parents and guardians is:

✅ Teach your children: empathy, compassion and  tolerance! 

Don’t ignore the signs. We can turn this “ship” around in many ways. It is long overdue but we need to TAKE constructive ACTION.  As my husband said the day after the Parkland shooting to the politicians: 
DO SOMETHING.” 

And now I urge you as citizens of this country, as parents and as members of society, it’s time that we ALL do something to leave a better nation and world for future generations.

-Lissette Rozenblat 


(UPDATE: Article edited sadly, with an updated count of children who were killed.)