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Winning Words: Dec 2018
Tangible, memorable, real experiences have the most impact on our lives. Even now, take a moment to remember an experience that encouraged you, exhilarated you, gave you joy…and to this day you remember its impact. Perhaps it set you in a new direction, made a lasting...
Still needs me…
As my daughter looked up at me, I saw her beautiful blue eyes begging for an answer through her tears. There were so many firsts that rushed through my mind with her as my oldest child. The first time she skinned her knee, the first time she lost a tooth,...
Winning Word – November – HONOR
As we shared earlier this month, Winning Words is an elementary school parent pickup outreach of encouragement for families. Strong families are the best deterrent against substance use in our youth. Drug Free Charlotte County continues to hand out Winning Word...
Winning Words
Drug Free Charlotte County has recently started an elementary school outreach to encourage resiliency and unity in families. Something as simple as a reminder of what we already know to do - but forget to do, is sometimes all it takes to make a difference. Winning...
Its Overdose Awareness Day
It’s "Fri-yay"!!! We’ve made it through another long week of “please cover your mouth when you sneeze” carpools, “if you don’t sign I get in trouble” agenda signing, “I hate sandwiches” lunch packing, “I need another drink of water” bedtimes, “I forgot my cleats”...
Under Pressure…
As we pulled out of the school parking lot yesterday, I asked my 12-year-old how her day was. “Fine”, was apparently all she could muster. I continued to prod with questions about her new classes and teachers, if she had any old friends in her classes, etc. until eventually she made some sassy remark to me basically saying she didn’t want to talk about it. I can’t remember her exact words because I’m pretty sure I was seeing red by that point in shock that this 12-year-old, whom I do everything for, was seriously talking to me in that tone of voice! After a few minutes of silence though, while I tamed the dragon inside of me that wanted to spew fire out, I asked her “what’s wrong”. She said she was just stressed out.
Back to School!
As you, like so many of us, prepare to add onto our news feed that picture collage full of our kids in their backpacks headed off to a new year of school, you may be feeling teary eyed or nostalgic. Or, if you’re like me - you are just plain ready to hug a teacher...
Parent Talk: Stages of Summer
"I'm bored". The dreaded summer whining that parents everywhere are trying to avoid hearing at least for the first few weeks of summer. There's always "those parents" who seem to have every moment of summer booked with life changing enrichment activities, but most...
The Lost Art of “Tête-a-Tête”
For those of us in the boomer generation, we remember family dinners around the table with face-to-face conversations about our day, current events, and a multitude of other topics. No cell phones, no tablets, no computers, no iPads, and no TV during dinner. Little...
Poison Prevention Week
In honor of National Poison Prevention Week, we are sharing a compilation of Poison Control Tips for our partners at our Poison Control Center! #PreventPoison #NPPW18 #PoisonHelp Prescription Medications: Keep away from children, take as directed, and avoid...
Parent Talk:Your Teens and Relationships
At times, those of us in prevention can sound like a broken record when it comes to the important role of parents in preventing youth substance use. While it may be readily accepted as a truth in parenting, we may not always follow up with the “how”… Well, here we are...
Chocolate Chips and Connecting
As I moved at a snail’s pace at the parent drop off line at the first of three schools for the day, I found myself looking at all the cars and kiddos as they exited. I wondered what kind of parents were in each of them. I found myself being very judgy…of myself. The...
Setting Rules
As I browse through my TimeHop app and see pictures of my children just a few years ago, I am painfully aware that I have fewer and fewer years left with my kids before they are grown and ready to fly out of the nest. I swear it was just yesterday I was holding their...
Stress Busting Ninja
It’s 8 am and I’m already exhausted. So far, I’ve gotten all three kids ready, fed, and off to 3 different schools despite the fact that my oldest “never has anything to wear” and my youngest spent the entire car ride sobbing because he couldn’t bring the snail he...
The Talk
“Mom, my friends are all going to a party and I want to go”. The words pinged around my brain like a pin ball, lighting up every fear receptor imaginable. A party? Already? What if they have alcohol or drugs there? Have I talked to her enough about drugs and...
The Six Fix for Holiday Blues
The holidays are here! It’s my favorite time of the year. The smells from the kitchen, the lights, the decorations, family all together laughing and having fun, and traditions passed down from generation to generation. Everyone I run into seems a little more joyful...
That call…
My phone rings and my heart sinks into my stomach as I recognize the number to my son’s school. I think I mumbled out some form of hello, trying not to sound petrified. Meanwhile my heart is now pounding through my neck and my brain is thinking of a million possible...
Did you know?
Today I sat in the parent drop off line at school as per the usual routine. I took deep gulps of my coffee in between the stopping and going as our mini-van edged closer and closer to the sweet sound of quietness between dropping off my last child and my commute to...
No Boundaries – Suicide Prevention Day
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in our nation, the 9th leading cause of death in the State of Florida. Suicide not only rocks a family, but entire schools, work places and the community. The word “suicide” evokes uncomfortable feelings and it’s not a...
Myth Or Science? Pt. 1 – Marijuana and Addiction
Over the next few months, we will be exploring what science tells us about some ideas related marijuana. One of the more frequently shared ideas is that marijuana, unlike other drugs, is not addictive, and it is easy to just stop using it. Another is, that if...
Advocating for safe socializing
(This guest blog post was reprinted, by permission of the author, Pamela S. Erickson. Ms. Erickson is a leader in the field of alcohol regulation, policy and education. Visit her website: www.healthyalcoholmarket.com ) There has been great news on the underage...
Don’t Forget!
Strengthening Families
So you woke up today, and everything was the same, and that's where the problem is. Everyone's rushing around to get ready for work and school and either you barely speak to each other or everything said is said with a "tone". You know, that tone that sounds annoyed...
Prevention is for all of us
In the field of substance abuse, we talk about prevention frequently. What does prevention truly mean? Educating the public? Yes. By educating the public, do we bring awareness to the community? Absolutely! That education may lead some of us to have an “Aha! moment.”...
The Power’s in You!
What’s the real story behind teen drinking? With Alcohol Awareness month approaching, MADD SWFL wants to answer this question for Charlotte County. In April, MADD celebrates its national Campaign Power Talk 21, which encourages parents to have conversations with their...