As moms, finding and maintaining authentic friendships can be difficult. How nice would it be if the opposite were true? What if moms felt free to be real and unite through the messy experience of motherhood? Instead, we tend to…
My husband and I lived in our South Charlotte neighborhood for about a year before we had any meaningful interaction with our neighbors. Then one weekend, I showed up to the pool sporting 38 weeks of pregnancy. Suddenly I was…
Many of us would agree that our childhood affects how we think, feel, and behave as adults. The trauma experienced as a child, no matter where that trauma may lie on the spectrum, unequivocally affects our environments, relationships, and how…
Because children’s brains are malleable, they can learn and retain new skills, like foreign languages, more rapidly than we can as adults. But bad habits tend to stick, too. In other words, a child who learns to love screens in…
We often associate summertime with relaxation and fun, but most moms experience the opposite. While we kick off the season with a much-needed relief from the busyness of May, we inevitably succumb to the pressure to create a memorable summer…
Q: The school shooting in Uvalde has left my whole family shaken. I know a lot of our friends and neighbors keep guns in the house, which we never have. Is it appropriate to ask another parent if they own…
Shannon Carpenter has been a stay-at-home dad for 14 years. "Initially, I was joking when I suggested to my wife that I stay home with our then 15-month-old son,” he says. “But the more we talked about it, the more…
We all get anxious. For some of us, it feels like a natural nervousness—think first day of school jitters. For others, it feels overwhelming and might be associated with diagnosable anxiety. Anxiety can be genetic and/or due to a significant…
Q: My 8-year-old granddaughter lives with us full time, and she seems to be developing early. She has a 19-year-old sister to talk to, but I feel like I should be the one to take to her about puberty. How…
A Charlotte Parent contributor and mother of two shares her experience
I recently saw this meme on Instagram that made me chuckle (credit @mommycusses) ME: (Hanging one-handed from a cliff, seconds from death) MY KID: Can you hold this? While the situation is exaggerated, the sentiment is relatable. Moms…
We all lose it. The constant pressures and unrealistic expectations mothers experience make us feel overwhelmed and maxed out. When it becomes too much, we lose it. The gentle, therapeutic term for this is dysregulation. Our toddlers do it when…
The pandemic’s consequences on young people’s mental health has been significant. But Jessica Russell, a licensed clinical mental health counselor with Thriveworks, is encouraged to see more kids and teens discussing their mental health as a result. For the…
The way many children with autism perceive the world around them is often distorted. What may seem like an ordinary smell, sight, sound, touch, taste, or movement to you and me might go unnoticed or seem threatening and noxious to…
In 2016, Krista St-Germain became a widow and single parent of two children overnight after a drunk driver killed her husband. “Being a single parent can be overwhelming,” she says. “You are the only person taking on the parenting load.…
Most of us mistakenly think self-confidence comes from reaching our goals and meeting expectations. It makes sense. Since childhood, we’ve been inundated with messages about who we should be, which leads to a relentless strive for external validation. The…
Q: How do I talk with my kids about what’s happening in Ukraine? –Veronica A: When COVID deaths were rampant, parents asked how to explain the sadness to their kids. When 2020 Presidential debates highlighted name-calling, parents asked how…
For better or worse, love is synonymous with February. If we’re lucky, we’re in a relationship where we feel seen, valued, and accepted. Unfortunately, the reality for many is the opposite. When we experience a lack of connection with our…
Q: Dear Molly, I just got my third grader’s report card and am afraid he’s falling behind in reading and writing this year. Any good learning centers in town where I can supplement what he’s doing in school?—Katie A:…
When I was pregnant with my third child, my husband and I couldn't wait to tell our two daughters, ages 8 and 5 at the time. We explained that Mommy had a baby in her belly and both girls…
February is American Heart Month, and we’re thrilled to introduce you to Dr. Sandy Charles, a board-certified cardiologist and medical director of Novant Health Women’s Heart & Vascular Center. The New York native is the daughter of Haitian immigrants and…
Coming off the holidays can be brutal for our self-worth. We often bask in negative self-talk, shame, and guilt from over-indulging or falling into old patterns with family members. It can be difficult to muster the motivation for a…
Q: OK, Molly. I found out from another mom that our sons were repeating some swear words they learned from some 4th graders on the school bus. Our boys, of course, think they’re hilarious because they know they’re saying something…
Nicknamed “The Rocket City,” Huntsville, Alabama is synonymous with U.S. space missions. It’s home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the US Space & Rocket Center museum, which includes the US Space Camp and Aviation Challenge programs. It’s also…
