If there is one upside of recent devastation, it's teaching your children and the younger generation about the importance of giving and helping those in need. As of late, our televisions have been flooded with images of people in distress, nations in unrest, and children and families in need across the globe. As Mr. President #1 grows older and becomes more aware of the world around him, he is beginning to show some interest in why everyone doesn't always have everything they need.

Whether it's a homeless person lying in a pile of old blankets on a bench in the blistering cold, a veteran standing in the middle of traffic with a cardboard sign asking for help, or a malnutritioned child sitting in a swarm of bugs during a commercial break, these actions and images are beginning to resonate with Mr. President #1, and I think the holiday season is the perfect time for me to take the next step in get him involved in the act of giving back.
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It all began when Mr. President #1 was on his way out the door for school, and saw our study full of boxes, clothes, old toys, bags, and even our couch! Just as he was ready to make a run for it, he glanced in the study, then he looked back at me and said, "Mommy, is this our stuff?" Mr. President #1 just could not believe I was about to give away all of his old things, but I explained to him that we will be donating our things we no longer use to the Salvation Army so they can share it with people who need it more. Although a little reluctant, he seemed to be okay with that. "Oh yea. I think that's a good idea, Mommy," was Mr. President #1's delayed response, so I decided to take things a little further.

As I was walking Mr. President #1 down the street, I made him a proposition: "So what do you think about giving gifts this year instead of receiving gifts for Christmas?" I was expecting a very adamant and stubborn response, but I was almost floored when Mr. President #1 opened his mouth and said a simple, "sure!" I might have been a little surprised, but I was also proud, and okay, okay...I think my heart also melted a little! Before we parted ways that morning before school, Mr. President #1made a point to tell me that he was okay with giving gifts, but maybe he could get "just one or two toys this year?" LOL!!! Of course I accepted his compromise, and although he wasn't home to see the Salvation Army truck pull up in front of the house, Mr. President #2 and I took plenty of pictures to share with him.

While the holidays is the most opportune time to take part in an act of charity or giving, and teach your children about helping those in need, maybe we can all make a conserted effort to make giving back more than just a once-a-year occurance. Join me in spreading the spirit of giving, not just during the holidays, but throughout the year. Let's make giving back a way of life, and set a great example for our children. Here are a few tips for getting your children involved and in the habit of giving back.

1. Donate clothes and toys:
Involve your little ones when you're digging in the bottom of the closet and packing those boxes with the clothes and shoes no longer being used. This is a great way to get the kiddos involved in sharing and gifting those items they've hand-picked.

​2. Help a neighbor:
Do you have elderly neighbors or neighbors with a lot of kids?? Let your kids volunteer to help bring in their groceries, rake the leaves, or shovel the snow. I'm sure your neighbors will appreciate it, and your kids will learn the importance of lending a helping hand.

3. Pack a food basket:
If you've ever had a friend or family member pass away or bring a new life into the world, I'm sure you know how much others can appreciate a food basket or a home-cooked meal. Let your little ones pick things to contribute to the basket. And if the environment is kid-friendly, take them along to experience the gratitude and appreciation when your masterpiece is delivered.

Let this holiday season serve as a reminder of the importance of giving back and helping those in need. Remember to join me in teaching our children that giving is not something that happens just during the holidays or when disaster strikes, but teach them that giving is a way of life--something we should all live by. Always keep in mind that to whom much is given, much is required.
Happy Holidays, everyone!!

*Pictured above: the wonderful men of the Salvation Army carrying our couch to the donation truck.

Just last night, I layed on the couch next to Mr. President #1 watching the Olympics. I allowed him to stay up way after his bedtime, because he and his father are big Usain Bolt fans and wanted to watch him race. Immediately following the men's 200-meter semi-finals was the finals for the women's 100-meter hurdles...the race I had been waiting for! Why, you ask? When I learned about the three black, American girls who qualified for the finals, I just couldn't miss this one. I sat on the edge of my seat with Mr. President #1 to watch those three black girls fly through those hurdles, and just like I had imagined, they swept the race! Gold, silver, and bronze; they won them all!

I jumped up on my feet and tears literally started rolling down my eyes. Mr. President #1 looked at me and said, "Are you okay, Mommy?" But I couldn't even answer him because I was just afflicted and overwrought with emotion. What happened to me y'all? Why was I standing there in front of the television crying like a big 'ol baby. If you haven't figured it out yet, I'll let you in on a little secret...black, American girls didn't just show up at the Olympics in Rio, but they showed OUT and SLAYED! You hear me [like my Mississippi-raised great-grandmother used to say]? Black girls were breaking records left and right, and America aught to be proud!

As as a black girl from the US, I have to admit I am feeling some type of way about black girls dominating the Olympics, and it is nothing short of gratifying. While the rest of America [or the rest of the world for that matter], is growing accustomed to seeing images and videos of black women and mothers mourning and pleading for help over the unexplained deaths of their sons and daughters, and sisters and brothers, these black, American girls in the Olympics are shaking things up and showing another side of black women. Simone Biles, Simone Manuel, and Tori Bowie (just to name a few), are showing the world what it's like for a black girl to rejoice in happiness, in success, in accomplishments, and without fear. That's why I stood in front of the television crying like a baby.

I want to congratulate each and every athlete who represented at the Olympics this year. But more importantly, I want to thank every single one of those black, American, female athletes who came to Rio and SLAYED! Thank you for representing all of us. Thank you for showing all of those little black girls out there who are on the verge of succumbing to less than fulfilling notions of society about what kind of future they are going to have, that the sky is the limit! Who cares what your hair looks like! Who cares whether or not you can slick your strands back into a ponytail like Shawn Johnson! Thank you for teaching other little black girls to never be discouraged because of what they look like.

I hope I live to see the day when we are taught to live to BECOME something, not live to OVERCOME something. Because of you, I feel one step further to that brighter future. Because of you, I can look at how beautifully my children are growing and be happy instead of riddled with fear. In the words of the great Guy Carawan (in one of the greatest civil-rights anthems), "Deep in my heart, I do believe, that we shall overcome one day." Way to go, team USA!!

"MOMMY, I NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW," were the first words I heard when I answered the telephone at work yesterday. Mr. President #1 had called to tell me his tooth was loose and that he needed to see the dentist right away to have it extracted. I know what you're thinking, but you might remember that Mr. President #1's first visit from the TRUTH Fairy was a little out of the ordinary. The first tooth he lost did not fall out on its own, but was extracted in the hospital while he was sedated after an epic, failed attempt to extract the tooth while he was awake at the dentist's office. Because of this, Mr. President #1 thinks every time he has a loose tooth, the dentist has to take it out and put "needles in his mouth."

As fate would have it, once again, his adult tooth beat his baby tooth to the punch. Mr. President #1 has another adult tooth coming in while that second loose baby tooth is steadily hanging on. We had some conversations with Yammy, Poppy, and Auntie F. last night about some old-fashioned ways to get that baby tooth out, but Mr. President #1 decided he'll keep wiggling it for a few more days in hopes that it will fall out while he is asleep. Asleep??? Yea...that scares the BAJEEZUS out of me too! I don't want him choking on that thing!

Long story short--last night when we were getting ready for bed, we were still talking about that darn tooth! We went over the rules for the TRUTH Fairy once again, and in case you can't remember, here is a refresher for you:
​1. All little boys and girls must sleep in their own beds in order for the Tooth fairy to come;
2. All teeth must be placed under the pillow;
3. All teeth placed under the pillow will be collected from the tooth fairy and exchanged for money;
4. There will be NO COMPLAINTS about what was left under the pillow by the tooth fairy;
5. All money left by the tooth fairy will be saved and placed in the piggy bank;
6. A thank you note must be written and left under the pillow for the tooth fairy to collect the day after receiving money for a tooth.
Oh...and we decided to name the tooth fairy the TRUTH fairy because we have established some "truths" about where the money will go, and who the mystical creature really is (wink, wink).

The whole "sleeping in your own bed" idea has been a bit of an issue in our house as of late. Hubby and I are literally falling asleep on the floor in the President's bedroom because they're afraid to fall asleep without us. Not only that, but Mr. President #1 and Mr. President #2 are conveniently finding their way into our bedroom in the middle of the night and making themselves comfortable. I'm too tired to roll over at three o'clock in the morning, let alone move a 40lb child, so I leave them right where they are. Considering this whole situation, Mr. President #1 was afraid the TRUTH Fairy wouldn't be able to find him if his tooth fell out while he was asleep, so he came up with the brilliant idea of leaving a note so there would be no confusion about where his tooth was, or where to leave his money. This kid amazes me sometimes, haha.

Before bed, we sat down and came up with a message to leave on a paper on his bed. Mr. President #1 wrote the entire message on his own. In case you're not able to read his writing, the message says:

The tooth didn't come out last night (thank God!!!!!), but I have agreed to let Mr. President #1 keep the note on his bed every night until his tooth comes out. I know he's planning to make his way into my bed when he wakes up at three o'clock in the morning, but that's okay. Pretty soon he'll be too cool to hang out with me, so I'll take the crowded bed for now.

In an effort to not be the "MEAN" mom for once in my life, I let Mr. President #1 and Mr. President #2 stay home with me instead of going to camp today. Well, this morning when I was on a conference call, I noticed the boys were awfully quiet, but when I went up to check on them, everything seemed normal. I let the boys go back to watching their movie, and all was well.

The boys made a few trips up and down the stairs, but Mr. President #1 usually has little brother accompany him to the bathroom since he is still a little scaredy-cat. But beyond the stampeding up and down the steps, everything else seemed just dandy.

Early this afternoon when I was unloading the dishwasher, I noticed my scissors were a little out of whack. I keep a pair of somewhat, kid-friendly scissors in the kitchen drawer that Mr. President #1 often uses for his artwork. He can only use them with supervision, and although they seemed out of place, I didn't think too much about it. When I was walking up the steps to check on the boys later in the afternoon, I noticed a nice little curly lock sitting on the steps. I knew right then something was up.

I brought the piece of hair to Mr. President #1 and asked him, "Just tell me the truth. Did you cut your brother's hair?" You wouldn't believe his response! He looked at me so pitifully and said, "I just wanted to give him a haircut. I wanted him to look handsome." He was so cute, I almost couldn't be mad at him. He went on to tell me exactly how this haircut went down: when I was in the study on the phone, Mr. President #1 quietly grabbed the scissors when he went in the kitchen to get his juice. He hid the scissors under his shirt, and when he had Mr. President #2 accompany him to the bathroom, he cut his hair behind closed doors. Mr. President #1 threw the hair in the kitchen trash can so I wouldn't notice it was there. He had this whole thing planned out!!!!

So so here's the question: do I punish Mr. President #1, and do I cut Mr. President #2's hair, or do I just let him rock his jacked up haircut from big brother? Hubby and I had the conversation with him about not touching the scissors, etc., but I'm still stuck as to whether or not I should truly punish him beyond that. Let me know what you think!!!

The picture above shows a couple of Mr. President's #2's locks I found in a trail from the first floor bathroom to the second floor bedroom. Maybe one day when Mr. President #1 is like 35, I'll tell him that I cut Auntie F.'s hair when I was about his age and never told my parents, haha.