Ages + Stages

After spending the bulk of my career teaching younger kids how to read, I spent the past couple of years teaching young teens about story development and themes in literature. At their age, I always had a book on hand....

Like many college students, I babysat weekly in Tallahassee while attending Florida State University to make extra money, usually to spend at the bar. Once a week, I would prepare for my day of "motherhood," as I called it...

I remember being picked on when I was younger. During those times, I would look around at all the girls that had a lot of friends and dream about the day I would have a best friend. My 11-year-old heart...

PMC's Summer Bucket List Presented by Rachael Johnson of the Mark Lee Team / Levin Rinke Realty Pensacola Mom Collective has partnered with Rachael Johnson of the Mark Lee Team / Levin Rinke Realty to bring you our Summer 2021...

I’m always one to say, “use it” or “do it,” “life is the special occasion!” What I mean by that is don’t save the expensive jewelry or fine China or crystal for a special occasion. Don’t wait to wear that special...

I knew something wasn’t right with my son a week after his first birthday. Something wasn’t clicking with his physical development. By his first birthday, my son was not walking, which was no surprise. He’s a laid-back, easy-breezy second child...

In today’s world of technology at our fingertips, our children are often exposed through multiple social media outlets to the growing violence in our society. Each time I attempt to watch the news, I immediately find myself running to...

The American Speech and Hearing Association has dedicated May as “Better Speech and Hearing” month. To bring awareness to our children’s speech and hearing, I had a wonderful discussion with James M Coticchia, MD, a chief of pediatric otolaryngology at...

May 15th is International Water Safety Day. This significant day is dedicated to “help spread global awareness of the ongoing drowning pandemic and educate the youth in becoming safer in and around water. It is a day to spread drowning...

Living in the same town I was born in, I can throw a rock and hit a friend--not that I would, but you get the idea.  I’m surrounded by friends of my childhood who watched my goofy front teeth arrive;...