Teen Pregnancy Prevention Beyond May

As a former teen mom, one of the questions I'm always asked is how do we prevent teen pregnancy.   Now that my oldest daughter is 11-years-old, it's a question that is at the forefront of my mind as well.  My answer has less to do with the debate over comprehensive vs. abstinence based sex education in schools and more to do with strengthening family bonds at home.

My own experience coupled with the conversations I've had with teens all over the country is that the biggest influence on sexual behavior is the health and communication of the family.  If things are bad at home, the risk for teen pregnancy goes up.  "Bad" can mean something as extreme as molestation or an alcoholic parent to something as commonplace as not enough quality time spent together as a family and broken lines of communication between a father and daughter.  

In addition to the overall health of the family, communication about sex and relationships needs to start at an early age and it needs to be real, age-appropriate, and non-judgmental.  It's never too late to start an open dialog about sex in your home.  

Kids don't come with manuals.  Navigating parenting is difficult, so I recommend getting some resources in your hands.  Here are some great resources on parenting in general and talking about sex with your children that will take teen pregnancy prevention beyond the month of May:

General healthy family information:
 
FamilyLife (a Christian organization that helps marriages and families thrive)

Parenting.org (a site developed by the Boys Club)
Medline Plus parenting resources

Talking to Your Kids about Sex:

Resources for parents from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy 

Resources for parents from Answer


Preparing Your Daughter for Every Woman's Battle by Shannon Ethridge (a book I'm reading now with a realistic Christian perspective)

There are a bunch of resources out there.  Go to your local bookstore and see what you can find!  If you're interested in my story, please click here. 

Happy parenting!


Nicole

Monday Morning Mantra - 05/24

Good Monday to you!

This week's Mantra is for all of you out there who have a goal or a dream, but you aren't pursuing it:

"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do. " -- Bob Dylan

Success really isn't about money.  It's about doing the things in life that make you the most fulfilled.  If you aspire to be successful, pursue your passion!  For me, that's writing and speaking - inspiring people - and it's my new nonprofit organization, Generation Hope.  What is it for you?

This week, make sure you're doing what you want to do in life - not what you're "supposed to be doing" or what others tell you to do.   

Want to receive our Mantras in your Inbox every Monday?  Click here!  

Have an outstanding week!

Nicole

Why I'm Starting My Own Nonprofit

As you know, I'm an advocate of not spreading yourself too thin and weeding out unnecessary activities by focusing on your top 5 priorities in life. I'm a busy gal (we all are, right!?), but there is a project that I've had on my mind for years now, and I'm excited to say, it's finally coming to life.

If you're on our e-mail list, then you received the news that I'm starting my own nonprofit organization called Generation Hope, which matches sponsors with teen parents from the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas who are attending college. Our mission is:

Generation Hope is a nonprofit organization that matches sponsors with teen parents from the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas who are attending college and are in need of financial and emotional support. Based on the belief that education is vital to success, its purposes are to give young parents and their children a support system as they pursue academic excellence, to provide a direct-support experience for sponsoring organizations and individuals, and to create a new generation of ambitious and successful families.

Why did I choose an organization with this mission?  As a teen mom, earning my college degree meant a world of difference in my life.  I went from homelessness to stability, and I've achieved more than I ever thought possible.  I want the same for others. 

If you care about poverty, homelessness, children, and education, then you should care about teen parents.  The link between teen pregnancy and poverty is absolutely clear.  (Check out this article: http://tinyurl.com/273krb2 )

I'd love to have your support in this new endeavor.  Check out GH's blog:  http://supportgenerationhope.blogspot.com, join our Facebook page:   http://ow.ly/1NfYA, and follow us on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/SupportGenHope.  We're excited about making this an organization that celebrates the community and volunteerism so let us know if you'd like to get involved!  (Check out the "Current Needs" section on our blog to find out how you can help today!)

I'll be blogging about Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (May) soon!

xo,

Nicole

Monday Morning Mantra - 05/17

Hey there! 

Last week, I went to Texas to serve as a keynote for a teen parents conference, and one of the things I talked to the participants about is our hesitancy to work toward a goal because we haven't forgiven ourselves for things we may have done in the past.  I've come to realize that NO ONE is perfect -- even the most successful people who seem to have it all.  Mary Mary's quote puts a new perspective on the "dirt" from our past:

"(We) need a little bit of dirt to grow." -- Mary Mary


This week, don't get down on yourself about past mistakes or imperfections. Those things will help you blossom into the person you are destined to be!

Check out another blog entry on the myth of perfection by clicking here.

Want to receive our Mantras in your inbox every Monday morning to get you ready for your week?  Click here!

Have an amazing week!

Nicole

Monday Morning Mantra - 05/10

Good morning!

What an awesome weekend!  I had a great time celebrating the grand opening of the Youth Dreamers Center in Baltimore on Saturday (this is an amazing organization by the way!), got together with some of my married girlfriends for great discussions and food that evening, and then spent the day with my mom on Sunday walking through a nature preserve (I know, I know). 

However, I was saddened this morning by news that the amazing actress, Lena Horne, has passed away at age 92.  She lived an amazing, full life so I thought we could be inspired this week by her words of wisdom on being a top-knotch professional:

"Always be smarter than the people who hire you.." -- Lena Horne

This week, make sure you're staying sharp at work. Do you know the latest industry trends? Do you conduct research on your customers? Can you name the major players in your field?



Want to receive our weekly Mantras in your inbox each Monday?  Click here.
 
Have an outstanding week!
 
Nicole

The Number One Way to Overcome Perfection: Realize Nobody's Perfect!

We seem to think everyone else has "perfected" life, and we're the only ones scrambling around.  At work, the person in the nice office has "perfected" their job.  In our neighborhood, the next door neighbor with the pristine garden has "perfected" domestic life.  On double dates, the other couple has the "perfect" relationship.

I don't think so.

The number one way to let go of the ideal of perfection (which, by the way, will make you crazy) is to realize that NOBODY'S PERFECT.  There are some people who are great at what they do.  Great does not equal perfect.  Under the right circumstances, an honest person will tell you that. 

And even the Oprahs and the Donald Trumps of the world aren't perfect.  Lots of money does not equal perfect.

So stop thinking you're the only one who can't find their socks in the morning! 

Nicole

PS:  Like this post?  I talk about this in even more detail in my new book.  Check it out!

Monday Morning Mantra - 05/03

Good Monday to you! 

Recently, I was listening to the radio while driving, and a woman was talking about the stress of trying to be the "perfect mother."  She said women can help each other out by being honest about their trials and frustrations as parents and not projecting a perfect image.  I thought this was awesome because the ideal of perfection can be really devestating in our homes and at work.  So I found this Mantra from Reese Witherspoon (who I really love) that tells us to chill out:

"I don't believe in perfection. I don't think there is such a thing. But the energy of wanting things to be great is a perfectionist energy." -- Reese Witherspoon

This week, remember that there is no such thing as perfection. Don't beat yourself up about something that is impossible to achieve. Want things to be great - not perfect.


Want to receive our Mantras in your inbox every Monday morning?  Click here!

Have an AMAZING week!

Nicole