by Deedee | Feb 20, 2026 | Parenting, Social Emotional Skills
Do you have your hope toolkit ready? You’re probably prepared for all sorts of emergencies. I bet you have a first aid kit for scrapes, a medicine cabinet for unexpected fevers and colds, a spare tire in the car, and flashlights with fresh batteries for power...
by Deedee | Feb 12, 2026 | Diverse Books, Parenting, Social Emotional Skills
Recently, I had the honor of speaking to a room full of literacy leaders about something I believe with my whole heart: Children’s books are not “just stories.” They are emotional rehearsal. They are language for feelings kids can’t yet name. Just like going to the...
by Deedee | Jan 22, 2026 | Achieving Dreams, Parenting, Social Emotional Skills
How to Create a Family Anchor Box and Boost Your Family’s Hope Life has a way of feeling like a storm sometimes. Whether it’s a personal setback, a family challenge, or just the weight of the world pressing down, it is easy to lose sight of hope when life...
by Deedee | Jan 8, 2026 | Parenting, Social Emotional Skills
The words we use have power. They can build us up or tear us down. This is especially true for children. The messages they hear from others—and the ones they learn to tell themselves—shape their inner voice, their self-esteem, and their view of the world. One of the...
by Deedee | Jan 1, 2026 | Achieving Dreams, Author Advice, Make A Way Mindset, Parenting
As the calendar turns, there’s a collective desire for a fresh start. It’s as if the new year reminds us that life is full of possibilities and that it is never too late to begin again. For the past 4,000 years, people have been making resolutions—lists of...
by Deedee | Dec 11, 2025 | Make A Way Mindset, Parenting, Social Emotional Skills
December is like a snow globe—so beautiful, glittery, and magical on the outside. At the same time, it feels surprisingly heavy to hold. We are told this is the “most wonderful time of the year”. For many, it feels more like the most exhausting time of the...
