Kids Above All’s Post

🔑 In the world of child development, one thing stands clear: #love is key. It #shapes personalities, fosters resilience, and has a lasting impact on a child's life. For #children in the #foster #care system, who have experienced multiple levels of trauma, the #need for #love is even greater. This is where great #foster #parents make a profound difference. Through love, affection, and security, they help children begin their #journey of #healing. When children receive the love and attention they deserve, they experience #remarkable #benefits: ✔ Higher Self-Esteem ✔ Better Memory ✔ Emotional Intelligence ✔ Improved Social Skills ✔ Resilience #Research shows that a child’s brain changes to better handle stress when they feel #loved and #supported. This is why creating secure attachments is so critical for their #optimal #growth and #happiness. Let’s come #together to ensure every child feels the love and security they need to #thrive. After all, love isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a life-changing necessity. #Help us reach our goal of raising $10,000 during the month of August: https://lnkd.in/eGxQYYrm #FosterCare #ChildDevelopment #Leadership #CommunityImpact #NonprofitLeadership

https://gofund.me/a7533f76 Come help support fathers and families! At The Dad Effect, we believe that strong, engaged fathers are the cornerstone of healthy families and vibrant communities. Our mission is to provide fathers with the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive in their vital role. How Your Donation Helps: - Education Seminars: Your contribution will fund educational seminars on critical topics such as: - Financial Planning for Families: Equip fathers with the knowledge to manage family finances effectively, ensuring a stable and secure future for their children. - Balancing Work and Family Life: Help fathers navigate the challenges of balancing their professional responsibilities with their commitment to family, fostering a harmonious home environment. - Importance of Mental Health: Raise awareness about mental health issues and provide strategies for maintaining emotional well-being, benefiting both fathers and their families. Every Donation Counts: - Small Donations: Even a modest gift can cover the cost of educational materials, refreshments for seminar participants, or marketing efforts to reach more fathers. - Medium Donations: Your generous support can sponsor a seminar, providing venue rental, expert speakers, and comprehensive resources for attendees. - Large Donations:Major contributions enable us to expand our reach, offering more seminars, developing online resources, and creating support networks for fathers in need. By supporting The Dad Effect, you are investing in the future of families and communities. Together, we can create a positive ripple effect that starts with empowered fathers and extends to healthier, happier children. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to making a difference. Donate Today and Be Part of The Dad Effect! #fatherdaughter #fatherson #dad #father #blessed #fyp #daddy #dadmoves #dad #father #fathersday #familia #god #God #fyp #fypシ゚viral #fypage

"It's so easy to talk to people here." It was a comment from a mum at one of our recent peer support groups. A few people nodded in the room and acknowledged that it can be hard to find spaces where people can talk openly, without judgement, about how challenging the transition to parenthood can be. Not to deny the moments that move us. But also to recognise that parenthood isn't monolithic. It is full of conflicting feelings and we don't often create room for that. In some parent & baby/toddler groups it can be hard to be honest without feeling icky, self-conscious or even a sense of failure when others appear to be Loving. Every. Moment. Great, if they are, but I'm not such it's 24/7 pure joy. There is an ambivalence to parenthood that is perplexing. We might feel disillusioned by the apparent disconnect between expectations & reality. At Smile, we wanted to create safe spaces for honest conversations. If we hold these spaces with compassion and warmth, it allows everyone to come as they are, with no need to 'put a mask on'. That can be such an immense relief. When people come together like that, with a relational approach, it creates a natural environment of mutual support. When this is rooted in the heart of communities, there's a greater sense of connection, which can be incredibly powerful. #perinatalmentalhealth #peersupport #charity #vcse

In our daily lives, it’s easy to get bogged down by minor setbacks. Yet, when we look around, we often see others enduring far greater hardships—chronic illness, addiction, or profound loss. This disparity prompts a crucial question: why not you? Reflecting on this can reshape our perspectives, fostering deeper gratitude for the relative comfort and security we enjoy. Many of us live in abundance, with access to essentials and luxuries others only dream of. Recognizing this gap can bridge our sense of entitlement with genuine appreciation. Gratitude and empathy go hand in hand. Realizing that anyone can face severe adversity encourages us to support those in need, whether through volunteering, donating, or simply offering kindness. Acknowledging the role of luck and uncontrollable factors in our lives fosters humility. By reframing challenges as opportunities for growth, we reduce stress and navigate difficulties more effectively. Ultimately, asking "why not you?" can inspire a more grateful, compassionate, and supportive society.

Check out my blog post https://wix.to/wOYmkoW #newblogpost In a world often filled with challenges and negativity, it's heartwarming to witness the power of human kindness. These stories celebrate the extraordinary acts of ordinary people, reminding us of the compassion and empathy that resides within us all. The Kindness of Strangers The Unexpected Pay-It-Forward: A single mother struggling to make ends meet was buying groceries when a stranger approached her. Without hesitation, the stranger paid for her entire cart, leaving her overwhelmed with gratitude. This unexpected act of generosity not only provided immediate relief but also inspired the mother to pay it forward when she was able. A Helping Hand in Need: A car accident left a man stranded on a deserted highway. Just as despair began to set in, a passing truck driver stopped to assist. Not only did the driver help the man get to safety, but he also stayed with him until help arrived, providing comfort and reassurance during a terrifying ordeal. Community Heroes The Neighborhood Guardian: In a quiet suburban neighborhood, a group of elderly residents formed a watch group to look out for each other. They regularly check on neighbors, share meals, and offer assistance with daily tasks. Their unwavering support creates a strong sense of community and provides a safety net for those in need. The Teacher Who Inspires: A dedicated teacher goes above and beyond to support her students. She provides tutoring, mentors struggling students, and creates a nurturing classroom environment. Her impact extends far beyond academics, as she helps students develop confidence, resilience, and a belief in their own potential. Overcoming Adversity with Kindness From Homeless to Helping Others: A man who experienced homelessness firsthand now dedicates his life to helping others in similar situations. He provides meals, clothing, and essential supplies, but more importantly, he offers hope and companionship to those struggling to rebuild their lives. The Power of Forgiveness: After enduring years of abuse, a woman found the strength to forgive her abuser. Her journey towards healing inspired others who had experienced similar trauma, demonstrating the transformative power of forgiveness and compassion. These are just a few examples of the countless acts of kindness that occur every day. These stories remind us that even small gestures can have a profound impact on the lives of others. By embracing kindness in our own lives, we contribute to a more compassionate and harmonious world. Let these inspiring stories ignite a spark within you to spread kindness wherever you go. Remember, a simple smile, a helping hand, or a kind word can make a world of difference. How will you spread kindness today?

What does success look like to you? We recently spoke to one of our instructors, Sarah, about her experiences; seeing the children in her care succeed. “One of the challenges we face as instructors is to change how both the teachers and the young people see success. For a teacher, they might think it is a success if all the children reach the top of the climbing wall and a child might feel like a failure if they didn't get as high as their peers. We work on the basis of the child's choice. They choose what level of challenge they are comfortable with, which builds trust. A child can try and then step back and try again. As they build confidence, they can push themselves a bit more. This approach promotes positive mental health and helps reduce anxiety.” Our instructors care for every child, and each person is a treasured individual, which is the mindset across our teams. To book your next school residential with our team: https://lnkd.in/eFfYEk_u #OutdoorAdventure #Education #Charity

No, I'm not a "Grief Expert." I’m an expert on how grief has impacted and rearranged my life. My commitment to sharing my experiences and what I have studied about grief stems from my own lived experiences. I intentionally chose to learn more than most people ever care to learn about grief. At one point, I thought I was being morbid because of the information I was consuming about death and the ensuing grief. After struggling to find diverse grief and healing communities for women under 50, I realized there was a significant gap that needed to be filled. Not only did I start Healing Hearts, a community for women navigating their grief journey, but I also founded a nonprofit organization that offers education, resources, and even financial support for women grieving the loss of their mothers. If you’re a woman looking for support, especially a woman of color, I want you to visit my website honoringmissbee.org. At first glance, I want you to know that I thought about you. Yes, you. You belong here. Yes, you are included. Yes, grief is normal. And yes, I am navigating grief alongside you. Join us at The Heart of Miss Bee, Inc., we can find healing together. #GriefSupport #WomenEmpowerment #HealingJourney #HonoringMissBee #Nonprofit #CommunitySupport #GriefHealing

For someone who usually has too much to say, I suddenly find myself struggling for words. Those closest to me know that the work I've been doing for the past two years has come to mean everything to me. In a world that is becoming more cruel and dystopian by the second, I have clung to the hope and belief that we can make a difference in the lives of people who are struggling just to make ends meet, every day. Especially with the overturning of Roe v Wade and the massive impact that will have on the number of single mothers in this nation, with a broken or at times nonexistent infrastructure in place to assist them or help their children. Divorced and single parents face the most overwhelming struggles, made worse by the harsh and horrific realities of broken systems and the cycle of poverty that many single families are stuck within. I am lucky - my divorce was amicable and my stepchildren had begun college and I had a place to go. But most men and women are not so lucky; some have even stayed in miserable and at times abusive marriages simply because they knew there was no way they could afford to leave. For the last two years, we have been working hard to establish NASDF as a membership-based service provider that brings discounted products and benefits as well as vetted resources to single parents - things like financial and career guidance, discounted child education, mental health sessions. I've also been diving into research on 2Gen programs (what has now become a passion and hyperfocus of mine) so that we might, down the road, begin working with established organizations such as Ascend at the Aspen Institute to create our own and do our part to improve the lives of struggling caregivers and children and lift them up from where they are currently at, fighting to keep their heads above water. That is why this organization means so much to me - the work we are trying to do, the light we are trying to shine, in a world that is dark and focusing so desperately on destruction and oppression. Well, now we need your help. We've come as far as we can on our own power. In order to keep our work going and to reach more people, which will enable us to pay for better services and resources as well as begin our advocacy work, in order to lift a part of our community up and out of their struggles, we're going to need the rest of the community to lend us their strength in any way you can. If you can only give $5, I tell you it will mean just as much to us as $500. They say the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, but it also begins with a single person offering to walk beside you. And please, if you are open to sharing this post, we would deeply appreciate it.

Return to Zero: HOPE (www.rtzhope.org) recently published the following piece on Complex Grief, on its website: Loss of One or More Multiples (with one or more surviving babies). For parents and families who have experienced the death of a twin or other baby who was part of a multiple pregnancy. The death of one of your babies brings about a complex grief, with a mixture of joy because you have a living baby(s) and, at the same time, deep sadness because one or more of your babies died. COMMON FEELINGS -- Excitement about experiencing your living baby(s) grow and change as well as sadness because you should have these experiences with your baby(s) who died. -- Guilt for feeling joy for your living child. -- Confusion due to your conflicted feelings. -- Feeling overwhelmed due to dealing with the death of your baby(s) all while caring for a newborn. -- Sadness and other symptoms due to experiencing all the feelings of normal grief. WHAT CAN HELP 1. Talk about and include your baby(s) who died, even though this may make some people feel uncomfortable. 2. Attend a support group to connect with other parents who have experienced a similar loss. If available, join a Mothers of Multiples organization in your local community. 3. Carve out special time to grieve for your baby(s) who died, just as you allow for time for joy for your living baby(s). 4. Set aside time devoted to your relationship with your partner. Seek out couples counseling to understand the ways you manage your grief and how you can best support each other while you grieve. 5. Consider grief counseling for yourself. WAYS TO HONOR YOUR BABY(S) 1. If you send out a birth announcement, include your baby(s) that died. If you have a dedication, baptism, or christening ceremony, you may want to acknowledge your baby(s) that died at this ceremony. 2. On your twin or multiple’s birthday, you may want to do something special to honor your babies each year.   3. As time passes, it can be healing to become involved in local pregnancy & infant loss organizations and events. Friends and family want you to feel their support. 5. Identify ways for them to honor your baby(s) that died (e.g., donations to organizations supporting infant loss or multiple birth, a nonprofit in your local community, or a place that has special meaning to your family).  For WAYS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR LIVING BABY(S) and more, go to: www.rtzhope.org.

The school year is upon us! ✍️ 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝟯 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀:⁠ 1️⃣ Support the school's expectations about cell phone rules, homework, and key meetings, events, and deadlines, emphasizing their importance at home.⁠ 2️⃣ Start a routine from the beginning, especially for teens who might need support getting enough sleep and eating properly after the freedom of summer.⁠ 3️⃣ Be present! Listen and ask open-ended questions to give your kids the chance to talk to you. Don't try to solve all their problems, but support them in self-advocating and communicating their needs.⁠ ⁠How are you empowering your teens to have a great school year? Let us know below. 💬 ➡️ https://fernieyouth.ca ⁠ #fernieyouth #caringbeyondreason #scarborough #nonprofitorganization #youthadvocacy #torontononprofit