Wait. You want to be the bully’s girlfriend?

If I could wrap her up and shelter her from the next eight years or so, from the girl drama that is the tween and teen girl, I would.

This time you know that “help” is not a four letter word.

My despair, my tidal wave of deep dread, truly lies in the heartbreak of the greatest love affair of all—the love affair you have with yourself.

A poem by Kelsey Cadahia-Frankel, age 13.

The strength of womanhood, shared. The strength in gaining wisdom, earning respect, and growing up. And at the same time learning that it is okay to not always feel strong.

I’ve observed that gender greatly affects the kinds of compliments my children receive.

Since their dad is a huge baseball fan, my girls have grown up watching a lot of baseball.

But mostly to realize that I, her mother, the one who was supposed to nurture and protect her, am part of the reason she has reached this place of darkness.

My daughters’ generation is lucky. For the most part, Dads are completely involved in their kids’ lives like my husband is.