Cheers to a year!

As I write this, I am sipping a glass of champagne. I am so excited to be toasting Ribbons & Wine being a year old! It is so surprising to me how fast a year goes by. What a great year it has been!

Through sharing my experiences on Ribbons & Wine, I have had so much personal growth and found a supportive community. Isn’t growth and insight what we strive for every year?

My greatest accomplishment in launching the site has been having several readers reach out to ask more about finding therapy and achieving a happier, more fulfilling life. That makes my heart so happy.

The mission of Ribbons & Wine continues to be to bring you inspiring, fun, empowering information that you find helpful. We are all just doing our best every day in the life. If we can help each other and make it any better, how wonderful is that!

Starting a public blog was terrifying! I am not an outspoken person. Some might call me quiet, while my closest friends know I’m very chatty. I am not used to putting my life out there for anyone to read. But, thanks to all the encouraging support, it is getting easier. So, get ready for more engaging pieces for the year to come. I have so many important topics to write about. I always have so many ideas swirling in my head, and I appreciate all the feedback and suggestions I have received from others.

I love your outpouring of support! The kind comments and emails, hearing in person how much you enjoyed a post, being read in over nine countries, and having nationwide organizations reach out to me to partner on pieces all make me excited to see where Ribbons & Wine goes in the future. There is so much more to come, and I am excited you are here. Thank you!

To My Second Born

I have a problem with the way people refer to middle children as if they are forgotten or left out. It may be funny to joke about middle children, but as a parent of three, I want all my children to know they are seen, heard, and loved.

It does just so happen that my second-born has an easy-going, go-with-the-flow personality. I can relate to him because I feel I also have a very accommodating, laid-back personality. This is why my grandfather's nickname for me was noisy because compared to my three other siblings, I barely spoke.

I am the second born in my family. Not sure if this is middle child status or not. I think it's just more personality makeup. I don't want my child to be defined as the middle child. Instead, this is what I want him to know.

• You are just as loved and wanted as your siblings.

• Your voice matters. Speak up.

• Don't ever stop believing people are mostly good.

• Your easy-going, peacemaking nature allows you to be a great problem solver, which is a superpower to be proud of.

• Being born in-between your other siblings, you probably know more about what's happening in this family than anyone else. Both your siblings talk to you.

• You have learned you don't have to be the loudest in the room and how to observe people's behavior before reacting.

• You're the one in any situation that can be counted as level-headed and helpful.

• I love that you love surprises and the twinkle you get in your eyes when you genuinely enjoy life. Yes, I notice that and I always see you.

A must-read for parents

Philippa Perry's, The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read, and Your Children Will be Glad That You Did, says it all in the title.

I wish I had read this book earlier in my parenting journey.

It is full of helpful, self-reflective advice for many situations. For example, it explores the roots of what irritates you as a parent. My children do some things that I wonder why these things bother me so much. This book makes you look for the answers in your own childhood. Now when my children do these behaviors, I can recognize the emotions they bring up in me and realize my kids are not purposefully trying to annoy me. A lot of the author's advice can also be applied to relationships in general, not just parenting. I appreciate the real-life, relatable examples that Perry provides throughout the book. Add this book to your summer reading list no matter what age your children are.