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2021… New Year…New Hope
This past year was very difficult for all of us, for some more than others. While we are all hoping for a better year in 2021, there are a few things we can focus on to help make this year a more positive one. It is true we cannot control everything around...
Stand Up…For Sitting Down…Family Day
My 9-year old who is sitting at the counter still working on a 1-page Science assignment that he should have completed 30 minutes ago, begins to cry. I’m trying to vigorously stir my sauce to keep it from bubbling over. My son tells me he is stuck on a word he can’t...
Building Resilience
Horizontal side view of a lonely yellow flower growing on dried cracked soil As some things are going back to normal, it seems that nothing is the same. As parents, we worry. We worry about our jobs, the economy, bills, the pandemic, the list goes on and...
Attitude of Gratitude in Times of Stress
I opened my eyes and frantically felt around the bed for my phone to shut the alarm off. I laid in bed for a minute and stared at the ceiling before begrudgingly getting out of bed. I flipped the switch on the coffee pot and shuffled to the kids...
What is TRL?
Reducing youth smoking and preventing a life-long addiction to tobacco and nicotine products is critical for the health of our community. On December 20th, 2019 the federal government raised the sale age for all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to 21. ...
Parents and New Year Resolutions
A New Year’s resolution can bring both excitement and fear. We are excited because we are hopeful about changes and growth. Yet, often there is a fear associated with change because of the possibility of failure. Our kids also experience these same...
Safe Use, Safe Storage, Safe Disposal – Tips to Know
As the holidays grow near many of us are looking forward to time spent with family gathered around the table or just laughing together and making memories. The sights, the smells, the excitement of little ones, and catching up or telling old stories. Even...
Play Ball! Tobacco Free…
Since 2016, The Carmalita Softball League has held a policy of no tobacco use in the area of softball fields. With all the families and children who come to watch or participate in the games, the league saw the importance of instituting the policy as part of their...
Healthy Employers… Healthy Employees
Della Booth is a woman on a mission. Her mission is to share the importance of tobacco free workplaces with as many businesses in the community as possible. And, with her help, dozens of businesses have successfully implemented a tobacco free workplace policy –...
E-Cigs and Vaping, a Dangerous and Addicting Trend
Vaping has become a public health issue and epidemic among teens. In Charlotte County, it is the most used "substance" by our teens, according to our annual Teen Norms Survey in 2018. Have you been hearing a lot about vaping lately? That’s because it is a trend...
Social Media and Your Teens
What do you need to know, and how can you keep your kids safe? In today’s world, many teens communicate the most through social media. No, it isn’t like when we grew up and wrote notes and folded them up into tiny triangles and passed them between classes…. now...
DEA National Rx Take Back Day Is April 27
The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and it’s time for a spring cleaning! As we go through our dusty boxes and clean out drawers and cabinets and closets, we often forget about one of the most important things to clean out…the medicine...
Simply put… thank you…
Oh no, it can’t possibly be time to wake up already, I feel like I just fell asleep. I desperately search for my cell phone in the covers so I can stop the sound. I take a breath, rub my eyes, and begrudgingly fumble out of my comfy bed. I spend my shower giving...
Winning Words – Device Free
I was at a local restaurant recently when I noticed what appeared to be a mother and her middle school son sit down together at a table facing each other. I thought to myself, how nice that they get to enjoy some time together. After a short while, I glanced over at...
Spring has sprung!
Flowers, sunshine, new beginnings, all that stuff! Okay, if you’re a true Floridian you know it doesn’t really mean much as far as weather is concerned (except for that pollen on everything). But it is a time when most people think about a fresh start at something. ...
Always Remember: Safe Use, Safe Storage, Safe Disposal
I was stunned as my pre-teen headed for the medicine cabinet, grabbed the ibuprofen, and began getting some out for herself. I was in shock because she didn’t ask. She had always asked before just taking it. When did it become a thing where she didn’t think she had...
January Winning Words – Speech
Speech comes in many forms: words, tone of voice, facial expression, body language, even silence can “speak” volumes. This month’s winning word that Drug Free Charlotte County is passing out during parent pick-up at our elementary schools is “SPEECH.” This word is on...
New Year, New Year, or Not?
My Facebook feed is bombarded with everyone talking about how they are working toward their New Year's Resolutions. Some are trying to lose weight and get healthy, others are reading more, some have decided to help others, and one friend is planning to travel the...
Winning Words: Dec 2018
Tangible, memorable, real experiences have the most impact on our lives. Even now, take a moment to remember an experience that encouraged you, exhilarated you, gave you joy…and to this day you remember its impact. Perhaps it set you in a new direction, made a lasting...
Still needs me…
As my daughter looked up at me, I saw her beautiful blue eyes begging for an answer through her tears. There were so many firsts that rushed through my mind with her as my oldest child. The first time she skinned her knee, the first time she lost a tooth,...
Winning Word – November – HONOR
As we shared earlier this month, Winning Words is an elementary school parent pickup outreach of encouragement for families. Strong families are the best deterrent against substance use in our youth. Drug Free Charlotte County continues to hand out Winning Word...
Winning Words
Drug Free Charlotte County has recently started an elementary school outreach to encourage resiliency and unity in families. Something as simple as a reminder of what we already know to do - but forget to do, is sometimes all it takes to make a difference. Winning...
Its Overdose Awareness Day
It’s "Fri-yay"!!! We’ve made it through another long week of “please cover your mouth when you sneeze” carpools, “if you don’t sign I get in trouble” agenda signing, “I hate sandwiches” lunch packing, “I need another drink of water” bedtimes, “I forgot my cleats”...
Under Pressure…
As we pulled out of the school parking lot yesterday, I asked my 12-year-old how her day was. “Fine”, was apparently all she could muster. I continued to prod with questions about her new classes and teachers, if she had any old friends in her classes, etc. until eventually she made some sassy remark to me basically saying she didn’t want to talk about it. I can’t remember her exact words because I’m pretty sure I was seeing red by that point in shock that this 12-year-old, whom I do everything for, was seriously talking to me in that tone of voice! After a few minutes of silence though, while I tamed the dragon inside of me that wanted to spew fire out, I asked her “what’s wrong”. She said she was just stressed out.