This week was emotional for me in the best way possible.
I had the opportunity to celebrate my oldest daughter’s fifth-grade graduation and promotion to middle school. Watching her walk across that stage filled me with pride, but it also made me reflect deeply on resilience, parenting, and the energy we pour into our children every single day.
My daughter started kindergarten during the height of the pandemic. Since then, our family has lived in multiple states, multiple cities, and she’s attended five different schools because of career transitions and opportunities I pursued. Through all of that uncertainty, she adapted. She persevered. She kept showing up. 🌱
And seeing her score the highest possible marks on her ATLAS assessments reminded me of something important:
Children often reflect the spirit of the environment they’re raised in.
That realization challenged me.
Because as parents, it’s easy to focus only on behavior without examining what may be influencing it underneath the surface. But children are constantly absorbing our energy, our communication styles, our anxieties, and even our healing, or lack of it.
If we parent from fear, stress, anger, or emotional instability, those things can quietly transfer into our children.
And if we parent from intentionality, emotional safety, confidence, and love… that transfers too. 💙
That’s why self-awareness matters so much in parenting.
The way we speak at home.
How we respond to pressure.
How we communicate with others.
How we treat ourselves.
Our children are watching all of it.
This is also why I wrote Oh Brother, My Brother to help children feel emotionally secure, seen, and comfortable being who they are becoming.
Important announcement:
I’m also excited to share on June 14th at 2 pm to 4 pm that I’ll be partnering with several incredible authors, the Central Arkansas Library System, Noir Mobile Book Company, and Beyond the Divide for a special National Children’s Day event in downtown Little Rock focused on storytelling, emotional intelligence, and lifelong learning for families. 📚
Because stories don’t just entertain children.
They shape identity.
Build confidence.
And create connection.
At the end of the day, parenting is bigger than providing. It’s about modeling the emotional and mental foundation our children will carry into the world.
And sometimes the greatest reflection of who we are… is already watching us grow. 🤝
Books on Da Block event on June 12-14.
Celebrate National Children’s Day on June 14th at Beyond the Divide with local authors sharing their journeys, inspirations, and how storytelling strengthens families, supports personal growth, and inspires lifelong learners. Families will enjoy an audience Q&A, meet the authors, and buy signed books.
