Because life is tough, sugar...

I'm not here judging anyone. I'm a quiet person, and I like to observe people and how they act, speak, etc. Lately it seems like everyone on social media is lamenting their children growing up. I get it, I really do. Every day Addison hugs me, then turns to Adam and says, "Look at how much taller I am than Mom!" If I'm outside or somewhere else in the house, sometimes I get scared because I hear a man's voice. It's not an intruder - it's my man-child who's voice has changed. It's taken some getting used to, trust me. It's inevitable that our children will grow up, God willing. It's our job as parents to make sure they turn into adults, productive adults and generally good people. That said, here I go.

Stop babying them. It's okay to treat them like a child, because they are. But to try to keep them young is nothing but a disservice to them. Life is tough, and it only gets tougher the older you get. Not teaching a child life skills because you're lazy or trying to keep them babies is wrong. Teaching your kid to tie her own shoes isn't going to make her suddenly grown up. It's teaching her a life skill she'll need. I know each child reaches different milestones at different times. If your child is ready to be potty trained, by all means, potty train them. I don't know about you, but the day I stopped wiping Addison's ass was one of the best of my life.

I've been extremely lucky raising Addison. So much so I'll say it again. I've been extremely lucky raising Addison. It's been easy. Just like I was good until I hit the age of 13 and turned into a teenager. We are close - he tells me things a lot of teenaged boys wouldn't tell their moms. I've always been open with him. There is nothing we don't talk about, out in the open, in this house.

YOU ARE THE PARENT. I've seen so many parents kowtow and bargain with a child in a store. I don't know what's going on in their lives, but if Addison had ever acted like that in public, he'd be dragged out to the car, not offered a toy of his choice if he would just stop, and me asking him over and over, "Okay, is that okay with you?"

Like I said, I'm not judging, just voicing my observations. Prepare your kids for life, for the ups and downs of being an adult. It's going to happen, no matter how long you give your kid a bottle. Do the right thing by them, for yourself and for the world. Life's tough - make them tougher.

Because we're all a little awesome...

It's no secret I call myself awesome - a lot. Do I truly believe it? Sure, I think we've all got all sorts of awesome in us. What I don't understand is why everyone doesn't tap into their own awesomeness.

It's taken me a long time, but for the past few years I've lived with self-confidence. It wasn't something that just happened one day. I evolved, I matured (only in some ways), I realized I really didn't give a shit whether someone liked me or not.

It seems like lately people are afraid to be themselves. They are attacked for their beliefs, their morals, their likes and dislikes, etc., and they take this to heart to believe that they are wrong. It takes a strong person to stand strong during these times. I really don't understand people who attack others in this way. Are they really that miserable with themselves that if your taste doesn't match theirs you're automatically wrong? Does it make them feel like the better person? Well, they're not, and trust me on this, because I'm awesome like that.

If I want to listen to Justin Bieber's CD nonstop, eat a box of Twinkies in one sitting, watch Jersey Shore and read Harlequin romances about cowboys, I will. If you just rolled your eyes, you may be one of those people I loathe. I should be listening to opera, eating organic veggies, watching a documentary and reading War and Peace, right? Who's to tell me that I'm wrong and you're right? (I don't do any of those things, for the record.)

It may be time time to check yourself. Live and let live. Be yourself. You know your best friend, your close friends, your family who loves you for you? There's a reason for that. Don't try to be someone else. We all have our trials and tribulations - no one is perfect and no one leads the perfect life, no matter how wonderful they may portray it to be.

Embrace your big nose, read your comic books, and watch whatever the hell you want to on TV. If you like it, you like it. Don't let the bullies get to you. You're awesome.