Parenting is a balancing act. You want to trust your child but yet you also want to guide and direct them to make wise choices.

When a kid has a phone, there are so many ways that they can be used for both good and bad. There are obviously are great for getting in touch with them and tracking them using GPS. On the flip side, they also can expose kids to bullying, inappropriate messaging, peer pressure, lead to phone addiction and all kinds of things that can give them (and you) nightmares. Fortunately, the WebSafety app works to keep kids safe online and is a great way for parents to protect kids from digital threats, while still giving them the freedom they need to learn how to be safe online.

We all want to keep our kids safe. Since my daughter’s near-drowning several years ago, I’ve become really aware of just how fragile life can be. Keeping my kids safe is my top priority and to do that, I first have to understand what the risks are. Did you know that every year kids are injured or killed by corded blinds? Many parents don’t realize they are a danger until it is too late. 

No one ever things they will experience a disaster. For those of us who have been there, I’m so glad the American Red Cross is there to help. This month they are having a 24 hour fundraising event designed to help raise funds to support disaster relief work, with a focus on helping families after disasters, big and small.

We hear of disasters all the time, but very few of us expect to ever experience one first hand.

I know I didn’t.

That’s why, when I first saw smoke starting to form in the distance through my my family room window, I didn’t think much of it. I had bigger things to worry about. I was very busy being parked on my couch, pregnant with twins and on bedrest.

I saw the smoke, but I put it in the back of my mind.

Are you looking for survival swimming lessons in Utah? SwimKids Utah is doing amazing work teaching young kids to swim and be safe in the water.

After trying months and months of lessons at a local recreation center without having any luck getting my daughter swimming, SwimKids had her swimming within 4 lessons.

Now, 4 weeks in, she’s swimming across the pool on her own and we are all breathing a bit easier when we visit the pool.