Olympic swimmer, Lia Neal made history as the 2nd African-American female to qualify for the US Olympic Swim Team. With her recent wins in the 2012 London Games (her team won bronze medal in the women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay at the London Olympic Games with a time of 3 minutes and 34.24 seconds) she has helped to open up the discussion about the stereotype that African-American children and teens can’t swim. In New York City alone, 70 percent of African-American kids don’t know how to swim. Many children are unable to swim because of limited access to public pools or just because their parents never learned themselves. It is important to break the cycle of the fear of the water. Kids need to be equip with the skills that it takes to swim so that if they are ever in a situation where water is involved, they will be safe. Swimming is also a fun way for kids to get exercise and stay cool during the summer. Here are 8 tips to help teach kids to swim:

1. Help them feel comfortable with water- Get a small kiddie pool for your yard or purchase water toys to help them develop a pleasant association with water.

2. Use swim gear- Floaties, goggles, and inner tubes are not only fun, but they will also keep kids safe.

3. Create trust- Make sure your child knows that you will be there to help them and keep them safe. If using an instructor, make sure he/she establishes a good and trusting relationship with your child.

4. Take your time- Not every child is a natural when it comes to the water. Let your child take as much time as they need to get comfortable with all aspects of swimming.

5. Give positive reinforcement- While you correct and teach, make sure to acknowledge the small things. Celebrate them when they are trying, even if they aren’t perfect yet.

What are some ways you learned to swim?

When you graduated from college, you assumed that once you left school you would also be leaving that part of your life behind. Little did you know that when you became a mom, your life would resemble your old college days in some ways. Sure, you may not be hanging out at parties or cramming for Biology midterms, but surprisingly, there are some similarities. Here are 5 ways that becoming a new mom is like being in college:

1. Sleepless nights- During your college days you were probably up late from partying with friends or getting ready for a big exam, but these days your lack of a good night’s rest is from your little bundle of joy.

2. Acquired debt- At the end of college you get a degree and in many cases, student loan debt. At the end of a pregnancy you get a baby and a hospital bill.

3. Noodles for dinner- In college you ate them because that was all that you could afford. Now you eat them because it’s all you have time to make.

4. PJ’s as all day wear- In certainly wasn’t unheard of to roll out of bed and go straight to class in whatever you slept in the night before. Now that you have a new baby you find yourself barely having the time and energy to brush your teeth, let alone shower and change your clothes.

5. New friends- Attending college meant being exposed to a new world with new people. Becoming a new mom is the same thing. You’ll start to go to new place and meet other moms.

Have you experienced any ways that college and motherhood have been similar for you?

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching and many of us are scratching our heads trying to come up with the perfect gift for one of the most important women in our lives. This is our chance to say ‘I Love You’ in a unique way and show our moms just how much they mean to us. Here are 8 unique Mother’s Day gift ideas:

1. Create a DVD slideshow with special pictures that represent your mother. Set it to her favorite songs to help her celebrate the memories of her life.

2. A special photo printed on canvas. To make it even more interesting, do it in black/white or sepia.

3. Create a special day at the salon. Call your special lady’s salon and pay for her appointment in advance. Send a special gift basket to the salon to add to the surprise.

4. Hire a house cleaning service to come in and get the house shining from top to bottom.

5. Buy mom plants and herbs for gardening. Help her improve her garden or get one started.

6. Breakfast in bed can be the best gift for a busy mom. Let her sleep in and not have to worry about the morning meal and dish pan hands.

7. Make a Mother’s Day scrap box filled with family photos and memorable items.

8. Give her handprint wall art with the whole family’s handprints or just the kids. Either way, it’s a great keepsake.

What are you doing the special women in your life for Mother’s Day?

Every mom will face them at some point during parenting years. The time will inevitably come when you have to sit face to face with someone and have an uncomfortable moment that has to do with you and motherhood. From the chalkboard to the boardroom, there will be situations that arise that can become strained, but knowing how to handle them can turn a complicated situation into an easy one. Here are 5 Sticky Mommy Moments and how to deal with them:

1. You receive complaints from parents after hosting a sleepover.

Resolution: Apologize for the confusion and let the other parent know that you had no harmful intentions for any of the children. Thank them for telling you their feelings and let them know that next time they can go over guidelines in detail before the festivities.

2. You have to tell a parent about her child’s misbehavior. 

Resolution:  ”Be friendly and stick to the first person–’I've been wanting to share something,’” says Kathleen Hall, Ph.D., CEO of The Stress Institute, in Atlanta. Also, let them know the good qualities you see in their child and be upfront about any wrongdoing your child had in the situation.

3. You need to ask your boss about flextime.

Resolution: Make sure to stick to the facts and not the emotions. Make it a win-win situation. Talk about how your boss and the company will benefit from you working from home or your changing your work hours, like having someone in the office earlier to assist clients. Stay focused and make sure to ask for a response within a responsible amount of time.

4. Your child gets reprimanded by another parent in front of you.

Ignore the situation if you can. If not, politely remove yourself. That should be enough to let the person know how you felt about the situation without causing a scene. Also, talk to your child about what happened.

5. A potential employer asks you if you have kids.

Resolution: Be honest. Respond, “Yes, do you?” Get back to the interview questions as soon as possible so that you can show the interviewer how perfect you are for the position.

What are some sticky mom situations that you’ve encountered?

Photo: Shutterstock

Today is the day that we celebrate the entire Earth and affirm or reaffirm our commitment to “going green.” It’s important for kids to learn about ways to sustain the Earth and keep it healthy. Like Whitney said in the song, “The children are our future.” Here are 8 ways to help your kids celebrate Earth Day:

1. Plant a tree- This is one of the easiest ways for kids to have fun with Earth Day and also help replenish our planet. Roll up your sleeves and get in the dirt with them and teach them the benefits that trees have on our planet.

2. Read books on recycling- Show your kids characters that are helping our planet by reusing, reducing and recycling.

3. Make an egg carton garden- Soil, seeds and an egg carton are all you need for an instant garden.

4. Reduce carbon imprint- Try to walk or bike ride as many places as possible with your kids for the day to show them other ways to travel that are better for our planet.

5. Create a bottle terrarium- Grab a clean plastic bottle out of the recycling bin, soil, seeds, water and place it near a window. Watch it grow!

What are some fun ways you can celebrate Earth Day with your kids?

When thinking of a name for a new baby, every parent has a different reason behind why they chose their child’s particular name. Some names are etched in long standing tradition, while others are so unique that no other parent will ever think of such a name. Then there are the names that transcend gender. Some parents want a name that can tow the line and cross the sexes. Here are 10 gender neutral baby names:

1. Payton- It can also be spelled “Peyton.” It means “warrior’s estate” according to Ourbabynamer.com.

2. Alex- Whether it’s short for Alexander, Alexandria or nothing at all; it’s a name that not only transcends gender, but also time.

3. Taylor- Simple and sweet is the name of the game with this one.

4. Riley- The name is originally derived from the Irish name O’Reilly, but Americans have adapted it.

5. Avery- This name is gaining popularity on both the boy and girl side of the baby coin.

6. Morgan- An oldie but a goodie.

7. Jordan- This Biblical baby name is originally intended for a boy but quickly became popular for girls.

8. Jamie- Some people spell this name like the Spanish name “Jaime,” which is commonly pronounced HYmee.

9. Shannon- Although traditionally thought of as a female name, this name has gained popularity for baby boys.

10. Ryan- This name was listed on the Top 100 list for most popular names in 2012 for boys, but is quickly climbing the ranks for baby girls.

What are some popular unisex names that you’ve heard?  

Potty training a toddler can be a difficult and frustrating time for both parents and tots. It can be a tedious (and a bit of a nasty) process, but the benefits are rewarding for everyone involved. Your child gets a sense of independence and you don’t have to change anymore dirty diapers. So parents, its time to get ready for all of the frustrations and mark your calendar for the light at the end of the tunnel. Here are 5 of the most frustrating parts of potty training:

1. Dirty laundry- It never ends. There are accidents that never seem to end and neither does the laundry pile.

2. Public bathrooms- When potty training a toddler, you never want to ask them to “hold it” so when they say they need to go, you take them to the closest potty that you can find even if that potty isn’t very clean.

3. The training potty- You have to empty it every single time they do their “business” in it.

4. The bathroom- Sometimes they miss and you end up with a huge mess on the floor and nothing in the toilet.

5. Motivation- Whether it’s the knowledge of becoming a big kid, or getting a special treat, figuring out what motivates your child can become very frustrating for you and your little one.

What are some frustration parts of toddler potty training that you’ve experienced?