Welcome to Mom2Mom!
Fall 2020 • Mom2Mom
Welcome to Mom2Mom, where I will share my own personal journey as a parent, along with my best tips for success.
By Carol Blumenstein
Hi, I’m Carol Blumenstein and I am the mother of Alana, Jacob, Reuben, Julia and Benjamin. In Mom2Mom, I will share my own experience as a parent – and share my best tips as well. Let me tell you a little bit about myself and my family.
Before creating KidsRead2Kids, several of my children were bullied in school and had low self-esteem. School was a very hard place to be. By getting them involved in a project they were passionate about, they each had an opportunity to grow into the people they are today. Each one brought their own gifts to the website and magazine. Alana, our editor in chief, brought her love of writing. She interviews and writes the articles and reads several of our books. Jacob, our movie buff, edits our videos and creates our original music. Reuben, our artist extraordinaire, designs our logos and all our artwork. Benjamin helps design the lesson plans and Julia takes amazing pictures.
You see, in the process of building KidsRead2Kids, my children were able to see their own strengths as well. My children are no longer ashamed of their learning differences. They define themselves by their strengths and not their struggles.
But helping children is not enough. Parents also need help. That is where Mom2Mom comes in. Together we can share tips, tools and advice to help you give your child the hope and confidence they will need to succeed in life.
When I was growing up, I too struggled in school. I had a difficult time reading and spelling and often felt stupid in comparison to my classmates. Fortunately, my mom believed in me. She encouraged me to study computer programming and to get involved in community theater. With her support, I was confident in my abilities and worked hard on my studies.
At the end of my junior year of high school, I sub-matriculated into the University of Pennsylvania’s M&T program. There, I duel majored in electrical engineering and finance. After working as a management consultant for Booz Allen and Bain, I received my MBA at Wharton. Although I succeeded as a consultant and reached my career goals – the painful feelings I faced in my childhood always stuck with me.
Watching my kids go through the same experience I had as a child pushed me to be the advocate I was meant to be. Along the way, I learned countless lessons about how to empower my children. Now, I want to share them with you.
Each Mom2Mom will focus on a new way you can help your child succeed. We will also invite guest moms to share their personal experiences.
We hope to create a safe space for parents, so no parent feels alone or overwhelmed. Remember, your child’s success in life goes beyond report cards. It depends on a healthy sense of self, the willingness to ask for help, the determination to keep trying despite their struggles and the ability to form healthy friendships. Success begins with confidence and self-acceptance. Success begins at home.
Tips for Parents #1: Helping Children with Learning Challenges Starts at Home
As a parent of five children with learning challenges ranging from ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, and Anxiety, it has been a difficult roller-coaster of emotions and frustrations.
Many times, I felt I was failing my children. I often went against the advice of teachers and chose to steer my own path. I am so glad I did. When one of my children needed more time, I home-schooled her and had her repeat a grade. When a child was feeling anxious, I reduced their schoolwork load. I dropped language requirements and added art classes. I made sure my children exercised every day and followed strict healthy gluten free diets. I stopped worrying about what college counselors were demanding and listened to what my children needed.
Never forget how important your influence will be on your child. You are their mirror and how you see them directly affects how they see themselves. If you feel despair, they will feel despair. If you feel hopeless. They will feel hopeless. But if you see greatness, they will believe in their greatness. Your influence will outweigh all others. Where you lead, your child will follow.
Keep a sense of humor, be optimistic, work hard, and embrace your child’s learning challenges. Remember, a learning disability is not insurmountable. Yes, your child will face hurdles. It is our job as parents to teach them how to overcome those hurdles with grace and dignity. With passion, perseverance and a love of learning, all children can achieve their dreams. Encourage them, support them, and believe in them!
