#bunmi laditan

[books-in-media]

Olesya Rulin, (Instagram Stories, March 20, 2023)

—Toddlers Are A**holes: It's Not Your Fault, Bunmi Laditan (2015)

[urgentkettle]

I tried healthy baking this morning. It's gluten free, sugar free, taste free, happiness free, joy free, hope free and smile free but full of fiber.

I gave my son a small piece and he brought it back to me. He also said the steam from oven "hurt his nose."

It's oats, an egg, stevia, cinnamon, apples and a few other things. I'm calling it "Orchard of Sadness." A fall treat that will affect your family.

Thing about stevia is that it has a peak sweetness it achieves and if you put more in after that it gets bitter. I did that. So when you bite this cake it bites you back. Like a craft or activity.

I used a teaspoon too many of baking soda and you can taste it just a lil bit but only if you think about it. Maybe that's what hurt my son's nose.

I broke it up and put it back in the oven like that's going to do something. It's an oven not a Time Machine or portal but I'm not read to call it.

I broke it up and put it back in the oven like that's going to do something. It's an oven not a Time Machine or portal but I'm not ready to call it.

Anyway, so this recipe is a work in progress, I'll let you know how the oven works out. It already smells interesting!

It made me think of when Elijah was going through it and God sent ravens to bring him meat and bread. If He'd sent Elijah this cake mans would have never left that cave. God is good.

Keep being creative in the kitchen no matter what your hater son says or if his eyes water uncontrollably when he tastes your food. It doesn't mean anything.

DM for recipe. This perfect for if you're mad at someone and want them to taste it. 🍎 ❤️

From Bunmi Laditan https://www.facebook.com/100053567280752/posts/pfbid0sXt7U1d9Y8VrsoZamSVE2q2pcPgfhHtUfd6Bj8KzWcA2Ca2y1N6b5paQbjd4aDYNl/?mibextid=hubsqH

[jxrm]

book log - 2017

tampa by alissa nutting

turtles all the way down by john green

vegas girls by heather skyler

class mom by laurie gelman

anne of green gables by l.m. montgomery

the identicals by elin hilderbrand

quidditch through the ages by j.k. rowling

the breakdown by b.a. paris

final girls by riley sager

audition by ryu murakami

gray wolf island by tracey neithercott

the stranger beside me by ann rule

one of us is lying by karen m. mcmanus

the call by peadar o gullin

a thousand nights by e.k. johnston

the library at mount char by scott hawkins

tender morsels by margo lanagan

rings by koji suzuki

the good daughter by karin slaughter

because you love to hate me by amerie

the party by robyn harding

primates of park avenue by wednesday martin

you by caroline kepnes

someday, someday, maybe by lauren graham

the hating game by sally thorne

eleanor oliphant is completely fine by gail honeyman

shine by lauren myracle

when dimple met rishi by sandhya menon

you can have a dog when i'm dead by paul benedetti

it's always the husband by michele campbell

princeless: raven the pirate princess by jeremy whitley

princeless: free women by jeremy whitley

goodbye, vitamin by rachel khong

sabine's notebook by nick bantock

always and forever, lara jean by jenny han

talking as fast as i can by lauren graham

three wishes by liane moriarty

behind closed doors by b.a. paris

dark places by gillian flynn

behind her eyes by sarah pinborough

baby proof by emily giffin

american gods by neil gaiman

confessions of a domestic failure by bunmi laditan

wedding night by sophie kinsella

you suck by christopher moore

night film by marisha pessi

the subtle art of not giving a fuck by mark manson

let's explore diabetes with owels by david sedaris

the here and now by ann brashares

it started with goodbye by christina june

murder games by elisabeth crabtree

the enchantress returns by chris colfer

down the rabbit hole by holly madison

women who run with the wolves by clarissa pinkola estes

goons n' roses by donna joy usher

the silent wife by a.s.a. harrison

cocoa and chanel by donna joy usher

secondhand souls by christopher moore

the seven steps to closure by donna joy usher

stranger than fanfiction by chris colfer

you are here by jenny lawson

killing mr. griffin by lois duncan

a dirty job by christopher moore

joyland by stephen king

irrestible by adam alter

small great things by jodi picoult

stranger with my face by lois duncan

the vegas diaries by holly madison

the potluck club by linda evans shepard

the girl with the dragon tattoo by stieg larsson

the wishing spell by chris colfer

one less problem without you by beth harbison

saving ceecee honeycutt by beth hoffman

in the country we love by diane guerrero

the last anniversary by liane moriarty

i woke up dead at the mall by judy sheehan

remembrance by meg cabot

girl in translation by jean kwok

very good lives by j.k. rowling

milk and honey by rupi kaur

my grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry by fredrik backman

the screwtape letters by c.s. lewis

reconstructing amelia by kimberly mccreight

how to fall in love by cecelia ahern

wild by cheryl strayed

NOS4A2 by joe hill

year of yes by shonda rhimes

troublemaker by leah remini

the summer we read gatsby by daniella ganek

the miraculous journey of edward tulane by kate dicamillo

sorry not sorry by naya rivera

the circle by dave eggers

the woman in cabin 10 by ruth ware

boneshaker by cherie priest

time cat by lloyd alexander

the color purple by alice walker

all the light we cannot see by anthony doerr

the princess bride by william goldman

when breath becomes air by paul kalanthi

the wangs vs. the world by jade chang

mischiling by affinity konar

sarong party girls by cheryl lu-lien tan

nine woman, one dress by jane l. rosen

the light between oceans by m.i. stedmaan

magonia by maria dahvana headley

the restaurant critic's wife by elizabeth laban

the couple next door by shari lapena

the wedding sisters by jamie brenner

how to be a bawse by lilly singh

where am i now? by mara wilson

scrappy little nobody by anna kendrick

double cup love by eddie huang

little girl gone by gerry schmitt

truly madly guilty by liane moriarty

something in between by melissa de la cruz

rich people problems by kevin kwan

modern romance by aziz ansari

yes, my accent is real by kunal nayyar

the girl on the train by paula hawkins

we should hang out sometime by josh sundquist

love ltters to teh dead by ava dellaira

what alice forgot by liane morairty

bringing it home by tilda shalof

the maintenance man by michael baisden

charlie and the great glass elevator by roald dahl

the princess diaries by meg cabot

[jdgo51]

Are You Painting Your Masterpiece with My Pain?

Today's inspiration comes from:

Dear God

by Bunmi Laditan

Honest Prayers for The Darkest Times

"'Dear God,

I was making a list of things I know for sure, but when I went to write “God loves me,” I couldn’t — it felt like a lie. I believe You love me, but I don’t know it. I think You do. Your book says You do, but I guess in the back of my mind I see You as a giant Zeus — a despot in the sky. You knew Eve would eat the fruit. You created the tree. You allowed the Holocaust.

Have You heard the phrase, “With friends like you, who needs enemies?” I suppose that’s why I find trusting You so hard. Jewish families in 1941 trusted You.

You said, “My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts,”* and I believe You, but I still brace myself for suffering I won’t understand.

I believe You have a plan, but are You painting Your masterpiece with my pain?

Love. I don’t know what that means. I don’t know that You love me, and I suppose I don’t know if I love You either. I fear You and I respect Your power, but I’m afraid Your next move will take another chunk out of me.

What’s love got to do with us?

Me

Dear God,

Help me have the faith of a baby bird, a small child, an old woman. Speak to the fear in my soul so that it might recognize Your voice, wake up, rise, thrive. Do something other than hide in the dark.

Me

Dear God,

After this life is all over, I have a fantasy about spending time alone with You amongst the stars, maybe sitting together in some black-glow nebula. Not talking much, just relaxing. Taking it all in. I’d be done asking for things, and You’d be done making life intentionally difficult. I want to enjoy You for once. Bask in Your presence without needing a thing. Maybe You’d tell me some crazy stories. I know You’ve seen some stuff. I know there will be a long line of people more deserving than me of time alone with You, but please pencil me in. Anytime, really.

Love,

Me

You said, “My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts,”* and I believe You, but I still brace myself for suffering I won’t understand.

Dear God,

Some days, I’m so tired. Today was one of those days. I slept okay. Ate normally (badly, but I’m used to it by now) and had enough water (coffee, there’s water in coffee). It’s a deep body fatigue, and I know where it comes from. Some days, a lot of days, I carry around not only my body but memories I’d like to forget. They stick to me like tar and demand I watch a giant movie screen of my psyche on repeat. They take human form and talk to me, God. Interrogate me. Challenge my right to exist. Challenge me to look in the mirror without deep shame.

Are these demons? Or are they a mixture — a soup of memory and emotion come alive, powered by my fear?

Getting through these days is like walking with ankle weights, wrist weights, a neck weight — You get the idea.

By sunset, my eyelids hang down, and I’m faking everything. I’ve tried to banish these ghosts with drinks, food, entertainment — nothing works the way talking to You does. But sometimes I give in and become a willing, desperate audience to their enactments of my worst moments, their indictment of me.

Make them stop.

Love,

Me

Dear God,

I asked for help. I reached out and told the truth, and someone was there. Is that why you created Eve? You knew humans were no good left talking only to animals and plants? That we’d need another to hold the candle when ours goes out? Thank you. I don’t know if my faith has been restored, but at least I remember what it’s like to believe. I feel a warmth that wasn’t there before.

Me

Dear God,

I can feel your compassion surrounding me. In these moments when I feel your gentle eye on me, I know you’re my father, and I’m not afraid. Stay.

Me"'

Excerpted with permission from Dear God by Bunmi Laditan, copyright Bunmi Laditan.

[nevinslibrary]

Totally Youthful Tuesday

This book is hilarious. Shailey loves bedtime and reading a story with her Dad. But, then her Dad gets a new job that takes up more of his time, so, Shailey puts up a help wanted sign. Lots of her favourite characters apply, but, they have problems too (Sleep Beauty falling asleep cracked me up, and Snow White and all her peeps also made me chuckle). Not to mention, none of them are as good as her Dad.

It’s a really cute and great look at father/daughter relationship, not to mention problem solving. And, as I said, I found it super funny too. A great read.

You may like this book If you Liked: Climb On! by Baptiste Paul, The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan, or Bedtime For Sweet Creatures by Nikki Grimes

Help Wanted, Must Love Books by Janet Sumner Johnson

[shadowsong26x]

image description: a tweet from Bunmi Laditan (@ HonestToddler), timestamped 11:44 AM on Jan 9, 2018

How come people who don't believe in racism always believe in reverse racism? How does that work? That's like believing in Santa but not in your parents.

this made me ugly cackle

[nsimelane-ot22]

Motherhood = 24/7 on the frontlines of humanity - Maria Shriver

“Birth produces two people: the first, a flailing soul, struggling to take in a new world, a new way of being as it draws birth against the unknown. The second: a baby, “ (Bunmi Laditan, 2022).  These two people are entering a world of the unknown and will benefit from all the support they can get in order to thrive in that world. Within the community, one can identify several barriers to the emotional and physical support received by mom’s in the prenatal and postpartum stages. Barriers include inadequate maternal health services, a poor socioeconomic status, mental health issues, poor support system, infectious disease, and malnutrition (Rotheram-Fuller, Tomlinson, Scheffler, Weichle, Hayati Rezvan,  Comulada, & Rotheram-Borus, 2018, p. 7).

A positive correlation exists between the father’s active participation in the antenatal and postpartum stages and maternal mental health (Drysdale, Slemming, Makusha, and Richter, 2021, p.2). Hence postpartum depression can be an indication of a poor support system which includes absent fathers. Single motherhood is commonly seen within the community, with this, there is an increased amount of responsibility on the mother that would otherwise be shared with the father.  Women in the community may have been engaging in informal work due to high unemployment rates.  In attempts to get income for their household, they may have to engage in informal work, in the later stages of pregnancy and as early as a few weeks after giving birth. Informal work offers no maternity leaves or legal protection. Pregnant and new moms may continue to do informal work without taking maternity leave as they are single mothers making a means to financially support their families independently (Bhan, Surie, Horwood, Dobson, Alfers, Portela, and Rollins, 2020, p. 219). While keeping their vending spot the baby’s needs such as those for breast feeding are not being met when the child is left to be cared for by the neighbors in the community. This hinders child development, and the mother also neglects herself as she is not allowing herself enough time to recover after birthing.  Mothers in the community also feel sense of anxiety from working informally and not tending to their duties as mothers, making them feel like bad mothers, (Bhan, Surie and Horwood et. al, 2020, p. 220).

Postpartum depression hinders the mother’s ability to care for the child and this negatively impacts the child’s ability to thrive. Occupational Therapy can offer psychosocial groups for moms. There is inequality within the community, and it seem unfair to place all the responsibility on moms when there was more than one party involved in bringing the child into the world, however this is the reality. Moms in these psychosocial groups need to be encouraged and need a support system where they can debrief and receive compassion and share their struggles and still celebrate motherhood with other moms that can empathize with them.

Occupational therapists (OTs) also do health promotion for pregnant and new moms at the local community clinic. We bring intervention and information from the university to the community and provide intervention for both mother and child that they may not have had access to. We educate the mother on how she needs to stay healthy by eating healthy food that is available to her.  We reduce the stigma of HIV by speaking of it openly and reminding her to check her status, to protect her child when giving birth. We also remind her to continue taking ARV treatment for her to live longer and healthier and care for her child. This is also to prevent HIV and AIDs related deaths as 8 out of 10 of women in the Kenville community are HIV positive. The stigma on HIV status remains and mothers particularly feel ashamed to ask their employers to take leave to fetch their ARVs as they feel they will be discriminated against in the work environment. This compromises the health of the mother which compromises the health of the child if she is ill or absent.

Babies in the community can be seen as being at high risk due to the increased level of poverty and limited resources. Occupational therapy (OT) can assist moms to care for their babies with convenient methods such as using touch or infant massage at home, (Perks, Rencken, and Govender,2020, p. 79). Occupational therapists can demonstrate how to massage the baby at home  will allow for sensory stimulation, influences tone, improves blood circulation, and it soothing for the child. It allows for the baby to feel loved and cared for and improves the child’s sleepin patterns which will allow for the mother to also rest at nighttime. Massaging the baby also allows for binding between mother and child. This allows for the mom to feel competent as a mother and this improves self-esteem, as well as the mental health of the baby. This shows the significance of maternal health as the child receives the mom’s energy to stimulate hers/ his development.

“It is more important than ever to support women when we invest in women, we invest in communities and we change how the story ends for underserved women and their families, (Lauren Conrad, 2023).” Child health is at its optimum when the quality of the mother’s mental and physical health is at its optimum. The two are directly proportional, hence the better the mother’s maternal health, the better the child’s health. It sets a good foundation for better childhood development with minimal to no suppressed childhood traumas deficits that would negatively affect how they interact with others and the world as they develop.

References

Bhan, G., Surie, A., Horwood, C., Dobson, R., Alfers, L., Portela, A., & Rollins, N. (2020). Informal work and maternal and child health: a blind spot in public health and research.��Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 98(3), 219.

Chakona, G. (2020). Social circumstances and cultural beliefs influence maternal nutrition, breastfeeding and child feeding practices in South Africa. Nutrition Journal, 19(1), 1-15.

Drysdale, R. E., Slemming, W., Makusha, T., & Richter, L. M. (2021). Father involvement, maternal depression and child nutritional outcomes in Soweto, South Africa. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 17, e13177.

Perks, L. M., Rencken, G., & Govender, P. (2020). Therapists' consensus on an infant massage programme for high-risk infants from resource constrained contexts: a delphi study. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 50(3), 72-82.

Rotheram-Fuller, E. J., Tomlinson, M., Scheffler, A., Weichle, T. W., Hayati Rezvan, P., Comulada, W. S., & Rotheram-Borus, M. J. (2018). Maternal patterns of antenatal and postnatal depressed mood and the impact on child health at 3-years postpartum. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 86(3), 218.

[dailiadelc]

“These days everyone has a diagnosis, they didn’t have all that sensory stuff when I was a kid.”

But they did. Before names were given for different types of brains and how people experienced the world in different ways, ways that can make things harder for them, the people still existed.

Before there were labels, charts, questionnaires and therapies the humans existed .

They found ways to cope, (not always succeeding) were called weird, “touched,” were put in places where they couldn’t bother anybody, stayed back, got into loads of trouble, learned to pretend, but they lived among you.

Before there were labels with proper names, they received other labels: difficult, non-cooperative, withdrawn, explosive, quiet, shy, or strange.

I feel for people who lived in times without diagnoses and the support they can bring.

Because when you don’t know why you’re different and why can’t do what comes easily to those around you, one walks around feeling like a malfunctioning piece of machinery.

Having a name for one’s neurotype is loving, as it provides a framework for navigating the very choppy seas of society, relationships, and life.

Diagnoses are loving because they are an effort to understand the individual rather than simply condemn the parts of them that are inconvenient.

As I observe the growing landscape of diagnoses and awareness for all types of brains, while it isn’t always perfect, I feel encouraged and happy.

People are more aware than ever that there are humans who need more support than others.

And those who were born with a bit more cerebral glitter here and there, are starting to understand how beautiful they are and how to live fully.

It all is very loving to me.

So while it might seem new, it’s not. Others are simply, finally, finding a seat at the table.

Love ♥️🌸

Bunmi

[isntthatjustprecious]

[thesociologicalcinema]

They call them "developing countries" because "countries struggling to recover from being ruthlessly pillaged and systematically destabilized" does not have the same ring to it. ~ Bunmi Laditan

[resilienceofabee]

"When people discuss suicide as morally wrong behaviour, it’s obvious they don’t understand mental illness. The brain, the part of the body that chooses suicide, is malfunctioning.

Getting help for mental illness while mentally ill is difficult because the part of the body that makes such decisions is sick. It’s like asking someone with a broken leg to walk to the hospital. Not always impossible, but very hard and not a matter of moral failure.

I am religious and understand that mental illness is a spectrum. One person being healthy enough to decide not die is a place on the spectrum. Some people have the same convictions but still die because their sickness progressed beyond rational thought.

A person with strong morals who loves their family can die from suicide. Maybe that’s a hard pill to swallow but it happens every day."

Bunmi Laditan

[willowfae82]

found this on facebook yesterday and wanted to share it here cause it gave me the feels.

[blackchildrensbooksandauthors]

New Release - Available Now

The Big Bed 

Author - Bunmi Laditan

Illustrator - Tom Knight 

From the creator of the Honest Toddler blog, The Big Bed is a humorous picture book about a girl who doesn't want to sleep in her little bed, so she presents her dad with his own bed―a camping cot!―in order to move herself into her parents' big bed in his place. A twist on the classic parental struggle of not letting kids sleep in their bed. 

February 6 | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) | PB Ages 4 and up | Grades PK and up | 40 Pgs | 

Purchase   

Find more children’s and young adult books by Black authors here 

 <>Follow BCBA on Twitter <> Subscribe to Our Newsletter <>

[literaticat]

I have a question on the formatting of PB manuscripts when the text is 100% dialogue. This could be either a conversation between two characters like Mo Willem’s Piggie and Elephant books where speech bubbles could be used or when only the narrator or the main character is speaking for the entire book such as in “The Big Bed” by Bunmi Laditan. I have found very little information and most of it is contradictory. Could you clarify what formatting you would expect from a 100% dialogue manuscript?

You just... you just fold in the cheese. How? You FOLD IT IN. What do you mean, what does that mean? YOU FOLD IT IN.

No but seriously, you just... you just write it down. Make it understandable? WRITE IT DOWN? So it makes sense? Like... like a script?

GERALD AND PIGGIE AND THE ENCHILADAS

(Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the Pig are making a mess whipping up enchiladas in the kitchen)

Piggie: "The next step is to fold in the cheese."

Gerald: "What do you mean, fold it in?"

Piggie: "You just FOLD IT IN. I don't know how to be clearer!"

Gerald: *glares*

Piggie: "Look, here's what you do, you just--"

Gerald: *interrupting* "--If you say FOLD IT IN one more time..."

--

Anyway that's how I'd do it. If your way is a little different than that - so what? Totally fine. As long as it makes sense and the reader understands who is talking without the pictures to show us, that's the important part.

[brightlotusmoon]

Bunmi Laditan on Twitter: "Parents of neurodivergent children 💘: One thing that might freak you out is when your kid stims on repetitive movies, books, etc. but please let them watch the same episode of Blue’s Clues or have the same story read at bedtime for the sixth straight month. I’ll tell you why:" / Twitter

https://mobile.twitter.com/honesttoddler/status/1202745587067768833

"Cassandra

Parents of neurodivergent children 💘: One thing that might freak you out is when your kid stims on repetitive movies, books, etc. but please let them watch the same episode of Blue’s Clues or have the same story read at bedtime for the sixth straight month. I’ll tell you why:

Living with a brain that makes life harder (too bright, too loud, physically uncomfortable, confusing) is like being tossed balls all day. Sometimes the pitch speed is manageable but most of the times it’s exhausting. A very familiar book, movie or song feels like pressing pause.

It’s more than just a brain break, it’s a hug, it’s joy, blissful, and one moment of time in a day when all is right. The balls stop. It feels like being wrapped in a blanket fort away from a world that’s clearly not made for you and is essential for life.

It can look weird and feel concerning to someone who can’t imagine listening to the same book of watching the same show daily or multiple time’s daily, but think of it as meditating if that helps. Stimming isn’t a strange choice, it’s what makes existing possible.

I wouldn’t be ok without my audiobooks and listen to one of three every single day for at 5-6 hours while driving, cooking, waking and working. I need them to self-regulate and feel safe and calm. Let your kid have the story, song, show please. ♥️

Thanks for reading. You’re doing great.

Disclaimer: these are my opinions based on my experiences. Make your own decisions based on your knowledge/doctor/therapist. I can’t speak for everyone of course. Alright ♥️"

[jdgo51]

The Practice of Praying to a God Who Listens

Today's inspiration comes from:

Help Me, God, I'm a Parent

by Bunmi Laditan

Editor's note: Hey, parents, ready or not, the school year is upon us! It's time to shop for back packs, school supplies, and prepare to pray our way through the school year! Enjoy this excerpt of Bunmi Laditan's Help Me, God, I'm a Parent.

"If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you’re a parent, a grandparent, an uncle, an aunt, a caregiver in these wild and crazy times. And you need a little (or maybe a lot of) extra help.

Raising and pouring love into a child is an amazing calling. But let’s be honest: it’s also incredibly difficult.

Caring for children stretches our patience, fries our brains, and zaps us of our energy, but we wake up and do it over and over again because, well, they’re ours and we love them.

Before I became a believer in Jesus, I dealt with the stress in every possible way except prayer. I’d binge-watch TV series looking for escape, indulge in glass after glass of wine trying to numb my brain, climb to the pinnacle of my career, thinking money and the approval (envy) of others would give me fulfillment. But I found none of what I sought.

Who would have thought that a relationship with God would be the key? And there is no relationship without communication.

Prayer became my lifeline.

I thought prayer was no different from positive affirmations, thoughts we throw into the air and hope stick somewhere.

Now I know different.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. —Matthew 28:20

Praying for our children is a powerful act of love.

When I pray, I know God is by my side. He is there, not passively listening, but hearing me, responding, and sending comfort, help, peace, solutions, and love.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. —Philippians 4:6

As a child to a parent, I pray to a loving, protective, attentive God who is always near. Sometimes I’m asking for help, other times I’m marveling at the hilarity and beauty of parenting, and other times I’m just thanking Him for the many ways He’s shown me signs of His provision and love.

Pray without ceasing. —1 Thessalonians 5:17

I have a new habit. When I wake up, before the chaos begins, I resist grabbing my phone and instead close my eyes and pray. I thank God for waking us up and keeping us safe in the night, and ask for help, protection, and direction for this day.

Before bed, we pray as a family, again thanking God for being with us during the day—and whatever else we’d like to tell Him.

But the times I pray the most… well, all day — as I’m driving, making my way through traffic, standing at the kitchen sink with rubber-gloved hands in soapy water, or making dinner. Sometimes my prayers are three-word pleas — “Help me, God” — and other times, I just talk to Him.

We don’t have to raise our children alone. In fact, we never will. God has reminded me so many times, especially when I’m afraid or worried, that before they were mine, these children were His. He loves them with a love we can’t even imagine.

I hope that in reading the very real prayers that I prayed as a parent, recorded in Help Me, God, I’m a Parent, you are inspired to approach the throne of God with your own prayers for little or big ones.

Praying for our children is a powerful act of love. Prayer changes situations. He’s listening. He loves you and the little hearts in your care."

Adapted from Help Me, God, I’m a Parent: Honest Prayers for Hectic Days and Endless Nights by Bunmi Laditan.