by Brenda L. Yoder | May 5, 2022 | Fledge, Parenting
I fell into bed at night, feeling like my head was pinned against a wall and there was no way out. The next day would be the same—up at 5:30 am, get the babysitter, get the kids to school, teach high schoolers, rush to a volleyball game, help kids with homework, get...
by Brenda L. Yoder | Apr 15, 2022 | Parenting
“I can’t tell my mom that. She’ll freak out.” It’s the thing kids say when we’re talking about hard things. My hope as a counselor or speaker is that kids will take the hardest things in their lives to their parents. But hearing...
by Brenda L. Yoder | Mar 11, 2022 | For Women, Life, Parenting
“How do I know what love is?” Jensen asked. It was an honest question from a teen. I processed how to answer her realizing the culture around her has conflicting messages about love, relationships, and affection. Love is becoming an elusive term. When I’ve...
by Brenda L. Yoder | Feb 10, 2022 | Life
“Mrs. Yoder, you have tears in your eyes,” my 4th grade students said. “Yes, they are happy tears,” I said. “You guys made my heart happy” and I made a little symbol with my hands over my heart. “You...
by Brenda L. Yoder | Jan 3, 2022 | For Women
A young mom, I laid sobbing on our couch in our basement. It was my reaction to a comment I received that day which validated feelings of unworthiness and unacceptability. I laid there, loathing myself. It triggered feelings I had as a teenager with an eating disorder...
