August 01, 2026

The Myth of “Not Like Today’s Kids”

Why Our Teens Deserve Better Than Nostalgia

I grew up with parents who loved to act like they were mischievous in the “cute” way — the kind of trouble that supposedly built character but never crossed a line. And every time they’d say, “NOT LIKE TODAY’S KIDS!” I’d sit there thinking, give me a break.

Because here’s the truth: Parents who use that line almost always have stories that would blow your mind.

When I got married and had kids of my own, the floodgates opened. Suddenly the same people who lectured me about “kids these days” were telling me about the wild, reckless, downright dangerous things they did when they were younger. Things that would’ve gotten me grounded until adulthood if I’d even thought about doing them.

It wasn’t harmless mischief. It was real chaos. Real risk. Real “you did WHAT?” moments.

And that’s when it hit me — the problem isn’t today’s kids. The problem is parents who forget what it felt like to be one.

We romanticize our own youth because it’s easier than admitting we were messy, impulsive, insecure, and sometimes downright stupid. We rewrite our teenage years into a highlight reel of “good old days” and conveniently leave out the parts that would make our kids’ jaws drop.

But here’s the thing: Our teens don’t need our nostalgia. They need our honesty.

They need parents who remember what it felt like to be misunderstood. They need parents who remember what it felt like to be judged too quickly. They need parents who remember what it felt like to be told they were “too much,” “too dramatic,” or “not like we were.”

Because teens today aren’t any worse. They’re just more visible. Their mistakes are documented. Their feelings are louder. Their world is faster, harsher, and less forgiving.

And they need us to show up differently.

They need to be heard. Not dismissed. Not compared to some fictional version of the past. Heard — fully, without interruption, without the nostalgia filter.

They need acceptance. Not of every choice, but of who they are right now. The in‑progress version. The kid who’s still figuring out their edges.

They need parents who don’t pretend they were perfect. Because perfection is a wall. Honesty is a bridge.

When we stop pretending we were flawless teenagers, we become better parents to the ones we’re raising now. We stop lecturing from a pedestal and start connecting from experience. We stop judging their mistakes and start remembering our own.

And maybe — just maybe — we stop saying “NOT LIKE TODAY’S KIDS!” Because if we’re being honest, today’s kids are doing just fine. It’s the adults who need to catch up.

Our teens aren’t the problem. They’re the mirror — showing us who we were, who we still are, and who we could be if we stopped pretending. The best thing we can give them isn’t advice; it’s honesty. The kind that says, I remember. I understand. I accept you. That’s how we break the cycle of nostalgia and start raising kids who trust us enough to tell the truth.

The past can stay where it is. Our teens are here now, asking us to hear them, accept them, and remember who we were. That’s the work. That’s the gift. That’s the whole point.

~ Honey

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March 18, 2026

🍯The Sweet Moments Giveaway

  🍯 THE SWEET MOMENTS GIVEAWAY

A cozy little thank‑you to everyone who’s been laughing, confessing, and building this warm corner of the internet with me.

To celebrate the launch of Confession Corner, I’m giving away a "Tea With Honey Sweet Moments Set", filled with things that make life feel a little softer:

🍯 What’s Inside:

• - mini honey jars  

• - honey sticks  

• - a cute tea cup  

• - a handwritten note from me  

• - all wrapped up with love  

• It’s small, sweet, and meant to make you pause for one warm moment in your day.

HOW TO ENTER

Do one of the following (each counts as 1 entry):

- Drop a confession in the comments  

- Share your funniest “bathroom bodyguard” moment  

- Email a confession to haveteawithhoney@gmail.com  

- Share this post with a friend who needs a laugh  

Make sure to provide your email so that I may contact the lucky winner. 

Do more than one for extra entries.

🍯 DATES - 12A.M., Eastern Time

Opens: March 20, 2026 

Closes: March 28, 2026

Winner announced here on the blog.

🍯 RULES

• Must be 18+  

• U.S. only (so I can ship your goodies without drama).  

• Not sponsored by Google, Blogger, or any social platform.  

• Winner chosen at random.  

• No purchase necessary to enter or win.

• Entrants must provide a valid email address for winner notification.

• Email addresses and shipping information will only be used for the purpose of this giveaway.

• Void where prohibited.

• Winner must respond within 72 hours or a new winner will be selected.

🍯 WHY I’M DOING THIS

Because this space is growing into something real — a community of honest, funny, exhausted, loving humans who make motherhood and life feel less lonely.  

This is my way of saying thank you for being here.

🍯~Honey

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March 18, 2026

🍯 Confession Corner: Show Me Your Bathroom Bodyguards

I’ve always been an open book, so I don’t have many confessions left to make.  

But I do have one oddly specific admission:

Since becoming a mom at 20, I have not gone to the bathroom alone.  

Not once.  

Not for a single uninterrupted moment.

If it wasn’t a toddler wandering in to chat, it was a kid sitting on the edge of the tub to tell me a story. And now that my kids are older?

My dogs have proudly taken over the tradition.

I’m 47, and apparently the bathroom is still the most popular room in the house.

So today, I want to see if I’m alone in this… or if this is just universal mom life.

---

📸 Submit Your Photo: Who Guards Your Bathroom?

Do your pets follow you into the bathroom like it’s their job?  

Do they sit. Stare. Supervise. Judge.  

Do they push the door open like they pay the mortgage?

---

Drop a picture in the comments of your dog, cat, or other furry friend who refuses to let you pee in peace.

Funny, cute, chaotic — all welcome.

I’ll feature a few of my favorites in a follow‑up post called  

“Bathroom Bodyguards: A Gallery of Uninvited Guests.”

Because if we can’t laugh about this stage of life, what are we even doing?

~🍯Honey 

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March 08, 2026

Little Rebels That Could

How A Simple Project Became A Tiny Rebellion. 

Before I ever became a mother, before Cassidy ever held a paintbrush in her tiny hand, I learned something important about children and creativity — and I learned it in the most unexpected place: a private school daycare where I worked in the infant and toddler room.

Every day felt the same.  

Snack time. Play time. Nap time.  

And then the part I dreaded most: movie time.

Movie time wasn’t for the kids.  

It was for the adults who were tired of dealing with them.

I hated it. I hated watching babies and toddlers — kids who were curious, energetic, hungry for connection — being sat in front of a screen because the grown‑ups didn’t want to engage anymore. It made me angry in a way I didn’t have words for at the time.

So one day, when the TV cart rolled in, I decided that today would be different.

My co‑worker told me toddlers wouldn’t sit still for more than a minute.  

She rolled her eyes when I said I wanted to try something else.  

She left the room, annoyed.

And that’s when I gathered the little ones — some as young as ten months — and sat them in their highchairs and around the rainbow‑shaped table. Their faces lit up when I told them:

“We’re going to make something special for our mommies and daddies.”

I handed out paper plates and asked them to color the beach — grass, water, sand, whatever they imagined. Then I gave them paper bowls and asked them to create a creature: a crab, a turtle, a jellyfish. They told me what they made with so much pride.

I gave them glue sticks (not the babies, of course), feathers, eyes, yarn — anything to bring their creatures to life.

And something happened in that room that no one expected.

The kids were quiet.  

Focused.  

Happy.  

Engaged.  

Creating.

My co‑worker walked back in, then walked out again.  

She returned with more staff — and the director.

They stood there watching me interact with the kids in a way, I guess, no one ever had. Not because I was special, but because I believed something simple:

Kids don’t need screens to settle down.  

They need connection.  

They need creativity.  

They need someone who sees them.

When the artwork dried, I glued the pieces together — little crabs with fork legs, turtles with bright shells, jellyfish with yarn tentacles. When parents arrived, each child beamed as they handed over their creations.

It was the first time anyone had tried something like that with the toddlers.  

And it changed everything.

I was promoted shortly after and given full creative freedom in the infant and toddler room. But more importantly, that day taught me something I’ve carried into motherhood:

Art opens a child’s world long before they have words.  

It gives them expression, confidence, imagination, and joy.  

Even at ten months old.  

Especially at ten months old.

And that’s why creativity has always been at the center of how I parent — because I’ve seen firsthand what happens when a child is given the chance to create instead of being told to sit still and be quiet.

---

💬 Let’s Chat!

I’d love to hear from you — what creative moments have you shared with your little ones? When did you first see their imagination spark?

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March 08, 2026

Perfectly Imperfect: A First Look

The Quiet That Taught Me to Speak

For the past few months, I’ve been writing something I wasn’t sure I’d ever share. It started as a collection of memories — the ones that stayed loud even when I tried to quiet them — and slowly became a story about survival, family, silence, and the long road toward becoming someone new.

Somewhere along the way, it turned into a memoir.

Perfectly Imperfect: The Quiet That Taught Me to Speak is the book I never thought I’d write, and the one I realized I needed to. It’s about the walls we grow up inside, the ones we build ourselves, and the ones we finally learn to step beyond. It’s about control, chaos, love, loss, and the small moments that shape us long before we understand them.

It’s also about the people who helped me rebuild — the ones who turned my life into something steady, honest, and worth fighting for.

This memoir isn’t polished in the sense of perfection. It’s polished in the sense of truth. It’s the story of a girl who learned to be quiet, a teenager who learned to survive, and a woman who finally learned to speak.

And now, it’s almost ready for the world.

I ordered my proof copies this week — the physical, hold‑it‑in-your-hands version of the book — and seeing the cover on Amazon for the first time felt surreal. There’s something about watching your story take shape outside of your own head that makes the whole journey feel real.

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to turn your past into pages, or what it feels like to finally tell the story you’ve carried for decades, I hope this memoir gives you something — understanding, connection, or maybe just the reminder that imperfect stories are still worth telling.

Perfectly Imperfect will be available soon in paperback and Kindle.  You’ll be able to pre-order your copy today. 

I can’t wait to share it with you.

Stay tuned — the quiet is finally speaking.

 👀 NEW HERE?

If you’re new here or you’ve been quietly reading along for a while, I’d love for you to follow the blog. This is where I’ll be sharing updates on the memoir, behind‑the‑scenes pieces of the writing process, and the parts of the story that didn’t make it into the book.  

You can follow using the button on the sidebar or subscribe by email so you never miss a post. I’m really glad you’re here.

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February 07, 2026

Preparing Your First Child For A New Sibling

There’s a lot of advice out there about preparing for a second baby — wash the newborn clothes, set up the bassinet, stock the freezer, pack the hospital bag.

But almost no one talks about preparing the child you already have.

Not the checklist version.
Not the “read them a big sibling book” version.
Not the “let them help pick out a onesie” version.

I mean the emotional preparation.
The quiet, tender, invisible work that happens long before the baby arrives.

Because when you’re pregnant with your second child, you’re not just growing a new life — you’re reshaping the world of the little person who made you a mother in the first place.

And that shift can feel big for both of you.

Here are the gentle, real‑life ways to help your first child feel secure, seen, and deeply loved as your family grows.

---

1. Name the Feelings They Don’t Have Words For Yet

Toddlers and young kids don’t say,
“I’m afraid you won’t have time for me anymore.”
They say:

• “No baby.”
• “Mommy hold me.”
• “Go away.”
• Or they suddenly melt down over the wrong color cup.

It’s not misbehavior — it’s uncertainty.

You can give them language like:
“It’s okay to feel unsure. Things are changing, but you’re still my baby too.”

Kids relax when their feelings are named, not corrected.

---

2. Create “Just Us” Moments — Even Tiny Ones

You don’t need a full day or a big outing.
You don’t even need to leave the house.

Try:

• brushing their hair slowly
• reading one book with full attention
• sitting on the floor and letting them lead play
• a five‑minute cuddle before bed

These small rituals become emotional anchors.
They say, “You still matter. You’re still mine.”

---

3. Let Them Be Little

When a new baby is coming, older siblings often regress.
They want:

• more cuddles
• more help
• more attention
• more reassurance

This isn’t a step backward.
It’s a request for connection.

Let them be little.
Let them cling.
Let them need you.

It’s temporary — and it’s healthy.

---

4. Talk About the Baby in a Way That Includes Them

Instead of:
“The baby needs me right now.”

Try:
“We’re going to take care of the baby together.”
or
“The baby is lucky to have you.”

Kids don’t want to feel replaced.
They want to feel important.

---

5. Show Them Photos of When They Were the Baby

This is magic.

It reminds them:

• they were once held like that
• they were once the center
• they were once the tiny one everyone adored

It helps them understand that love didn’t disappear — it grew.

---

6. Prepare Yourself, Too

Because the truth is:
You’re adjusting right alongside them.

You’re learning how to mother two hearts at once.
You’re learning how to stretch your love without stretching yourself thin.
You’re learning how to hold space for their feelings while navigating your own.

And you’re doing better than you think.

---

7. Remember: Their World Isn’t Ending — It’s Expanding

Your first child isn’t losing you.
They’re gaining someone who will love them because you love them.

They’re gaining:

• a playmate
• a partner in mischief
• a teammate
• a witness to their childhood

And one day, you’ll watch them together — sharing snacks, fighting over toys, whispering secrets — and you’ll realize that this transition, this guilt, this emotional stretch… it was all leading to something beautiful.

Your heart didn’t divide.
It multiplied.
And theirs will too.

If you missed my post about the guilt moms feel when expecting baby #2, you can read it here.

• The Quiet Guilt

Read more »

February 07, 2026

The Quiet Guilt

The Quiet Guilt No One Warns You About When You’re Pregnant With Your Second Child

There’s a kind of guilt no one talks about — not in parenting books, not in doctor’s offices, not even in those late‑night conversations between moms who swear they tell each other everything.

It’s the guilt a mother feels when she’s pregnant with her second child.

Not the guilt about eating the wrong thing, or missing a prenatal vitamin, or forgetting the due date of the next appointment.
No — this one is deeper.
Quieter.
And it sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

It’s the guilt that hits you when you’re watching your first child play on the floor, completely unaware that their world is about to change.
It’s the guilt that makes your throat tighten when they crawl into your lap, and you suddenly feel tears burning behind your eyes for no logical reason.
It’s the guilt that whispers, “Will they feel replaced? Will they think I love them less? Will they feel pushed aside?”

Most mothers don’t even realize what’s happening. They just know they’re crying at random moments, staring at their child with a kind of aching tenderness, feeling something wash over them that they can’t explain. They think it’s hormones. Exhaustion. Stress.

But it’s guilt — the guilt of change.

It’s the guilt of knowing that the days of “just us” are coming to an end.
It’s the guilt of wondering if you’ve soaked up enough of their babyhood.
It’s the guilt of fearing they’ll feel forgotten while you’re recovering, nursing, adjusting, surviving.

And yet… here’s the truth no one tells you:

Your heart is already expanding.
Your love is already multiplying.
Your child will not lose you — they will gain someone who loves them because you love them.

That guilt you feel?
It’s not a sign that you’re failing.
It’s proof that you care so deeply, so fiercely, so completely, that even the idea of your child feeling less loved breaks you open.

But they won’t.
They won’t feel less loved.
They’ll feel more — because they’ll have you, and they’ll have a sibling who becomes part of their story.

And one day, you’ll look at both of them together — laughing, fighting, sharing, growing — and you’ll realize that your heart didn’t divide.
It doubled.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:

• The House That Laughed
  
• Trusting Instincts: The Foundation of Healthy Baby Routines

Read more »

January 08, 2026

When a Child Can’t Say the Words

People like to imagine that harm only happens in “bad homes,” “dangerous neighborhoods,” or behind locked doors. It’s comforting to believe that. It makes the world feel predictable.

But that’s not how it works.

My own incident didn’t happen in a dark room or at the hands of a stranger. It happened in front of people. In a place where I should have been safe. And it wasn’t an adult—it was another kid. A kid who knew exactly how to cross a line while everyone else looked away.

No one stepped in. No one asked if I was okay. No one even seemed to register what was happening.

Except one person. One voice that finally said, “Stop.”

That moment taught me something I didn’t have the words for then: harm doesn’t follow stereotypes. It doesn’t wait for privacy. It doesn’t require an adult perpetrator. And silence—whether from confusion, discomfort, or denial—can be just as damaging as the act itself.

What Adults Often Miss

Experts say that children rarely disclose harm directly. They show it. And those signs can be subtle, especially when the incident doesn’t fit the “expected” pattern.

Some of the most common indicators include:

Physical signs

- Unexplained injuries  

- Pain or discomfort without a clear cause  

Behavioral signs

- Sudden withdrawal or fearfulness  

- Avoiding certain people or places  

- Acting out, anger, or shutting down  

Emotional signs

- Anxiety, sadness, or sudden mood shifts  

- Hypervigilance—always on edge  

- Low self‑worth or self-blame  

Neglect-related signs

- Chronic hunger or poor hygiene  

- Frequent absences  

- Lack of medical or emotional support  

These signs don’t automatically mean abuse. But they always mean a child needs attention, safety, and someone willing to see what others overlook.

What I Needed Then

During my incident, I didn’t need someone to interrogate me. I needed someone to notice the shift in my body language. The way I froze. The way I avoided eye contact. The way my entire presence changed.

Children don’t always scream for help. Sometimes they go silent. Sometimes they laugh it off. Sometimes they pretend nothing happened because they don’t know what else to do.

I didn’t have the words. But I had the signs. And I wish someone had known how to read them.

Why This Matters for Parents Today

If you’re raising kids—or around kids—you are part of their safety net. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be paying attention.

Here’s what helps:

- Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it deserves a second look.  

- Don’t rely on stereotypes. Harm can come from peers, siblings, cousins, friends—anyone.  

- Notice patterns. One odd moment is normal. A sudden shift is not.  

- Create space for honesty. Kids talk when they feel safe, not when they feel pressured.  

- Believe them. Even if the story is messy or incomplete.  

The Lesson I Carry Forward

My memoir tells the long version. This post is the short one:

Harm doesn’t always hide in the shadows.  

Sometimes it happens in the open.  

Sometimes it’s done by another child.  

And sometimes the silence of the crowd hurts just as much as the act itself.

If sharing my story helps even one adult recognize the signs in a child they love—or a child they simply cross paths with—then the girl I once was finally gets the protection she needed.

Call to Action: Be the One Who Sees

If you’re reading this, you already care. That matters.

Now take the next step.

- Pay attention to the quiet kids.  

- Speak up when something feels off.  

- Learn the signs. Share them.  

- Create space for truth—even when it’s uncomfortable.  

- Be the adult who doesn’t look away.

You don’t have to be a therapist, a teacher, or a parent to make a difference. You just have to be someone who sees

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November 06, 2025

The Room Reset Ritual: Teaching Kids to Tend Their Space (Without Losing Your Mind)

Method One: The Teamwork Tidy (Ages 5+)

This isn’t just about cleaning—it’s about co-creating a space that feels peaceful, proud, and lived in. Here’s how we do it:

🗑 Step 1: The Trash Bag Sweep

Walk into the room together with a trash bag. Do a once-over. Anything obviously broken, torn, or trash-worthy? Gone. This sets the tone: we’re clearing space for what matters.

🧾 Step 2: One Task at a Time

Give your child a single, clear task—like picking up all the papers. While they do that, you (or a sibling) tackle the clothes. When that’s done, move on:

• Child: books, coloring books, notebooks
• You/other child: board games, electronics, random bits

🧱 Step 3: The LEGO Game

Make it fun. Whoever builds the funniest animal out of the Legos they find gets to pick the post-cleaning snack. (You’ll be amazed what a snack incentive can do.)

🧸 Step 4: Big Toys + Letting Go

Time to sort the large toys. Ask: Do you still play with this? If not, it goes in the “clean and donate” pile. This is a gentle way to teach generosity and discernment.

🛏 Step 5: Final Touches

• Make the bed
• Sweep or vacuum the floor
• Put clean clothes away neatly
• Books go in a cubby, shelf, or even a wicker basket—whatever feels tidy and accessible

🧹 Bonus: The Stuffed Animal Ceremony

If the room is overflowing with plushies, invite your child to pick two favorites. The rest? Let them go. Same goes for board games missing pieces or broken toys—thank them for their time, then toss.

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Method Two: The Broom Ultimatum 

(For Tweens, Teens, and Young Adults)

Read more »

Read more »

September 10, 2025

Even When the Kettle’s Bare

Some paths are quieter than others—but walking them together makes all the difference.

Today reminded me of the quiet weight that comes with being the one others turn to.

I spoke with both of my daughters—separately, at different points in the day. One needed advice, the kind only a mother can give when life feels uncertain. The other’s voice held something heavier, and when I asked, she let it spill: relationship strain, financial stress, the kind of ache that’s hard to name out loud.

I listened. I offered what I could—words, perspective, a little steadiness. And later, I followed up. Not because I had to, but because I know how it feels to be left holding something alone.

They each thanked me. They each made a move forward. And I felt that familiar flicker of peace—the kind that comes from knowing you were able to help.

But beneath that peace, there’s a quieter ache. The kind that surfaces when you’re still navigating your own storm, and yet you find yourself pouring from a cup that’s already low. It’s not about resentment—it’s about reality. About the quiet math of love and capacity.

We’re still in flux. Still searching for a home. Still navigating systems that don’t make space for people like us. And yet, I keep showing up. For them. For myself. For the life I’m still building.

Sometimes, the cost of showing up is steep. But the return—connection, movement, grace—is worth every quiet sacrifice.

A mother’s strength isn’t loud. It’s the kind that holds others together while quietly falling apart.

And so I keep showing up. Not because it’s easy. Not because I have everything figured out. But because love, in its quietest form, is often just presence. A warm voice. A steady hand. A willingness to walk beside someone—even when your own path is uncertain.

~Some days, grace is just the act of staying.  

With a cup of warm calming tea, 

❤️ Honey🍯🫖

Read more »

September 01, 2025

🍂 Tea With Honey’s Cozy Fall Bucket List

Because sweater weather deserves more than just pumpkin spice.

As the leaves begin to rustle with change and the air shifts to that perfect blend of crisp and comforting, fall arrives with its gentle invitation: slow down, settle in, and savor the moment. For me, autumn isn’t just a season—it’s a soft-spoken friend who reminds me to nest, nurture, and sip my way through life’s transitions (with extra honey, of course).

This year, between house renovations and preparing for a grandbaby, I’m embracing the season like never before. And just in case you need a nudge to add more cozy to your calendar, here’s my go-to list for a soulful, snuggly fall.

🕯️ Home & Hearth Delights

Create a Cozy Tea Nook

  Rearrange a corner with plush pillows, rustic mugs, and your favorite fall blends. This is your “permission to pause” station.

Try a DIY Fall Wreath  

  Use dried florals, ribbon, or even leftover fabric scraps. Let it reflect the story your home is telling this season.

Light a Signature Seasonal Candle

  Go for scents like apple bourbon, cinnamon clove, or smoked cedar. One flick of the flame and suddenly—autumn lives here.

Thrift a Treasure for the Mantel

  Find one charming, weathered piece that makes you smile. Bonus points if it’s something your future grandchild will ask about someday.

🍁 Outdoor Adventures

Visit a Farm Stand or Pumpkin Patch

  Fresh cider, gourds with personality, and maybe a photo or two for a “Rustic Reflections” moment.

Walk Just to Crunch Leaves 

  No destination, just crunch therapy for the soul. Nature’s way of saying, “Let go.”

Host a Fireside Evening 

  A few friends, a few blankets, a pot of warm cider. Don’t forget the mismatched mugs.

Snap Foliage Photos for Future Mood Boards

  Whether you're designing a nursery or curating HazelBerries, let nature inspire your aesthetic.

🎨 Creative Moments & Connection

Make a Gratitude Garland

  Cut paper leaves and write one thing you’re grateful for each day. Hang it near your tea nook for extra joy.

Write a Letter to Your Grandbaby

  What does fall feel like in your world? What will it feel like in theirs?

Share Your Fall Playlist

  Bonus points if it’s a mix of acoustic coffeehouse tunes, vintage soul, and a few cheeky pop hits.

Design a Cozy Room Using Only What You Own

  Rearranging is the new redecorating. Challenge yourself to create warmth without spending a dime.

🍂 💌 Wrap-Up

Fall comes and goes quickly, but the memories we craft now echo long after the last leaf drops. So light the candle, fluff the pillows, and invite coziness to settle in like an old friend.

Tell me, what’s on *your* cozy fall bucket list? Share your rituals, rediscoveries, and moments of magic in the comments below—and stay tuned for HazelBerries seasonal picks and some nursery theme fun headed your way soon! 🍵🍂🧡

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