GameTruck Cherry Hill

The difference between guidance and direction.

With time, I understood the importance of the mistakes I’ve made along the way and how they led me to where I am today. I wouldn't change that for the world!

That’s why I make it a point to give my sons, Alex and Max, the freedom to make their own choices. That teaches them to be more independent, but at the same time I am allowing them to encounter failure and disappointment, in case they made a "wrong" decision.

They know that when something goes wrong, I’m here by their side helping guide them through their problems and develop their own silver lining rather than giving them explicit directions. Being a good parent means teaching children to navigate all the world throws at them, not shield them from it.

Shout out to the The Dad Lab for this encouraging post.

Change your mindset. Nothing is impossible for you. View that dream whispering "I'm possible".

As a parent, you child to have fun doing the things they love while being safe. Here are a few tips for you to use to help protect your child with online gaming.

1. If your child watches any streamers, know who they are as they may promote content on or off the platform that is not suitable for children.

2. This term means that players interact with one another. This feature may or may not be monitored for violations of community guidelines. Encourage your child to report abusive / inappropriate behavior in the reporting area of the game.

3. Be vigilant for cyberbullying. Encourage your child to speak out if they or another player are not being treated right especially if there is a report feature in the game. Encourage them to block any player that makes them feel uncomfortable. Let them know they can always talk to you about things that happen online.

It’s like it happened overnight.

Our baby, now a boy.

A little man who fills this house

With innocence and joy.

I marvel at it really.

Where did the time go?

Those early days felt endless

Now, each time I blink, you grow.

Of course it has to happen:

This I do understand.

But each milestone seems to hit me

much harder than I’d planned.

Barely walking, next you’re running,

Oh, to slow the wheels of time.

Barely words, next detailed phrases,

From this little man of mine.

They say: “Soak it up. it goes so fast”,

and this is surely true.

So, I’ll savour every moment

Of each day I have with you.❤

Credit: Maria Tempany (Therhymingone )

Let us remember what matters and bring us back together in unity.

According to a 2021 study, women game frequently. Of gamers who play daily, 42% of them are women, and of gamers that play 4-6 times a week, women make up 53%.

It's so bad, sweet, and funny all at the same time☺😂

Shout out to The Dad on Facebook for this awesome meme!

Comparison truly is the thief of joy. As moms, we wrestle with doubt. It's a constant battle.

"Am I a good mom? Did I do enough today? She's a much better mom than me." All of these can keep us up at night.

You're a good mom.

As Bunmi Laditan points out, the internet can often become a place of competition and comparison rather than positivity and encouragement. Don't fall into that trap.

There's no such thing as a "perfect" mom. Just remember that there are endless ways to be a good mom, and that's what you are.

You want to protect your kid as they game, but with so many out there, it can be hard to know if one is right for your family. One easy way to gather information about a game, is to look at their ESRB rating. It'll tell you 3 important things...

1. Lists "interactive Elements". These are things that may be helpful for the parent to know before making a decision; however, these interactive elements do not play a role in determining a game's ESRB rating. This section can include sharing location, in-game purchases, player interactions, and more.

2. The reason it got this rating. These reasons can include things like gore, gambling, substances, and much more. This section highlights anything that might be a concern for parents.

3. The suggested age range for players

" THIS... is real life. This is what motherhood looks like when NOBODY is watching.

When nobody is there to judge her for her clothes, or her hair, or her makeup, or her decor-ed out/ Pinterest-looking house, or ensuring her darling kids are just 'SO well-behaved.'

This is after a full day of work, daycare pick-up, two tantrums in 20 minutes.

This is after cooking supper, *trying to* clean the house, giving baths, holding one and soothing the other.

This is exhaustion.

This is overwhelmed.

This is the feeling of defeat.

This is loving my babies so dang much, with every fiber in me.

This is trying so damn hard with every bone in my body to do my very best day in and day out, to give my babies all they need - even when I am melting inside.

This is what it looks like for a mom to NEED just TWO minutes of silence, away from the world, to take a deep breath, regain strength and continue on the mile-long list of things she has yet to do before laying her head on her pillow tonight.

THIS is behind the highlight reel of Instagram. Beyond the beautiful, styled photos.

To all of the mamas out there, I know you read it nonstop and take it with a grain of salt. But please believe me when I say — you are not alone. You never will be.

There’s a world of mamas out there, INCREDIBLE mamas, who also are having THESE moments.

And even when we are engulfed in these soul-sucking moments, we still breathe, rise, and greet our babies with love and reassurance.

If you’ve stuck with me to read all of this, I just want to tell you that you can get through whatever it is that feels tough and numbing. Close your eyes and say something positive that you did today. Encourage yourself. Get back up, mama." ❤

Credit:

I think there may be a connection between my kids and my grey hairs 🤔😂

The ESRB since it's creation has done a great job helping protect kids from potentially dangerous content. Always check the rating of a game to determine if it's a good fit for your family.

It's a tough bargain😂

"Making a deposit" can look like many things. Our daily investment doesn't always have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes it's simply listening, giving a hug, or being their biggest cheerleader. Whether big or small, seize each day and make it count!

Looking for an awesome, low stress, and no clean up party? We've got you covered! From laser tag, gelly ball, water tag, and our decked out video game trailer, your child can have the most memorable party with all of their friends. Visit https://www.gametruckparty.com/ to see how we can help you today!

Before kids, I thought I knew a lot. I thought I understood life and all of its twists and turns. Complex emotions like love and patience, were things that I believed had mastered, but it wasn't until I held my baby for the first time that I realized I knew nothing at all. I hadn't really experienced life or its meaning. I try to teach my kids about life, but they're showing me what life truly is about.

Where would we be without this secret weapon? 😂

The ESRB was established in 1994 with 5 rating categories and 17 content descriptors. The rating system is designed to give parents quick information on whether a video game is right for their family or not. Checking these ratings, is an easy way to practice video game safety with your child.

We've all been there😂

Children are often described as "little eyes" or "little ears", always taking note of what we do. Children are never too young to learn how to be a good person and how to make the world a better place. One of your most important jobs as a parent is to model the type of person you want your kids to be. Your displays of compassion, empathy, responsibility are great teaching moments. They learn the most important life lessons from the person they love the most.

Make it a Family Activity - One way you can play with and protect your child online is by gaming with them. Make it a family event! Have them teach you how to play!

Research Games before your Child Plays Them - Every family has different values. While certain games may be acceptable in your child's friend's house, they may contain offensive elements or themes. Always research to ensure that a game aligns with your standards.

Look Into Parental Controls - From scammers to harmful content, take advantage of these controls to help protect your kids from a wide range of online threats.

Parenting should never be viewed as anything but monumental and priceless. We raise the future. We shape the world through our children. Let us be the role models that they will one day imitate and make the world a better place.

Let the shoe battle commence! 😂

You need to try this recipe! It's the best!!

I never truly understood this until I became a mom.❤

It was officially confirmed! Mario's name is Mario Mario!

Every single time... 😂

They act like I haven't fed them in weeks. My cooking must lack the magic that grandma's does. 😂