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Book Bundle “The Brave Knight” + “I Said No”
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Relational closeness to your kids is one of the be

Relational closeness to your kids is one of the best ways to protect them from the sketchy side of life.

Honest—and hopefully frequent—conversations build that closeness.
If the kids you’re raising see you enjoy and appreciate them and their answers, they may be more likely to come to you when they have a life concern.

One way to build that bridge to closeness is through play.
Gamify the habit of sharing how you feel.
In a safe, non-judgemental—and of course—loving environment.

In today’s reel, you can check out some of the homemade conversation cards I’ve made.
If you want more options, check out my blog post on Conversation Questions (link in the bio).
Not only does the post include more free questions for you to snag, there are also some links to conversation question sets that would make great holiday gifts for family and friends.

#conversations #conversationstarters #conversationswithkids #conversationsthatmatter #parentingteens #parentingadvice #parentingtip #parentinghack #parentingteenagers #parentchild #parentchildrelationship #parentchildactivity #familyactivity #familyholidayideas

Time for another offering of Greece pics. One of

Time for another offering of Greece pics.

One of my favorite things about cruising the Greek Islands was the "free cocktails." Free as long as they cost 6 euros or less. Free Zumba lessons too!

After visiting Mykonos and Ephesus, we stopped at Patmos.
Instead of joining the formal tour that evening, Melissa and I opted to piddle around the town.

At first we thought Patmos was super quiet.
One merchant declared it, "The end of the season."

But after sunset, the locals came out.
They sipped wine.
They lingered over savory suppers.
Then cappuccinos.
All the while, their kids played soccer in the square.
Or rode bikes in the alleys.

More commentary on these photos on my Diane Tarantini, Author Facebook page.

#greeceistheword #greeklife #greekislands #patmos #patmosphere #greeceistheword #travelgreece #awholenewworld #girltrip #mediterraneanlife #seetheworldwithme

This week we lost Rosie, the pet formerly known as

This week we lost Rosie, the pet formerly known as, "Psycho Cat." Rosie was my mother's cat. Mom adopted her after her beloved Rat Terrier Oreo traveled over the "Rainbow Bridge."

In 2019, when Mom's health was failing, our son Tre promised to take Rosie in when Mom was gone. Since Tre was the only human besides Mom that Rosie allowed to touch her for 5 seconds before hissing and thrashing in fury. Tre's promise meant so much to my mom, his Gram.

The day after Mom passed, the staff where Mom lived came running as Cody Brook and I trapped Rosie with a laundry basket. The noises Rosie made? It sounded like someone was being killed inside Mom's apartment.

At Tre's house, Rosie went into hiding for several days. I gave him an article I'd found on how to tame a feral cat, and he followed all the directives. With Tre's kind perseverance, inside of two months, Rosie became another cat. She became TRE's CAT. And he, ROSIE's HUMAN.

These snaps are of the two of them in bed. That a-cat-and-her-boy-nightly-slumber-party tradition continued for 4+ years.

Rosie met all of Tre's friends--and let me tell, you, he has a LOT of friends! She didn't allow contact, but for the most part, she'd stay in the room with them. During the pandemic, Rosie went to Tre's WVU classes with him--via Zoom.

The activity at the bird feeder in the back yard fascinated Rosie. And in time, she got to spend a little time outside with Tre on nice days. Man, did she love being outside! She'd sit on the glider on the front porch for a while. Then she'd mosey to the back patio where she'd hang out on the swing.

Tre and I had to send Rosie over the rainbow bridge this week--I hope into the arms of my mom--and holy wow, was it hard. As Tre said, "Sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing."

Saying goodbye to Rosie Cat was way harder than I expected. I think it's because Rosie was my mom's cat AND my son's cat. I'm grieving Rosie not being in the world, but it feels like there's a lot more I'm mourning, if that makes sense. And if I'm hurting like this, how much more my son--ROSIE's HUMAN?

#griefjourney #griefandloss #griefsucks #rainbowbridge #badcat #aboyandhiscat

I love today's blog post so much! It's the one I

I love today's blog post so much!
It's the one I mentioned in yesterday's reel.

Even though it's a great resource for kids, people of all ages can use it!

The post is super short. It'll take you two minutes to read.

Once you check it out, let me know if you've ever heard of this resource! And of course, please send this along to anyone you think can use it!

#childsafety #emotionalsupport #crisismanagement #ihearyou #mentalhealthsupport #relationshiphelp #helpwithanxiety #stressreduction #talkinghelps #mentalhealthresources

Have you heard of the @crisistextline? Has your ch

Have you heard of the @crisistextline?
Has your child?

If your child is upset about something, they can text HOME to 741741. They’ll then be connected to a trained Crisis Counselor who, via a texted conversation, will empathetically support your child.

Issues the Crisis Textline often hears include:

School stress
Relationship problems
Coping with traumatic events
Substance use
Bullying
Isolation and loneliness
Depression
Eating disorders and body image
Grief and bereavement
Suicidal ideation
Self-harm
Anxiety
To read more about how it works, check out my blog post on the topic at dianetarantini.com. Link in the LinkTree in my bio. Or go to crisistextline.com.

#childsafety #listeningskills #emotionalhealthmatters #anxietytips #anxietyanddepression #talkinghelps #reachout #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthsupport #worrying #mentalhealthtips #mentalhealthhelp #parentingtip #suicideprevention #stressrelease #relationshipproblems #schoolstress #griefsupport

Holiday Huzzah, friend!! ITTTT’S TIIIIIME! 🎁

Holiday Huzzah, friend!!

ITTTT’S TIIIIIME! 🎁

@shineonwv's 4th annual #55giftsfrom55counties 2023 Gift Guide is now LIVE!

The link is up in my LinkTree! Put in your email, download the list, and shop till you drop with truly unique gift offerings from every county in Best Virginia.

Thank you so much, @shineonwv, for choosing my child safety book, "The Brave Knight," to represent Monongalia County. I'm honored!!

SPECIAL OFFER: If you purchase a copy of TBK from the #55giftsfrom55counties gift guide this week, I'll upgrade you to a BOOK BUNDLE which includes a signed copy of "The Brave Knight" + all kinds of sweet swag + a free copy of the terrific best-selling child safety book, "I Said No" by Kimberly King, aka @toughtopicsmom.

Get a child safety book bundle for every kid on your holiday gift-giving list today!

#bestvirginia #westvirginia #monongaliacounty #monongaliacountywv #shopwv #giftideasforkids #presentsforkids #childrensbooks #childsafety #keepkidssafe #preventionispossible #protectyourkids #wv #wvwriters #wvmaker #wvauthor

Diane Tarantini

Author of The Brave Knight
Child Safety Educator
Lover of cats, coffee, and sassy outfits

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Home
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The Brave Knight
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About
The Brave Knight
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