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Today on the blog we have.... Miss D rocking some fall (& cold weather) fashions in Frankenmuth. And when I say cold weather... I mean I'm not sure how she was this and didn't freeze to death, cuz it was cold in Michigan that day! LOL Keep scrolling to read more about this beautiful 30A VYBZ Brand Rep ! While most photographers focus on senior portraits, I have a different approach when it comes to celebrating the end of your High School Career. Instead of capturing just one moment in time your senior year, I focus on capturing every stage of your high school career. From the awkward braces to the beautiful smiles and everything in between! We start the adventure your Freshman Year of High school and we photograph 3 times a year. At the end of the school year, we take your favorite images from each session and create a beautiful Heirloom Album that you can set out on display at your Open House or Graduation Party. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for sneak peeks, posing tips and more! Thank about that for just a moment, instead of just showing off senior year, you can show off all the incredible changes from Freshman Year TOO Senior Year. Keep scrolling to read our Frequently Asked Questions about the Program! Limited availability per year - to save your spot, call or text us at (850) 460-4437 Melonie Marie Photography + 30A VYBZ Frequently Asked Questions Where do you Photograph at? We are based in Santa Rosa Beach Florida, so we frequently photograph on the beaches of 30A and many of the other surrounding gardens and streetscapes. However, we love to travel! And we head to Michigan (my home state) a few times per year, so be sure to follow us on Facebook to see when we will be scheduling sessions. What is 30A VYBZ? 30A Vybz is a student leadership group for High School Teens and Tweens. Using your images in the the Teen 'Zeen Blog , the printed magazine and individual social media platforms, the goal of 30A Vybz is for Teens and Tweens to promote a positive body image for all shapes and to share that with peers in their community. Do I get the digital files? Yes! You get unlimited Social Media File downloads for you to share on all your favorite social media platforms! You can even download them to your camera roll to show off or use as a screen saver. We love when you share your favorite images - especially some of the fun BTS moments and videos! LOL Send us an email or text VYBZ to (850) 460-4437 for pricing details. Can I still do this even if I'm a Sophomore/Junior/Senior? YES! While it is suggested to start the program in your Freshman year so we can capture ALL of your high school years, we understand that sometimes, people just don't hear about us until after their Freshman year - don't worry, we welcome teens of all ages...because Teens ages 13-19 are eligible to apply for the $1000 scholarship! And they can once per year. How do I get on the COVER of the magazine? Because the magazine is only printed 4 times per year, we have VERY limited availability for the cover spot. These are on a first come first serve basis- please text COVER to 850-460-4437 to get on the waitlist (and you will also be sent a link for cover spot details and requirements). Meet Miss Dalaney - I am so blessed to be a part of her life and to be able to watch her grow. While she is in her 3rd year of High School Program, I have actually been photographing this beautiful young lady since she was just a little tyke on the MHS girls little league softball team (and I'm not sure she's gotten much taller since). Just kiddin D! Back on the 8-10 year old girls softball field, you were just most adorable softball player out there, now in your junior year of high school - you have not only blossomed into the most stunning softball player on the field - you are also rockin' it with the bat girl! So proud of you! While we left the softball gear at home for this session, I did get to stop at one of my favorite places for some fashion pieces... Cracker Barrel (who knew) LOL I love photographing D with accessories as she has great movement behind the camera and she always give me the cutest faces and incredible off camera looks. Check out some of my favs featuring this super cool Handbag and Hat from Cracker Barrel. Be sure to sign up for our blog to be the first to know of upcoming blog post, tips and more! Are your ready to document your high school adventures? Text us at 850-460-4437 and we will send you details about the program! use these hashtags: #30avybz #vybztryb #lovethesevybz

Should You Have a Parachute Dress Photo Session? You have probably never even heard of a parachute dress, much less wondered if you should have a photo session with one LOL. Today on the blog we are featuring Miss D from South Walton High School in Santa Rosa Beach celebrating her Sweet 16th birthday! We did her photo session with the White/Red and Black parachute dress options at Eden Gardens in Santa Rosa Beach, FL very close to the beaches of 30A. These parachute dresses are up to 30 Foot long in length and can be quite heavy. They usually require two individuals to help carry the dress as you walk. Make sure these two people are also great at moving their arms as we will need "fluffers' to get this dress moving. Are the parachute dress photo sessions indoors or outdoors? 30A Flying Dress photo session are done outdoors. Due the size of the dress and the area needed to provide movement in the dress, we usually recommend outdoor locations for Parachute Dress photo sessions. We are always open to indoor location recommendations - just please be away we need about a 50ft open area if you want movement in the dress. These flying dress photo sessions are the perfect way for your teen to have a fun adventure during their 30A Beach Vacation. We have over 7 dresses in color to choose from - it's even a fun idea for a mother/daughter session or a BFF photo session. Sessions are available on a limited basis due to dress availability and cleaning processes - for more information on a Parachute Flying Dress Photo session, please send us a text at (850) 460-4437. What is the best time of year, or season, for a flying dress photo session? That's the great news... these dresses are so versatile that any time of year is the perfect time for a parachute dress photo session. During the summer months it is suggest to do these session at sunrise as they can become very hot to wear due to the weight of them. During the winter months we have the perfect fur coat accents and props that will keep you warm if you start to get chilly! Do you have a specific hobby or a milestone event to be photographed? When it comes to pairing these dresses with hobby, the options are endless. Think outside of the box! Do you love Barbie, use the pink dress. Are you into softball, grab the white/red dress and do your hair/make with a fun Carlie-Quinn theme and bring your bat! Do you love to hunt, fish or the outdoors? Let's do something in the wild with the green dress. Are you a fan of the Air Force? Grab a bomber jacket paired with some sweet aviator glasses and the multi-colored dress for a super vyb. These dresses will fit women size 0-20. Momma, these are a great idea for a Mother's Day session or something special with your daughter for her 13th birthday. We recently had the opportunity to photograph a young lady's 50th birthday celebration with the hot pink dress! Do you know someone who would love this photo session idea? Share it with them and let them know you are thinking of them today! 30A Flying Dress Portrait Sessions.

Empowering Teens and Tweens: the do's instead of the don'ts Hello peeps! Happy Tuesday. Today on the 30A Vybz blog we are going to focus on offering positive guidance and wisdom to empower teens (and tweens). Empowering teens to make their own decisions can foster a strong parent-child relationship through the years. Share with family and friends, it's a great way to brighten their day! Before we get started on the do's vs the don'ts of empowering teens, let me share a few sneak peeks of my photo session with the Bowerman Boys. I can't believe Peyton is a FRESHMAN in high school this year... how did this happen, it was just yesterday I was doing his 1st year birthday photo session. LOL. images shot on location at Beagios This kid right here is seriously one of my favorite people in the whole wide world to photograph - after all these years, he still makes ME laugh uncontrollably every time! I hope this kid knows that I am saving everyone of these images with these faces from over the years. His graduation party is going to have a 50ft banner just to fit them all! Don't ever change kid - I love your spunk! Be sure to scroll the end to view their video of all images from this photo session. Empowering Teens: Talking About the Do’s Instead of the Don’ts source: Newport Academy Circumventing Negative Responses As part of the journey to adulthood, teens often react negatively when they are told no. Typically, whatever limitations or restrictions are placed upon them by a parental figure, they will try to break the rules — a developmentally appropriate response that can put stress on their relationships with family and other adults in their lives. Choosing to focus on positive directions and guidance can help parents avoid that rebellious reaction, empowering teens to consider different points of view. When parents approach a topic from an encouraging and nonjudgmental viewpoint, teens often consider their ideas more readily and are more open to a conversation. With the focus changed from “do not” to “do,” teens are more likely to shift their thinking and behavior. Building Positive Rapport The teenage habit of reacting in rebellious ways can be divisive in family relationships—not only because of the way that teens react, but also because of how parents and caregivers react. In contrast, positive messages can set off a chain reaction of positive reactions. Friction is often replaced by mutual respect, and a positive rapport between parents and teens can develop where there was once acrimony. More than just sharing wisdom and guidance, talking to teens about the “do’s” can open the conversation to talking about other topics as well. The respect that can grow out of positive discussions can build a foundation of trust that helps when challenges arise between teens and parents. Hence, focusing on the positives while keeping communication lines open helps teens avoid maladaptive behaviors, improves reactions and responses within families, and strengthens overall family harmony. Opening Doors of Possibilities How can parents deliver guidance in a form that teens will accept and even welcome? Positive “do” messages can come via little notes, texts, attaching messages to surprise treats, or just bringing up ideas in casual conversation while driving or cooking together. Some ideas of “do’s” include: Have fun now! Adulthood is filled with responsibilities and tasks that are not always fun. This is the time to be spontaneous, carefree, and silly. FaceTime with a friend while wearing silly outfits or have a “kid day” by playing hopscotch, drawing with chalk, and blowing soap bubbles. There is more to life than school and social media. Build strong friendships. Many friendships begin in middle school or high school and last a lifetime. Teens can find the people now that they want to be able to laugh with and confide in as they mature into new experiences. Research shows that teens with good friends have a higher level of well-being. Try new things. The teen years are the perfect time to try all kinds of things, before choosing a college or a career. Teens can experience the arts, take a robotics class, volunteer at a hospital, learn a new craft, and so much more. Trying new things helps teens learn more about who they are and what they’re passionate about. Make the most of free time. Free time can be a precious commodity in adulthood. When there is downtime, teens can look for an activity that makes them truly happy. Rather than see the limitations of what is not available, what can they find to do instead? Pull out a paintbox, build something with Legos, or make a list of dreams. Explore dreams. Astronaut, ballerina, professional athlete, movie star—these are all common dream vocations of childhood. Why not revisit those dreams and explore what it takes to make those dreams a reality? Or teens can consider what they love about these options, and then look at other types of careers that offer those same exciting attributes. Put mental health at the top of the to-do list. Sometimes a 10-minute mindfulness meditation break helps more than two hours of studying. Taking a walk to get fresh air and clear your mind can be a better choice than finishing those last few math problems or spending time on social media. Learning self-care habits at this stage will benefit teens for the rest of their life. Removing Limitations Perspective can create freedom, or it can create limitations. Focusing on the “don’ts” limits a child’s perspective and catalyzes negative reactions, which can ripple throughout family and relationships. A positive perspective focusing on the “do’s” can remove barriers, empowering teens to explore new possibilities, both in life and in relationships. Talking to teens about these “dos” often can encourage teens to live happy, emotionally rewarding lives, both now and in the future. With the holidays coming, our photo sessions for 30A are filling fast for the remainder of the year. If you are interested in more details about a senior, family or couples photo session on the beach, feel free to email us or text us for more info. meloniemariephotography@gmail.com (850) 460-4437

Share with family and friends, it's a great way to brighten their day! Happy Sunday peeps! Today on the blog I'm gonna feature Emma, one of my current Magazine Creatives and content creators. I have photographed Emma before and so for her birthday celebration, I wanted to try something epic... and she's just as adventurous as I am! Our only goal was no hospital visits as we tried this parachute dress photo session idea (JK, we had safety measures in place, like her mom was there) :-) I have been photographing these dresses for almost 10 years and while I always have focused on the "flying" dress part of the parachute dress, I have wanted to try these dresses around water (note, they are 30ft long, so if they get wet, they are to heavy to even carry). However I need to keep them dry for obvious reasons. This pond is located right out my back door in SRB and I knew Emma would be game to try anything. As a gymnast for most of her life, she has incredible balance - which would come in handy when SHE got the urge to stand up! LOL Keep scrolling for some teaser images and be sure to watch her teaser video (at the end) with BTS video footage of how we did this amazing photo shoot. What's the best location for your 30A photo session? Ever wonder why the 30A beach vacation rentals fill up so quickly? Because 30A Florida is basically a little piece of paradise. The restaurants, escapes and beach adventures are endless. One of our favorite 30A locations to photograph is Santa Rosa Beach. SRB is located in South Walton County, FL and has some of the most scenic locations for family and senior portrait sessions. Tip: did you know that to photograph on the beaches of Walton County FL, your photographer must carry the appropriate Beach Permit based on group size and Insurance. For more tips on finding a photographer - read this article As a photographer in Santa Rosa Beach, I of course love photographing on the beaches for sunset, but did you know that SRB has some gorgeous garden locations for photo sessions. A popular location for our Flying Dress photo sessions is Eden Gardens. With the holidays coming, our photo sessions for 30A are filling fast for the remainder of the year. If you are interested in more details about a senior, family or couples photo session on the beach, feel free to email us or text us for more info. meloniemariephotography@gmail.com (850) 460-4437 Empowering photo session and body image values for high school teens. 7 Tips for the Selfie Talk with your TWEEN: PART 2 of BODY IMAGE VALUES & Social Media Understand digital distortion. Talk through the techniques and tools (like facial makeup, etc) people use to edit their images with their phone and make a list together. Avoid the comparison trap. When your child is scrolling, remind them that they are seeing someone else's carefully curated highlights and reel. Chat about whether or not social media images are a fair target for compactor (hint: they are not). LOL Put the 'social' back into social media. Tag about way to use social media more purposefully to actively connect and interact with other people. Be sure to remind them of the dangers and to unfollow accounts that seem sketchy. Taclke cyberbullying. Developing a plan for how they will cope with bulling online. In addition to telling a trusted adult when they see it, remind them that many social platforms offer functions to hide, block and report bullying online. Create diverse, real content. Discuss ways to create a more uplifting, diverse and positive online space for themselves and others. Talk about how they can spend more time posting things that reflect their interest, activities with friends and personal qualities that have nothing to do with how they look. Challenge each other to give up filters for a month and see how it makes you feel. Learn how to spot advertising. With social media influencers becoming more popular than ever, it can be hard to spot what an ad and what's not. Scroll though your child's social media feed together and practice spotting posts that show sponsored content and those that don't. Log out! Encourage your kids to take occasional breaks from social media if they feel overwhelmed or are not enjoying it. Set screen time limits and take a walk, call a friend, etc - whatever they like doing away from their screen. xo~ Melonie

Share with friends and family... it's a great way to brighten their day! Okay … C hloee is like realllllllly fun to have in front of my camera. My camera has been lucky enough to be capturing this sweet girl since she was in t-ball. LOL. She is a total natural in front of the camera, super sweet influencer, and just ummm gorgeous . Like what?! Happy Thursday peeps! As you probably know (if you know me AT ALL), I love LOVE streetscape photo shoots. Why? Oh lemme tell ya. So first of all, you can get a million different looks in like three square blocks. 30A offers some amazing street locations like Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach, Seaside and more. For Chloee's Class of 2023 Senior session, we headed to the cold... yep... the cold! Bay City, Michigan. The street art there is constantly evolving. Ice cream. Sweet Treats, Great Food. Amazing shopping. Chill peeps. These are just a few reasons why I love streetscape photoshoots. So Chloee is one of my 2023 Senior Clients and I have had the opportunity to photograph this sweet young lady since was just a little girl in t-ball. Her mother was my kids Kindergarten teacher (and the best K-teacher ever I might add)! While I love living, and photographing, in FL and this place is truley paradise, I LOVE when I have the opportunity to head back up to Michigan and photograph families that I have been capturing for over 20 years. I have been a part of so many of their milestones, I'm honored when they still choose me to capture these memories - even if it means going back up to the cold - LOL Side note: I love finding random amazing trucks to use in my images. The one of Chloee is from a Parking Lot in Bay City, MI. The Senior pic of Hunter (below) is from a random street in Indiana a few years ago. How cool is that? Positive Body Image - why I offer Empowering Teen Photo Sessions If you follow my blog at all, you know that I am adamant about a postive body image for teens and tweens as this is an issue I struggled with personally. Unfortunately it happens all to often in both gals and even guys. Teens with a negative body image will see themselves as a distorted image of who they actually are. They tend to feel uncomfortable, awkward, self-conscious and even ashamed. Our goal is for everyone our clients to have a positive body. Body image is more than just your appearance, it also involves how you FEEL about your body. I encourage and show my clients to appreciate their natural body and value its uniqueness. My mission is to provide not only gorgeous images, but to also give confidence and comfort in who you! Creating life-long positive self-esteem values. Here are 5 Tips from the safeteens.org website for a positive body image: Appreciate all that your body can do. Everyday your body carries you closer to your dreams. Celebrate all of the amazing things your body does for you – running, dancing, breathing, laughing, dreaming, etc. Keep a top-10 list of things you like about yourself – things that are not related to how much you weigh or what you look like. Read your list often. Add to it as you become aware of more things to like about you. Remind yourself that “true beauty” is not skin-deep. When you feel good about yourself and who you are, you carry yourself with a sense of confidence that makes you beautiful regardless of whether you physically look like a supermodel. Beauty is a state of mind, not a state of your body. Look at yourself as a whole person. When you see yourself in a mirror or in your mind, choose not to focus on specific body parts. See yourself as you want others to see you – as a whole person. Surround yourself with positive people. It is easier to feel good about yourself and your body when you are around others who are supportive and who recognize the importance of liking yourself just as you naturally are. Love all the expressions we were able to capture! 30A Photographer Empowering Senior Portrait Sessions Streetscape photo sessions | Alys Beach | Rosemary Beach | Seaside Class of 2023, not a ton of spots left, so get on the schedule asap – send us a text at (850) 460-4437 for senior pic info and t he remaining dates – we will circle back to get you on the schedule for your Empowering Senior Portrait Sessions! Wondering what a session is like with Melonie Marie Photography? check out the video below for BTS video and all of her stunning gallery images!

Share with friends & family... it's a great way to brighten their day! Happy Wednesday peeps! Today I'm super excited to share some teaser images (and video) from this senior photo session at Alys Beach with Vivian - another one of my Class of 2023 Influencers! Keep scrolling to view the teaser video with all her stunning images! What's it like at Alys Beach? For Vivian's senior session, she decided on 3 amazing locations along 30A Florida. We photographed at Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach and Seaside. Today's feature is going to cover our session at Alys Beach and why it is such a popular vacation rental getaway and also a destination location for senior portraits. With it's Mediterranean style and beautiful gulf views, homeowners of Alys Beach enjoy secluded courtyards and a friendly garden atmosphere in the community. Vivian has been visiting Alys Beach since she was just a little girl and she loves the charm and the luxurious escape from everyday life it provides. Vivian is super fun to photograph - she has this easy-going, fun spirit and is great at moving with the camera. For her senior session at Alys Beach, she showed me some really cute spots and I of course fell in love as this was my very first time every running across these beautiful spots. It was a beautiful sunshiny day on the day we photographed, and due to scheduling, we had to shoot mid morning, which isn't the "norm" here for SOWAL county, but the weather was beautiful and we were lucky to have somewhat cooler temps. With all the gorgeous sun and white structures of Alys Beach, there was no need for me to use my Godox lights, we simply used the available light and a reflector for these shots. What to wear for your Senior Portrait Session at Alys Beach How cute is this dress? I absolutely love the royal blue color Vivian choose to wear for this location. The color just pops against the unique Greek village style of Alys Beach. Vivian always the best accessories for her wardrobe! I love the burst of yellow sunshine in both her earrings and even her shoes. Those accessories pull the look together for a fabulous high-fashion vacation vyb. Side note: I cannot believe it's already October... Between photo sessions in Florida and ones in Michigan, this year has gone by super fast! I am already booking up for the last part of this year, but I do have a few session available for class of 2023 seniors if need be - but lmk asap if you are interested because the available dates go quick. I'm loving the blue on blue tones with the dress at Alys Beach. Senior Portrait Wardrobe | Female Pear Shape With these 3 outfits, we have enough BTS video and images for social branding content for the next 3 months! Vivian is a natural influencer and is one of my favorite Creative Content Creators to photograph for the 30A Vybz Exclusive Magazine. Her values on a positive body Image for All, aligns with our beliefs and goals. I am excited every time I get to feature her in the magazine. She is the perfect young lady to represent the amazingness of the Pear Body Shape and how to feel confident in it! Keep scrolling for tips on wardrobe for the pear body shape. Could she be any cuter? I don't think so... but watch this video to see all of her images for her senior session at not only Alys Beach, but also Rosemary Beach and Seaside. 5 Wardrobe tips for the pear body shape: wear bright colors or prints on the upper part of body wear darker colors on your bottom half choose tops with detailing like ruffles or embellishments sets tops and dresses with statement sleves opt for off-the-shoulder numbers and Bardot necklines Class of 2023, get on my calendar for January – March so we can get YOU some fabulous senior pics! I know most of you are just over senior year at this point and ready to move on to that next part of your journey, but it’s so important to capture this time … it’ll fly by, I promise! Moms, trust me – you want to document this! For info on senior sessions and magazine content sessions, please send us a text message or drop us a quick email and we will circle back with you asap. meloniemariephotography@gmail.com text us at (850) 460-4437

Are you planning a destination photo shoot for your senior portraits? 30A, located along Florida's panhandle, offers some of the most unique locations and beautiful beaches for you to remember your senior year adventure. Melonie Marie Photography offers empowering photo sessions and body image values for high school teens and seniors. What is the best month to take your senior pictures? If you are thinking about a destination photo session for your senior portraits, then let me tell you about some of my favorite locations and beaches along Florida's Emerald Coast, and the best time of year to have your senior portraits taken . While 'peak season' for 30A is typically June through August, that is also the warmest season. If you plan a photo session during those months, we highly suggest a sunrise session as the temps will be a little bit cooler. My favorite months for senior sessions at Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach or Seaside are October and April. The mornings and evenings are the perfect temp and the sunshine during the mid-day hours will warm your skin on the beaches. How much should you spend on senior portraits? If you hop on Facebook, there are literally 1000's of photographers in South Walton County, Florida, we encourage you to read these tips on finding the right senior photographer for you (even if it isn't us)! We have several options for senior portrait sessions, and we also offer paid Branding Partnerships with Social Media Kits, Influencer Coaching and more for teens grades 9th-12th. 30A Senior photography packages starting at $1000. 30A Vybz Senior portrait photography sessions with Melonie Marie Photography are more than just pictures, they are an authentic, mind-blowing adventure! I believe in empowering teens with confidence and a positive body image. What is the best outfit for senior portraits? Choosing your wardrobe for your senior portrait session is my favorite part! I love creating fashion styles that accentuate each clients best features. Wondering what to wear for your senior portraits? Choosing your outfit is easier than you think once you read our style session wardrobe guide. After booking your session, we will have a one-on-one consult to help you choose not only the best outfit, but also one that will make you feel confident and comfortable. What is the best beach location for 30A Portraits? 30A Florida offers some of the most sought after vacation destination senior portrait beaches and iconic locations. While the miles and miles of white sandy beaches along the panhandle are the perfect place for sunset or even sunrise beach sessions, the gardens, architecture and other scenery of the area provide incredible backdrops and locations for your senior portrait session. Rosemary beach is perfect if you are looking for an idyllic beach vyb for your senior portraits. With stunning architecture and stark white facades that seem to glow from within, Alys Beach's unique style is perfect if you want to wear a pop of color in your images. One of my favorite destination senior portrait locations is Grayton Beach. The Grayton Beach community offers some iconic photo opportunities and the beach is stunning at either sunrise or sunset! Perfect either time of the day. Meet Miss N....want to see ALL of her images? We shot a ton with her lol – too many for the blog, so watch the youtube video and see some behind the scenes vids as well, especially if you are thinking of booking a session – this gives you a good idea of what to expect when you shoot with me! Class of 2023, I am getting down to the last few session dates that are open – all the way through December. I am booking up so quickly this year for senior portrait experiences, so if you want to grab one, head over to my instagram and send me a quick dm with the date you are interested in and then I will circle back with you to confirm booking. Share this post with family and friends - its a great way to brighten their day!

Do you argue with your siblings? Do your children argue with their siblings? We all have... but how do these sibling relationships and other friendship problems affect a young persons self-esteem? Think about how your parent/child relationship affect the young adults in your home. As a parent, your influence will affect their ideas, values and beliefs. Todays 30A VYBZ #balance topic is about family connection and strengthening the bond - specifically how you can implement a codeword to improve communication with your teen or tween. Keep scrolling for this important tip that even someday save your child's life. Corinthians 6:19-20 – “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” It can be hard for a tween to chat with their parent(s) – or anyone – about a tricky subject like bullying or even worse, being in a scenario where they feel ashamed. A private 'code word' may help him/her to talk when they are feeling anxious or uncomfortable. Don't miss a thing, be sure to SIGN UP for our next magazine/blog article! next balance issue: 002 Parents need to listen without judgement Read that a second time, and let it sink in. Maybe even read it again... Parents need to listen without Judgement. Often times, this age group will tell a little white lie and the reason they do so it frequently because they want to stay "connected" to you. The ideal environment for you to create for your child is one where you are not judgmental and you can hold your child's perspectives in view & maintain reasonability. Teens and tweens can find themselves in scenarios that they didn't choose to be in, or that have turned very awkward or uncomfortable for them and even causing them to feel mis-placed guilt. Putting them in a situation to choose between protecting their friends and social status vs an adult from knowing about it can create an internal struggle for them. if your child is confident in their relationship with you , they will feel more confident to bring sensitive issues to you. BECOME A POSITIVE BODY IMAGE CONTENT CREATOR for 30A VYBZ and OTHER BRANDS Using a codeword for dealing with problems Many professional teen psychologist suggests creating a fun and unique codeword that you and your child can use to create an open and honest conversation with you regarding common tween/teenage problems or when he/she wants to talk about a sensitive issue. Situations when codewords come in handy include: • Doing badly at school • Attending a party where there are drugs or alcohol • Being touched inappropriately • Developing problematic eating habits • Sexting ( 70.9% of tweens have encountered sexting) • Being teased or harassed • Relationship advice • Having feelings hurt by a family member or friend Developing a shared, private codeword or phrase with your child could strengthen your relationship by preventing communication issues and allowing you to help them when they need it most. Let them know that they can can call or text you and use your codeword whenever necessary, even if away from you and as a code from you to come help them. Tip: You can even encourage older siblings to create codewords as well! In his book Raising Girls, psychologist Steve Biddulph suggests aunts, older sisters, or female adult friends can play significant roles in girls’ lives as trusted confidantes. UP NEXT: Choosing and using a codeword with your teen/tween: For the code to work, there are a few guidelines you should both agree! Sign up for our next #balance article with 30A VYBZ to see our guidelines and more tips for creating a better parent/child relationship using a #codeword. #A001

We are excited to feature these two sisters (in the middle) and each of their besties for this fun article on '7 signs of a true friend'. We met up with these gals (and their parents) over at Watercolor Gardens over on 30A in Florida and then headed across the street over to the white sandy beaches for a beautiful sunset. While God chooses our family members, we choose our friends, and sometimes, the friends we bring into our lives intentionally can mean just as much as our family, if not more. Our healthy relationships with our friends help us live a more joyful and meaningful life in way we don't even think of. We should never under value a true friend and those who support us though the good days and our bad days (we all have them). 1 Corinthians 15:33 tells us that bad company corrupts good character, it ruins good morals. 1. True and caring friends will accept you for who you are! Supportive friends that truly care about you will love you for the person you are, flaws and all. And if you have brothers or sisters, we need to remember that we should always be this to our own family members. Accepting someone for how they are does not mean that you have to agree on every subject or even have the same passions. In fact, different views and outlooks from our trusted friends can help expand our horizons. Don't ever hide your quirks and imperfections, as true friends love YOU for those reasons! 2. True and caring friends will accept you for who you are! Let's face it, at any age, life has its ups and downs. Building supportive friendships at any age can help us get through the hard times, but building them during our teen years can create LIFE LONG FRIENDSHIPS and memories. A true friend, because they love you, will stand by to help overcome difficult moments and help face peer pressure issues. That could mean giving a shoulder to cry on, listening to your problems, or finding ways to cheer you up. Those small gestures can mean a lot especially during moments of self-doubt or nervousness. 3. True and caring friends will Celebrate Life with You As we go from our teen years to college and onto building our own careers and families, a friend’s support not only matters during the hard times. A true friendship means each of you genuinely encourages the other to succeed. Unfortunately, disingenuous people may feel insecure and want you to fail. But a true and caring friend celebrates your life milestones, accomplishments, and journeys; and feels happy to see things go well. 4. True and caring friends Will Make the Time for you to Feel Valued In life, and especially during teen years, our hectic schedules make it difficult to see our friends and even family as much as we would like. Your bestest friends will treat you as a priority and set aside quality time to catch up, whether through a phone call, stopping by the house, or even hopping on FaceTime to share some news. 5. True and caring friends Will Tell You the Rough Stuff Believe it or not, if you choose your friends the right way, you will surround yourself with individuals who share your same core values. In this way, you can count on your friends to give good advice and help guide you through both exciting and difficult life adventures. Sometimes, we may not notice ourselves falling off track. A good friend will help us make better choices even if that means saying something we don’t always want to hear. 6. True and caring friends will Encourage You to Achieve Your Goals Each and everyone one of us should strive to become the best version of ourselves, and a true friend will support you in achieving personal improvement. Whether it means cutting out unhealthy habits, pursuing a dream job, or cultivating a creative outlet, friends will give us the motivation to help follow through with the things we want to achieve. 7. True and caring friends Helps Us Feel Comfortable >>> SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR YOU, BY ALICIA TAPPEN, FROM THE SECRET PLACE <<< Transparency breeds trust. Being vulnerable and transparent as the friend listening to a difficult issue, it can be hard to refrain from giving advice. Providing fake comfort, like “it will work out”, “you’re going to be fine,” “it’s not that big of a deal,” is silencing the voice of your friend who is confiding in you. Let the friend vent, and then validate her with her own words. Show her that you care and are listening intently by using her own words to confirm her emotions. When she says, “I’m so mad at them...” Repeat her words, “so you are mad at them.” Simple as it sounds, this takes the pressure off you for having to have the perfect advice, and instead allies you with your friend who needs reassurance that her feelings are valid. Remember, they are trusting you with their personal secrets. If this is something that you know you need to tell someone because there is abuse, neglect, or something criminal involved, it is ok to get the information through consistency and non-reactivity. Being consistent and nonreactive means when they share the hard things, you don’t make faces of disgust, or show anger, but instead stay nonreactive. They don’t need added shame, fear, or doubt. Let your friend know that depending on what is shared, you might have to tell someone who can help them. It is best to have that conversation before they give all the details, because getting an adult, law enforcement, or other authorities might be the right answer, but it will never be the easy one. Letting your friend know that their secret is safe from their peers, but some information can only be handled by the law or other 3rd parties. Doing the right thing will be hard, but together, it can be done gently and smoothly. www.thesecretplacehome.org Don't try to force that special connection between friends. It just happens. True friendships are people come together and feeling completely at ease being themselves with who they are around. Whether it means laughing at silly jokes, talking with a fun accent for hours, or talking the night away, a long-lasting friendship involves an easy connection in which individuals understand each other when simply showing all their quirks and inseuritiees. Do you know of a special person who shows all the signs of a true friend? Don’t forget to be a good friend in return and show how much you care. Even if you haven't talked in a while, remember to reach out to the important people in your life who love and support you. Gotta love that sister connection! You might also like: Teens & Social Media Positive Body Image - who we are Personal Style and Peer Pressure We do not provide medical advice, psychiatric diagnosis or treatment. All third-party trademarks, service marks, logos and domain names appearing on this web page are the property of their respective owners. None of these companies endorse, sponsor or are in any way affiliated with 30A VYBZ or Melonie Marie Photography.