September 28, 2011 – 7:00 am
My decision to work outside of the home is the best choice for my family. As a working parent, I am able to provide a secure future for my family.
My family’s finances benefit from the work I do. I am saving for my child’s college tuition and other important expenses with my salary. I am able to responsibly plan for the future with my additional income.
I believe that my career is beneficial for my child’s social development. Sending my child to pre-school, daycare, or leaving them with a nanny/caregiver has innumerable benefits for their social development.
In pre-school, my children are exposed to a variety of people and activities that I would be unable to replicate at home. My children are learning the skills they need to prepare them for school.
There are people better trained than I whom I can trust with my children’s education. Staying involved in my children’s class allows me to participate in their accomplishments.
I am a better parent because of my job outside of the home. Having a place to go and a change of scenery helps me appreciate what I have when I am home.
My work keeps me feeling useful, valuable, and intelligent. When I come home from work, I feel refreshed and better able to enjoy my family time. It is to my family’s advantage for me to work outside of the home.
Today, I work because I want to. To me, the benefits of working outweigh the benefits of staying home. I am happy working outside of the home.
- Why do I work outside of the home?
- How should I respond to criticism about my decision?
- How do my children benefit from my career?
September 21, 2011 – 7:26 am
Family time is my favorite time.
The time of my day that warms my heart the most is the time I get to spend around the house with my family. They are the most important people in my life. And no matter what happens throughout my day I can step away from it and remember just how important my family is to me.
In my house, we make sure that no matter what we are busy with we at least carve out some quality time. And we make it a point to try and eat all meals together when possible. My husband and I cherish every second we spend with our son knowing that the days of him being little won’t last forever.
We want to be more than just parents to our child; We want to be his role models and friends. So spending quality time with him allows us to get to know him as he develops into a toddler, preschooler, and so on. And hopefully this relationship will show our son that we will be there emotionally every step of the way.
My husband and I are closer than ever. Each night after our son has gone to bed, we relax together and talk about our day. Our nightly catch up sessions allow us to unwind and remain emotionally and intellectually in sync.
Kicking back with my family helps me cope with the stresses of life. Do you know just how innovative, creative, and fun a child is to be around? My husband and I feel extremely proud of all that we are accomplishing every time we look at our son. Sometimes just watching him for five minutes can get me out of a funk or bad moment.
Make sure you are spending quality time with your family and ask yourself:
- Do I maximize my time with my family by focusing on them, rather than being on my laptop or zoning into the television?
- How can my spouse and I carve out quality time to spend with each other?
- Can I take part in interactive activities with my children more frequently?
Today, I value my family and cherish our time together. Family time is my favorite time because we can all just be ourselves without fear of judgment from others. Now go and spend some quality time with your family. I’m positive they’ll thank you for it!
September 14, 2011 – 7:45 am
One thing I think we all realize after we become parents is things change. There is no denying that everything from the family dynamics to your waist size all have changed and even though these changes are expected we still need to keep them in mind. I think because we are making sure the baby is taken care of that we forget about all the other changes and sometimes lose focus on a change in our our well-being or health. In order to be good parents for your child you must make sure you are taking care of yourself, too.
The reason I bring this up is 6 months after I had my son I began to feel really icky. I was sluggish and running a slight fever. But I shrugged it off and continued on with caring for my son. Three days later it only got worse and I thought I was going to faint and my vision was blurry. Scary stuff for me because I was a work-at-home mom and most of my neighbors around us were off at work so if something truly serious happened I would have to call 911. I came very close to that. As luck would have it my husband came home early that day and rushed me to the doctor. Luckily it was something that could be easily cured by antibiotics and some much needed rest. I was fortunate that I didn’t just pass out at home.
Again, as parents we tend to look after our little ones and at the sign of the smallest cough or slightest change in their daily routine we rush into action to take care of them. But how can we effectively take care of them when we are not taking care of ourselves? What would have happened if I did faint and my husband didn’t come home early? I’m not trying to scare you but I think it is so important that the minute we are not feeling well we need to jump into action immediately, just as we would if it were one our our precious little ones. Take the time to schedule not only doctor visits for your child but also for you and your spouse. And in the event that you are a stay-at-home parent be sure to have a plan of action with family, friends, and/or neighbors. You always need to be prepared.
So make sure you take care of yourself so that you can take care of that precious baby!
August 30, 2011 – 7:00 am
When my husband and I began dating seriously our families began asking “So, when are you two going to get engaged?” Then came “When are you going to get married?” And then of course, “When are you going to have a baby?” So my husband and I thought FINALLY! The questioning was over. But now, after 2 years since our son’s birth, our families have begun asking “When are you going to give Shaun a playmate? You don’t want him to be an only child do you?”
So what does being an only child mean exactly? I grew up with 3 siblings so it is hard for me to imagine having all the toys to myself, not being in competition with someone or getting to eat without having someone else snatch my dessert off my plate and exchange it for their veggies they didn’t want! Okay, there were definitely added benefits of having siblings too. They had my back at all times and when we all stood up to mom and dad (okay the ONE time we stood up!) we were a stronger force. And I never felt alone.
As I look at my two year old I wonder if he will be an only child. My husband and I would love to have another baby but whose to say it’s in the future for us? We are enjoying our time with our son and being able to give him him everything he wants and needs. But when I’m working or have something occupying my time I steal a glance at my son, sitting there playing by himself and I feel something is missing…rather “someone” is missing from the picture. Maybe my family was right, maybe it is time for a little playmate.
August 20, 2011 – 7:00 am
A baby will usually begin sprouting their first teeth (primary teeth) sometime between 4 to 7 months or as early as 3 months, in some cases. Whatever age your child begins you want to start becoming more aware of the signs of teething to better help them during this time. Some babies will be more obvious than others. My son was a textbook teether and had all the typical signs of teething like:
- drooling more than usual
- diarhhea – this can happen because of the excess of drooling BUT be sure to check with your pediatrician to rule out anything else
- fever – you may see a mild elevation in temperature but a baby should never have a high fever so again be sure to contact your pediatrician.
- the tendency to chew on everything in sight
- cranky or fussy, typically at night
- ear tugging
- change in eating habits
So once you baby begins to show signs of teething you can try to help them out a little by providing some temporary relief by:
- giving them a cold, wet washcloth – *My Rookie Mistake -make sure it’s one that was not washed in tons of detergent!* You can wet the washcloth and put it into a plastic sandwich bag, then stick into freezer. Remove it and give to baby to gnaw on.
- massage your babies gums with a clean finger
- giving them safe chewing toys
- giving them the age appropriate dose of baby acetaminophen or ibuprofen (please consult with your pediatrician)
I promise teething doesn’t last forever and eventually you can grab your camera to take a picture of your baby’s pearly whites. Say cheese baby!
August 15, 2011 – 7:00 am
The month of August is National Breastfeeding Month. As a mom who nursed I understand how important it is to breastfeed but I do realize it is not the only option out there. As a matter of fact I not only breastfed but I also bottle fed and both were positive experiences. But I would like to take a little time to bring awareness to breastfeeding and what the American Academy of Pediatrics has to say about the benefits of it:
For baby
- Breastfeeding decreases the possibility that your baby will get a variety of infectious diseases, ear infections, diarrhea, etc.
- They are at a lower risk of being obese children.
- Breastfeeding has been associated with slightly enhanced performance on tests of cognitive development.
For mom
- Breastfeeding mothers return to their pre-pregnancy weight faster.
- Reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
- Mom experiences less postpartum bleeding, as the hormones that help with breastfeeding also make the uterus contract.
And from my own personal experience I have to say that it was definitely more cost-effective to nurse, as well as provided my son and I with a special kind of bonding. Even when I pumped/expressed my milk my husband could even share in the bonding with his favorite little man, too!
Parents have so many hard decisions to make when it comes to the health and well-being of their little ones. Should I breastfeed or should I bottle feed? Should I use cloth diapers or regular diapers? Do we go all organic or not? We are very fortunate to live in a time where there are many choices available to us but it is good to remember one very important thing. If you speak with your pediatrician and spouse for guidance, go with what is in your heart, any decision you make will be the right for your child.
Enjoy your precious little one and Happy National Breastfeeding Month to you!
As you are just starting out as a new parent your head is still probably spinning with the millions of things you should be doing for your child. Now it looks like you not only should be pleasing your little one but everyone else around you, too! Reading the article The No-Kids Allowed Movement is Spreading on Yahoo! Shine I was a bit troubled with the topic. The fact that patrons of some restaurants, hotels, movie theaters and other establishments were complaining of babies crying all the time and that these families would no longer be welcomed was really disturbing. I mean do they have the right to determine this based on kids being kids? Or are they within their rights to establish a no kids allowed policy?
Being a parent is a rewarding yet challenging at times. We do not always have control over when our children cry and try our hardest to prevent any potential crying situations. When my son and I visited a particular store for the millionth time my son, who never had an issue before, would not allow the cashier to ring up my items without screaming and crying as loudly as his little lungs would allow him to. I have no idea where this came from and sheepishly looked at the cashier and apologized. But after it happened a few more times I stopped apologizing and went about my business. The crying fits lasted a few seconds but it still made me feel like the worst mother ever! I eventually got over it because I knew this was just a phase. Now, did the other customers waiting on line really enjoy hearing the screaming? I’m sure they didn’t but it was a few seconds and it was over. I know it can be difficult to explain to people who do not have children that our little ones are not crying to purposely annoy them or make them mad but in fact are just being kids and don’t always have the means to express themselves otherwise.
So how might these policy changes affect us as parents? Well a good example for me is being a work-at-home mom and the flexibility I have in my shopping but I am one of the few lucky ones who have that luxury. So if some of these stores are thinking about encouraging a “child free” shopping time this is going to just be another obstacle that parents will have to work around their schedules. How inconvenient is it that? And what happens when your Home Owner’s Association decides that children are no longer allowed to play outside in their own neighborhood? Nothing like making a parents life that much more difficult, right?
Here is your chance to have your voice heard about what it’s like being a parent, share some stories, and maybe even offer some suggestions to other parents on what worked for you while you were out-and-about with your little one. Go ahead and share, we’d love to hear from you!
I was speaking with my husband this week and we got to talking about how very little alone time we have spent together since our son was born 2 years ago. I remember even telling myself that this would never happen in my marriage. My husband and I were so close that how could having a child change things that much? I suppose things changed because we allowed it to. It took so much energy to make plans, get dressed up outside of my comfy sweats and t-shirt that I had now gotten use to being in most days. Let alone being able to find the time to even shower was challenging enough! And don’t let me forget the fact that the thought of leaving our son with anyone…well, I just wasn’t ready. I will not deny that these past two years have been extremely focused on our son but when did we forget about making time for each other?
It happens to the best of us. As new parents we sometimes get into the “mommy/daddy-mode” and that’s all we eat, breathe, speak about and live for and there’s nothing wrong with that. We are excited and completely in love with our precious little ones! But it is very important to make time for baby and your significant other. I’m sure you’re wondering, “how in the world am I suppose to do that?” Well here are a few suggestions that helped my husband and I and may just give you the start you need as well:
- Make a “date” with your spouse! Actually schedule it into your calendar so that no other plans or commitments interfere.
- Find a trusted family member, friend, or babysitter that would be willing to watch your child for short periods at a time until you are all comfortable – remember to leave all necessary emergency numbers and information for them to follow.
- The first date can be short with just dinner, a movie, or even just taking a nice stroll through your neighborhood.
- When scheduling your first date don’t worry so much about avoiding talking about your little one. It’s okay! But plan on trying to transition out of it a little so you and your spouse can reconnect on other things.
- If by chance you are not in the best of moods come date-night then try to fake it! Okay, some of you may not exactly agree with this suggestion but I will tell you that sometimes when you fake that smile, or rather encourage yourself to smile and act happier, eventually something changes and you are actually no longer faking it!
- Get started on a project at home that you and your spouse have been putting off like painting a room or reupholstering your chairs. You may find yourself not only getting this checked off your list but order some food, catch up on things and it can really turn out to be fun!
- One step at a time. Do not ever let someone else dictate what you and your spouse should or should not be doing, saying, or the pace you choose to go. You both know what feels comfortable and what fits you best.
No matter what you decide to do just make sure that you are definitely spending some quality time together because it is not only important to your relationship but also to the well-being of your little one. And for more ideas and articles on trying to make time for each other, relationships, marriage and kids check out one of our favorite blogs, Black and Married With Kids. Then come back and share with us what worked for you!
I cannot begin to tell you just how much fun was had during our first Twitter Party, June 29th! With many parents in attendance online we talked about the importance of our precious little ones and shared some great tips, sage advice, and lots of laughs!
We had some wonderful giveaways of product packs, books, photo frames, and a grand prize of a diaper bag filled with our products! Here is a list of the winners that you can follow and congratulate on Twitter!
@MommyFactor
@Lucasitosmommy
@Smyrnagal
@YoungUrbanMoms
@MamaViolet
Thank you to all of you who came out to participate in the Twitter Party and for those of you who missed out look out for some more fun things coming your way very soon!
Hugs!
We enjoy having any opportunity to get to know our customers, readers, and social media followers better so we decided to take it one step further and throw our first ever Twitter Party!
Please join us June 29th, 9-10PM EST for a great conversation about what makes our children our “precious little ones”! We will also be giving away prizes throughout the party so be sure to RSVP on our Facebook page.
We hope to see you all there for the fun!
