Empowered Mommies

Back to School Shopping, Already?

Mamaamazon — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:40:00 GMT

This year I have a first...

Drum roll please...

This upcoming school year beginning in August will be the first time both of my children will be in school. Big Brother will be in third grade, oy! Baby Girl will be attending preschool - half a day, two days a week, double oy!

June and July have zoomed by. August will be here in a few days. While I’m enjoying a lax schedule, I’m also counting down the days till school starts as it helps my sanity when the little darlings are being absolute terrors. Of course, the heat wave on the East Coast and surrounding areas isn’t helping. Anyhow, that brings me to the subject of back to school shopping. I can’t tell you how much I hate crowded malls and department stores in the throes of back to school shopping madness. I’d much rather face a bunch of tweens at a Hannah Montana concert. Nah! Just kidding!!

Yet, every year I procrastinate. Well, not quite, I just like to wait for the tax free shopping weekend in August where certain back to school items and clothing are tax exempt. Below is a list of certain tax exempt items from the North Carolina Department of Revenue. If you are not in North Carolina, you can do an online search to find out if your state has a tax free weekend.

Clothing with a sales price of $100.00 or less per item.
Sport or recreational equipment with a sales price of $50.00 or less per item.
Computers with a sales price of $3,500 or less per item.
Computer supplies with a sales price of $250.00 or less per item.
School supplies with a sales price of $100.00 or less per item.
School instructional materials with a sales price of $300.00 or less per item.

A more extensive list is available at http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/sales/salestax_holiday.html

If your child is starting elementary school, most schools have their supply lists by grades online. Sometimes, local stores which sell school supplies will have area schools supply lists available. This year for Big Brother's school supplies, I'm planning on reusing whatever I can from 2nd grade.

Even if your little darling is not quite school age, there are many great deals to be found. If you can handle the crowds.

While shopping for preschool is a lot less time consuming than elementary school, my biggest issue will be practicality and necessity versus ooh sooo cute! Baby Girl is my only daughter and her fashion should be rockin’ on the playground, LOL. All joking aside, practicality is really what you want. At ages 2,3 and 4 kids grow so fast, so I’m not overly concerned with brand name clothing at this stage. Of course, I don’t want to buy something that’s history after one wash either. Preschool is a wonderful learning environment but it’s filled with tons of stuff that stains clothing and some stains DO NOT come out. What’s worked for me is sticking to brand name jeans and sneakers then buying cheaper tops (tops usually get stained and ruined first) and accessories (socks, underwear etc). I also try to stay away from trendy items especially if you have more than one child of the same sex and intend to pass the items down.

You can also check a store’s website as many stores will be offering additional saving at this time. But the most important thing is to have a plan, stick to what is needed and have a budget. It’s very easy to get distracted.

So gather up your patience, pack a bunch of ibuprofen and if some jerk steals your parking space, be adult about it. Remember your kids will be in the car. Let’s go shopping!!

Ciao,

Jazmin.

Parenting through the Eyes of a Yogi

The Belly Guru — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:30:00 GMT

The Darkness:Of Third Chakra

It has been a couple of months since my last blog and I am sorry for that but one thing a parent learns fast is that discipline is easier to ask for in word than to demonstrate by action. I thought I had absolutely no discipline these past two months. I felt overwhelmed. My work towards all my many professional endevors fell to the side as I sought out the mommy hat and committed towards all those year end obligations at the kids school and organized their fun in the sun for the coming summer. Of course during my hiatus I saw my private practice finally expand and transform Belly Guru life into that of a full centered studio. All good and necessary but as I donned my mommy hat, I quietly walked away from my personal yoga practice and with that my clarity. After all, with more "parenting" commitments something had to give. Unfortunately, as is often the case with moms, it was my extra curricular activities that got axed. Without the stillness of my yoga, It was such a sneaky transition too.

Within 2 weeks, I allowed my mind to wander into judgment of myself against all the "home making career moms" that made end of year gifts look like a year of planning and creativity went into them. I was neither that mom or the percieved "more accomplished" full time career seeking mom who had a boss to please that gave them the rewards to spoil their kids and their teachers. I looked at my gift cards and my child's artwork and wondered if the teacher would think It was enough. Of course, looking back, the real issue was would it mean I am not enough of a mom. Then came June with swim team, travel and career balancing around summer schedules and childcare .How the heck does anyone pull this off with more than a couple of kids??? It took me away from teaching and even attending class at my own center. I reached my limit the third week. In a full out brawl with the kids , my 7 year old yelled he was going off to meditate and that we should all do our Yoga" thunder breaths", a pranyama technique I adapted for the kids to blow off some anger. Well that shut us up. I yelled "Surrender!" towards the heavens, my daughter ran off to cry, we cancelled a long weekend dragging the kids around D.C and I stayed still. Without my yoga, Illusion prevailed.Third chakra my nemesis once again had complete power. I was the worst parent. Darn Ego.

The balance of third chakra

Third chakra holds the ego. In life and parenting, it is a double edged sword. On one hand the fire gives confidence and will power to do much good and on the other hand that same fire and willpower can easily intoxicate you into believing it is all about you and that the activities and accomplishments of the kids' lives must be a reflection of you. As a parent I take pride in the fact that my kids have always loved their themed birthday parties, creative rooms and crafts. I am still amused with the fact that I actually recreated an Ace of Cakes worthy Elmo replication for my daughter's first birthday . But left unchecked by certain disciplines, third chakra is dangerously addictive. With that fire came the tendency to overload. With that came the illusion that I was stuck on the rollar coaster demands of life as a mom/business owner. I manifestedf family meltdowns as I yelled at the creativity getting paint on the carpeted floors or that the experiements the kids produced would one day lead them to injury. So come mid June, as I asked my husband , who by the way owns his own business, to take on more than he admitted he could chew and the kids revolted into actually crying when the daytime nanny was called off because "she is fun" , I wondered why two hours before I was happy I had a cancellation and could be home.

Enlightenment

I guess the fact that my lack of action on the mat corrolating with my parenting becoming less than yogic in thought, word and deed did little to knock me off my game until my kid Guru, in his 7year old profound and enlightened voice yelled out amongst the before mentioned brawl that he was "going off to meditate . At that moment I remembered my obligation to parent as a yogi was my gift. Through taking my action and words off the mat and into my family's world, I had been joyfully making an impact that mattered more than any DVD, professional title or thought out trip to the President's house could ever do. Demonstrating a discipline to Live my Yoga offered a definate step by step path for immediate enlightment. My son got it, Why with all my experience had I notI? So to get back to my first sentence and the key to how parenting and yoga blend.. I am here , With some assemblance of emerging discipline, I am parent, I am student and I am back on my mat and writing my Blog. **OM'

"Do it because it has to be done" -Sri Dharma Mittra

Parenting: The Airline Philosophy

jmdinap — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:54:00 GMT

Of all the parenting strategies that I have read about, tried, thrown out and fretted over, there is one that I have devised as my own that has stayed prominent in my life.

I call it, The Airline Philosophy.

Simply put, you know how if you are traveling on an airplane, the flight attendant gives you the little speech about flotation devices and seatbelts etc? Well, there is one thing they always emphasize, and that is that if the oxygen masks should deploy you should take care of yourself before you take care of small children and those needing assistance. The reason being, that if you put the mask on the baby first, but you collapse halfway through doing so, you are both in trouble. If you take care of you, then you can take care of someone else.

If you, as the mother are hungry, tired, or plain old grouchy, you are not able to take care of your children to the best of your ability, because your needs are not being met. As women, I think we tend to play the martyr, and put others first. It is that exact kindness and compassion that drains us of our abilities to parent successfully.

You do not need to eat the burnt toast (Which is a book by Teri Hatcher that discusses this exact thing), make yourself a new piece!! You do not need to skimp on your sleep to cook and clean, and you do not need to skip a shower. You need those things to feel like a human being, and therefore to parent your children.

In my opinion, and experience you need 10-30 minutes to yourself per day. Let me repeat. TO YOURSELF. Not cleaning, or cooking, or reading stories to your children, but doing whatever it is that makes you happy. If cleaning and cooking make you happy, great. Still find something else for your personal time.

For me, it is usually yoga. If I can't make that work, it might be Oprah on the DVR, an extra long shower, 10 pages of a book, reading blogs I like, or maybe fooling around on my computer. I carve it out, stick to it, and it works. It shows your children that you take care of yourself as well as them. That you are valuable, too.

Let's be honest, does it happen EVERY DAY? No. But if I miss one, I can tell. The days that I don't do it, I am grouchier, more tired, more short tempered, and overall a crummier parent to my children. So I embrace the blue-suited flight attendant words of wisdom and encourage you to do the same.

Cord Blood Awareness Month

nataliecurry2 — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:46:00 GMT

I have some very exciting news to share with you- July is national cord blood awareness month! There is no better time to take advantage of cord blood preservation. There are going to be several events this month to celebrate the wonderful blessing of cord blood. Now is the time to educate yourself and everyone around you. Exciting Events to look out for this month: July 2nd- Allaboutcordblood.com Live webinar- "How Cord Blood Transplants Work"- Watch recorded version:http://allaboutcordblood.com/video/past_webinars July 16th- Allaboutcordblood.com Live Webinar- "Cord blood banking and minorities"- Check in later for exact time Week of July 23rd NEW updates on FREE allaboutcordblood.com e-book. Please don't let this once in a life opportunity to store your baby's cord blood pass you by! I want to help! Please contact me if i can be of any help to you and your family when making this exciting decision. Natalie@allaboutcordblood.com

A Baby's First Cry

SheaReems — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:07:00 GMT

There is something very wrong with the idea of being awake during major surgery. There is a reason why general anesthesia was created and people typically drift off to dream while surgery is being performed and awake to find the experience is now behind them.

One contradiction to this theory is the c-section. It makes perfect sense that a little life is about to be brought into the world and of course both parents want to be present and hear their child’s first cry. But let’s not ignore the fact that a woman is undergoing a very serious and unnatural procedure and yet is expected to remain awake and remain calm. This isn’t exactly how things went for me the first time I had a baby.

My last prenatal doctor’s visit was on a Monday and due to the fact that my baby had been measuring very large throughout my entire pregnancy (he was born 10lb, 3oz), my doctor advised us to schedule a c-section for Thursday. My baby had different plans. My water broke at 2am Wednesday morning and my husband and I got to experience one of those scenes from a movie. He was driving 100 mph with the hazard lights on while listening to me scream in pain all the way to the hospital. A short time later I received my epidural and the screaming stopped.

I was taken into the operating room a few hours later and rather than giving me a spinal block, they decided to just turn up the epidural which unfortunately did not do the job. The surgery began, I could feel what they were doing, and proceeded to freak out. Next thing I knew they put a gas mask over my mouth and that’s the last thing I remember. I woke up in a different room and saw my husband holding the baby. After a few hours of extreme grogginess and an unbelievable headache, I was finally coherent and able to meet my son, Brady.

Fast forward a couple of years and I’m sure you can understand why I was feeling a little uneasy as we scheduled my second c-section. Would I actually make it to the scheduled appointment this time? Would I receive a spinal block and not feel the procedure? Would I freak out and have a panic attack anyway? Would I get to experience what it feels like to hear my baby’s first cry?

The morning of March 22^nd arrived and we headed to the hospital. Things were much calmer this time around as we checked in, got settled and waited. Before long I was wheeled into the OR and it was time for that spinal block. I’m happy to say that a few minutes later the surgery began and I couldn’t feel a thing. I was still feeling uneasy with the thoughts in my head of what was going on behind the curtain that was draped a few inches from my face. I tried to focus on taking deep breaths and remind myself to relax. I also tried to find humor in the fact that there was a room full of people getting a wide open view of my pregnant, naked, paralyzed body. You know what they say, you need to laugh so you don’t cry!

After a few very long minutes and some severe urges to vomit, Logan James was born and I heard his first cry. Ahhhh, relief set in. Not only was my baby here and healthy, I was also here in the moment, getting to experience the birth of my child. Suddenly my uneasy feelings disappeared and my mind was consumed with this little boy. I will treasure those moments for the rest of my life.

To some a c-section may sound complicated and scary. But to me this was a very easy and uncomplicated birth. I can’t compare it to a natural birth, but I can say that if I do choose to have another baby, I would gladly choose to have another c-section.

Parenting 101

karmapearl — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:17:00 GMT

Wow, okay, so... Fail city from me. Life as a new mom has proven to be really busy. It's like a juggling act. Taking care of Nellie, spending time with my husband, working, maintaining my other blog and doing reviews, trying to cook things... I need about four more arms, please.

So, this month's topic is parenting philosophies. As the mom of a 5 month old, I don't have much experience in this arena yet. Right now, at this stage in my daughter's life there really are only three types of "parenting" styles: Crunchy, Non-Crunchy (or, as I've heard it called, "Soggy"), and a combination of the two. Me? I really consider myself somewhat of a combination of the two, leaning toward "Soggy".

And come to think of it, that term kind of bugs me. Soggy is not something you want. Soggy sounds gross, and icky, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that route of parenting. I can't think of anything clever to call it, so I'll just go with "non-crunchy" for the time being.

So, I predicted I would be a pretty crunchy mom. I had grandiose plans of an all-natural, drug-free birth and that went out the window as soon as the doctor uttered the word, "Pitocin". I had visions of breastfeeding dancing through my head, and after two weeks of my daughter crying constantly from hunger, me being so sleep-deprived I would burst out into tears at the smallest thing and my husband starting a brand new job that required 12 hour overnight shifts where I was alone with Nellie, we made the switch to formula. I registered for cloth diapers and luckily did not receive any, because if I had to add that on top of the laundry list (pun intended) of other things I had to do, I'd be losing my mind right now. I had never intended on co-sleeping, and we stuck with that. Occasionally I will take Nellie into the bed with me in the early mornings when she wakes too early for my liking. She'll usually drift back off when she's in bed with me, and I can sneak in an extra hour of sleep. That and babywearing are truly the only two "crunchy" things about me as a mother. And I think I'm doing a pretty darn good job. I love my daughter more than anything, and she isn't suffering. I believe that whatever works for your family is what needs to be done, whether it be attachment parenting, whatever the opposite of that is, or a combination of both.

I am a firm believer in loving in, and believing in your child but I am also a firm believer in discipline, and not over-indulging a child. I have found that routines - when I can stick to them - benefit both Nellie and I very much. I cannot stick to much of a daytime routine as I am not her caretaker during the day, but at night she has a bedtime routine that I stick with most of the time. When she doesn't have her bedtime routine, I can absolutely tell the difference. She doesn't fall asleep as easily and wakes more often. I don't believe in the "Cry It Out" method. I tried a modified CIO a few weeks ago and just could not do it.

I'm new to this parenting thing. I'm definitely a rookie. I work in an office of women, almost all of whom are mothers with children older than mine and hearing their experiences, I know that I haven't seen anything yet when it comes to parenting..

But I'm beginning to define my style, and implement methods and tools for the future which I can use when Nellie comes prancing into a room wearing a skirt that only Britney Spears would dare sport.

God help me when she's a teenager. Oy.

But my kids won't eat it!

HappyHealthyMommy — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:21:00 GMT

Last night my husband and I had dinner with another couple. We got onto the topic of nutrition which is easy when you are talking to me, because I could talk about it all day long! She is an Elementary school teacher and we were talking about how poorly the average child eats. She brought up one child in particular who has a developmental delay and also has to fight the fact his mom has total disregard for what is a healthy meal for her son. She actually allows her kindergarten to pack his own lunch! Which obviously consists of chips, cookies, juice and crackers. This is affecting his academic progress in the classroom as well as his behavior. This diet is terrible for any child let alone someone with autism. I am sure many of you would love to spend some time educating this mother as it just makes your heart ache that there is a child out their being poisoned by an ill-informed mom who unfortunately is not getting the right information or tools on how to feed her son. I know as parents we want our kids to be happy and well feed. But cookies and crackers while it may make them happy in the short term could cause major issues and distress down the road. And we can all agree empty calories does not mean a child is well feed. In fact it is probably more dangerous for them to eat it. With this month's topic being on Parenting Styles, I just want to remind mom's that is OUR RESPONSIBILITY to ensure our kids are nourishing their bodies. They are young and have no idea why or how to eat healthy nor do they have the aptitude to find out the information. It is our job as their protectors to educate ourselves in this area and supply the food for them. Dr. Sear's has a great books and tips on how to feed picky eaters. But we have to ensure the food choices they have are safe and nutritious. Sure give them choices, but we should pick what they have to choose from. Example: "Would you like an apple or a pear?" This may be a little strong for some of you, but I really do feel that feeding kids a diet full of chemicals and non-nutritive food is just as malice as not feeding them. The end result could potentially be the same thing. So food for thought on Parenting Styles is to make sure as parents we are bringing healthy menu options for our little ones. It could be a battle at times, but we didn't become parents because it was an easy thing to do. We became parents because we wanted to raise happy and healthy children and give them every opportunity we could.

Looking for Safe Sunscreens?

HappyHealthyMommy — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:59:00 GMT

At a recent trip to the beach with other mommy friends we were all discussing the safest and best sunscreens for ourselves and our little ones. It is hard to simply pick one based on the label as most have very lenghty ingredient lists and chemicals that we aren't sure what they are or do. And then it was like someone was listening because a friend of mine in attendance came across the Environmental Working Group. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) had just released the first-ever, in-depth analysis of the safety and effectiveness of more than 700 name-brand sunscreens. Their new database lists products that offer the best combination of safety and effectiveness: they are formulated with the safest chemicals, are most effective at protecting against sunburn, and help prevent long-term damage caused by the sun’s UVA rays, which are linked to skin aging, wrinkling and, potentially, cancer. Hooray!!! Sadly, the analysis found that 84 percent of 785 sunscreen products with an SPF rating of 15 or higher offer inadequate protection from the sun’s harmful rays, or contain ingredients with safety concerns. This is one of the reasons I had always been so leery of slathering sunscreen on my kids. I was opting for SPF clothes which is fine for the baby and toddler, but for my 5 year old she is not so happy about looking like a comical tourist in head to toe sun protection garb. Ironically, some popular sunscreen chemicals break down when exposed to sunlight and must be formulated with stabilizing chemicals! So those would be a complete waste of money and the time it would take to apply. Others penetrate the skin and present significant health concerns, which scare me and probably most moms. Chemicals like oxybenzone are endocrine disrupters. So I personally stay away from "chemical" sunscreens. This very welcomed and much needed research is based on nearly 400 peer-reviewed studies of the 17 sunscreen chemicals approved for use in the U.S., an analysis of sunscreen ingredient toxicity linked to 60 industry and government databases on chemical hazards, coupled with customized, product-by-product assessments of protection from both UVA and UVB radiation. So now moms we have research and third party validation on which products are effective AND safe! These products top the list: Alba Botanica Sun: Mineral Sunscreen Kids, SPF 30 Sun: Mineral Sunscreen Fragrance Free, SPF 30 All Terrain Aquasport Performance Sunscreen, SPF 30 TerraSport Performance Sunscreen, SPF 30 KidSport Performance Sunscreen, SPF 30 Badger Sunscreen Face Stick, SPF 30, Unscented Sunscreen for Face and Body, Unscented, SPF 30 Sunscreen for Face and Body, SPF 30 Lightly Scented Sunscreen for Face and Body, SPF 15 Lightly Scented Beyond Coastal Lip and Face Screen, SPF 30 Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen Sensitive, SPF 30+ Australian Sunscreen Baby, SPF 30+ BurnOut Kids Physical Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Clean and Clear, Zinc Oxide Sunblock, SPF 32 California Baby Sunscreen Lotion No Fragrance, SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick No Fragrance, SPF 30+ Moisturizing Sunscreen No Fragrance, SPF 18 Sunscreen Lotion Everyday/Year-Round, SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+, Citronella Sunblock Stick Everyday/Year-Round, SPF 30+ Caribbean Solutions Natural/Biodegradable SolGuard, SPF 25 Sol Kid Kare Natural Sunscreen, SPF 25 Cliniderm Gentle Protective Lotion SPF 45 COOLA SPF 45 Mineral Baby Moisturizer Unscented Desert Essence Age Reversal SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Doctor T’s Supergoop! Quickstick Elemental Herbs Sunscreen Sport, SPF 20 Sunscreen Sport, SPF 22, Tinted Kids Sunscreen, SPF 20 Episencial Sunny Sunscreen, SPF 35 Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen SPF 30+ Kids Natural Sunscreen SPF 30+ Facial Natural Sunscreen SPF 30+ Hara Body Care Sport SPF 30 Healing-Scents Live Long Sunscreen, SPF 15 Heiko SPF 40 Kids Jason Natural Cosmetics Sunbrellas: Mineral Based Physical Sunblock, SPF 30+ Sunbrellas: Chemical Free Sunblock, SPF 30+ Earth’s Best: Sunblock Mineral Based, SPF 30+ Johnson & Johnson Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 40 Kabana Skin Care Green Screen Organic Sunscreen Fragrance Free, SPF 20 Green Screen Organic Sunscreen, SPF 22, Skin Tone Tinted L’uvalla Certified Organic SPF 20 Sunscreen Face/Body La Roche-Posay Anthelios 40 Sunscreen Cream Little Forest Sunscreen Lotion For Babies and Kids, SPF 30+ Loving Naturals Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Marie Veronique Organics Kid Safe Screen, SPF 25 MDSolarSciences SPF 30+ Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB Sunscreen SPF 50+ Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB Sunscreen SPF 40 Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB Sunscreen Mexitan Products Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50 Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm, SPF 15 MyChelle Sun Shield, SPF 28 Purple Prairie Botanicals SunStuff, SPF 30 Sun Stick, SPF 30 SunStuff, SPF 15 Soleo Organics All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Soleo Organics/Atlantis Resort All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Soleo Organics/Wyland Organics All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Suntegrity Skincare All Natural Moisturizing Face Protection SPF 30 Sweetsation Therapy Sun’n'Berry Fun Organic Baby Sunscreen SPF 50+, with Antioxidants & Superberries Baby Sweet Kisses Sun’n'Fun Organic Baby Sunscreen, SPF 30 thinkbaby and thinksport Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Tropical Sands SPF 30 All Natural Sunscreen SPF 50 All Natural Sunscreen Trukid New Sunny Days Mineral All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Sunny Days Face and Body Stick, SPF 30+ UV Natural Baby Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Sunscreen Sport, SPF 30+ Vanicream Sunscreen Sport, SPF 35 Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin, SPF 30

Back To Basics With Kids This Summer

Ivanna — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:31:58 GMT

Summer time for me conjures up images of lazy, warm afternoons in the backyard grilling, running through sprinklers, playing in the pool, beach days and sipping icy cold lemonade or ice tea.

For most parents it’s also the time when kids let out from school and with the extra time comes the challenge of ensuring that the entire family is enjoying themselves and the kids are staying healthy, safe, happy all why staving off boredom. My kids are still little (3 ½, 2 ½ and 1) so all they really need right now is their wading pool and some ice pops in the backyard most summer afternoons in order to be entertained. But as the kids get older, keeping them amused may become more challenging. Some parents opt for activity-packed summer camps especially when mom and dad work during the week. Others enroll their kids in classes on a wide myriad of subjects. And while this is all wonderful for their development and socialization, I also think a return to the basics and simpler activities can reap amazing rewards as well. Who knows, you’d be amazed what they may enjoy doing and you may even be able to bring the family together more for quality time.

So here are some ideas that I wanted to share with you:

· Weekend Hiking/Sightseeing Trip in the Mountains or Nearby Trail – Nothing beats nature and fresh air to bring families together. Little ones can enjoy creature watching while older kids enjoy hiking or exploring. Mom and dad can also relax and catch-up on some fun conversation. There is also something special about completing a trail and having the entire family work together. No I-pods, blackberries or I-phones allowed.

· Camping in the Backyard – My husband has fond memories of this one. Setting up his little tent in his backyard and spending the night out there. Mom and dad can participate or opt to check in on them once in a while. Activities could include smores, playing cards or singing.

· Beach Day. Summer is not complete without a trip to the beach. If your family can’t spend too long at a beach, even a daytrip or weekend is more than enough! Go for a walk to the closest pier, fly a kite, fish or build your best ever sand castle yet. Little kids always enjoy chasing seagulls as well! If you can’t make it to the beach, create your own beach in the backyard with a sandbox, a wading pool and beach towels. All it takes is a little imagination especially with younger kids.

· Picnic at the Park/Summer Concert – We’re lucky that we live in a city that is very family-friendly. Every summer local parks offer summer concert and movie events. Take advantage of them! There is nothing cozier than pulling out a blanket or two, bringing some snacks and drinks and sitting under the stars on a warm summer night while listening to some tunes or movie watching. If you have older kids or teens, you can even have them meet their friends there.

· Volunteer Day – Nothing makes us appreciate more what we do have in our lives, than volunteering and giving of our time to help others. Kids especially can derive wonderful self-steem and sense of worth by helping at a local community center, charity or Habitat for Humanity event. Or if you have a cause you’re passionate about, enroll in that walk and participate as a family! This can also include fundraising activities.

· Team Sports Afternoon At the Park – Invite friends with kids also to join you for an afternoon of team sports at the park. This can even become a yearly tradition. Pick a sport: tag football, Frisbee, volleyball…whichever sport you like!

· Movie Night at Home – Make popcorn and snacks and create a mini play list for the evening .This can include family favorites or new movies that no one in the family has seen.

· Board Game Night- I remember nights of playing board games with my entire family, but nowadays board games are becoming more and more extinct. What about reviving these?

· Story Time at The Bookstore or Library- This is probably better suited for the younger ones, but nothing beats story time at the local library or bookstore especially on a lazy summer morning.

· Set-up a Lemonade or Cookie Stand – Depending on what your kids prefer, help them set up a lemonade or cookie stand in your local neighborhood.

· Visit the Zoo, Aquarium, Waterpark or local Museum – Kids of all ages enjoy exploring their own city and cultural and other entertainment venues a wonderful places to spend family time together.

· Family Cooking Night – If you have budding chefs in your family, bring everyone together to make a special family dinner. A great idea is to have each family member come up with a suggestion and recommendation (something new that you haven’t tried before). The person is responsible for researching ingredients and getting everything ready for the family cooking event (with parents help of course depending on kids ages).

The list can go on and on…the point is to get creative and attempt to bring the family together. It’s too easy with our busy schedules and lives for everyone to do their own thing especially as kids get older. But creating new traditions and events that ensure quality and bonding time will make summer special and create memories that you and your kids will cherish for years to come.

Mommy Potty Diary, Part II

Mamaamazon — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 02:34:00 GMT

In my last post, Baby Girl made progress then endured a setback.

It’s now January 2010.

With the new year came renewed strength and focus. I decided to concentrate only on pee-pee in the daytime. I was determine not to let this potty training thing stress me out and not listen to the stupid voice in my head that said I sucked at this… I felt incompetent that I could not get her to go ‘pee’ in the toilet. It’s silly, I know, but the whole process and her lack of progress were emotional draining.

Mustering up patience, not only for her but myself, I kept encouraging her. Little by little, she started using the potty to go ‘pee-pee'.’

Baby steps and small victories, I told myself.

Then we did what I like to call, ‘test runs,’ going out with underwear only for very short periods of time. This was accomplished when we took Big Brother to school in the mornings. His school is very close to my house so we were not gone for more than 20 minutes. She did well, no accidents. Another small step in the right direction.

Next step was underwear only during daily errands. This was a bit difficult as she did not like public toilets but would only go to the bathrooms at the bookstore and Target. In trying to psychoanalyze her three year old mind, I think she associated those stores with fun. At the bookstore, we went to story time and at Target, we bought stuff. Well, that’s my guess.

About mid -February, the day time pee-pee was going quite well. She was wearing underwear for most of the day. So I decide it was time to focus on the other part of this process.

Drama!!!

Little Miss Baby Girl did not liking going ‘poop’' on the potty. She cried when I refused to give her a diaper to poop yet she sat on the potty and big toilet to go pee-pee . She had a few bowel movements on the toilet when I was able to catch her in the act but those were few and far between.

Another battle ensued. This was even more difficult as Baby Girl has issues with chronic constipation. She’s had this issue since she started on solid foods. So what does she do since I'm not giving her a diaper? She starts holding her poop.

Chronic constipation and holding her poop, NOT a good combination. Then for some reason, she starts reverting, not wanting to do either on the potty.

It’s the beginning of March.

We’re having a hellish week. I can’t tell you how many times I was cleaning up pee-pee from the floor. Then one day she removed her underwear, looked me square in the eyes, a defiant look well beyond her years filled her big brown eyes and peed on the floor. Then she said, “Mommy I peed.”

The dog must have sensed the building fury because he bolted. One errant curl dangled down Baby Girl’s forehead. In words she couldn’t quite yet verbalize, her eyes told me, “That’s right mommy, I peed on the floor, watcha gonna do ‘bout it!”

Oh my goodness, people!

Let-me-tell-you, after the initial shock wore off, I calmly walked over to the hallway, checked that the house alarm was on and retreated to my master closet. Yes, I said master closet and yes, I know it’s a little psychotic but I had too. I had to walk away. It wasn’t that she had an accident , it was that she knew exactly what she was doing when she willfully peed on the floor.

My head was spinning. Where was Meredith Vieira with my lifelines? This can’t be normal, can it? Do I need my head examined? Did my precious little angel just do a very witchy thing?

I did not know whether to punish her or just let it go, I was completely stomped. Why can’t kids come with instruction manuals?

I called her pediatrician afterwards. I’d had enough, a call to a carpet cleaning company followed. I then learned an interesting phrase from her doctor called, toilet training resistance. Basically, kids who are over three and are still not toilet trained after a few months of trying. These kids will also delay bowel movements, exactly what Baby Girl has been doing.

Note: please consult your child’s pediatrician if you suspect your toddler is experiencing toilet training resistance as there could be other issues occurring.

Before I could begin practicing any of the tips her doctor gave me, I needed to get her regular again which meant giving her a diaper. I began thinking this issue was purely psychological for her. Perhaps at one time she had a very difficult bowel movement and that has haunted her little mind. Of course, I'm only speculating.

Present day.

Baby Girl does not sleep with a diaper anymore. Night time training was the quickest transition for her and she’s never had an accident a night.

Thank goodness! I believe the powers that be were looking out for my sanity, lol. She wears underwear in the day and at night to sleep. I still give her a diaper for bowel movements so we’re working on that.

And she starts pre-school in September and has to be fully toilet trained!

Yikes!

I’ll let you know what happens. Feel free to leave any comments or questions in the forum. I would love to hear from you, any hellish potty stories out there?

Ciao,

Jazmin

Is Your Young Child Creative With The Truth? & What Kind of Insect Repellant to Use On Your Kids

DrKilbane — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:51:00 GMT

IS YOUR YOUNG CHILD CREATIVE WITH THE TRUTH?

Q: My 3 year old lies to me. She will openly say she didn’t do something when I know she did. Does she know she is lying and when and how should I address this?

Lying is a common theme for many kids at some point in their early years. Depending upon your child’s stage of development; they may or may not know they are lying. It’s important to ferret out their level of understanding and meet them halfway. A good friend of mine who has 2 daughters and has been a nurse for 22 years handled her daughter’s blatant fibs in the following way.

She related the words lying and trust together. When one person lies to another, that person can no longer trust what the other one says. She used a concrete safety example to make her point. She detailed the steps required for a mother and daughter to cross the street. Mom looks both ways, tells her daughter there are no cars coming and it is safe to cross. If mom was lying and there were actually cars coming down the street, the mother daughter duo would be in big trouble. Kids are able to trust parents because parents tell the truth (at least most of the time, right?!!). In my friend’s case, her daughter got it right away and the lying stopped immediately.

Be creative, honest, and use examples. Hopefully your child will find a way to actually wash their hands instead presenting a pair of grimy mitts and letting you know without a shadow of a doubt that yes, those hands were washed.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do!

WHAT KIND OF INSECT REPELLANT TO USE ON MY KIDS?

The recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics is as follows:

DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide or N,N-diethly-3-methyl-benzamide)

DEET containing products are the most effective mosquito repellents available.

Protects against other insects and ticks

Concentration in products ranges from less than 10% to over 30%.

The percentage of DEET relates to how long is lasts on the skin.

Its efficacy plateaus at a concentration of 30%.

10% is effective for two hours

24% is effective for 5 hours

Select the lowest concentration effective for the amount of time spent outdoors.

Should not be applied more than once a day

It is not water-soluble and cannot be washed off.

Repeated application may increase the potential toxic effects.

Can be used down to 2 months of age

A natural recommendation by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control):

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (PMD para-Menthane-3,8-diol)

Plant- based repellent

Registered with the EPA

Found to provide protection similar to products with low concentrations of DEET

Should not be used in kids under 3

Repel is available at REI http://www.rei.com/product/703338

General rules for applying insect repellant:

Apply sparingly on exposed areas of skin

Do no apply on the hands

Avoid the area around the mouth and eyes

Do not use on cuts, wounds, or irritated skin

Wash treated skin and clothing with soap and water after returning indoors

Avoid spraying indoors and around food

The citronella plant (related to lemon grass) has long had a reputation in folk medicine as a bug repellent. If you want to keep the bugs away as naturally as possible, get some oil of lemon eucalyptus and a few citronella candles, and watch the mosquitoes run for cover!

Parenting 101: The Textbook Shortlist

jmdinap — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 01:11:00 GMT

I've read a LOT of them. These are the ones to buy (and I would link to them except my Mac doesn't like the windows blog program and I can't make it work so you get the LONG url, and also I can't make it underline, sorry.)

1) Healthy Sleep Habits: Happy Child by Mark Weisbluth

http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Sleep-Habits-Happy-Child/dp/0449004023

This book made my kids sleep. It was annoying and dry, but it damn well worked. For infants. And toddlers. And parents. Just do what it says and don't ask twice.

2) Your One Year Old by Louise Bates Ames

http://www.amazon.com/Your-One-Year-Old-Fun-Loving-12-24-Month-Old/dp/0440506727

They also make Your Two Year Old, Your Three Year Old etc....

Basically, what the heck is my kid supposed to be doing, and what am I supposed to be doing about it. No, really. Not like What to Expect, because those people are not really humans who get frustrated and tired. For example in Your Four Year Old it basically says, "You should try to be with them as little as possible, they really like other people better than you and you will clash with them a lot. They should be in preschool, play dates, and daycare. It will be better for everyone in the end." Brutally honest. You have to get over how ancient they are, like how they talk about moving the ashtray out of the way of your one year old. And there was a little stint about spanking that I didn't like, but they were recommended to me by a doc, and they are my go-to books for all things behavioral.

3) Blessings of a Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel

http://www.amazon.com/Blessing-Skinned-Knee-Teachings-Self-Reliant/dp/0142196002

It happens to focus on Jewish teachings, but don't let that steer you away if you are not Jewish. Basically, it does not preach of entitlement, and encourages you to help your children be participatory in their household, be kind to others, and be a good normal person BECAUSE YOU SHOULD BE. Not because you get a marble or earn a prize, but because that is how people act. Brilliant.

4) The e-book The Three Day Potty Training Method by Lora Jensen

http://www.3daypottytraining.com/

Well, basically, it works as best as anything I could find. And I tried a TON. OF. USELESS. STRATEGIES.

Happy reading!

Public Vs Private Cord Blood Banking

nataliecurry2 — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:43:00 GMT

When it comes to deciding to bank your babies cord blood there are a few VERY crucial decisions you need to make. The biggest decision is weather or not to donate the cord blood to a public facility or to bank it privately. This is a question that has remained constant in the cord blood industry for years and one that I have been repeatedly asked about. ABC news recently did a special about cord blood banking. Unfortunately this special was very one sided and didn't speak the entire truth about public vs private cord blood banking. So now I'm going to clear that up for you. I'm going to explain everything they left out so you will have a better understanding of how the system actually works. Parents have three choices when it comes to their babies cord blood:

Donate the cord blood to a public Facility
Bank the cord blood at a private bank
Discard the cord blood completely as medical waste

Donating to a public facility: This is a very misunderstood area in the industry by parents. Yes, it is free to donate your baby's cord blood to a public facility and yes, it is a better alternative than completely discarding the cord blood as medical waste. However there are some down sides: One of them being that due to lack of space, funding and several other reasons 80 % of all publicly donated cord blood is discarded. While in a perfect world all donated cord blood would be saved, at this time it is not possible. Another downside is that if your child or any other family member ever needed the cord blood that you donated there is a VERY high chance that your cord blood would no longer be available. This brings us to another downside, if you ever required cord blood for treatment it could cost you up to 40,000 dollars to obtain the cord blood from a public facility. Lastly in order to donate your cord blood you must give birth in a hospital that allows public cord blood collections. In the ABC special it was clear that they intended to persuade parents to donate cord blood publicly. They forgot to mention all of the above reasons not to.... Private Cord Blood Banking: To bank your cord blood at a private cord blood bank it could cost anywhere from 2,00-3,00o dollars. These costs range from bank to bank and many cord blood banks offer payment plans to help with your budget. Possibly the best part about private storage is that your cord blood will be used at your discretion. With the amount of stem cell research being conducted more and more diseases,and various medical conditions such as injuries are becoming treatable with the stem cells found inside of cord blood. It is only a matter of time before stem cells from cord blood become commonly used in the medical field. The costs to bank your babies cord blood privately is actually very small when considering a persons life span. Private cord blood banks are charging you for a service, a service that can save and improve lives. Nothing different from pharmaceutical companies that make medicine to treat diseases. Discarding: Until my baby sisters cord blood was the first to be collected in 1988, this priceless medical miracle was always tossed in the trash! I am an advocate for ALL cord blood preservation be it public or private. I strongly encourage you to educate yourself on this important issue before deciding. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, don't let it pass you by! If you have Any questions about this topic please check out my live webinar on Friday June 4th at 4 eastern at http://www.allaboutcordblood.com This is an interactive webinar with Q&A. Please feel free to e-mail me anytime with any questions or comments at natalie@allaboutcordblood.com! Together We Can Help Save Lives, Natalie Curry

Twice the Blessing!

nataliecurry2 — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:22:00 GMT

I am excited to report possibly the most exciting research I have found to date... As you probably already know my sisters cord blood saved my life in 1989. What you may not know is that this cord blood helped save my life again in 2006. When my sister donated her kidney for my kidney transplant something extra special happened. Since receiving the cord blood transplant her kidney couldn't tell the difference from her body to mine! The truly amazing part besides having a perfect donor, is that unlike all other transplant recipients, I do not and never will have to take ANY medication associated with transplantation. This has helped provide me with a much higher quality of life. As there are several medications involved with numerous life altering side effects. Why I'm so excited: I just read an article about how scientist are performing research at this time to essentially perform bone marrow/ cord blood transplants simultaneously with kidney transplants from the same donor. I am living proof that this works and it is only a matter of time before more and more people will be given this same opportunity. To read more about this research please check out this article: http://allaboutcordblood.com/whats_new/cordblood_news/15 I am lucky just to say I'm a survivor of a cord blood transplant but I am even luckier to say that cord blood helped save my life more than once! So please join me in my efforts to raise awareness about this incredible cause! Together We Can Help Save Lives, Natalie Curry

Mommy Potty Diary, Part I

Mamaamazon — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:00:00 GMT

With having more than one child, it’s difficult not to use the experience with your first as a comparative basis. Case in point, potty training.

Five years ago (jeez, I’m feeling old)

Big Brother, my oldest, was just turning three and on the verge of starting preschool. All the preschools I have encountered want kids to be completely potty trained for their three year old programs. At this point, Big Brother was still in diapers and we had not yet attempted toilet training. Basically, hubby and my step dad separately took him to the bathroom and showed him what to do. Since I lacked a certain appendage to accomplish that particular task :). Aiming was another issue but at least he knew what to do and where to go.

Wham bam done!

My son became the master of the 'pee-pee.' Yep, that easy and that quick. We also used a potty training DVD which helped and if I remember correctly, I only bought one pack of pull-ups. Big Brother loved the idea of wearing big boy underwear especially Thomas the Tank Engine, his fav at that age. Number two, however, took a while longer for him to get. His preschool at the time let him start albeit he was not completely proficient with going 'poopie.' Within a few weeks, the kid was completely toilet trained. Going to school and seeing the other kids go potty was the final piece that he needed to spark his brain. It was a very good example for him and I was very surprised how fast everything clicked.

Fast forward to Summer 2009

Summer holiday.

Big Brother was home from school so my logic said what better time to start toilet training Baby Girl, my youngest, who was two and a half at the time. Let me first preface by saying that we have an open door bathroom policy with her and she was starting to copy her brother. Based on prior experience with Big Brother, I was absolutely confident by the time big brother started school in August, Baby Girl would at least be partially potty trained.

I purchased a pink, girlie potty with the music and stuff. Before I purchased said potty, we were talking about bathroom usage, trying to at least get the seed planted in her mind. We read a potty book together however she was not very interested in the potty DVD so I didn’t bother with it.

With potty unpacked and assembled in the bathroom the excitement was mounting in my mind. This was the beginning of a big milestone. No longer will she be a baby in diapers but a little young lady. Of course, I did not expect her to be a potty wiz, no pun intended, and instantaneously become toilet trained yet I was unprepared for her ill-reaction. She looked at the potty like it was a Klingon alien (Star Trek reference, I’m a geek at heart!) and bolted. She wanted nothing to do with the potty.

Summer winded down, Big Brother started school, and my initial goal of her being at least partially potty trained was non-existent. Baby Girl had no interest what-so-ev-er in using the potty. So I took a step back thinking maybe she was just not ready. Whether that was right or wrong, I don’t know. I still continued with the potty books and discussed it with her to remind her that’s what big girls do and to keep it fresh in her mind. I also left the potty in the bathroom.

A month later, we resumed. Still no success. She would scream bloody murder when I tried to put her on the potty. I attempted non edible bribes at first: favorite stickers, her favorite show, and books. When that did not work, I resorted to her favorite snacks and moving the potty into the living area, still did not work.

It’s now six months later with her third birthday looming…. and I’m ready to lose it!!! I finally realized I was just the facilitator in this.I cannot get into her body and mind to know when the nerves are sending messages back and forth from the bladder to brain signaling she has to go to the bathroom. Unless she shows some outward signs like shifting from leg to leg or grabbing that area. However, it does little to ease my frustrations. Albeit deep down I know that Big Brother and Baby Girl are two different individuals with their own milestones and growth experiences. At this point, I'm starting to wonder if this issue is purely psychological: is Baby Girl just so in love with her diaper that she refuses to give it up? Is she as stubborn as a mule and can't be bothered with the potty? Is there something physiological occurring or is it a combination of both? I'll address these questions in my next post.

About two days before her three year wellness visit with her doctor, I heard the music from the potty. When I looked, she was there on the potty and had gone pee-pee. I was ecstatic. Finally, finally, she had gone potty. We called her dad at work, called her grandmother, made a huge deal out of it as I thought it was a major breakthrough.

To my dismay, her big potty moment was a single-occurrence as she refused to go back on the potty. We took one step forward and two steps back.

To be continued...

Ciao.

Client 5

whosyourdoula — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 01:06:00 GMT

My fifth client was a friend of mine and was suppose to be easy since we already had a relationship. Nothing could have been further from the truth. The night she called me and said she thought she was in labor, I was willing to go to her house even tough I didnt think she was in labor. I do a lot of judgement over the phone and more experianced doulas can tell immediately who is in labor and who is not just by speaking to the clients in between contractions. I had a feeling this was nothing but I wanted to go see for myself. When I arrive, I know she is in pain but I do not think they are contractions. I soon realize it is more of a constant pain and that it is coming from her pelvis and hip joints opening and separating. See this Eve is really built like a boy. She does not have "childbearing hips" as you might hear an old women say. After a couple hours, she really wants to go to the hospital. I am really at a loss on how to help her because this is really not labor pains. She needs some pain killers. I go to the hospital because I believe every birth is a learning experiance and I want to see where this is going to go.

They of course send her home. She is 1 cm. They tell her to take some Tylenol PM and get some sleep. I go home. Trip number 1 is done. She gets no sleep and is constant pain. for a whole day. The following morning, they are going to induce her with some cervadil. This doesn't do anything and they do it twice. Another 24hrs. She is stuck in bed...she is miserable. I go back to the hospital to give her some emotional support even though she is only 3 ct. She has the epidural but it s only effecting one side of her body. They give her staydol to help her sleep and I have never seen anyone stay wide awake on it, but Eve did. They move her to antipardum and I go home again and wait. Day three I go back, she progressed to 4. She is so devistrated that things are going so poorly. She doesn't understand why they have in no way offered a section. Women plan them all the time and for soeme reason, they are holding off on offering it to her. I am not sure why.

Finally the suggestion is made because nothing is happening. They tell her Adam will be with her and I leave. What happens from there is really disappointing. They cannot get her completely numb because of the placement of the epidural. They tell her they have to put her under. They do not let her see her husband or even listened to her concerns. All they tell Adam is he can't come in and will have to wait. When Eve comes too, she did not see her son for 5 hours. He came into the world alone and without either of his parents beign there and this disturbed Eve very much. They even bring down Psych because they decide she is too upset. This just added insult to injury. I later learn from a nurse friend of mine that the fact that she did not sleep from the Staydol may have been a red flag of a drug problem. I know for a fact she does not have a drug problem.

I wish the story ended better. Eve is in the hospital for a few days and she is sad and depressed and sore. Her son ends up being partially deaf but the sweetest thing. She recovers physical in a few weeks, but mentally takes longer. I assure her she did everything possible but she feels abused and deprived of the birth experiance she had hoped to have.

As a doula, this was a tough birth. She deserved better. Every women deserves better. There was nothing she or I could have done. That is the hardest thing to accept. Another lesson is learned for me.

Start Recycling the Minute Your Baby's Born

nataliecurry2 — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:28:00 GMT

Green is the new color not only for the preservation of the planet but also for the preservation of life. CorCell already plays an important role in recycling life's most priceless gift- Stem Cells. It is still common after delivery to discard the umbilical cord and placenta blood. They become medical waste. The cord and placenta blood hold invaluable, unique stem cells that can never be produced again. Did you know that if we continue on the same track that your baby will have a 1 in 7 chance to use the stored cells at birth to help save or improve their own life? On Earth Day CorCell announced their commitment not only to the health of their customers, but also to the health of the planet. CorCell as a company and as individuals have taken steps to be as “green” as possible. Rather than creating medical waste let's recycle the gifts from birth to help save and improve lives. Don't throw life away, save the CORD, save a LIFE, and save the PLANET. Together We can Help Save Lives, Natalie Curry

Parenting Philosophies and Discipline Approaches 101

Ivanna — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:11:20 GMT

As a mom of three young children (two of which are now toddlers), I’m constantly looking to learn about different parenting philosophies and discipline techniques. And one thing that is for sure is that there is no “one method fits all” approach. Each child is different and each parent and family situation is different so what may work in one family may not in another and that’s ok! You are ultimately the one that gets to decide what approach to take with your kids based on their temperament, motivations and your own comfort level.

At first, it can be quite daunting to dive into the myriad of parenting advice and resources out there. Each school of thought is very passionate about their own perspective and it’s human nature to get defensive about our decisions and approach so receiving non-biased advice can be quite challenging! But the best you can do is to be informed and understand all your options. So I thought I would share with you some of the major parenting philosophies that have been documented. Of course, many parents will decide to perhaps take a bit from here and there and create their own version with a combination of different techniques that will work best for their family, but the below summary highlights the major models of parenting.

Developmental psychologist, Diana Baumrind identified 3 main parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian and permissive) in early child development (5,6,7,8). Maccoby and Martin expanded the styles to four: authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent and neglectful (9,10). These four involve a combination of acceptance and responsiveness on one end and demand and control on the other (11). As I mentioned earlier, there is no definitive model of parenting. What may work for one family or child may not with another. With authoritative and permissive (indulgent) parenting on opposite sides of the spectrum, most conventional and modern models of parenting fall somewhere in between.

Slow Parenting – Encourages parents to plan and organize less for their children, instead allowing them to enjoy their childhood and explore the world at their own pace.
Nurturant Parent Model – A family model where children are expected to explore their surroundings with protection from their parents.
Strict Father Model – An authoritarian approach, places a strong value on discipline as a means to survive and thrive in a harsh world.
Attachment Parenting – Seeks to create strong emotional bonds, avoiding physical punishment and accomplishing discipline through interactions recognizing a child's emotional needs all while focusing on holistic understanding of the child.

A few more approaches that have warranted their own attention include:

Taking Children Seriously – Sees both praise and punishment as manipulative and harmful to children and advocates other methods to reach agreement with them.
Parenting For Everyone – The philosophy of Parenting For Everyone, which stems from the book by the same name, considers parenting from the ethical point of view. It analyzes parenting goals, conditions and means of childrearing. It offers to look at a child's internal world (emotions, intelligence and spirit) and derive the sources of parenting success from there. The concept of heart implies the child's sense of being loved and their ability to love others. The concept of intelligence implies the child's morals. And the concept of spirit implies the child's desire to do good actions, avoid bad behavior, and avoid encroaching upon anybody's dignity. The core concept of the philosophy of Parenting For Everyone is the concept of dignity, the child's sense of worthiness and justice.
One theory breaks down rules into four categories: safety rules, moral rules, rules of social convention, and regulation of personal areas (personal expression, choice of friends). This theory proposes that children tend to resist mostly only rules that they perceive to intrude on personal domains, and that parents should avoid such rules (12).

Discipline Approaches

Rules of traffic – an instructional approach to discipline where parents explain to their children how to behave, teaching the rules of behavior as they would the rules of traffic, with little explanation or deeper moral and social implications.
Fine gardening – parents believe that children have positive and negative qualities, the latter of which parents should "weed out" or "prune" into an appropriate shape.
Rewards and punishments – a method of discipline based on logic: for a good behavior the child receives a reward or praise and for a bad or unwanted behavior the child receives a punishment or reprimand To teach a child by this logic may be very effective if it is done consistently.
Concerted cultivation– fostering children's talents through organized leisure activities. Parents challenge their children to think critically and to speak properly and frequently, especially with other adults.

As you look at your own upbringing and childhood, can you guess which technique your parents were most comfortable with? And as you think about your style and comfort level, which one describes the way you would like to parent and discipline? Use these are a basic roadmap. The rest is a leap of faith. We’ll undoubtedly make mistakes along the way as many parents do, but if we feel our intentions were good and we tried our best, that is all we can hope for.

References:

[5] Baumrind, D. (1967). Child care practices anteceding three patterns of preschool behavior. Genetic Psychology Monographs, 75(1), 43-88.

[6] Baumrind, D. (1971). Current patterns of parental authority. Developmental Psychology, 4(1, Pt. 2), 1-103.

[7] Baumrind, D. (1978). Parental disciplinary patterns and social competence in children. Youth and Society, 9, 238-276

[8] McKay M (2006). Parenting practices in emerging adulthood: Development of a new measure. Thesis, Brigham Young University. Retrieved 2009-06-14

[9]Maccoby, EE and Martin, JA. (1983). Socialization in the context of the family: Parent–child interaction. In P Mussen and EM Hetherington, editors, Handbook Child Psychology, volume IV: Socialization, personality, and social development, chapter 1, pages 1–101. New York: Wiley, 4th edition ISBN 978-0471090656

[10'] Chan TW and Koo A (2008).Parenting style and youth outcome in the UK, page 5. University of Oxford. Retrieved 2009-06-14

[11]Santrock, J.W. (2007). A topical approach to life-span development, third Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.

[12] "The Rules About How Parents Should Make Rules" http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=12530268.

Happy Earth Day!

green i am — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:06:00 GMT

Wondering what you can do to make a difference? Well, know the list is endless! But, here's something super easy...use non toxic cleaners in your home. Whether you make them using vinegar, baking soda, extra virgin olive oil, tea tree oil, or use super concentrated all natural cleaners, know that you are making a difference in the health of your children, your home and our broader home - the planet. Recently, one of our Empowered Mommies Heather reviewed Shaklee's non-toxic cleaning line - Get Clean. Check out what she had to say - Shaklee Product Review. And if you're looking for additional perspective, then check out Terri Bennett's video clip on Green Cleaners are good for you . Terri is a renown blogger and eco-activist as well as a Mom making a difference by doing her part to take care of the environment.

Breathe deep and look around at the beauty that surrounds us...thanks Mother Earth!

What do you Feed your kids?

HappyHealthyMommy — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:53:00 GMT

I get that question a lot. So I figured I would post my usual answer. A lot of people think I spend hours in the kitchen or that I am a master chef. I do think I cook well, but I really feel it is the ingredients I use that make the dish. I always try to use organic and fresh, but it doesn't always work out. I was at a Pampered Chef party and I thought it was really cute how the presenter went around the room and asked the ladies what type of cook we were. A "Martha", a "Betty", etc. I am part pre-made and part chef. I love our local organic grocery store because I can get some things already half done and I just finish it off.

Okay, so back to our usual meals. We are a really busy family so all of our meals are usually made quickly and on the fly because I have a one year old who I can only put down for 5 minutes at a time. So cutting and standing at the stove is tough.

Generally for breakfast my kids love oatmeal (the slow cook type). I cook in water and then add some Vanilla Almond Milk and butter. They love berries so I usually put out frozen berries or I make them a fruit smoothie. Great Harvest also has some wonderful whole grain breads that we will do as well. Toasted with butter. Scrambled Eggs and I do spend the extra money on the better eggs. Watch Food, Inc. and you will too! I'll make pancakes too some mornings and there are a great selection of healthy pancake mixes now. Stay away from the ones that have Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable oil or too little fiber and protein. They always have some type of fruit (banana, pear, apple, cantaloupe, strawberry, blueberry, rasberry, kiwi). They'll also sometimes drink some Keifer or have some organic yogurt.

For lunch I usually put out about 4 or 5 of the following depending on what they had for breakfast and their snack: Avocados, cucumbers, red bell peppers, carrots, grapes, tomatoes, apples, pears, salmon, grilled chicken breast, natural chicken sausage (nitrite free), Amy's Pizza pockets, Natural/organic cheese pizza, whole wheat pasta, sesame seed butter in a tortilla wrap, chick peas, organic yogurt, celery with peanut butter or cream cheese, raw milk cheese slices, bagel with cream cheee, stuffed grape leaves, mandarin oranges.

For dinner it generally consists of 4 or 5 of some of the same things that fall under lunch I'll do for dinner if we didn't eat them for lunch as well as: organic rice (my kids really like Jasmine though I would prefer if they ate the brown rice), spaghetti with whole wheat noodles and organic pasta sauce, broccoli, peas, green beans, watermelon, Amy's Mac and Cheese, leafy green salad, Crossiants from Trader Joe's or these awesome buscuits by Meeting Street, buffalo meat meatballs, zucchini, asparagus, olives, gnocci, eggplant parm or chicken parm, veggie lasgna.

My kids are 5, 3, and 1 and have never had soda, Kool-Aide (at least not to my knowledge), a fast food hamburger, Hostess type treat, krispie creme type treat. I have bought all natural deserts from our Earthfare so they are not deprived, but I just can't let them have the other brands. I am not perfect and unfortunately neither is our diet, but I can control the items I buy and bring into or home. It is also a nice money saver.

I try to give them choices of what they would like at that moment. I pick the choices, but they get to decide between the options. My kids like the variety and variety is good for us. As you can see it is really simple stuff. I cook a bit more for my husband and myself, but for the kids (and for me when my hubby is traveling) we eat pretty much raw foods and they are pretty simple. They love this stuff and I feel as though they are really getting a nice variety of fruits and vegetables everyday. If you can adhere to a 90/10 rule which is 90% plant based diet and 10% meat/fish/dairy diet you are pretty much doing what most diet experts tout as optimal.

Dr Sears has some great books out on feeding children well and some great tips on how to get them to eat some of the foods you want them too. www.askdrsears.com

Hope you find some food ideas!

Clean diets and Aparigraha with Allergies

The Belly Guru — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:35:00 GMT

So I have been absent on the Blog front for a month and so I say ,"sorry". As I opened my Family Yoga Training center in Pineville, NC over the last two months, I was also late on some fundraising for my kids, some marketing for my business, some loving for my man and am still trying to catch up on my quota of me time. You know real quality, I never felt so empowered by aloneness and freedom to do as I please" time. Not the often "I am the only one home with a load of laundry" me time but rather the "Ah, finally some guiltless, I actually am caught up with my life" me time. AHHH, thank you God for yoga!!!!

Well in the world of yogic science, one does not deal with many food allergies because one does not necessarily eat many of the contaminants and types of food that carry high allergy risks. Children brought up into a yogic houshold preety much go from breast to nutrient dense products in a variety of colors and consistencies. When you are practicing a non harming life, you tend not to partake in consuming flesh when you can just as well live on non flesh products. Remember babies are bubbly and light and active and for most , if not more of their first year you they grow and change everyday with little exposure to high risk allergins. Yogic diets tend to stay as simple as those first years. a handful of berries, some prunes, dates and yes the highest risk to their allergin exposure, nuts. I often wonder if our production cycle of these proteins is the problem verses the substance itself because seeds and nuts are prevailant in a non meat based, nutrient dense diets but the nuts are consumed in less quantities. Even without the nuts, what is necessary is providing yourself nutrients.Nutrient dense food is becomming more and more of a rarity and I wonder could that be a piece of our allery puzzle. Could it be what we do not have verses what we have when we have an allergy? As a more serious aspirant of yoga one will make a point to eat cleaner foods before conception and not just because they are pregnant because those food are digested better and give more energy and essential nutrients to begin with.It makes sense to let food run it's natural course and not pump it up with a chemical "preserving" it for your schedule. I am not one to say I have not resorted to a frozen meal now and again but make it more quality product to begin with.Remember clean foods have a short shelf life because they are alive and can give life to you. Would you care to eat a hamburger from the meat of an old cow that could no longer produce enough milk to be useful and was sent and injected with hormones to beef it up and make it appear preetier and then after slaughter treated again with chemicals to make it last longer before decay??? So why eat plant based or grain products this way? I do not know the research but I have not come across one disciplined diet yogi in readings or in person who expressed to me they had or had know another serious practitioner that had food allergies. In fact, I have only come across people who swore the health benefits and subsequent detoxification practices of the holy science of yoga and aryuveda helped eliminate the allergy.It seems logical that taking care of what you put in and out of your body, even if it means more dedication, less sensory gratification, more planning and more initial effort to obtain, actually goes a very long way. Like anything else, after a bit of work transitioning, it would seem the benefits verses the risks would make it a necessity. In school I heard of my teacher's, guru's guru's guru surviving 4 years on almonds and their milk alone in deep meditation. I guess that is a testament to how much we consume and have strayed from the ideal fact that we should eat to live and NOT live to eat but that my friends is a topic for another day. Be Well.

Los Angeles Newborn Care Class for Professionals

Nancy Hamm — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 02:05:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA CLASS

This class is approved by the NCSA (Newborn Care Specialist Association) for certification.

July 30 - Aug 1

Friday July 30 5:30 PM - 10 PM

Saturday July 31 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Sunday August 1 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM

This class will be taught by the author of the course, Nancy Hamm.

This will include complete newborn care from newborn to twelve weeks.

Sleep training will be included as well as marketing your skills. Please see the Classes on Line for the curriculum of the class

For more information email Gentle Ventures

Cost: $400 3 day class + $50 Class Manual

Reserve you place in class ASAP this class will fill up fast.

I have trained Newborn Care Specialist’s, RN’s,LVN’s,Doula’s, CNA’s, Nannies, Child Care Workers, Mommies, and people with no newborn experience. This is a hands on class.

Pease go to www.gentleventures.com/classes.htm for curriculum and to pay on line

This is the most extensive newborn class taught in the US. It includes complete care information for a newborn 0 – 12 weeks.

Could pesticide buildup be responsible for allergic reactions???

green i am — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:41:00 GMT

I can't believe it - in the last few years, I've developed a severe allergy to insects - examples include ant bites and bee stings. It all started when I was innocently sitting by the pool and was bitten by a black ant. The next thing I knew, my face was numb, my entire body was itching, hives were EVERYWHERE, and my face - multiple shades of deep red - was beginning to swell. Needless to say, I was rushed to a nearby urgent care and given immediate attention. Unfortunately, I've gone on to have 2 more episodes since then. But now, I carry an EpiPen with me since each time my allergic reactions intensify.

What causes an allergic reaction to insect stings? An allergic reaction occurs when your immune system reacts strongly to the allergens in the sting. A few types of stinging insects cause most allergic reactions. They are:

Bees.
Wasps.
Hornets.
Yellow jackets.
Fire ants.

Admittedly, I've had multiples bites previously. So, why a reaction now? Well, know that while your first reaction to a sting may be mild, allergic reactions can get worse with each sting. That said, the more I've thought and researched, I've concluded there may be a connection to pesticide accumulation. Meaning, the pesticides found on so many of the fruits and vegetables we love can accumulate in our bodies. And what happens - our bodies overreact when an insect - in this case - "invades". Afterall, allergies are an overreaction of the body's natural defense system that helps fight infections. The immune system normally protects the body from viruses and bacteria by producing antibodies to fight them. In an allergic reaction, the immune system starts fighting substances that are usually harmless as though these substances were trying to attack the body.

Here are the facts - in 1939 there were 32 pesticide products registered in the U.S.; in 1993 there were 22,000. Furthermore, more than one billion pounds of pesticides are used annually in the U.S., primarily herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. There is abundant scientific evidence of the risks toxic pesticides pose to human health. More worrisome from a public health perspective, are chronic health effects such as cancer, infertility, birth defects, miscarriage, and negative effects on the brain and nervous system. Yet, people think these pesticides are harmless. The reality- pesticides actually kill many insects and animals, and can seriously affect humans because they decrease the enzyme that is essential for normal nervous system functioning. Spraying does not really help reduce the incidence of human disease because the insects build up resistance to pesticides and quickly rebound.

So, what to do? I say, go pesticide free as often as possible!!! Your body and Mother Earth will thank you. For quick reference, whether you are on a budget and need to prioritize your organic purchases, or you would simply like to know which type of produce has the highest pesticide residues—and which do not—the following guide from the Environmental Working Group will help.

12 Most Contaminated

Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes (Imported)
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes

12 Least Contaminated

Onions
Avocado
Sweet Corn (Frozen)
Pineapples
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas (Frozen)
Kiwi Fruit
Bananas
Cabbage
Broccoli
Papaya

Your Child’s Programmed Mind

Nancy Hamm — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:50:29 GMT

What is the responsibility of a parent or care giver in the forming of a child mind? We are all aware that a person's life including his perceptions are formed through his environment. The first 6 years of life are responsible for this formation. How do parents/care givers contribute to the forming of the mind and how do they do this? 95 –99% of your actions are controlled by the Subconscious mind leaving only 2 – 5% of your decisions made by the conscious mind. Obviously the formation of the Subconscious is vitally important to the development of the child.

Let's define the Conscience and the Unconscious mind:

Your Conscience mind is the creative mind. It is your dreams and wishes. Your Conscience mind makes decisions you are aware of and take part in. With your Conscience mind you you love, you hate, you hope, you dream. When you make a conscience decision you are making a decision by thinking about it on a level you are aware of. You may make these decisions because of your subconscious mind and not know why you are making a specific decision. It is because of the programming you were dealt before the age of 6 that is programmed into your Subconscious mind.

The Subconscious mind contains the habits and programs that have been learned that you may or may not aware of. Subconscious programming might be: a fear of heights, money does not grow on trees, men are stronger than women, gravity, for some: love equals hurt, fear of abandonment, nothing bad ever happens to me, money is never an issue for me, etc. These habits and programs positive and negative were programmed into your subconscious mind by your parents before you were 6 years old, by the way you were spoken to, disciplined, loved, abused, cared for and the things you saw,heard and perceived.

“ Human biology is so dependent upon learned perceptions, that is not surprising. Evolution has provided us with a mechanism that encourages rapid learning. Brain activity and states of awareness can be measured electronically using electroencephalography (EEG). There are four fundamental states of awareness distinguished by the frequency of electromagnetic activity in the brain. The time that an individual spends in each of these EEG states is related to the patterned sequential expressed during child development” (Laibow,1999).

In the neurological development in childhood the brain does not become actively conscience until 6 years of age. The neurological development is at the lower EEG level called Theta which is imagination. This is why children mix the world of imaginary and real. To them they are the same. They are working at the lower level.

At the lowest level and the first to be experienced by a child between birth and two years of age is the Delta wave (0.5 – 4 Hz). When the child is in Delta they are in a sleep like state. Theta is called the hypnogogic trance. This trance like state allows everything that happens before birth through 6 years of age to go directly into the subconscious bypassing the conscience mind. The Conscience mind is not even working yet. At this age the brain is only downloading data. What the child observes from the parents or caregiver the brain will record as true. The behavior of the child is formed by the data that has been downloaded and this data is observed as truth. The child cannot engage in conscience mind until they have enough of the rules of the community to fit in. The first 6 years of his life he is in a programmable state. Their lives and what they are running become the child’s programs. Consequently the way you act now is 99% done subconsciously and only 1 -2% is done consciously. Theta (4-8 Hz.) waves are experienced more between two and six years of age. This is the state adults may experience when they are half awake and half asleep. In this state the child is very very creative and imaginative when they play. This is when they are playing house using clothes pin dolls and making delicious mud pies, using a broom to ride their horse when playing cowboys and why they can so easily believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny..

Alpha waves (8 – 12 Hz.) begin to express around the age of 6. Around 12 years of age Beta (12- 15 Hz) waves are expressed more and more. This is the highest level of brain activity characterized as “active and focused consciousness”

I explained all the levels is to show you the path of development the brain goes through for the first 6 years. It is important for you to realize that from birth through 6 years the child is primarily in Delta and Theta, which represents a hypnogogic state. When a person is hypnotized they must lower their level of brain activity to the Delta and Theta state. This hypnotical state is the only brain activity of a child until age 6.. During this time the child's brain will be downloading all the perceptions, activity and knowledge he receives without the benefit of discrimination. Your child is 'programmed' for his adult years during this phase of development. This 'programming' is the subconscious that will run 95 – 99% of his adult life.

All this information is critical in understanding how you communicate and interact with your child. Over indulgence is as dangerous as neglect. And love is the most important thing you can do for your child. How you treat your spouse, how you treat others, how you act in a volatile situation, the compassion you show, and the moral integrity you display or lack are all recorded in your child's mind truth. These will become the foundation that will mold your child into an adult. What kind of adult are you molding?

I would like to add a personal note: Although we as adults are responsible for how we mold these precious children. When these children grow up they make their own choices and decisions. Ultimately they are responsible of their own actions whether they be positive or negative choices. Children that blame their parents for actions that are immoral or illegal are not taking responsibly for their own life. We all have the ability to make good choices regardless of our upbringing.

Nancy Hamm

Exclusively Baby Nurses www.exclusivelybabynurses.com Professional Placement Agency

Exclusively Newborns www.exclusivelynewborns.com Personal website

Choosing the BEST Cord Blood Bank

nataliecurry2 — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:34:00 GMT

After you make the decision to save your baby's cord blood the next step is deciding where. With so many other decisions to make about your child's future, having to decide which bank to use may seem a little daunting.

Well, I have good news I can help you!

After years of research and a lifetime of understanding the importance of cord blood preservation I can happily announce that my CHOICE for cord blood banking is CorCell.

CorCell is a Cord Blood America owned company and the first licensed private cord blood bank in the United States. From years of experience CorCell has designed a user friendly process for collecting, transporting and storing your stem cells.

CorCell processes all cord blood in a new in-house lab.

· Laboratory processing is performed at our new Las Vegas Laboratory with testing conducted by CLIA approved, licensed reference laboratories

· Laboratory processing is performed utilizing the BioE PrepaCyte-CB® sterile cord blood processing system. The BioE system is 510K and FDA approved

· The BioE system is manufactured under FDA Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations. The interconnected three-bag design, along with the sterile fluid path, limits cell manipulation and helps minimize environmental contamination and identification errors · Laboratory Director with over 25 years experience in cell processing, storage and transplants

· FDA registered for Human Cells, Tissue based products and Cellular Tissues (HCT/Ps)

Program credentials include:

· Safe, reliable, easy-to-use collection procedure

· History of cord blood collections nationwide and internationally

· 100% transplant success rate

· First known autologous transplant worldwide for childhood leukemia

· Discounts through health insurance partners

· 24/7 Customer Service for providers and parents

I cannot stress to you enough the importance of choosing the best cord blood bank to store your babies stem cells. It is only a matter of time before stem cells will become a standard for treating various medical conditions. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, don't let it pass you by.

I am the proud spokesperson for CorCell. For more information on CorCell please visit www.corcell.com or call (888) 882-267