By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dee_Waltz]Dee Waltz
In January of 2000, at the age of 36 and with 5 children still in my home, I started college. I did not go back to college, I started. I was probably old enough to be the mother of most of the students by that age. Still, I only felt that old when I discovered that one of my professors was younger than I was.
In December of 1999, I suddenly realized that I still had not done anything in my life worthy of notice. It was not that what I was doing wasn't fulfilling. Just making important phone calls, amid the peals of a traumatized three-year-old and her six-year-old tormenting brother, is nothing insignificant. Neither is producing dinner while collaborating with a 4th grader about the value of analyzing fruit mold for a science project. There were times when I could even be proud of the look of defeat in my teen's eyes when I remind him that dinner together is still my favorite form of torture. Still there was nothing about designing barrettes or signing homework that I could truly believe would make a difference in society.
I have great kids. I have spent my life postponing my beloved dreams in contented pursuit of my children's better grades, wobbly milestones and class pictures. I'm proud to be a mother. If I worked full-time maybe we could have taken them to Disneyland sooner but making sure someone was there when they got home was important to me. So why worry about what I was contributing to society? At some point during that year I had discovered that as my children got older I would need to modify the methods of how I was helping them. I became keenly aware that my example would influence them, far more, than my declarations.
Graduating at 17, getting married, and then finding myself expecting two months later was a definite deterrent to going to college at first. After that, it was a matter of either being with child or carrying one on my hip that seemed to keep me out. I always believed, like any good mother, that if I sacrificed enough for my family someday there would be time for me. But that isn't the way it happens.
When a mother sacrifices everything she is, for her family's needs, she isn't doing them a favor. In essence, she is saying what all mother's hate the most, that she is "just a mom" and is a less valued member of family and society. On the other hand, when a mother seeks to attain a greater knowledge of herself, her world and her contribution in it, she sets the standard for her children's interpretation of the women in their own lives. If they are boys they will gain a healthier respect for what a woman can accomplish, be it mother or sister or wife. If they are girls they can find, in her, the self-esteem to better prepare for their own future goals. A mother's struggle to balance an education with her family life and budget is a small price to pay for such a legacy.
Things changed that year for me. My oldest teenage daughter redressed me to fit into college, filling my closet with bell bottom jeans (Gads, have they really come back?!). My son asked me not to hang around him in stores with my new look because he said that girls thought I was his girlfriend (Bless you my son!). My daughter said it was just too weird that all of my friends were her age. Two of my youngest thought I was, "way cool" because I had a pool at my school and we all rolled our eyes when we said the word homework. My three-year-old even assumed the role of taskmaster and, putting her hands on her hips, would demand if I had finished my homework. (What's worse was when I had to admit when I hadn't!).
The biggest change was in the impact it made on my children. I was the first generation to attend college in my family. Eleven years later, my oldest boy is attending college for his business degree, my middle daughter just started college, my youngest son is making plans to attend college (he's a senior this year) and my youngest is talking about her college plans as she starts her freshman year of high school.
The year I started college, in my third semester, my oldest daughter ran away two months before her high school graduation. Fortunately, she came home on her own. She told me that she came back because she thought that if I could make the Dean's list that semester she could at least graduate. She did graduate, with a 3.6., and now 11 years later, she is working on her Bachelor degree while going to work full-time and taking care of her 2 boys. And that's what I was contributing to society...I could never have lectured her into doing that.
About The Author
Dee is the mother of 5 (ages 14-30), grandmother of 4, foster parent, Adoption Advisor, and Parenting Instructor with a little advice and humor to share. She invites you to share thoughts and stories of her family by visiting her blog, [http://laughingatthestorms.blogspot.com/]Laughing At The Storms.
(c) Copyright - R. Dee Waltz Shihady. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?College-and-Motherhood---A-Contribution&id=6563477] College and Motherhood - A Contribution
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Friday, December 30, 2011
Mommy Tips: Keeping Up With the New School Year
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Prime_P_Sarmiento]Prime P Sarmiento
The school year has started and as a mother, you are probably worrying how you are going to juggle everything. How and when will you pick up your child from school? How can you help them with their homework?
Here are three tips that will help you and your child get through another school year:
1. ) Create a detailed schedule for you and your child:
Get a planner and create a detailed schedule of your child's classes and study time.
Also include your daily chores and job duties. Put it down so you will remember what needs to be done on a certain time/day. This includes what time you need to pick him up or if you're leading that week's car pool.
To help you stick to your schedule, it's advisable to list down your three MITs (Most Important Tasks) for the day (and/or weekly MITs if possible).
Also put some time to honor yourself. This means that you need to get some "me" time and recharge. This will help you deal the things that you need to do as a mother, wife and career woman. Don't hesitate to schedule a time to visit a spa or take a 15-minute nap. You deserve it more than anyone else!
2.) Invest in a private tutor
You know your child's weaknesses and if you have observed that he was having difficulty in a certain subject during the previous school year, then it's time to find a private tutor to help him with his homework.
No, you don't need to get a second mortgage to get high quality instruction. A private tutor charges at least $50 an hour. But hiring an online tutor will only cost you about $20/hour and you can access a tutor anywhere. This is an inexpensive and flexible way to get one-to-one tutoring for your child.
An online tutor can also help even if your child is doing well in school. You can use these services to improve their comprehension and study skills.
That said, you have to be more discerning in picking a company that offers online tutorial services - as this in crucial in enhancing your child's academic performance. Choose a company with a proven track record in hiring only the best teachers, implement proven learning methods like mind mapping and employs only tutors who know how to motivate your child to do better in school.
3.) Prioritize
Review your child's curriculum so you can see what homework or lectures need to be done first or how much time needs to be devoted on a certain subject.
At the same time, you also need to review your schedule vis-�-vis your duties as a mother. Here's a quick tip: do something required first thing in the morning. That usually gives the feeling of accomplishment for the rest of the day.
Lastly, and most importantly, even though you have a great deal of work to do, always make time for your family. That family bonding time like going on a family walk or a picnic may seem trivial, but they're important to keep your child secure, prevent you from getting overwhelmed and cement family ties.
Prime is a content management strategist for Ahead Interactive ( http://www.aheadinteractivetutorial.com), leading provider of live, video-powered online tutorials.
AI guarantees the undivided attention of an online teacher and hires only the most qualified and dedicated instructors to help students shine and be always ahead.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Mommy-Tips:-Keeping-Up-With-the-New-School-Year&id=6567337] Mommy Tips: Keeping Up With the New School Year
The school year has started and as a mother, you are probably worrying how you are going to juggle everything. How and when will you pick up your child from school? How can you help them with their homework?
Here are three tips that will help you and your child get through another school year:
1. ) Create a detailed schedule for you and your child:
Get a planner and create a detailed schedule of your child's classes and study time.
Also include your daily chores and job duties. Put it down so you will remember what needs to be done on a certain time/day. This includes what time you need to pick him up or if you're leading that week's car pool.
To help you stick to your schedule, it's advisable to list down your three MITs (Most Important Tasks) for the day (and/or weekly MITs if possible).
Also put some time to honor yourself. This means that you need to get some "me" time and recharge. This will help you deal the things that you need to do as a mother, wife and career woman. Don't hesitate to schedule a time to visit a spa or take a 15-minute nap. You deserve it more than anyone else!
2.) Invest in a private tutor
You know your child's weaknesses and if you have observed that he was having difficulty in a certain subject during the previous school year, then it's time to find a private tutor to help him with his homework.
No, you don't need to get a second mortgage to get high quality instruction. A private tutor charges at least $50 an hour. But hiring an online tutor will only cost you about $20/hour and you can access a tutor anywhere. This is an inexpensive and flexible way to get one-to-one tutoring for your child.
An online tutor can also help even if your child is doing well in school. You can use these services to improve their comprehension and study skills.
That said, you have to be more discerning in picking a company that offers online tutorial services - as this in crucial in enhancing your child's academic performance. Choose a company with a proven track record in hiring only the best teachers, implement proven learning methods like mind mapping and employs only tutors who know how to motivate your child to do better in school.
3.) Prioritize
Review your child's curriculum so you can see what homework or lectures need to be done first or how much time needs to be devoted on a certain subject.
At the same time, you also need to review your schedule vis-�-vis your duties as a mother. Here's a quick tip: do something required first thing in the morning. That usually gives the feeling of accomplishment for the rest of the day.
Lastly, and most importantly, even though you have a great deal of work to do, always make time for your family. That family bonding time like going on a family walk or a picnic may seem trivial, but they're important to keep your child secure, prevent you from getting overwhelmed and cement family ties.
Prime is a content management strategist for Ahead Interactive ( http://www.aheadinteractivetutorial.com), leading provider of live, video-powered online tutorials.
AI guarantees the undivided attention of an online teacher and hires only the most qualified and dedicated instructors to help students shine and be always ahead.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Mommy-Tips:-Keeping-Up-With-the-New-School-Year&id=6567337] Mommy Tips: Keeping Up With the New School Year
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
16 Helpful and Fun iPhone Apps for Moms
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Claire_Itz]Claire Itz
If there's one person that needs some extra help in this world, it's mothers. They run around everyday with their heads cut off trying to keep everything going smoothly. I can't hire them an assistant, but I've found a few apps that can make your life easier. There are many more great iPhone apps, but after recent news that Apple tracks your activity, I thought it would be best to find apps that didn't require a lot of personal information (such as banking figures, medical information, etc). There are apps that can do amazing things with this info, but I would not use them due to Apple's policies and therefore can't recommend them. Anyway, onto the fun!
�
Intuition
This is called the mother's personal assistant and for good reason. In it, you can make any sort of list you like (grocery list, to-d0 list, wish list, notes), manage your calendar, create reminders, find grocery coupons based on your location and share all this info through email, facebook or twitter. You can also break everything down into as many categories and also view everything on a map. There's not much that can limit what you can do with this app making it a true personal assistant.
Mom Maps
Have you ever wanted to go out with your kids to just have some fun but can't get past trying to find something to do? A lot of activities on search engines aren't necessarily for kids or families, so this app was created! It's an interactive location-based map which has stuff just for kids and families. It includes parks, playgrounds, family-friendly restaurants, museums and indoor play areas to search from. You can also read reviews from other users to help make up your mind. All around good app for the family.
Red Laser
This cool little app is sweet and simple. Just scan a barcode using your camera and you can see what that item costs on major sites all across the internet. So, no more overspending on a toy at Target only to find an ad online for $10 less. Don't worry about tantrums either. Instead of saying "it's expensive here, we'll get it cheaper somewhere else". You can now say "it's too expensive here, but I know where we can get it cheaper". Plus, now your child will be on better behavior for the week spent waiting for the toy to arrive.
Silent Bodyguard
You hope that you will never have to use this, but if you do, it will come in handy. With the push of a button, you alert your emergency contacts through text message that you are having an emergency along with your location. Your assailant will never know that you have alerted anyone and help will soon be on the way.
Fastmall
This is truly helpful to all moms who want to get in and out of the mall or just to keep a time limit. It guides you turn by turn through the mall to find stores, bathrooms and even your parking spot. You can also find the stores to go to based on what you're looking for and find deals going on at each store. It's quite the handy dandy tool for someone that doesn't want to get sidetracked.
Sit Or Squat
I've known about this app for a few years and I think it is indispensable for moms. Based on your location, this app uses GPS to find the bathrooms nearest to you that are available to the public. No more wondering where the bathroom when the your kid needs to use the bathroom, because when a kids needs to go, a kids needs to go now!
Baby Phone
This app turns your phone into a baby monitor any time you need. Place the phone by the baby and when the baby makes a noise, your phone will call the phone number that you have set up the app to call. So, when your baby wakes up, the phone you designated will ring and you will avoid the cost of a baby monitor, or simply be able to use it on the go.
Food Additives
For moms that are worried about what ingredients are going into your food, use this app. Just look up the ingredient you're wondering about and you will find all health info you need including function, origin and risks. It's also great for people who have allergies and need to know to the risks of ingredients.
Weet Woo!
Most kids love YouTube, but sadly there are a lot of videos on there that are not good and kids need to be protected. With this app, your kids can surf YouTube with a safe filter, so they won't run into indecent content. They can have fun and you can be sure they're not seeing anything they shouldn't be.
Your Breastfeeding Friendly Locator
One of the biggest pains about having a newborn is nursing while in public. Some people treat mothers very rudely and some are just down right intolerant. So, this app was created to help moms find places where they can breast feed based on their location. There is no more need to try to find a corner where you will be alone or a bathroom stall to huddle into. You can now find places that are friendly with kids, breastfeeding and everything that entails being a new mother.
Siri
I love this app and I'm not a mom. It's an app that acts as your assistant. Voice activated, it can answer almost all of your needs, such as "what is the status of American flight 452?" or "book a table at the best sushi place around here" or "get me a taxi". Just say it and Siri does it. I love it and it makes me a more helpless.
Fruit Ninja
This is a favorite of my nephews. They can stay busy for quite some time with it. It's simply just chopping fruit that pops up in the air. Maybe it's the graphics, but kids love it! It's an easy and fun way to keep them busy.
Voice Plus
This is another favorite of my nephews. It's fun for kids and parents can play too. You make a voice recording and then you can change the voice in over 20 ways and replay it to make your kids laugh. They have deep voices, high voices, guitar voices, slow voices and so many more all guaranteed to make your kid have some silly fun.
Crazy Mouth
This is another app for kids. It's a bunch of different mouths that do different things. There's whistling one, a growling one, a baby crying and a few more. You just choose one and hold the phone to your mouth. It makes kids laugh and they'll want to do it themselves too. It's just some more silly fun.
Shopkick
This app makes shopping more fun. You earn points for checking in at stores by just tapping on the stores that show up around you. These points earn you prizes such as gift certificates to Best Buy, American Eagle, Restaurant.com, iTunes and many more places. You can also makes donations to charity and get Facebook points. You earn something from shopping and you have to love that.
Read Me Stories
This is an interactive book app for kids to help them learn to read in a fun way. Pages do things, so it's somewhat like a mixture between a book and a movie, which is sure to be new to your kids. They'll enjoy it while they learn and you can help them along as well.
Phones are more than just phones these days and you should use them to their fullest to get your money's worth and to make your life as easy as possible. Hopefully these will do just that. If you have any other cool apps, let us know below.
Claire [http://www.InspiringPretty.com]http://www.InspiringPretty.com, Co-Creator
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?16-Helpful-and-Fun-iPhone-Apps-for-Moms&id=6557232] 16 Helpful and Fun iPhone Apps for Moms
If there's one person that needs some extra help in this world, it's mothers. They run around everyday with their heads cut off trying to keep everything going smoothly. I can't hire them an assistant, but I've found a few apps that can make your life easier. There are many more great iPhone apps, but after recent news that Apple tracks your activity, I thought it would be best to find apps that didn't require a lot of personal information (such as banking figures, medical information, etc). There are apps that can do amazing things with this info, but I would not use them due to Apple's policies and therefore can't recommend them. Anyway, onto the fun!
�
Intuition
This is called the mother's personal assistant and for good reason. In it, you can make any sort of list you like (grocery list, to-d0 list, wish list, notes), manage your calendar, create reminders, find grocery coupons based on your location and share all this info through email, facebook or twitter. You can also break everything down into as many categories and also view everything on a map. There's not much that can limit what you can do with this app making it a true personal assistant.
Mom Maps
Have you ever wanted to go out with your kids to just have some fun but can't get past trying to find something to do? A lot of activities on search engines aren't necessarily for kids or families, so this app was created! It's an interactive location-based map which has stuff just for kids and families. It includes parks, playgrounds, family-friendly restaurants, museums and indoor play areas to search from. You can also read reviews from other users to help make up your mind. All around good app for the family.
Red Laser
This cool little app is sweet and simple. Just scan a barcode using your camera and you can see what that item costs on major sites all across the internet. So, no more overspending on a toy at Target only to find an ad online for $10 less. Don't worry about tantrums either. Instead of saying "it's expensive here, we'll get it cheaper somewhere else". You can now say "it's too expensive here, but I know where we can get it cheaper". Plus, now your child will be on better behavior for the week spent waiting for the toy to arrive.
Silent Bodyguard
You hope that you will never have to use this, but if you do, it will come in handy. With the push of a button, you alert your emergency contacts through text message that you are having an emergency along with your location. Your assailant will never know that you have alerted anyone and help will soon be on the way.
Fastmall
This is truly helpful to all moms who want to get in and out of the mall or just to keep a time limit. It guides you turn by turn through the mall to find stores, bathrooms and even your parking spot. You can also find the stores to go to based on what you're looking for and find deals going on at each store. It's quite the handy dandy tool for someone that doesn't want to get sidetracked.
Sit Or Squat
I've known about this app for a few years and I think it is indispensable for moms. Based on your location, this app uses GPS to find the bathrooms nearest to you that are available to the public. No more wondering where the bathroom when the your kid needs to use the bathroom, because when a kids needs to go, a kids needs to go now!
Baby Phone
This app turns your phone into a baby monitor any time you need. Place the phone by the baby and when the baby makes a noise, your phone will call the phone number that you have set up the app to call. So, when your baby wakes up, the phone you designated will ring and you will avoid the cost of a baby monitor, or simply be able to use it on the go.
Food Additives
For moms that are worried about what ingredients are going into your food, use this app. Just look up the ingredient you're wondering about and you will find all health info you need including function, origin and risks. It's also great for people who have allergies and need to know to the risks of ingredients.
Weet Woo!
Most kids love YouTube, but sadly there are a lot of videos on there that are not good and kids need to be protected. With this app, your kids can surf YouTube with a safe filter, so they won't run into indecent content. They can have fun and you can be sure they're not seeing anything they shouldn't be.
Your Breastfeeding Friendly Locator
One of the biggest pains about having a newborn is nursing while in public. Some people treat mothers very rudely and some are just down right intolerant. So, this app was created to help moms find places where they can breast feed based on their location. There is no more need to try to find a corner where you will be alone or a bathroom stall to huddle into. You can now find places that are friendly with kids, breastfeeding and everything that entails being a new mother.
Siri
I love this app and I'm not a mom. It's an app that acts as your assistant. Voice activated, it can answer almost all of your needs, such as "what is the status of American flight 452?" or "book a table at the best sushi place around here" or "get me a taxi". Just say it and Siri does it. I love it and it makes me a more helpless.
Fruit Ninja
This is a favorite of my nephews. They can stay busy for quite some time with it. It's simply just chopping fruit that pops up in the air. Maybe it's the graphics, but kids love it! It's an easy and fun way to keep them busy.
Voice Plus
This is another favorite of my nephews. It's fun for kids and parents can play too. You make a voice recording and then you can change the voice in over 20 ways and replay it to make your kids laugh. They have deep voices, high voices, guitar voices, slow voices and so many more all guaranteed to make your kid have some silly fun.
Crazy Mouth
This is another app for kids. It's a bunch of different mouths that do different things. There's whistling one, a growling one, a baby crying and a few more. You just choose one and hold the phone to your mouth. It makes kids laugh and they'll want to do it themselves too. It's just some more silly fun.
Shopkick
This app makes shopping more fun. You earn points for checking in at stores by just tapping on the stores that show up around you. These points earn you prizes such as gift certificates to Best Buy, American Eagle, Restaurant.com, iTunes and many more places. You can also makes donations to charity and get Facebook points. You earn something from shopping and you have to love that.
Read Me Stories
This is an interactive book app for kids to help them learn to read in a fun way. Pages do things, so it's somewhat like a mixture between a book and a movie, which is sure to be new to your kids. They'll enjoy it while they learn and you can help them along as well.
Phones are more than just phones these days and you should use them to their fullest to get your money's worth and to make your life as easy as possible. Hopefully these will do just that. If you have any other cool apps, let us know below.
Claire [http://www.InspiringPretty.com]http://www.InspiringPretty.com, Co-Creator
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?16-Helpful-and-Fun-iPhone-Apps-for-Moms&id=6557232] 16 Helpful and Fun iPhone Apps for Moms
Monday, December 26, 2011
Can I Be a Stay at Home Mom?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Stacy_Keeler]Stacy Keeler
I am a stay at home mom. I became one the day my first son was born in 2005. This was a joint decision that both my husband and I had made before we even got pregnant. We both knew from the beginning that the best thing for our family was to have me stay home with our kids. I want to just share a few points with you about some of the major concerns that people have when they are deciding on whether or not to stay home.
Money Matters: One of the biggest factors in choosing to be a stay at home mom is obviously the financial one. Losing that second income can be fearful. Can we afford it? One question that I am sure is asked a lot. But with some proper planning and budgeting it can be done and is being done.
Work from Home: There are many options out there for stay at home moms to be able to earn an income from home without having to take an outside job. Some examples would be: Direct Sales, Virtual Agents for Call Centres, Home based businesses, freelance writing and translating. These are but a few. Find an area that you enjoy or are passionate about and I know if you look, there will be something out there that you can do make some extra money.
Time for yourself: This area will obviously be cut down dramatically. It is an area though that does need attention. It is during these times for yourself that you will get your strength back. It may mean taking a small walk in the evening, or reading a book. Joining a local moms group is a great way to get time for yourself and also get to know other mothers and form new friendships. Once your kids are in school full time, and you have chosen to stay at home, your daytime will allow more time for yourself also.
Rewards: Although being a stay at home does have its struggles, but the rewards that come with it far outweigh any struggle. One of the greatest rewards of being a stay at home mom is getting to experience so much of your children's lives and getting to be a part of it. Having your child know that when he comes home from school you are there ready to talk about their day, snack in hand of course!
Being a stay at home mom is a job and a career!
If you are looking for an honest, ethical and legitimate way to generate a full time income from home, [http://www.liveoutyourdreamtoday.com]click here
For free training, free education, and a free income generating website, visit [http://www.liveoutyourdreamtoday.com]www.liveoutyourdreamtoday.com today.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Can-I-Be-a-Stay-at-Home-Mom?&id=6583740] Can I Be a Stay at Home Mom?
I am a stay at home mom. I became one the day my first son was born in 2005. This was a joint decision that both my husband and I had made before we even got pregnant. We both knew from the beginning that the best thing for our family was to have me stay home with our kids. I want to just share a few points with you about some of the major concerns that people have when they are deciding on whether or not to stay home.
Money Matters: One of the biggest factors in choosing to be a stay at home mom is obviously the financial one. Losing that second income can be fearful. Can we afford it? One question that I am sure is asked a lot. But with some proper planning and budgeting it can be done and is being done.
Work from Home: There are many options out there for stay at home moms to be able to earn an income from home without having to take an outside job. Some examples would be: Direct Sales, Virtual Agents for Call Centres, Home based businesses, freelance writing and translating. These are but a few. Find an area that you enjoy or are passionate about and I know if you look, there will be something out there that you can do make some extra money.
Time for yourself: This area will obviously be cut down dramatically. It is an area though that does need attention. It is during these times for yourself that you will get your strength back. It may mean taking a small walk in the evening, or reading a book. Joining a local moms group is a great way to get time for yourself and also get to know other mothers and form new friendships. Once your kids are in school full time, and you have chosen to stay at home, your daytime will allow more time for yourself also.
Rewards: Although being a stay at home does have its struggles, but the rewards that come with it far outweigh any struggle. One of the greatest rewards of being a stay at home mom is getting to experience so much of your children's lives and getting to be a part of it. Having your child know that when he comes home from school you are there ready to talk about their day, snack in hand of course!
Being a stay at home mom is a job and a career!
If you are looking for an honest, ethical and legitimate way to generate a full time income from home, [http://www.liveoutyourdreamtoday.com]click here
For free training, free education, and a free income generating website, visit [http://www.liveoutyourdreamtoday.com]www.liveoutyourdreamtoday.com today.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Can-I-Be-a-Stay-at-Home-Mom?&id=6583740] Can I Be a Stay at Home Mom?
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Motherhood Accessories
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Samantha_K]Samantha K
We all know babies don't come with a handbook. New and veteran moms alike can feel overwhelmed with all of the products out there designed to make motherhood easier. Fortunately, there are tried and true motherhood accessories out there, which new and veteran mothers swear by. These accessories improve the parenting experience by providing solutions to some of parenting's biggest problems. The following is a list of products parents can't live without.
Baby Sling: Parents who have used them swear by them. Baby slings allow parents to carry their baby much more frequently than they would normally be able to, while still allowing them hands-free freedom to do the things they need to do. Carried babies are usually much more calm, allowing the parents to feel a lot less stress. Slings also allow parents maximum body-to-body contact, enabling them to develop close bonds with their baby.
Shopping Cart Cover: Shopping cart covers are a soft, fabric cover with an elastic band that covers all four sides of a shopping cart (or high chair). These covers are very easy to slip on and off the shopping cart, and they prevent babies from chewing dirty, germy carts. They even include convenient pockets for storing bottles, toys, cell phones, etc. These covers are easy to carry everywhere, and they can be thrown right in the washer.
Car Seat Cover: Car seat covers are a cloth cover with Velcro handles that attach around the car seat handle with the cloth forming a protective tent around the entire car seat. These covers serve many purposes. They keep the sun/light out of baby's eyes, they protect them from germs, and they help keep babies who fall asleep in their car seats asleep. In addition, car seat covers also keep unwanted attention from random strangers at bay.
Diaper Changing Mat: There are ordinary diaper changing pads, and then there are portable diaper changing systems that go the extra mile. Diaper changing mats of today are a motherhood accessory every mom-on-the-go needs. These mats are machine washable, they store diapers, wipes, and ointment, and they provide a sanitary place wherever you go to change your baby's diaper. They're easy to store and they can be taken anywhere.
Upright Baby Seat: An upright baby seat, like a Bumbo, is a perfect seat to hold babies snug and secure without the inconvenience of straps or seat belts. The material is soft, protecting babies from harm, but it still provides a secure, washable seat for babies who are transitioning into sitting upright on their own. Also, babies love to sit upright, so they can see what is going on around them and know what mom and dad are doing.
These products have become life-savers for many parents, grandparents, and care providers alike. With all of the baby products on the market, these products have come out on top time and time again. They assist in making parenting, and caring for children in general, easier, more convenient, and, above all, more enjoyable!
Samantha Kirya is the owner of MyaMaternity.com where you can find beautiful and functional <a target="_new" href="http://www.myamaternity.com/category_32/Baby-Slings.htm">baby slings</A>. Visit us today for the best deals on <a target="_new" href="http://www.MyaMaternity.com">maternity clothing</A>, diaper bags, baby slings and more.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Motherhood-Accessories&id=6592236] Motherhood Accessories
We all know babies don't come with a handbook. New and veteran moms alike can feel overwhelmed with all of the products out there designed to make motherhood easier. Fortunately, there are tried and true motherhood accessories out there, which new and veteran mothers swear by. These accessories improve the parenting experience by providing solutions to some of parenting's biggest problems. The following is a list of products parents can't live without.
Baby Sling: Parents who have used them swear by them. Baby slings allow parents to carry their baby much more frequently than they would normally be able to, while still allowing them hands-free freedom to do the things they need to do. Carried babies are usually much more calm, allowing the parents to feel a lot less stress. Slings also allow parents maximum body-to-body contact, enabling them to develop close bonds with their baby.
Shopping Cart Cover: Shopping cart covers are a soft, fabric cover with an elastic band that covers all four sides of a shopping cart (or high chair). These covers are very easy to slip on and off the shopping cart, and they prevent babies from chewing dirty, germy carts. They even include convenient pockets for storing bottles, toys, cell phones, etc. These covers are easy to carry everywhere, and they can be thrown right in the washer.
Car Seat Cover: Car seat covers are a cloth cover with Velcro handles that attach around the car seat handle with the cloth forming a protective tent around the entire car seat. These covers serve many purposes. They keep the sun/light out of baby's eyes, they protect them from germs, and they help keep babies who fall asleep in their car seats asleep. In addition, car seat covers also keep unwanted attention from random strangers at bay.
Diaper Changing Mat: There are ordinary diaper changing pads, and then there are portable diaper changing systems that go the extra mile. Diaper changing mats of today are a motherhood accessory every mom-on-the-go needs. These mats are machine washable, they store diapers, wipes, and ointment, and they provide a sanitary place wherever you go to change your baby's diaper. They're easy to store and they can be taken anywhere.
Upright Baby Seat: An upright baby seat, like a Bumbo, is a perfect seat to hold babies snug and secure without the inconvenience of straps or seat belts. The material is soft, protecting babies from harm, but it still provides a secure, washable seat for babies who are transitioning into sitting upright on their own. Also, babies love to sit upright, so they can see what is going on around them and know what mom and dad are doing.
These products have become life-savers for many parents, grandparents, and care providers alike. With all of the baby products on the market, these products have come out on top time and time again. They assist in making parenting, and caring for children in general, easier, more convenient, and, above all, more enjoyable!
Samantha Kirya is the owner of MyaMaternity.com where you can find beautiful and functional <a target="_new" href="http://www.myamaternity.com/category_32/Baby-Slings.htm">baby slings</A>. Visit us today for the best deals on <a target="_new" href="http://www.MyaMaternity.com">maternity clothing</A>, diaper bags, baby slings and more.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Motherhood-Accessories&id=6592236] Motherhood Accessories
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Baby Wakes Up at Night - What's a Mom to Do?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Donielle_Schipper]Donielle Schipper
My six month old baby wakes up at night around 10:30, and then decides it's time to stay awake for the rest of the night. So what does a mom of five young children do when this happens for over a week?
Baby Wakes Up at Night Rule #1
Don't get frustrated! I know that sounds easier said than done, and believe me, I haven't obeyed that rule very well myself. When you have a baby waking up in the night and you are dead exhausted from a long day of homeschooling, cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, cooking some more, cleaning some more, etc., etc... (you get the picture), you don't have a lot of patience in reserve, that's for sure! But you have to remember that sleep for a 6 month old is sometimes reversed and it's not going to last forever.
Baby Wakes Up at Night Rule #2
Encourage baby to go back to sleep. When my six month baby wakes up at night, the first thing I do is try to get him back to sleep. Here's the list of things I usually try:
a) nurse him back to sleep
b) pat him gently on the back
c) offer him a binky
d) rock him gently in a dark room
e) softly play some relaxing music
f) lay down with him on my tummy so he can relax to my heartbeat
I go through this list pretty much in the order above, but sometimes it just doesn't work. Which leads to....
Baby Wakes Up at Night Rule #3
When nothing is working, just go with the flow. Usually after about two hours of trying the above list and my six month old still doesn't want to sleep, I will get up with him and just let him play for a while. This solves more than one problem. It causes me not to feel as frustrated because then I feel like at least I'm getting something done, instead of just laying there waiting for baby to fall back to sleep. It also allows my poor husband to get a little rest, because when baby is not sleeping through the night, you can bet hubby is not sleeping through the night! He may seem to be still asleep, but he's often told me that he doesn't feel rested in the morning when the baby wakes up at night.
Baby Wakes Up at Night Rule #4
Use this quiet time with no other kids around to get something done! As a mother, you know that a little quiet time to really focus on something is a precious commodity. So why not use the time that your baby is awake at night to do just that? In my case, I usually get a little reading done, or I do exactly what I'm doing right now... writing a blog! I'm here for the baby if I start to notice him winding down, but I also am accomplishing something and using my time awake wisely.
Baby Wakes Up at Night Rule #5
Find someone to help with your other children, should you have any, in the morning. I am blessed to have a husband that works at home and is willing to spend a few hours in the morning getting the rest of my kids fed and ready for the day when the baby is not sleeping all night. But if you don't have that luxury, I recommend finding someone who would be willing to help you out. Your mom, or a close friend can be a lifesaver in situations like this. Just make sure you ask! I know it's hard because you may feel like a burden, but believe me, it is worth it to have those few extra hours of sleep when you've been up all night with the baby!
Baby Wakes Up at Night Rule #6
Enjoy! I know that doesn't sound possible in the middle of the night when you are soooo tired and just want to sleep. But remember that these days are few and fleeting. Before you know it, your little six month old baby will be a teenager, and instead of keeping you awake because he's not sleeping through the night, he'll be keeping you awake because he's out with his friends all night. At least while he's a baby, you get to spend the wee hours of the morning with him instead of worrying about him!
Hope this has been an inspiration to you as you deal with your baby waking up at night! May you be blessed as you care for your little one with love and patience.
I am a stay at home mother of five children. I love homechooling my children and teaching them to live healthy lives. I enjoy staying healthy and fit and love helping others to do the same!
Please visit [http://www.donielleschipper.com]Superfit Homeschool Mom and join me on my fitness journey!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Baby-Wakes-Up-at-Night---Whats-a-Mom-to-Do?&id=6594753] Baby Wakes Up at Night - What's a Mom to Do?
My six month old baby wakes up at night around 10:30, and then decides it's time to stay awake for the rest of the night. So what does a mom of five young children do when this happens for over a week?
Baby Wakes Up at Night Rule #1
Don't get frustrated! I know that sounds easier said than done, and believe me, I haven't obeyed that rule very well myself. When you have a baby waking up in the night and you are dead exhausted from a long day of homeschooling, cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, cooking some more, cleaning some more, etc., etc... (you get the picture), you don't have a lot of patience in reserve, that's for sure! But you have to remember that sleep for a 6 month old is sometimes reversed and it's not going to last forever.
Baby Wakes Up at Night Rule #2
Encourage baby to go back to sleep. When my six month baby wakes up at night, the first thing I do is try to get him back to sleep. Here's the list of things I usually try:
a) nurse him back to sleep
b) pat him gently on the back
c) offer him a binky
d) rock him gently in a dark room
e) softly play some relaxing music
f) lay down with him on my tummy so he can relax to my heartbeat
I go through this list pretty much in the order above, but sometimes it just doesn't work. Which leads to....
Baby Wakes Up at Night Rule #3
When nothing is working, just go with the flow. Usually after about two hours of trying the above list and my six month old still doesn't want to sleep, I will get up with him and just let him play for a while. This solves more than one problem. It causes me not to feel as frustrated because then I feel like at least I'm getting something done, instead of just laying there waiting for baby to fall back to sleep. It also allows my poor husband to get a little rest, because when baby is not sleeping through the night, you can bet hubby is not sleeping through the night! He may seem to be still asleep, but he's often told me that he doesn't feel rested in the morning when the baby wakes up at night.
Baby Wakes Up at Night Rule #4
Use this quiet time with no other kids around to get something done! As a mother, you know that a little quiet time to really focus on something is a precious commodity. So why not use the time that your baby is awake at night to do just that? In my case, I usually get a little reading done, or I do exactly what I'm doing right now... writing a blog! I'm here for the baby if I start to notice him winding down, but I also am accomplishing something and using my time awake wisely.
Baby Wakes Up at Night Rule #5
Find someone to help with your other children, should you have any, in the morning. I am blessed to have a husband that works at home and is willing to spend a few hours in the morning getting the rest of my kids fed and ready for the day when the baby is not sleeping all night. But if you don't have that luxury, I recommend finding someone who would be willing to help you out. Your mom, or a close friend can be a lifesaver in situations like this. Just make sure you ask! I know it's hard because you may feel like a burden, but believe me, it is worth it to have those few extra hours of sleep when you've been up all night with the baby!
Baby Wakes Up at Night Rule #6
Enjoy! I know that doesn't sound possible in the middle of the night when you are soooo tired and just want to sleep. But remember that these days are few and fleeting. Before you know it, your little six month old baby will be a teenager, and instead of keeping you awake because he's not sleeping through the night, he'll be keeping you awake because he's out with his friends all night. At least while he's a baby, you get to spend the wee hours of the morning with him instead of worrying about him!
Hope this has been an inspiration to you as you deal with your baby waking up at night! May you be blessed as you care for your little one with love and patience.
I am a stay at home mother of five children. I love homechooling my children and teaching them to live healthy lives. I enjoy staying healthy and fit and love helping others to do the same!
Please visit [http://www.donielleschipper.com]Superfit Homeschool Mom and join me on my fitness journey!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Baby-Wakes-Up-at-Night---Whats-a-Mom-to-Do?&id=6594753] Baby Wakes Up at Night - What's a Mom to Do?
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Gratitude In A Season Of Abundance
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jeanne_Fiorini]Jeanne Fiorini
Many times in Maine, as the autumn season rolls around, we locals find ourselves bemoaning the end of a lackluster summer but hey, isn't that the best we can expect, living in this neck of the woods? Such complaints will not be heard this year, after a prolonged season that I'm calling the "Summer of The Empress."
In the Tarot, The Empress is the card of the archetypal Mother: the force of procreation, the process of birth and the giving of life, the embodiment of compassion and nurturance. She is your physical mother, the abundant mother earth, the doorway to life and the helpful hand along the way. She has associations with both the planet Venus and the astrological sign of Cancer; her ability to create varying and diverse forms of physical life is boundless.
I live in Southern Maine, which is a watery, Cancerian place to live to begin with. Toss in the steamy weather we had for much of the summer along with the presence of the nearby Atlantic Ocean, and we've been about as soggy as you can get without actually sitting in a puddle. This summer's days were long and humid, stretching out before us in languid waves, one after another after another. In response to this luxury, the greenery around my house took on a life of its own.
The forsythia bush sits like a woolly mammoth at the corner of my house, its tendrils threatening to strangle me in my sleep if not trimmed on a regular basis. Perennials grew extremely high this year; for instance, the globe thistle in front of my house reached well over five feet high. No joke -- I measured them for journalistic accuracy. The Empress was in her glory.
While The Empress card is ruled by Venus (and not by Cancer, which rules The Chariot card), The Empress' collaboration with the forces of nature, motherhood and nurturance is in alliance with the values of home-and-hearth-oriented Cancer. We had three eclipses during the 2011 swing through the Gemini/Cancerian cycle, heightening one's awareness of the emotional patterns that lay beneath the surface of consciousness. And that's just the water which flowed in the inner life.
Let's talk about the vegetable garden, which did well despite the intermittent spells of beastly heat and unending rain. In its second year of production, things fared much better than last year when we had so much heavy and prolonged rain that fungus overran much of what had started out in promising fashion. It's ALL the realm of The Empress, really: the seeds, the soil, the rain, the bugs, the sunshine, the rodents. All those who work the soil eventually come to understand that a garden's output will be determined by the manner by which what you've planted responds to what The Empress dishes out.
This year The Empress must have had a hankering for strawberries. My little plot yielded so many of the delicious berries that we'll be eating them from the freezer at Thanksgiving...and at Christmastime...and maybe even Valentine's Day.
The peas and the lettuce, on the other hand, have had their struggles. Off to a good start, it got too hot too quickly for each of them, although they hung on for dear life, hoping for cooler temperatures and some shade. What has been life-giving for the strawberries -- and the tomatoes -- has not been so good for the peas and lettuce. Indiscriminate Empress.
Finally, there's the fact that my daughter is pregnant with her first child. Oh my goodness, talk about an Empress' dream.
Not only are my daughter and I both Librans with water-sign moons (which has made for a lovely and harmonious mother-daughter relationship) we both are numerological "3's", connecting each of us to the energy of The Empress. My numbers are "21/3", the World/Empress combination; my daughter Kate is a singular "3."
A family friend who knows nothing of these sorts of metaphysical connections and personality profilings saw a recent picture of the mom-to-be and said, "Has she been waiting all her life to be pregnant and become a mother? I've never seen her looking so healthy and so happy." It's true. Her happiness has grown in equal measure to her belly; with only a few weeks of pregnancy left, if her smile widens any further she'll have to sprout more teeth.
If there was anything more rewarding to an Empress than to see her daughter overflowing with life and enjoying every moment, I surely can't imagine it. I'm likely to be a blithering idiot by the time this child actually arrives, so it's good to put thoughts to words while there's still the capacity to do so.
No doubt about it, a full expression of The Empress surrounds me these days. And The Empress in me is satisfied, content to watch the work of nature as it expands and unfolds of its own accord, rewarding the eyes that seek its beauty and comforting the heart that recognizes its power.
Jeanne Fiorini http://www.tarotworks.com
As owner and creator of "TarotWorks," Jeanne Fiorini is a professional Tarot practitioner who lives in the great state of Maine. With over twenty years of experience working with Tarot and the symbols of archetypal psychology, Jeanne brings a unique combination of wit and wisdom to her articles, Tarot readings, classes, workshops, and other projects. Jeanne's second book "Tarot Spreads and Layouts/A User's Manual for Beginning and Intermediate Readers" was released in 2011 by Schiffer Publishing Ltd and has been widely praised by the Tarot community. Visit http://www.tarotworks.com and check out the wide variety of "TarotWorks" offerings.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Gratitude-In-A-Season-Of-Abundance&id=6589953] Gratitude In A Season Of Abundance
Many times in Maine, as the autumn season rolls around, we locals find ourselves bemoaning the end of a lackluster summer but hey, isn't that the best we can expect, living in this neck of the woods? Such complaints will not be heard this year, after a prolonged season that I'm calling the "Summer of The Empress."
In the Tarot, The Empress is the card of the archetypal Mother: the force of procreation, the process of birth and the giving of life, the embodiment of compassion and nurturance. She is your physical mother, the abundant mother earth, the doorway to life and the helpful hand along the way. She has associations with both the planet Venus and the astrological sign of Cancer; her ability to create varying and diverse forms of physical life is boundless.
I live in Southern Maine, which is a watery, Cancerian place to live to begin with. Toss in the steamy weather we had for much of the summer along with the presence of the nearby Atlantic Ocean, and we've been about as soggy as you can get without actually sitting in a puddle. This summer's days were long and humid, stretching out before us in languid waves, one after another after another. In response to this luxury, the greenery around my house took on a life of its own.
The forsythia bush sits like a woolly mammoth at the corner of my house, its tendrils threatening to strangle me in my sleep if not trimmed on a regular basis. Perennials grew extremely high this year; for instance, the globe thistle in front of my house reached well over five feet high. No joke -- I measured them for journalistic accuracy. The Empress was in her glory.
While The Empress card is ruled by Venus (and not by Cancer, which rules The Chariot card), The Empress' collaboration with the forces of nature, motherhood and nurturance is in alliance with the values of home-and-hearth-oriented Cancer. We had three eclipses during the 2011 swing through the Gemini/Cancerian cycle, heightening one's awareness of the emotional patterns that lay beneath the surface of consciousness. And that's just the water which flowed in the inner life.
Let's talk about the vegetable garden, which did well despite the intermittent spells of beastly heat and unending rain. In its second year of production, things fared much better than last year when we had so much heavy and prolonged rain that fungus overran much of what had started out in promising fashion. It's ALL the realm of The Empress, really: the seeds, the soil, the rain, the bugs, the sunshine, the rodents. All those who work the soil eventually come to understand that a garden's output will be determined by the manner by which what you've planted responds to what The Empress dishes out.
This year The Empress must have had a hankering for strawberries. My little plot yielded so many of the delicious berries that we'll be eating them from the freezer at Thanksgiving...and at Christmastime...and maybe even Valentine's Day.
The peas and the lettuce, on the other hand, have had their struggles. Off to a good start, it got too hot too quickly for each of them, although they hung on for dear life, hoping for cooler temperatures and some shade. What has been life-giving for the strawberries -- and the tomatoes -- has not been so good for the peas and lettuce. Indiscriminate Empress.
Finally, there's the fact that my daughter is pregnant with her first child. Oh my goodness, talk about an Empress' dream.
Not only are my daughter and I both Librans with water-sign moons (which has made for a lovely and harmonious mother-daughter relationship) we both are numerological "3's", connecting each of us to the energy of The Empress. My numbers are "21/3", the World/Empress combination; my daughter Kate is a singular "3."
A family friend who knows nothing of these sorts of metaphysical connections and personality profilings saw a recent picture of the mom-to-be and said, "Has she been waiting all her life to be pregnant and become a mother? I've never seen her looking so healthy and so happy." It's true. Her happiness has grown in equal measure to her belly; with only a few weeks of pregnancy left, if her smile widens any further she'll have to sprout more teeth.
If there was anything more rewarding to an Empress than to see her daughter overflowing with life and enjoying every moment, I surely can't imagine it. I'm likely to be a blithering idiot by the time this child actually arrives, so it's good to put thoughts to words while there's still the capacity to do so.
No doubt about it, a full expression of The Empress surrounds me these days. And The Empress in me is satisfied, content to watch the work of nature as it expands and unfolds of its own accord, rewarding the eyes that seek its beauty and comforting the heart that recognizes its power.
Jeanne Fiorini http://www.tarotworks.com
As owner and creator of "TarotWorks," Jeanne Fiorini is a professional Tarot practitioner who lives in the great state of Maine. With over twenty years of experience working with Tarot and the symbols of archetypal psychology, Jeanne brings a unique combination of wit and wisdom to her articles, Tarot readings, classes, workshops, and other projects. Jeanne's second book "Tarot Spreads and Layouts/A User's Manual for Beginning and Intermediate Readers" was released in 2011 by Schiffer Publishing Ltd and has been widely praised by the Tarot community. Visit http://www.tarotworks.com and check out the wide variety of "TarotWorks" offerings.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Gratitude-In-A-Season-Of-Abundance&id=6589953] Gratitude In A Season Of Abundance
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