Posted by: nikkik in Working from Home on
Oct 28, 2008
Most women dream of being able to somehow juggle work and family, and with technology's help, the dream is becoming a reality for many. The internet has made it possible to work from home within a variety of fields, such as medical billing, retail (think eBay and other online storefronts), journalism, photography, and the list goes on. While working from home certainly makes it possible for women and men alike to avoid daycare, commuting, and other work-related costs, there are also drawbacks that, if not overwhelming, at least warrant consideration when contemplating a move from office to home base.
In my own experience as a mother of two young girls, working from home as Editor of Vancouver Family Magazine, I've found one of my challenges to be limiting work time. I tend to drift toward the computer throughout the day, as opposed to sitting down for a block of time to complete "office hours." If not checked, this has the tendency to make my kids feel a little abandoned. Others may
Posted by: nikkik in Stay At Home Moms on
Sep 15, 2008
Mothers who choose to leave their career to raise their children are often faced with unique and difficult challenges, including isolation, a loss of identity, and boredom. However, they're also blessed with wonderful rewards reaped by their efforts, such as valuable teaching moments with their children, and freedom from workplace stressors. A recent book I read addresses the good and the bad of the life of a SAHM. The author, a woman who left a successful magazine career to stay home with her son (and gave birth to twin girls shortly thereafter), uses research and anecdotes from SAHMs all over the country to offer solutions and discuss the "perks and pitfalls" of staying home. www.stayathomesurvivalguide.com.
Posted by: nikkik in Preconception on
Sep 10, 2008
My husband and I disagree on whether or not to have another baby. We've got two beautiful girls, ages 5 and 2, and I'd like to add one more to our brood. But my husband has no interest. I really do believe that if we found out we were pregnant right now that he would be very happy and excited, but he's not going to do it "on purpose." He even half-jokes about getting a vascectomy! I'm definitely not ready for that yet. Thankfully, we're not to a point where it's caused real conflict, especially because my desire for another child is very mild and I'm willing to wait - either until he changes his mind, or I'm ready to permanently call it quits. But I wonder if anyone else has experience with this, and how you worked through
The other night I watched a wonderful new documentary called Being Dad. The tagline, "40 Dads - 6 Experts - 9 months - 80 minutes" pretty much sums it up well. A father to be, in an attempt to learn more about the new journey upon which he will soon embark, sits down with dads all over the country and learns all about what it's like during pregnancy, delivery, and parenting. The guys talk candidly about everything from sex during pregnancy, to miscarriage, to premature labor, to epidurals, to caesarian section, to the feeling of elation that comes when the baby is finally born.
The film simultaneously follows Troy and his wife, Stacey, from morning sickness to first ultrasound, and finally to delivery. It actually shows the birth of their child, and it's amazing. I don't think I've ever watched a birth without crying. It is such a miracle. And it brought back memories of my own daughters' births and made me feel strong all over again for all the hard work I did to get them safely out!
Posted by: nikkik in Postnatal Parenting on
Aug 02, 2008
While my oldest daughter was at a preschool field trip today to the Portland Children's Museum, I took my youngest daughter, Chloe (2 1/2), to the Van Mall Library Branch Baby & Toddler Jamboree. There were toys, bubbles, music, crafts, snacks, and storytimes. So much to do, we hardly had time to do it all before it was time to go! It was really great to have some one-on-one time where I could focus only on Chloe and follow her lead as she went from one fun thing to the next.
I'd recommend library events to anyone with any age of child, at any time of the year. There are so many locations, there's bound to be one in your neck of the woods, and best of all, they're all FREE! Visit www.fvrl.org to find out about storytimes, clubs, and special events for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, school-agers, teens, and, yes, even us
No matter how many times an expectant mother is warned about the baby blues, when they set in, it feels like you've been hit with a hormonal brick. I did not expect in my wildest nightmares that I would be suseptible to postpartum depression in any form. I had prepared thoroughly, had a supportive husband and family, and had no history of depression. Additionally, labor with my first daughter went incredibly smoothly. If I could make it through childbirth "successfully" what else was there to fear? Or, more to the point, what did I have to be depressed about? Even when we left the hospital and headed home, where my mother (who is also a doula - how convenient!) was staying with us for a week, I felt like I had everything under control.
Then came the first night away from the hospital. At this point I had probably gone at least 36 hours with very minimal sleep, and part of that was spent working hard to birth a baby! Lack of sleep + overwhelming responsibility of a dependent
Posted by: nikkik in Postnatal Parenting on
Jul 12, 2008
I was sneaky when my first daughter was a toddler. Per advice from my own mother, I secretly laced her apple juice with carrots to add a little somethin' somethin' in the nutrition department. Here's how I did it:
Cut up several carrots, add water to cover about half the carrots, and steam until very soft.
Pour carrots and water into a blender and puree until liquified.
Pour mixture into an ice tray and freeze to create individual-sized carrot ice cubes.
Each time you serve your little one juice, add a carrot cube and a boost of Vitamin A!
You could potentially do this with many different veggies (I occassionally used green beans and beets), I just found that carrots had the right consistency and my daughter really liked the taste of the apple/carrot blend.
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Posted by: nikkik in Preconception on
Jul 01, 2008
When considering marriage, and eventually starting a family of your own, it's incredibly important to, as Dr. Laura Schlessinger says, "Choose wisely, treat kindly." I've only been married 8 years, but I have learned a thing or two about relationships and how important it is to think through the choice of marriage. In my opinion, love is simply not enough when it comes to building a life with another person. It's more like a business deal than a summer fling, although it's imperative that love is there as well. In other words, the ideal partner is someone whom you love passionately, but with whom you can also agree on important co-habitating and child-rearing issues such as:
religion
education
money
parenting styles
living location
Deciding to have children is a decision that will affect your and your child's life forever, and bind you to the baby's parent, so be sure you choose your spouse well. Then treat that spouse with love and respect the rest of your days. The positive impact on
When I was breastfeeding both my daughters, I was always frustrated that I felt somehow expected to find a private place to nurse, away from those who could be offended by the practice. It's now been 6 months since I weened my second daughter (at age 2) from the breast, and I still don't understand why anyone would be offended by breastfeeding in public.
Please understand that I'm not refering to breasts hanging out for all to see, but quietly nursing my baby, completely covered. I will admit that I never remember anyone ever mentioning anything derogatory or even giving strange looks when I did venture to breastfeed in a public place out of necessity. So perhaps it was my own inihibitions that produced a self-inflicted paranoia. But I have a sneeking suspicion that some people are shocked to see a woman breastfeeding - even when they're completely covered! The baby's got to eat, and I don't feel I should be forced into a dark corner to do feed her. Am I sounding militant?
Posted by: nikkik in Untagged on
May 03, 2008
As I prepared for the birth of my second child, my anxiety level over the upcoming and inevitable labor and delivery was certainly lower than it was when I was preparing for number one. There was a certain comfort in knowing what would happen, although there are no guarantees when it comes to the specifics (i.e. epidural, Caesarean, tearing or episiotomy, etc.). Not only had I been there before, but my first labor went rather quickly, and relatively smoothly. I'd never describe it as easy - that word can never be applied to childbirth, as a rule - but I was already dilated to 9 by the time I reached the hospital, and although it was intense, it never got as "excruciating" as I had psyched myself into thinking it would be. It was a difficult, yet wonderful experience that ended up giving me a huge sense of accomplishment - I had done it! I had climbed the proverbial feminine Mount Everest...and lived to tell about it!
Fast forward nearly three years later to Christmastime 2005.
