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: smottram in Untagged on
Oct 06, 2008
Have you heard the term "helicopter parents?" Well, I ran into a hovering parental unit when I was having my son's hair cut at a local children's hair salon. It was clearly their daughter's first haircut (let's call her Olivia). Olivia's mom told the hair specialist tasked with cutting her hair to please shape up her hair without really taking anything off. As the hair specialist diligently tried her best to cut, without cutting, dad was holding a plastic bag underneath each cut of the scissors while mom took photos of each darling little curl that was released from Olivia's head. It first, I thought, oh, how sweet! Look at mom and dad so involved in their little girl's first haircut. Then, big brother, bored with the salon's toys, came over to check in with his parents. That's when mom said, "We are not done yet, don't bother us, go back and play." The boy toddled off, just as he was instructed but a bit dejected.
On the way home, I mentioned to my son if he had noticed the
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: smottram in Untagged on
Sep 11, 2008
It's been a rough couple of weeks to say the least. Long story short, my dad was unexpectedly diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. In a span of less than four weeks he was gone. I should preface this by saying that I dearly loved my father and he was worthy of all my affection and admiration.
When I first found out that there was a serious medical problem I was a mess. My 4 year old picked up on this immediately. "Why are you so sad, Mamma?" he said. I thought how I am going to tell this precious little boy that the grandfather he adores was really sick and was inevitably going to die. I was having a hard time wrapping my brain around the concept, myself. I decided that I wasn't going to run out of the room when the tears hit me, and they did. Instead, I let him see the tears stream down my face. I told him that Mamma was having a really sad day because Papa is really, really sick. That's when it came. "Is Papa going to die?" he asked. "Probably," I said. Then I asked him a
Posted by: familybirthcenter in Untagged on
Aug 16, 2008
I remember the very day when my sweet little girl began to have a will of her own. Up until that moment I was easily able to distract or coerce her into doing what I needed her to do. But, on that day she peered out from behind the dining room chair and I saw a mischievous twinkle in her eye that let me know she was becoming an independent little being who had a mission separate from mine. She was only 18 months at the time but, I knew that each child was individual as to when they would reach specific milestones in their developmental.
I had read plenty of parenting books about two year olds. So, I knew this age of independence was a vital developmental stage. What I wasn't prepared for was my reaction to her testing of limits. I had always been a patient, calm, in control person with a happy demeanor. But, this little one whom I loved with all my heart knew how to push my buttons. At first it was kind of cute because, she was not doing it out of anger she was happily defiant.
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
Posted by: drchang in Untagged on
Aug 02, 2008
You've become a family. It'd be nice to have a whole baseball team, but you really think you've changed all the diapers you can during this lifetime! Now what?
Technology in the last 5 years has really provided all sorts of conveniences and options for all sorts of things. Contraception is no different. Gone are the days when you either had to take a pill everyday or take the risks of surgery. There are many semi-permanent and much lower risk and easier permanent options now.
First, intrauterine devices (IUD). There are two options here. Mirena and Paraguard. Both are super easy to use because once your doctor puts it in, you don't have to do anything for five or 10 years, depending on which you use. The only risk you take is when you get it put in at your doctor's office, and that risk is really minimal.
Next, a simple procedure called Essure can be done in the office and is permanent. In the office! You don't have to go to the operating room, and your doctor does not have
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: drchang in Postnatal Parenting on
Jun 21, 2008
January 11, 2005... 3AM... Through my fog of half-sleep, I heard three voices - all of them were crying. I thought about it for a second. "I only have two children, right? I'm pretty sure it was just twins..." Well, being a responsible parent, I thought I should get up and verify the fact that I had two kids. I needed to get more stuff if it was really three babies. The preceding four days were a blur of activity and no sleep. Who knows if the hospital stuck an extra kid in the car when I wasn't looking...
Turned out, of course, that ,I indeed, had twins and not triplets. The third teary person was my wife. I found her crying and hunched over the changing table with Allison (my older daughter) also crying. Avery (my younger daughter) was still in her crib crying her head off as well. I looked at my wife and asked, "Are you ready yet?" She nodded, I hugged her, and I sent her to bed. I made some Enfamil and fed the babies. (An interesting juggling act with twin newborns
