Work/Life Balance: What Decision Did You Make?

Posted by Sarah in Postnatal & Parenting Blog | Friday, August 27, 2010 | Comments (0)

This September, my daughter enters preschool, my son goes into first grade and I turn 40!  How fast we move through life!  Today, I work full-time, but it wasn't too long ago when I was making the decision about being a stay at home mom, working part-time or trying to be super woman and do it all.

For some of my friends, it was an easy decision with really only one option that made sense for them and their families...stay home with baby.  For me it was never that cut and dry.  I loved my job and my new baby.  I remember rocking my 4 month old to sleep one night with my tears flowing and telling him I was sorry to be sending him to childcare - even when it was just a couple days a week.  After the inital tears, I recognized that I was a better mom because I had something that was mine - my job.  As my children grew, I slowly added more days to my schedule.  Then, when life through me a curve ball and I got divorced,  I was in the best possible position.  My career was still in tack and I had not missed a beat.  Today, I would give the same advice I was given: stay involved in some capacity in your work interests whether that is working part-time, volunteering or just networking.  It will serve your well when your children are older.

Working from home has its perks . . . and pitfalls

Posted by nikkik in Postnatal & Parenting Blog | Tuesday, July 27, 2010 | Comments (0)

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 have the opposite problem, finding it difficult to feel motivated to get work done, or getting distracted during work time. A balance is required to be sure that family, home, and work get their due attention.

In addition to distributing time between work and home, women often run into the problem of being pulled in many directions at once. The phone may ring at the same time as a toddler needs help at the potty. A choice will need to be made, with the understanding that one or the other may suffer as a consequence.

Overall, I'd recommend working from home to anyone, as long as there's not a misunderstanding that working from home is all rainbows and roses, and no thorns!

Stay at home or go to work?

Posted by emmareaghansmommy in Postnatal & Parenting Blog | Tuesday, July 27, 2010 | Comments (1)

Healthy home for baby

Posted by YBYWadmin in Postnatal & Parenting Blog | Thursday, May 6, 2010 | Comments (4)

The Oregon Environmental Council has a wealth of information to help ensure that your baby comes home to a healthy home, including a list of ways to reduce chemicals in your household, how to find Eco-Healthy Child Care and even an Eco-Healthy Lunch Kit. If you're concerned about what toys to avoid and what toys are safe for your child, be sure to visit the healthy toys pages of HealthyStuff.org.  

Adding organic foods to your family's diet (on a budget!)

Posted by YBYWadmin in Postnatal & Parenting Blog | Thursday, May 6, 2010 | Comments (0)

Daily Routines aren't Humdrum

Posted by familybirthcenter in Postnatal & Parenting Blog | Saturday, January 2, 2010 | Comments (2)

After the hustle and bustle of the holidays families are usually ready for daily routines to normalize.  If you don't have a daily routine for your baby you might want to consider the benefits.  Creating a daily routine for your baby helps them to feel more at ease.  Babies who are on a routine are usually less fussy and sleep better. But, experts agree that it is best to wait until baby is about three months of age before establishing a routine.  The reason is because, it is important for babies in these early months to feed on demand in order to support optimal growth and brain development. 

When you begin to develop a daily routine for your baby it is best to let your baby take the lead.  Observe their eating and sleeping cues for several days.  Many new parents find it helpful to journal daily activities in order to see baby's natural patterns. Then structure baby's routine around their needs. While establishing a routine it is important to remember that your baby's well-being comes first no matter what the schedule says.  In other words, follow the advice of your Pediatrician and your common sense to decide what is best for your baby. 

If mom is working and baby needs to be at day care by a specific time in the morning, it is best to put baby to bed early then wake them up early in the morning to spend extra time playing, reading and snuggling with them before you leave for work.  In most cases this helps the transition from home to daycare easier.

When building a daily routine along with the basics of eating, sleeping and bathing it is vitally important to schedule in time for parents to play with their babies, and time for baby to play and explore by him or herself.  Play and discovery time are important learning opportunities for babies. 

Remember that as baby grows and his or her needs change the daily routine should be varied to meet these milestones in baby's development.  As baby gets older nap times should be altered along with eating and play needs.

Another thought to keep in mind is that there will be times when it will be difficult to stick to the routine for instance, vacationing can disrupt normal routines. If you are planning a stay away from home it can be helpful to bring familiar items like night-lights, special blankets or stuffed animals to help baby feel more comfortable.  During times of anticipated disruption like appointments, try to stay on schedule as much as possible for the rest of the day.

Another expected interruption is when baby is teething or becomes ill, he or she might not be able to eat or sleep as usual.  When this happens you will need to relax on the schedule or forget it until baby is well and then start again from the beginning.  In most cases it only takes a few days to get back on track. 

Most of all enjoy parenting your little one.  They are a blessing each and everyday!

Breastfeeding article

Posted by nikkik in Postnatal & Parenting Blog | Thursday, December 3, 2009 | Comments (1)

Yet another reason to breastfeed:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-01-26-breastfeeding-neglect_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

The great thing about this article is that the author goes out of her way to make sure non-breastfeeding parents are not viewed as less than.