Posted by: Sarah in Untagged on
Aug 27, 2010
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
For me, this was an easy choice. Ever since I was little I wanted to be a mommy...take care of the house and kids, cook dinner, and just make it a happy home. Maybe this is because my mom stayed home, and was an awesome role model of a "housewife." She made our childhood a happy and memorable one. She never sat on the couch eating bon bons and watching Oprah! She played imaginary games, built forts, drove us to and from school and sports, etc. That is just what I wanted to grow up to be, and here I am:) Sometimes, it is harder than I thought it would be! But that is the same with any job...and if its too easy, then you probably are not doing it right! It is not for everyone, and I don't think thats a bad thing at all. When Emma was born I had to work full time, when Reaghan was born I was able to go to part time and eventually quit altogether. Working while my girls were little was something that I really had a hard time with! I missed them, pumping was just not the same
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
Local registered dietician April Mitsch, MS, RD, Registered Dietitian, Southwest Washington Medical Center, has some
tips to help you add more organic food to your diet even if you don't have the budget, including information on local farmers'
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.
Posted by: familybirthcenter in Untagged on
Jan 02, 2010
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
Posted by: nikkik in Breastfeeding on
Dec 03, 2009
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.
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Posted by: nikkik in Foster Parents on
Sep 24, 2009
I have few yet vivid memories of some of the foster teens my parents took in when I was a preschooler. One of them was a fun-loving African American girl who made us laugh by impersonating the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz. Another stole our car. Nevertheless, overall, even my parents agree that it was a good experience for our family. Later, I would marry a man raised in part by foster parents, so, needless to say, I have great respect and admiration for foster parents.
I have a friend who recently, along with her husband, completed the application process to become a licensed foster parent, and got her first "assignment": a baby boy. It was a big adjustment, as my friend's only biological child is now in high school. But she relished the experience, sleep deprivation and all, only to have it end one short week later. You see, foster parents, by definition, provide a temporary home for those in their care (unless they move forward with adoption). Depending on the individual
Posted by: nikkik in Untagged on
Sep 20, 2009
. . . wet wipes? Before our babies were born, I never bought wet wipes. I rarely even used paper towels. Rags and towels, it seemed, were all we really needed to clean up the occassional mess. Then our first daughter was born, and along with the obvious necessity of changing diapers, wet wipes came in very handy for all the new messes that turned up. I'll save readers the gory descriptions of bodily fluids, but you mommies and daddies know exactly what types of messes I'm referring to. Now that my kids are no longer babies, I wonder how I ever lived without wet wipes, even before they came along. I've got a pack in each car and in almost every room in the house now. You never know when you'll need to wipe off obnoxious face paint from your 3-year-old's face before heading to the store, etc. Don't leave home without
Posted by: emmareaghansmommy in Untagged on
Sep 08, 2009
Going along with the stay at home or go to work topic, I thought I would share my thoughts on choosing a daycare:) I have worked in three daycare centers in about eight years. It was a couple of years ago that I worked in childcare, but I do have a couple of "insider" suggestions for parents who are picking out a daycare center. One really good idea is to just drop in...don't call and make an appointment! Walk in and really listen to what is going on. I wont name the center I worked for that was not so great, but I will tell you the director would freak out when people did that because things were not what they should be! A good time to get an idea of what really goes on, is lunch time. This is when staff is starting to take their breaks, and a good time to see if a center keeps their adult to child ratio. Another important thing to do is ask lots of questions! Important things to know are...what their ratios are...there are laws but some centers choose to have less kids per
