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Getting Mama Out of the HouseValerie McDermott Some mama’s I know are all over the mama get-together idea from the day they deliver their little bundle of joy. Scrapbooking, girls night out, dinner and drinks, shopping, even a movie are all perfect and deserving breaks. Other mothers, however, especially new mom’s find that the idea of a regular get together with her girlfriends can be just another added stress. How do I find the time or energy Can I leave the baby Do I deserve time away Please don’t stress. It doesn’t take a late night out on the town to recharge your battery. Think baby steps! Can you get a one or two hour slot of time in the following month that can be just for you Of course you can! Just think, it could be a Saturday or Sunday morning or a Friday afternoon lunch. There are no right ways or wrong ways to have fun and reconnect with the special women in your life. Some quick, easy, get your feet wet ideas -- coffee, paint pottery, lunch at a fancy restaurant, a walking date, a scrapbooking party, Barnes and Noble for coffee and swapping book ideas, brunch on Sunday...the list is endless. Just remember these simple rules: You must make it a priority at least once a month No kids! Plan ahead of time for stress free day care and plan for at least two hours of time. I guarantee after three or four months of these mini get togethers you will see the benefits. You’ll then be ready for the late night out on the town! Remember Mama -- Baby Steps!!
| | | | RELATED ARTICLES Jesus Birthday: Sacred Children Series - 2 of 3 I had visions of my daughter for about five years before she finally showed up. She turned out exactly like the little girl in my dreams who had haunted me all that time. I was so very glad to see that she was alive and real. I always thought she must somehow be more magical and special then other normal kids. The Art of Criticism If you do anything / different / beyond others expectations in your work on your own way or private life that impacts someone else, Criticism is always possible, and likely. When you get criticized, do you view it as failure or opportunity It’s not what you know that makes the difference in how you handle the criticism and confrontations, but how you apply & utilize what you know. Criticism is real worth comes form its ability to communicate to influence or to motivate others. Birth of a Parent So you’re pregnant. Congratulations! Your life is about to change in ways you might find unthinkable and we’re not even talking about the surrender of your once slim waistline to proportions most comparable to that of a Dr. Suess character. Pregnancy is the beginning of a new life for a baby, but also a new life for you as a parent. If this is your first baby, you may be filled with an endless list of questions and concerns. If you’re a veteran of the labor and delivery room, you’ve got a better idea what to expect, yet every pregnancy, like every mother and child, is different. Tools to Find Family-Friendly Content The Internet, is magnificent in its resources for families. Educational resources abound. Kids can easily find help for their homework blues without venturing to the library. Kids can chat with friends from far away for free; friends who, probably just a few years ago, they would never hear from again. And, of course, there’s plenty of entertainment to satisfy the whole family once the chores and homework are complete. How to Pick the Best Name for Your Baby Expectant parents spend hours preparing the nursery, poring over pregnancy and delivery books and going to childbirth classes.Yet surprisingly, many decide their child’s given name within a matter of minutes, often spending more time selecting the right car seat or stroller. Remember The "Generation Gap" The techniques of managing relationships between parents and their children is as old as.. well, parents having children. Its not an easy job, either for the parent or the child. But, the key to any relationship inside or outside the family is the ability to relate; to have an empathy that allows us a slightly special way in which we can communicate with one another in order to understand, and to be understood. We make friends because of the similarities we may have in certain areas and we sometimes can build lifelong relationships on that basis. But, having children means we do not have a choice to make that relationship as we might have in meeting a perfect stranger. Its a relationship forced upon us, albeit willingly in most cases. We as parents accept that as part of parenting. After all, as parents we have the opportunity to influence the development of our children to be just like us.. thus creating those similarities that enhance a lifelong relationship. Now, note that I used the word opportunity in that sentence. I think as parents we all realize that in spite of what we do to manipulate their young lives our children will turn out as individuals just as we did with our parents. And that could very well mean that the relationship you have with your child is not based on similarities but more of accepting the respective family roles of parent and child. 101 Gift Ideas For All Occasions People have forgotton about the meaning behind gifting, in a consumer driven society we are often pushed towards competing e.g. upstaing gifts and my gifts better than yours. Lets go back to basics, giving is far more rewarding then receiving its much better for your Karma. If someone gives you a list ignore it, the only time a list is applicable is for Weddings where this is a tradition. Gifting is all about imagination, and a little thinking time. For big events like Christmas buy people things they would never buy themselves. Relaxation Couldnt Be Simpler Many people use their sofa and TV to help them switch off and relax. In reality, television programs can suspend you n stress for yours, with depressing or thrilling storylines, violence and madness! Frugal Ways To Show Your Love At one time, I would have never wanted to share my frugal ideas for showinglove to those around you. My reason for keeping it to myself At one time Ithought that no one would be interested. After all, we were the only couplenot buying each other expensive gifts, jewelry, roses, and more, rightReality check! I have grown up a lot over these last 10 years and I havelearned that I am not the only one clipping coupons and cutting my childrenshair myself. There are lots of other families out there just like my husbandand I, who have to watch our spending. Just Say Know Throw it away. Grab another one. Doesn’t get much better than that. Quick, easy, cheap and convenient. At first anyway. Maybe you are wondering what I am rambling on about. I’m talking about a product that’s very high in demand by the general public, it is so popular,thataverage hard workingfolks spend gazillions of dollars a year just to use it. Oh Baby! You Can Make It Happen NC—Right from the beginning, a baby learns that certain actions within his or her environment can bring desired results. Typically the first sign of reinforcement comes from the babys parents. For example, a baby learns early on in the development stage that crying will result in a parent picking him up, feeding him or changing his diaper. Baby’s First Year – What to Expect Youve been anxiously waiting for the arrival of your new-born baby for the last 9 months. Watching your new baby grow and change is one of the most exciting times in your lifelife - and truly makes one aware of the miracle that life is! Power Foods for a Powerful School Lunch There isn’t a school day that goes by that I worry about my son’s lunch. Of course, I ask myself the usual questions: Is he eating what he has in the bag Will he trade his apple for a cookie Will the school lunch he’s ordering once a week be nutritious He’s a kid! He’s not a fussy eater, but there are plenty of days that he has come home with a bag full of food. I’ll ask him “what did you eat for lunch” He always says, “nothing.” What’s a parent to do Children, Entitlement and God “Setting the alarm on Sunday mornings is inhuman…..God should know that!” Those were my adolescent thoughts every weekend when my parents forced me to church. “I can get more out of my headphones and the Beatles.”It was this way as far back as I can remember. Early Sunday school, then later Bible studies, liturgies in another language, all culminating in a weekly teen rebellion against God and my parents. I really hated my parents especially my Mother for forcing religion on me. “Besides, I don’t think the Smothers Brothers forced their kids, and they are political giants!”I would brood the entire hour’s drive to church just to make my parents as miserable as I felt. It never changed in all those years. Family Life or How to Buy: Chair for a New Baby Even if your baby is just weeks old now, youll soon see how amazingly quickly she develops. Most expected parents want to buy their new baby the world.But you dont need to spend a lot of money.Before you blow the budget check out online sources for reviews and recommendation and then selectively purchase new items with safety. Go Online.Youll be able to find almost everything you need. Browse the bargain hunters guides like "Baby Bargains" and "Bargain Buys For Babys First Year". Consult websites: ConsumerReports.org and DrSpock.com. So buy the best quality you can afford. Do You Love Your Child Child Car Seat Safety Is A Must! Child Car Seat Safety Goal Setting for Kids Goal setting is essential for building a successful life. However, teaching kids how to set and achieve goals is not part of most school curriculums, nor is it taught in most homes. Many parents never learned the techniques of goal setting, and are still struggling with their own. You dont need to know it all. While you develop your own goal-setting skills, you can also be helping and encouraging your children to develop theirs. Goal setting is a life-long skill. It helps your child to focus their unique gifts and talents, it helps to cultivate and strengthening your childs self-worth, and equips them to lead a life full of meaning purpose, and direction, regardless of the professional or personal paths they choose. How Well Do You Know Your Child Do you think you really know your child I dont mean know what he/she likes and doesnt like, but to know him/her well enough to understand his/her challenges, to appreciate his/her strengths and weaknesses and to help him/her develop his talents. Knowing your child can help increase their chance for success in the future and improve your relationship. In The Crook Of My Arms His head is tilted back, mouth slightly open. His breath is slow and steady and his eyes almost all-closed but slightly open. His neck nestles over the crook of my arm and I stare at his face as he breathed in and breathed out. A feeling of overwhelming love washed over me. I was totally at peace as I watched my son sleep in my arms. Love, Food, and Kids Forty years ago I became very interested in health and nutrition. I had been a sickly child and I had hated being sick. As a low-energy young adult, I had decided to do something about my health, so after reading some wonderful books on nutrition, I proceeded to completely change what I ate. I started to shop at the only little health food store in Los Angeles – Whole Foods was years away! I threw out all packaged food and ate only natural, fresh organic products – when I could get them. I made a decision that if people didn’t eat something 100 years ago, I wasn’t going to eat it now. I was extremely pleased with the improvement in my health and energy. |
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