[Guest Post] The Working Mom’s Guide to Office Décor

Being a mom who works outside the home is tough. Not only do you have to juggle things at the day job, but you’re constantly thinking about the daycare or school situation, piano lessons, soccer practice, how to make healthy meals for your family and any number of other things. You rarely have “me time” and it is quite possible that you spend your work days missing your spouse and kiddos.

Thankfully, there are ways to keep reminders of your family around all day long. A lot of working moms revert to taping up their children’s colorings or macaroni-pasted wall art and calling it good. However, wouldn’t it be better to decorate your office or cubicle in sophisticated décor that still felt like home? Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Customized wall art: To make a big splash on the walls of your office or cubicle, create a piece of wall art featuring your favorite photo. This typically doesn’t have a frame and therefore looks clean and crisp, with nothing else to distract from the smiling faces of your family. You can also choose a variety of layouts, designs and sizes, so you’re sure to find something that fits your style and needs.
• Digital photo frame: Find an out-of-the-way spot on your desk to place a digital photo frame, where you can feature a constant slideshow of your favorite pictures. If you get stressed out during the day, take a few minutes to watch the photos and remind yourself of the blessings in your life.
• Photo books: Another fabulous way to capture your best memories is to create a photo book. Place captions inside and detail your adventures. Then, put the photo book(s) on your bookshelf or somewhere easily accessible in your cubicle. This is a fun way to show coworkers who stop by your office photos from your trip to Hawaii or your kid’s first birthday party.

(l-r) Shutterfly desk plaque, customized wall art, photo cube

• Desktop plaque: If you don’t have much wall space, have no fear – your office space can still contain stylish reminders of your family. Specifically, create a personalized desktop plaque, which is a frameless collage or favorite photo on a small chic mount.
• Display cards: What do you do when you get a card from your spouse or kids? Many of us bury it in a drawer, but wouldn’t it be more meaningful to display them? Use a shadow box or a stylish bulletin board to show off cards from your family that mean the world to you. If you’re feeling blue during the day, take down a card and gain encouragement from the words.
• Photo cubes: These wooden cubes display your pictures in a clean, creative way. Place them next to a vase of flowers and you have a simple, yet chic way to display your favorite photos.
• Ornaments: If the holidays are around the corner, purchase a small tree and hang ornaments that feature your kids’ smiling faces. What better way is there to brighten the holidays than that? 

Of course, it’s still perfectly acceptable to hang up your children’s artwork or anything else that will remind you of your loved ones. The key is keeping your décor simple and uncluttered, so put such artwork in one localized spot or use a fun bulletin board to display it. In addition, you don’t need to break the bank in order to decorate with style; brainstorm other thrifty office décor ideas or have fun creating DIY décor with your kids.

However you choose to decorate your office, remember that it’s possible to have a grown-up looking office with family mementos – ones that will remind you of the treasured gifts in your life, even in the midst of a hard day’s work.

Heather Hewitt is a seasoned writer and guest author who enjoys connecting people with thoughtful products, services and ideas as they relate to crafting, photography, gift giving and personal expression.

[Guest Post] Happy Holidays Include Diabetes Prevention

Recently, my family was struck by the news that my young cousin suffers from Type 2 Diabetes. I was shocked, angry and sad; but what I had to do became clear. Type 2 Diabetes affects a rising number of children under the age of 20, in fact, according to St. Joseph’s Hospital Cardiac Center, 1 in 3 of today’s kids is diagnosed with diabetes! That’s a scary statistic, and it’s supposedly growing…

After some further research, I found some good news: it can be prevented with careful attention to diet and exercise right from one’s home. My cousin could be treated with these same techniques, and my entire family could benefit from greater awareness. We navigated through November, which was American Diabetes Month, gathering information and raising awareness about Type 2 Diabetes in children. Now the holidays are upon us. What will we do to maintain the ground we have gained?

Modern holiday celebrations don’t seem particularly conducive to preventing a disease caused by inactivity and weight gain. Consuming eggnog and Christmas cookies while sitting on the couch playing computer games certainly won’t help, but with kids already on winter break from school, some healthy activities are easy to incorporate into holiday celebrations.

Easy Activities Right at Home

photo credit

Every kid and (most) adults know that the best part about winter break is no homework. This means kids have more time to run off excess energy. Some lucky kids live in chilly climates where seasonal snowfalls will provide unique exercise opportunities such as sledding, snowball fights or building snow forts. Kids in warmer climates can still participate in outdoor exercise using bikes, skates, scooters and more to spin around the neighborhood. With everyone home from school for a couple of weeks, this might be a great time to organize a neighborhood game of kick the can, kickball or capture the flag (we have done this a lot this fall, and the kids looove it!)

Eating Healthy at Home, Too 
Parents need to provide extra careful guidance in helping their children make healthy eating choices over the holidays. Don’t eliminate sweets altogether unless you have a doctor’s order to do so, but help kids have fun with festive fruits and snacks lower in sugar and saturated fat. Kids are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables if they’re involved in preparing the healthy dishes. Add some fun to fruit salads by making animal creations from seasonal fruits, or adding it to some yummy frozen yogurt or smoothies!

With the kids home from school over the holidays, there are plenty of opportunities to help them make healthy choices. Preventing Type 2 Diabetes is much easier than fighting it once you have a diagnosis, and doing it together, as a family will help ensure that everyone is benefitting from a healthier overall lifestyle! 

Carolyn is a 20-something year old with a passion for life, fitness and overall well-being. She is an avid cycler, golfer and has been known to bust some serious moves on the dance floor. Check out Carolyn’s blog at http://fullonfit.blogspot.com!

[Guest Post] Sensory Toys for Children: Top Products for Kids to Include in Your Toolbox

by Jacky G. 
www.speechbuddy.com*

Image source: Dfdsseaways.co.uk

There are countless at-home speech therapy techniques that you can do with your child to encourage his progress. You may have already invested in educational toys and games to serve as tools for speech therapy lessons, such as flashcards for target sounds or Speech Buddies for articulation practice. As well, consider the use of sensory toys for children. 

As your baby grows, he learns about the world around him with various senses. Using a multisensory approach to speech therapy can not only improve knowledge retention, but it may also boost your child’s motivation, according to Tatyana Elleseff, M.A. CCC-SLP. Sensory toys for children may also be used as prompts to encourage vocalization. The child may be asked to describe the feel of a fuzzy tennis ball, for example, or the scent of a cookie. Consult your child’s speech-language pathologist (SLP) for advice on using a multisensory approach to at-home speech therapy techniques. This is particularly critical if your child has sensory processing disorder (SPD). This is a neurological disorder that disrupts the way in which a person processes information. Over-stimulating a child with SPD can result in an adverse reaction. 

Auditory 
Auditory stimulation is essential for speech and language development. In your sensory toy toolbox, include a device that will allow your child to record his own voice and play it back (i.e. recorder, toy microphone, karaoke toy). CDs that have sound effects and nature sounds can also be fun for a child. You could ask your child to speculate what kind of animal made a particular sound, for example. Sing-along CDs are also helpful for encouraging vocalization. Sensory toys for children can also include cymbals, whistles, and other noisemakers.



Tactile 
If your child has an articulation disorder, engaging his tactile sense is an effective method of helping him to conquer those issues. Try placing a Speech Buddy in his mouth (use the appropriate Speech Buddy for the target sound that your child needs help with). The device provides a target so that he knows where to place his tongue for a particular sound. As well, look around your house for objects that might offer an interesting texture. I mentioned a fuzzy tennis ball already, but you can also introduce modeling clay, sand, textured fabric, Velcro, crushed cornflakes, or whatever you happen to have on hand that offers various tactile experiences. Additionally, remember that various temperatures also engage the tactile sense. As you introduce an object to your child, ask him to describe the texture, the shape, the color, etc. He could speculate on what it might be used for or even create a story about the object. 

Gustatory 
Engaging the sense of taste can be a fun way to keep your youngster engaged in his speech therapy lesson. Just remember that if he has SPD, consult his speech therapist or other medical professional before introducing a food or liquid that might produce an adverse reaction. Set up a mini tasting party. Dip a sterile cotton swab or a Toothette into lemon juice, soy sauce, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, other extracts, and any other tastes that you wish to introduce to your child. If your child responds well to a particular taste, try introducing him to a food with that taste. You might squeeze a slice of lemon into a small glass of water, for example, if he responds well to the lemon juice. Gustatory stimulation can lend itself to speech therapy when you turn it into a skill-building exercise. For example, for your tasting party, encourage your daughter or son to invite dolls, stuffed animals, G.I. Joe figures, etc. to the party. Your child can practice conversation skills by offering tastes to the stuffed animals and then discussing whether the tastes are pleasant or not.

Olfactory 
Sensory toys for children should include objects that stimulate the sense of smell. Present scents with your child’s mouth closed. Begin with familiar scents, such as the brand of soap your family always uses, your perfume, etc. Have your child close his eyes and ask him to identify the scent. Prompt him to vocalize by asking which room in the house he might smell the scent, whether he associates the scent with a particular person, etc. Progress to other scents such as essential oils or food scents and ask your youngster to speculate about them. Avoid presenting too many new scents at once; you don’t want to overwhelm your child. 



Visual 
Combine speech therapy techniques with visual cues. A study from Purdue University found that children with speech delays were able to improve intelligibility and build their vocabularies when stimulated with visual cues in combination with other speech therapy techniques. Use gestures or sign language to prompt vocalizations. If your child struggles with the word “milk,” for example, enunciate the word clearly several times while raising your hand to mimic drinking. As well, point to your mouth while you pronounce a target sound or word so that your child can see how your lips move. When you do flashcard drills with your child, use cards that have relevant pictures to help prompt vocalizations. 

*Speech Buddies offers tools for parents and speech therapists to help children overcome speech disorders. Consider using Speech Buddies to make articulation practice fun and engaging for your child.

[Guest Post] Green Advent Meditation

I invited my former pastor to share her green craft ideas for spiritually connecting with the holiday season in a series of guest posts. Enjoy!

Green Advent Meditation
by Courtney Pinkerton

The Advent Wreath
Advent wreaths are an ancient way of marking each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas and celebrating the feast. This wreath couples old-world style with a repurposed materials aesthetic. It evokes the charms of the season with a gold-leafed rustic wood base, flickering candle light (in safety-conscious glass-enclosed candles) and the rich smells of rosemary, lavender and other locally-harvested herbs. It makes a lovely centerpiece for special holiday gatherings and meals. This Advent wreath is designed to appeal to all the senses. It includes several elements which can be touched, smelled and enjoyed, including:

1. a flexible outer “wreath” of wire and vintage buttons. This wreath drapes around the candles and herbs and is created with a 3:2 pattern. It can be used as a meditation tool with even the very young; the three button pattern representing “faith, hope & charity” or other centering words and the two button pattern representing the light and the humanity within each one of us.
2. The inner “wreath” of wire and buttons is wrapped around the Christ Candle and also can be a meditation tool: the red button represents all who suffer in our world, the blue button represents Mary, the mother of Jesus, the wooden button represents Joseph, the father of Jesus, the luminous metallic button represents the mystery of love, the yellow button represents the birth of the “child of light.” A few additional buttons have been added to the inner wreath which can serve as reminders of prayers for specific loved ones or other concerns on the heart.
3. The bundles of organic herbs: rosemary, lavender and thyme can be handled and rubbed to release more aromas, and even used for cooking. As they dry additional aromatic clippings (such from a branch of a Christmas tree) or other natural objects (leaves, feathers etc) can also be added to fill in and personalize the wreath.

The Season of Advent
It is a time of waiting in winter darkness and anticipating the return of the light. This shifting of the natural seasons reminds us to tend to the inner light, a light of clarity and peace. The green meditation shared below helps cultivate our awareness that we belong to a greater Whole.*


Advent starts this year on December 2. Begin the season by finding a home for your wreath. If you have children (old enough not to knock over the candles!) you might place it on a low table in the corner of a common room. The center of your kitchen or dining room table is also a good option. If you have a dark blue cloth/runner (the color of hope and waiting) you can drape it over the table. As the weeks go by a sense of expectancy and anticipation grows as new elements enter the scene. Each week we focus on different elements of our environment: mineral, plant, animal and human as well as centering on the four traditional Advent virtues: hope, love, joy & peace. 

First Week of Advent 
In week one place beautiful stones and crystals around the wreath and light the first candle as you focus on “hope,” the foundation of our spirit.

Second Week of Advent 
In week two add small greenery to the house, mantle, and table. This is a great week to bring in a Christmas tree and take a quiet moment to light again the first candle and add the second candle of “love” and consider all the ways that you can nurture and grow love in your life and home. 

Third Week of Advent
 In week three bring out the stable or crèche with the animals in it. Light the first two candles and also the third candle in your wreath for “joy” and consider all the animals and other living creatures in our world -- the birds who surprise us with beauty on a branch, the farm animals who provide us with nourishing milk and eggs, and even earthworms who help the garden grow.

Fourth Week of Advent 
Bring out Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds into the stable. Place the Magi across the room and move them slowly from windowsill to windowsill, nearer to the stable with each passing day. Light the first three candles and add the fourth candle of “Peace” and pray for peace for all areas of human conflict, including the conflicts within our own hearts. This is also a great week to make a special donation to an organization which supports peace, locally or globally.

Christmas Eve/Day
Jesus, the Child of Light, comes into the manger. Light all the candles, one by one, and remind yourself of all the hope, love, joy, and peace which has been cultivated in anticipation of this time. Light the center Christ candle, remember a baby born into a stable with only animals’ breath to keep warm and reflect on the mystery of our connections: one to another, one to the earth, one to the Light.

12 Days of Christmas
Historically Christmas was a feast which lasted over several days. Observing these twelve holy days and twelve starry nights can be a powerful antidote to the blues which often come after the holiday rush—so stretch out time and savor it! Lighting the wreath every night until January 6, also know as Epiphany, is one way to continue to enjoy the season.

* I am indebted to Waldorf educator Sharifa Oppenheimer and her book Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children for elements of the meditation I share here. 

Courtney Pinkerton is a holistic life coach, writer and retreat leader at Bird in Hand. She earned her BA at SMU (1999) and completed dual Masters Degrees from Harvard Divinity School and Harvard Kennedy School (2008). A mom to three young children, Courtney enjoys helping people craft home traditions which connect spirituality with green living and social engagement. Courtney lives in Oak Cliff with her husband and one-time Peace Corps companion, Richard Amory, and their family. She can be reached through her website www.courtneypinkerton.com and www.facebook.com/birdinhanddallas.

THE ART of JUGGLING MOTHERHOOD and WRITING A NOVEL

Hello Ladies,

Before sharing how I juggle motherhood and my quest as published author, I want to welcome baby Desmond in the world and congratulate Marlie's mum and dad for the lovely new addition. Happy new second time motherhood to our lovely Teresha. 
Now, onto me.

THE ART of JUGGLING MOTHERHOOD and WRITING A NOVEL
by TOI

I am a mother for only five months but I wonder how mothers of two or more manage their time and their chosen careers, especially writers. Even before getting pregnant I wanted to find balance between motherhood and my quest to get published. Currently I am trying hard to combine my love of caring of my daughter and my love for writing, however sometimes I feel like pulling my hair off because though my daughter doesn't request my time every second, she is getting to the stage where she knows I am not giving her attention. So when it comes to motherhood juggling act and my quest as published author I am learning to not be afraid to leave few things undone. For instance I might have mountain of plates to wash but when my child wants to feed or wants to play my time is for her. But as soon as she falls asleep it is not a crime to take some time off to write, even if is only half an hour. Another thing I am learning is to never be afraid to ask my husband to help. We don't live close by our family members so we are both juggling parenthood together. 
 
For instance my husband helps me with the cooking and washing the dishes. He likes cooking and sharing in the choirs and he doesn’t mind doing some diaper changes. He is very helpful in all that.
A month ago I started a writer's writing club. The nights when I meet up with my fellow writers hubby comes home from work on time to look after our daughter for the two hours I am out. He sees that moment as bonding time with our daughter. I believe motherhood and my writing are going along nicely, just because I have a great daughter and a supportive husband whom give me time to put my creativity to work.

All the above rambling just to say that when it comes to juggling motherhood and my pursuit as a published author, my remedy is to seek support from my husband and not feel guilty if I write when my child is asleep.

THANK YOU FOR READING.

TOI is a new mother, a writer, a world traveler, a trilingual lady blogging about her life journey at Life of TOI. She loves to photograph, paint, read, listen to music and being a SHMW {stay at home mummy writer} to one lovely daughter. She currently documenting her life in Canada, after living in Europe for more than 20 years.

[Guest Post] Busy Moms Need Fit Bodies

These guest bloggers were gracious enough to share their thoughts on the Motherhood Juggling Act while I'm on a babymoon. Please support them by leaving some thoughtful comments and visiting their sites.
 
Busy Moms Need Fit Bodies by Kia Lewis

Finding the time to exercise while juggling a husband, children, a full-time job, household duties, and insert-other-obstacle-here is tough. But there are tons of mothers out there who make it work in some capacity. I don't want to talk about that today. You can really use any generic time management strategies that you want to make time to exercise. I want to talk about *why* you should make fitness a priority. If fitness isn't important to you, you'll always be too busy to exercise. We make time to do things that are important to us. Fitness is one of those things for me and I feel like it should be one of those things for everyone.

Lately, I've been battling feeling a little down about some weight gain. I've lost 80lbs of baby weight over the past two years, but managed to re-gain about 15 pounds in spite of doing tons of exercise. I sometimes get really annoyed that I exercise way more than the average person yet still struggle to control my weight. 

However, I had an epiphany of sorts in the gym last week after doing a guided MP3 workout on the elliptical. At the end of the workout, my "coach" shares some encouraging thoughts. His notes on this particular day really struck me. He spoke of the whole "before and after" transformation culture of fitness (of which I am one!) and how it can direct us away from the whole point of exercise in the first place. Exercise isn't about getting ripped or running a gazillion miles in order to burn off a slice of pizza. The best reason to exercise is how it gives you the ability to live your life with energy. 

This message hit home for me. Sure, I want to lose the extra weight that I allowed to creep on. But I don't exercise simply to maintain a certain look. That is a nice side effect, but that isn't what keeps me going during a hard workout. What really keeps me going, besides the fact that I enjoy the activities I do, is the desire to carry out the basic tasks of life with ease. I was extremely overweight after delivering my son. Looking in the mirror was disappointing, but I could easily avoid mirrors. It wasn't as easy to ignore the fact that a simple trip up the stairs left me huffing and puffing. I make exercise a priority so that I can tote my 30lb son around for a long time without complaining that my arms hurt. 

I make exercise a priority so that I can dash up the stairs with ease. I don't want to hit 50 and be saddled with Type 2 diabetes like my father. I value my fitness because I want to be able to take long walks with my husband when our hair turns gray. These are the real types of reasons that I prioritize fitness and none of them involves fitting into size 4 jeans or 6-pack abs. I wake up for 6AM boot camp with the goal of living a full, energetic and active life not hindered by physical disability. 

The activities I gravitate towards tend to be a bit "extreme" (ultramarathonsCrossFit), but I do things that I enjoy and they don't feel like a chore. How can I not make time to do things I love that increase my quality of life? How can I not make time to do something that might ensure that I stick around a little longer for my husband and child? How can YOU not find a little time to work on your physical fitness today?

Kia is a wife, mother, and software engineer who enjoys running ultramarathons and lifting heavy things in her spare time. She blogs at Determined To Be Fit.

[Guest Post] How to Stop Picky Eaters and the Food Wars

These guest bloggers were gracious enough to share their thoughts on the Motherhood Juggling Act while I'm on a babymoon. Please support them by leaving some thoughtful comments and visiting their sites.  

How to Stop Picky Eaters and the Food Wars 
by Kelley Johnsen 

One of the top phrases I hear a lot is, "my kids are such picky eaters". You are not alone. Many parents battle the food wars with kids everyday. The meals consist of chicken nuggets, hotdogs, and macaroni & cheese. I understand this, because my first born was very similar. One thing you can take comfort in is that all kids enjoy these foods, even the healthy eaters. Processed foods are made in a way to be easy on the taste buds and have them coming back for more. I would like to help you take the food wars out of the house and keep it on TV, where it belongs. Kids will let you know if they don't like something. Most will look at their food and decide they hate it before ever tasting it. I know this from experience. I have one of those picky eaters and know your struggle. First know that changing the meal plans can be difficult at times, but stay positive and strong. You are giving your child an inheritance of good health and better eating habits.

Make changes gradual, replacing an item of grocery a week.

• First start by replacing your white and bleach flour product with whole grain and wheat. White flours have been stripped of their fiber and beneficial vitamins. Some have nutrients have been added back in as a synthetic form (enriched) but these are harsh on the digestive system.  
• This can be a gradual change and not stress over every meal with the family. Once you replace an item don't go backwards. You can try other whole breads, flours, and recipes to get the right choice, but don't revert back to the white flours. 
• Then move onto your pastas, peanut butters, rice, and on. When you make a healthier alternative change weekly, kids forget about the item they changed a couple weeks back and forget they dislike it. You also, wont have an entire pantry and fridge of foods they refuse to eat from grocery day. Gradual with kids is key! 
• While changing try to focus on one meal at a time. Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you are breaking your nighttime fast. Make your first week's focused meal breakfast choices. Whole grain cereals, yogurts, granola, fruits, toast, and eggs. Don't even touch lunches and dinners until its that schedules week. 

Be creative 

• Presentation plays a huge role here. Kids judge an item by appearance as to whether they will eat it or not. 
• Bright colors are pleasing to the eye, so think of the rainbow when you make the plates. Sandwich, blueberries, carrots, and broccoli. 
• Try cutting shapes into your foods. When starting with wheat bread I would cut small sandwiches with cookie cutters to make it fun for them. You sometimes waste a little, but I would keep the left extras to make bread crumbs for meals to come. Waste not want not. 
• I love Bentos! You can get a lot of wonderful ideas from their Facebook page to give you healthy creativity!

Tips for getting your kids to eat what you put on the table!!! 

• Set the example. Eat with your kids and let them see that you eat these foods too. 
• Remember the changes are gradual. All at once may be too much for them to deal with. You will have mutiny! 
• Don't offer unhealthy foods, try to keep them out of the house to prevent temptation. 
• Be consistent in your goals and menu. Once you decide to clean your diets, don't give them some junk food and some healthy. Once their taste buds change, they don't ask for the other stuff. 
• Start with small portions of new meals and dishes. This way it is not overwhelming and they can try with no endless pile of something scary in front of them. 
• Get them around other kids who eat healthy. Kids like to copy other kids especially if they see them happy about it. 
• Provide healthy alternatives for snack foods for them at parties and social activities. My kids don't mind at all. They usually let me know what they would like to share on these days. 
• Don't feel like all is lost when they like only two things. They will learn to expand their tastes. Remember it is a gradual process. Continue to offer the foods as if it is a normal thing. Think long term and not next month and you will be less stressed over the process. 
• When they ask for snacks offer them fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grain breads with peanut butter, humus, yogurt, and the like. Keep it simple and have these items ready to enjoy. 
• Get your kids involved. Make little score sheets to rate a meal, snack, or item. Have them suggest what they would like with it. Also, ask them what do they want their new fruit or vegetable of the week to be. If its their choice they will take ownership of the food. 
• A standing phrase in our house is, "try everything". I can't count how many times they have turned up their nose at a new dish. Once we started to have the rule, try everything, they usually end up cleaning their plates surprised they enjoyed it. 
• Sneak in your vegetables. I like to grind and puree vegetables that are difficult for them to enjoy into soups, sauces, and casseroles. When it is small enough that they can't recognize it they will go on taste. 
• Talk to your kids about the reason we are eating healthy. To have less time being sick, to help our bodies grow like plants strong and colorful. 
• Most important have fun and stay positive. If they see you are excited about it they will be also. If you are unsure and doom and gloom, they will be too. Kids copy the feelings and behaviors around them. 
• Have fun dips to eat with the vegetables and fruits. I love to mix yogurt and peanut butter which is great for most fruits and veggies. Use ranch, humus, yogurt, peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower butter and more. Kids like variety.

As a Certified Nutrition Counselor and busy mom of four Kelley knows how food benefits the family wellness. She has a great passion for food and the effects it has on the body, both inside and out. Everything you eat and do not eat has a profound effect in hair, colon, eyes, energy, and more. Make great choices today for a better life for you and your family. Kelley blogs at Kelley's Passion for Nutrition. Also check out her Facebook Fan Page and Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe.

[Guest Post] How Does She Do It?!

These guest bloggers were gracious enough to share their thoughts on the Motherhood Juggling Act while I'm on a babymoon. Please support them by leaving some thoughtful comments and visiting their sites.  

How Does She Do It?!
by Lee-Ann Lawrence

Saying No!
It never fails that you are super busy with life in general and people ask for more of your time. Learning to say no is huge. Do I always have to say no?  Nope, but it's definitely needed sometimes. If you can't say no try to compromise, "I can't help you out right now but how about next week Wednesday?" Learning how to say no and compromising are huge.

Scheduling
My iPhone is my best friend. My entire life is scheduled in it from activities for the kids, meetings with clients, and my work schedule. I try to keep up a month in advance so that I'm aware of what is going on, what is a conflict, and where everyone will be. I try to send my schedule to the sitter a month in advance and volunteering in the classroom? I book a couple of weeks in advance. I also try to keep up with my live-in man friend's schedule because he works weird hours, just like I do.

Letting Things Go
My house, well, it is a disaster most of the time. I should feel guilty right? Well truthfully I don't most of the time. I mostly do the bare minimum and if we have company coming that was scheduled well they'll get a glimpse of the rare moment when my house is totally picked up. So things like a clean bathroom, clean clothes, and a clean kitchen are done the majority of the time. Trying to walk through my kids bedroom? Well you better hope you gave us at least a month of prep time! I learned with little kids and a busy life to just let things go and this is one of the areas in which I do. I'm also not against fast food, doing homework in the car or maybe even one day paying people to do things for me that I could probably do myself but it is worth the time I'll save.  

Having a Back up Plan
With a life as crazy as mine I need a back up plan because you know in the midst of one of the busiest weeks that someone will get lice or spike a 104 degree fever! I have 3 teenage babysitters, my regular babysitter, a live-in man friend who can sometimes be flexible with his work time, and a couple of neighbors I can use in a pinch. I also have great personal leave and vacation time at work if  needed and a staff team who will fill in if I need it. All these people are in town, I have some more back up further away if I'm really stuck but usually the first line of defense is good enough. So if you haven't already, get your back up plan ready.  

Take Time for Me or We! 
This is a huge one. My life is in a constant state of chaos but every once in a while I slip away from it all and enjoy some peace and quiet by myself or with a friend. My favorites? Seeing a movie alone, dinner with a friend, or heading to the mall to shop. Also sometimes it is nice to do a 1-1 outing with my live-in man friend or one of my kids. Recharging yourself or your personal relationships are so important. Slowing down to enjoy life around you makes all the chaos worth it. So apparently this is how I get through my crazy life on a daily basis. Saying no, cutting corners, using technology, believing in a village, and taking some me or we time.  Tell me how you do the working mama juggle?!

Her life is crazy, hence the title of her blog, Lee-Ann's Crazy Life! She has three beautiful babies, works full-time, just started her own doula business, and attempts to keep stress to a minimum. Want to know how she does it? So do I!

[Guest Post] You Don't Look Sick

These guest bloggers were gracious enough to share their thoughts on the Motherhood Juggling Act while I'm on a babymoon. Please support them by leaving some thoughtful comments and visiting their sites.

You Don't Look Sick
by Jennifer Zuna

"You Don't Look Sick." 

These are the four most dreaded words in the English language to anyone who suffers from a non visible pain condition. I don't wear casts, I'm not in a wheelchair, I don't walk around with a scarlet P on my forehead for pain. 

It's very difficult to get adults who don't suffer this to understand what I feel and what I go through on a daily basis. Now try explaining something like this to a four and six year old. Why can't mommy ride bikes with us? Why do we have to keep stopping so mommy can sit down? Why can't mommy give us a bath tonight? There are hundreds more questions like that every day. To them mommy looks fine so why is she so cranky and why can't she do these million things they want? 

Believe me I want nothing more than to be able to hike, swim, ride bikes and everything else their little hearts desire. And don't get me wrong, when I have good days I do everything I possibly can. Unfortunately the flip side of that is I am usually in even more pain as a result. I honestly have to say it's worth it though. Spending time with the boys and seeing them active and healthy makes me feel good. 

I'm very blessed also that my husband is such a great and involved dad. He is constantly planning activities whether I can go or not. He picks up the slack in a big big way and I can't express how much that means to me. My boys are very compassionate also and that makes me feel like I'm really doing right by them as a mom. 
 

Jennifer is a stay at home mom to two beautiful boys. She has been married to her wonderful husband for 11 years this coming June. She also suffers from chronic debilitating pain on a daily basis. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Interstitial Cystitis, and Migraines. I have arthritis in my spine and both knees and hands. She blogs at Parenting With Pain

[Guest Post] 21st Century Motherhood: Following Your Instincts

This post is part of my Mother's Day series celebrating 21st Century Moms. Please support these guest bloggers by leaving some thoughtful comments.

Following Your Instincts
by Darcel Harmon

The 21st Century Mother needs to know that it's ok to follow her own instincts. Before there were books by the experts, there were the tribes and villages. Even if you are a new mom, you don''t really need to read all of those parenting books unless you want to learn new techniques, or read more about research, or one author's take on a certain subject, or maybe you feel this person really gets it, and you enjoy their work.

Once you became a mother, you knew. You knew that you had never experienced anything like this in your life. Our instinct is to nurture, and love. Why do we fight that? Why do we let someone else tell us to fight it?

I'm not saying that books on parenting and motherhood are bad, I actually love to read. The truth is there is a lot of information out there. So many different points of view, some you agree with and some you don't.
Sometimes your eyes are opened to a different way of living. There are positives to seeking outside advice from friends and family that you trust. The truth is that no one else knows what is best for your child.

We don't trust ourselves anymore, and I don't understand why. I don't know when it happened, and I don't know why it keeps getting passed on to each generation. It's time to change that, don't you think?
I believe it's so important for mom and baby to be with each other immediately after birth. That body contact between the two is like a intimate dance. Together the two of them can make their own mothering path.

It's really a beautiful thing, motherhood. We grow, birth, and mother this tiny person who continues to grow and requires us to challenge everything we thought we knew, or thought that we would do.
In the same way that we go on and on about trusting birth, and trusting that our bodies know what to do.
What about trusting in ourselves to navigate this motherhood journey with our sisters, friends, and sometimes strangers. All of us doing the best we can, on our own path of what's right for our family.

A confident, instinctual, 21st Century Mother.

Darcel Harmon is a Stay at Home Mom to two spirited little girls and one adorable little boy. Her passions include but are not limited to, reading, writing, birth, and breastfeeding She blogs at The Mahogany Way about how Attachment Parenting and Unschooling look in their daily lives.

[Guest Post] 21st Century Motherhood: I Will NOT Be My Mother!

This post is part of my Mother's Day series celebrating 21st Century Moms. Please support these guest bloggers by leaving some thoughtful comments.

I Will NOT Be My Mother
by Quiana Agbai

"I will NOT be my mother!" That is what we mothers often tell ourselves, right? As hard as we try not to, many of us end up like our mothers, some of us in more ways than others.

Being a Type-A lover of knowledge by nature, while I was pregnant with my daughter last year, I was determined to start from scratch and forge my own version of motherhood by reading as much as possible and disregarding as much as possible from what my own mother tried to tell me. It's as though I wanted to rediscover motherhood. I definitely didn't want to be like certain mothers I had met in the past who acted as though they were the first ones on the planet to give birth and raise a child, but I guess what I was really striving for was having as little outside influence as possible and trusting my gut more than any handbook.

Of course this lofty goal was difficult in the information age. Throughout my pregnancy I was inundated with often conflicting information about my diet, exercise, breastfeeding etc. Once my daughter, Virginia ("Nia"), arrived last August it was easier to lay the information aside because I literally had her in my arms. I often had no choice but to trust my gut; there was no baby holding in one hand with a manual in the other!

In a way I do believe that I am still forging my own version of motherhood. I never wanted to label myself according to my parenting style, what I decided to feed my daughter or whether I stay at home with her, which currently I'm able to do. Instead my version of modern motherhood is simply my motherhood. It is a daily experience that evolves and matures. I am learning so much each day thanks to my beautiful daughter, and I feel blessed to have a husband who supports me in my journey.

Quiana lives in NYC and is excited to be celebrating her first Mother's Day with her 9 month old Nia and husband Uka. She blogs at Harlem Love Birds.

[Guest Post] 21st Century Motherhood: No Right Choices for the Modern Mama

This post is part of my Mother's Day series celebrating 21st Century Moms. Please support these guest bloggers by leaving some thoughtful comments.

No Right Choices for the Modern Mama
By Christa Terry aka The BabbyMama

A friend of mine was recently going through a crisis of conviction… she loves being home with her daughter, but she feels the pull that only a born educator can, drawing her back into the classroom. On the one hand, she knows the toddler years won't last and she doesn't want to miss a thing. On the other, she loves her calling and doesn't want to get left behind. There is guilt swirling around every path she considers taking.

As we talked about her conundrum, I thought about the other mamas I know… the ones who love work and couldn't imagine staying home with children all day and the ones who can stay home without having to worry about paychecks because the bills are taken care of and the ones who, like me only recently, work with a baby in their laps. The ones at jobs who wish they were home. The ones who are desperate to find jobs because they don't have a choice or are missing the challenge of careers they love.

Nearly all of those mamas, doing the best they can every minute of every day, feel guilt, feel shame, and feel confused. Regardless of their choices.

Modern motherhood? It's all about contradictions. Contradictions, I'd like to point out as an aside, that I'm not sure most fathers ever face-at least not externally in the form of omnipresent criticism. Contradictions caused in part by that old trope: 'Having it all' and in part by the world around us. Contradictions that are external, and contradictions that are internal.

The culture of the U.S. values employment and income – if you're not making money, you're not worth much. And at the same time, our society claims to value motherhood above so many other things, but there's no support structure in place to make full-time motherhood an accessible primary vocation for many, if not most, women. Many SAHMs are flustered by the common question 'What do you do?' – as flustered as working moms are by the question 'What do you do with you child every day?'

Maybe it's not intentional, but sometimes it seems people do their best to make moms of all stripes feel terrible about their choices. People ask moms at home when they'll be going back to work, assuming they will be doing so shortly. They ask working moms directly and without tact if they feel guilty about letting someone else raise their children. They poo-poo daycare because it's not family and the lack of socialization children at home supposedly experience.

The modern mother cannot make the right choice, because there are no right choices open to the modern mother. According to the world around us, every choice we modern mamas makes is wrong, and too many of us internalize that until we end up second guessing everything we want and every decision we make, from whether to work to whether an all-organic diet is doable to nursing vs. formula to public school or private. It's a huge part of why modern motherhood is, for many people, a stressful and exhausting occupation. In other words, it's not the day-to-day, it's the emotional drain caused by the cloud negativity that surrounds mothers from pregnancy onward.

So what's the takeaway? I believe it's that we 21st Century mothers all just need to do our best. That means making the best choices for ourselves, our families, and our circumstances. That means no longer looking to society to tell us what's best. Throw out some of those contradictions that eat away at us, no matter what choices we've made. And finally realize that there are no overarching best choices; there are only the best choices for you, the best choices for me.

Christa Terry is a writer and editor, a published author, a blogger at Manolo for the Brides and I Know How Is Babby Formed, and of course, a mama. Christa has made it her mission in life to live how she wants to live instead of how the world expects her to, and advises others to do the same whenever she has a venue to do so.

[Guest Post] 21st Century Motherhood: How My Daughter Raised Me

This post is part of my Mother's Day series celebrating 21st Century Moms. Please support these guest bloggers by leaving some thoughtful comments.
How My Daughter Raised Me
by Czyka Tumaliuan

The teen pregnancy movie Juno was such a hit most probably because a lot of 21st century mothers related to it—most of us are young, unprepared, uncertain and ambivalent about motherhood. More often than not, pregnancies today are “accidents”—born out of a one night stand or a summer fling. Hello? How can 16 year-olds raise a baby when they still need raising themselves? Plus it doesn’t really feel right to have a child with a man who you just saw in a pub.

I, for one, related to it. When I got knocked up I was just dating the father of my kid for a month, and it wasn’t that serious. Well, I was already 21 that time, but my maturity level was of a teenager, if you know what I mean. Initially, I wanted to run from the responsibility. I wanted abortion. I think most of us do. It’s tough to have a baby. Plus there are sacrifices that I have to do that I wasn’t sure I’m ready to do that time—I have to quit graduate school, disappoint my university who gave me a full scholarship, let down my parents, get fat, juggle work and “mommying” and the long list goes on. But, despite these fears and conflicts, I’m a mother. Mothers are mothers regardless of their age, race and maturity. All of us have this maternal instinct that you can’t just run from. It is engraved in our nature to love and to take care of our children the best way we know how.

But that’s the thing: I didn’t know how. Juno didn’t know how. Most 21st century mothers don’t know either. And surprisingly, every mother I’ve talked to, unprepared and prepared (meaning, she got married first and planned to have a baby after), have also no idea how to become a mother. Author of the inspiring blog Marlie and Me Teresha Freckleton-Petite in her article “Finding My Mommy+” confessed that despite her successful academic and professional experiences, she still felt ill-equipped as a mom. Really, motherhood is a different ball game. As she said, there’s a “shift in self” that every mother will go through. And, sometimes, it can be hell. But that’s just a matter of perspective of course. You just have to strike a balance between being a mother and being yourself. You will learn the ropes in the process. But it will be a life-long learning process as your baby grows.

I learned a lot of things from being a mother to my beautiful daughter Sophie. She taught me that facing responsibility is difficult but rewarding. When she was still months old, and she can’t utter a single word, just communicating everything using her actions, she taught me that I should be more sensitive to non-verbal cues because they communicate things much deeper than words. It’s funny because this is the reason why my relationship with her Father grew stronger—I learned how to listen to his silence. Sophia also taught me how to control myself, avoid vices, say “NO” to bad influences, be better a person. Ultimately, Sophia raised me to become the responsible person and mother that I am today. And I think most of us are like that: we were raised by our daughters to become the person that we are today, one way or another.

Have you experienced the same thing? Do you agree with me?

Czyka Tumaliuan is a full-time mother, writer, frustrated artist and a foodie. She plays volleyball to keep fit and sees joy in cooking for her family. She works as a web content writer and SEO specialist for Branders.com, the world’s largest online seller of promotional items.

[Guest Post] 21st Century Motherhood: Staying at Home and Loving It

This post is part of my Mother's Day series celebrating 21st Century Moms. Please support these guest bloggers by leaving some thoughtful comments.

Staying Home and Loving It
By Alexia Sims: mama, wife, blogger and lover of all things bacon

When I found out I was pregnant with my daughter Cedella I was so incredibly shocked and scared that I honestly didn't think I was ready. I was 30 and had only been married for two months to my husband Michael. There were so many things I still wanted to do. I wanted to write a script and produce a film. I wanted to own a home and have a job with benefits. I wanted to travel the world with my husband. And I knew, cause we had already discussed it, that I would be leaving my job to stay home when we did start a family.

That's what scared me to my core when those two pink lines appeared on that expensive piece of plastic. What would I do without work? Who would I talk to? Could I survive without my mom's help? More than anything I feared I wouldn't be able to cut it in my new position. That I would end up being a mom, like my own, with children raised by babysitters and latch key. And in spite of all my fears, that was the last thing I wanted.

Yep, I said it. I wanted to be a different mother than my own mother. I absolutely adore my mother and think she did the best she could in raising us. But it is the 21st century. Â Thanks to our mothers and all their hard work breaking through the glass ceiling, we have choices, and we can have a family or a career or both or neither. Michael and I, both raised by primarily by sitters, wanted all the moments, milestones and all the firsts to be with us not strangers. For me to be able to stay home and raise our children was a privilege we valued above all.

Our parent's had Master's degrees, big old houses in the suburbs, car payments and retirement funds. All things we're supposed to want. In our first few months of being engaged we talked about how little those things mattered if we weren't able to be watch our kids grow up cause we were too busy acquiring stuff. We agreed that we'd rather have less, live in a cheaper home, share a car and move away from my hometown and family to take over my husband's family business. All in the desire for me to be a Stay At Home Mom.

A mere 10 days after my darling daughter was born, the fanfare and visits had died down, my husband went back to work and my new career began. With no training, no manual, no idea what was going to happen, I became a Stay At Home Mom (or SAHM). Quickly our days were filled with dirty diapers, constant breastfeeding, laundry and soap operas (don't even get me started on the cancellation of AMC and OLTL). I felt I had no friends near by and my mother and sister were too far to be with me very often. Days would go by and without talking to anyone but Michael. It was a steep learning curve and it was the epitome of loneliness.

But no matter how lonely I was I would look down into the face of my perfect and healthy child and know that there was nothing more important than the job I was doing. So like I've done at any other job I've ever had, I decided to be the best damn Stay At Home Mom I could be. I threw myself into my work and my child as if I was aiming for a promotion. But let's be honest. It's rare to have a day off. You're constantly on call. You work an average of 1 billion hours a week and even do laundry while on vacation. But the reward for endless hours of reading Goodnight Moon, watching Elmo and constantly having either spit-up or snot on my shirt? A really good baby.

But what got me out of the SAHM blues? First I found blogging, which totally and completely saved my sanity and made me feel like I wasn't alone in trying to figure out my new role. Writing everything down was incredibly cathartic. Blogs helped with everything from breastfeeding issues and cloth diapering to marriage woes. It continues to be a really large part of why I love staying at home. And who knows, maybe someday blogging will be a job? That would be so amazing.

Next I tried something really revolutionary. I got out of the house! Spending time with friends with kids and making new friends, Cedella and I flourished and came into our own grooves. I could talk to adults without having cocktails? Really? Realizing there were other ladies that I know and enjoy, going through what I'm going through every day? A revelation. Sadly, our soap operas have taken a serious back seat to play dates, library visits and snow shoeing. That's right snow shoeing.

If there's one thing about being a SAHM that I've come to love it's that your job is constantly changing. Every day is an adventure! She learns something new, says a new word or discovers something, every single day. Even the most rigidly scheduled SAHM has days where the proverbial sh*t hits the fan and voila! Whole new job! Today you will be a carpet cleaner! Tomorrow a pirate! Next week? Elmo impersonator. There's never a dull moment, though there are entire days where pajamas are completely acceptable. Take that Corporate America!

I know many amazing mothers, including my own, that work full time and still hold it down at home. And I commend them for doing so. They are much more brave and altruistic than me. I really need to work on taking more time for myself, making time for my blog and fixing my marriage. But while I'm working on all that, I can sleep well, for at least 3 or 4 hours at a stretch, knowing that I won't miss a moment of my little one's amazing life. And that friends, is totally worth it.

Alexia grew up in a multi-racial household in Detroit, full of dance parties and library books, all the while dreaming of all the brown babies she would have one day. 30 something years later, after making movies, seeing a bit of the world and falling in love with a musician, she is a SAHM to a vivacious 15 month old diva named Cedella and pours out thoughts on motherhood and plenty of cute pictures at Babies & Bacon.

[Guest Post] Early Childhood Sign Language

Co-written by Emily Patterson and Kathleen Thomas

One of the keys to surviving in a tilted economic system in which opportunities to achieve a decent standard of living will be limited is versatility – and the ability to communicate articulately in a variety of ways with the widest possible audience. This includes bilingual ability as well as the ability to communicate in non-verbal ways for the benefit of the disabled – primarily the deaf.

Signing Before They Can Speak

A great deal of research has clearly demonstrated that the best ages to teach a second language (where it be sign language or Spanish) is from the ages of 2 to 5. Many young children have a natural aptitude for signing as well. This can begin at home or if your child is enrolled in a child care facility, many programs have begun to incorporate it into their curriculum.

This is not as odd as you may think. As you may or may not know, many indigenous peoples around the world, including American Indian nations, have used sign language for centuries to facilitate communication with other tribes with whom they do not share a language.

In fact, recent research suggests that sign language is innate. An article published in the Boulder Daily Camera in 2003 presented strong evidence that children as young as six months old naturally communicate with their hands:

"...by 6 to 7 months, babies can remember a sign. At eight months, children
can begin to imitate gestures and sign single words. By 24 months, children
can sign compound words and full sentences. They say sign language reduces
frustration in young children by giving them a means to express themselves
before they know how to talk." (Glarion, 2003)

The author also cites study funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development demonstrating that young children who are taught sign language at an early age actually develop better verbal skills as they get older.

The Best Time To Start

Pre-verbal youngsters having the ability to sign not only give them a way to communicate, it can also strengthen the parent-child bond – in addition to giving children a solid foundation for learning a skill that will serve them well in the future. The evidence suggests that the best time to start learning ASL is before a child can even walk – and the implications for facilitating the parent-child relationship are amazing.

Emily and Kathleen are Communications Coordinators for the network of Georgia child care facilities belonging to the AdvancED® accredited family of Primrose child care schools. Primrose Schools are located in 16 states throughout the U.S. and are dedicated to delivering progressive, early childhood, Balanced Learning® curriculum throughout their preschools.

[Guest Post] Floral Centerpieces Aren't Just for the Summer

Guest post written by Ginger Robinson
I think that keeping floral arrangements around the house is so gorgeous, so I try to keep it that way. Although, sometimes I just don't get around to getting floral bouquets for the vases around the house like I should. So I'm all for finding plants that will last a really long time.
I went online to try and get some ideas about some floral arrangements that would be appropriate for Christmas time. While I was doing that I found some satellite internet packages that I thought looked pretty appealing, so I found one for me and decided to CLICK HERE and order it for my house.
While I was online I actually found an idea for a flower centerpiece that I think would go really great with all of my holiday decorations. It has some poinsettias in the middle of it, which just reminds me of the holiday season! Growing up, my parents would always have some potted poinsettias positioned throughout our house as part of our decorations, so it really makes it feel like home.

[Guest Post] Making Raking Fun Again: Simple Craft Rakes for Kids

Are you tired of cleaning up leaves yet? I’m on my third full round of raking the lawn and, as always, I find that the chore gets progressively less fun with each outing. In early October, the air is brisk, the leaves are vibrantly colored, and the chore is novel. In late October, I can still convince myself that raking an entire yard is at least as calorie-burning of an activity as a week’s worth of workouts (I can rationalize almost anything) and enjoy the task for what it gets me out of (aka: running on a treadmill). By November, however, I am hopelessly bored of the chore, cold enough to need multiple layers, and underwhelmed by the look of the brittle brown leaves. Call me a jaded raker, but this morning, I stumbled over a craft that put the fun right back into raking.

While picking my daughter up from Pre-K, I literally had to hop over a set of just-finished crafts created by the 4-year old preschool class. The children made adorable mini-rakes that I knew I would need to re-create with my own kids at home. We did. They turned out great. I wanted to share the idea with you. Here goes:

Materials needed:

• Colorful construction paper in your choice of Fall colors like red, orange, yellow, green and/or brown.


• Grey construction paper


• Leaves


• Glue or stapler

Instructions:

1. In his choice of color, help your child trace and cut out a 1” wide, 8-10” tall strip of paper. This will be the rake’s long handle.


2. Using the grey paper, cut five shorter strips (we used 1” wide, 5” tall strips). These will be the rake’s prongs.


3. Glue or staple the five grey strips to the bottom of the rake’s “handle,” fanning the strips out at varied angles so that they resemble rake prongs.


4. Bend the tips of the gray paper (about 1” from the un-attached end) so that your “rake” looks authentic.


5. As your final touch, affix real leaves collected during a nature walk (or vinyl ones cut from an autumn garland) to the rake prongs, to give your craft a “real” rake touch.

by Signe Whitson, LSW. As a mother of two little girls and working as a therapist for children, she has gained a wealth of knowledge for families. She has been featured on Psychology Today and co-authored a book "The Angry Smile: The Psychology of Passive Aggressive Behavior in Families, Schools and Workplaces." But that is not all, along with running a blog on passive aggressive relationships, she shares her ideas with My Baby Clothes Boutique. They bring her message to the parenting community as a way of giving back to the parenting community - their customers. Next time you welcome a new baby into your life - check out their selection of baby clothes, newborn hats, beautiful flowered baby headbands, and so much more for your little prince or princess.