tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463974915177320922024-02-19T03:04:54.264-08:00Wading Through MotherhoodA blog about the joys and trials of motherhoodAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-1560324026571026212015-10-30T08:29:00.000-07:002015-10-30T16:23:04.365-07:00How to Help Children Express Their Emotions <div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of </span><a href="http://www.myhappypillow.com/#home-1" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">My Happy Pillow</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">All opinions are 100% mine.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Often
times my kids become frustrated because they can’t find the words or
they haven’t been given the opportunity to express themselves. When a
child is upset, sad, scared, or happy, it is important to encourage them
to express their emotions. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Some tips for helping kids express their feelings include: </span></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Reading books with them</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Some titles I like include </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Way I Feel</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> series from Cornelia Maude Spelman. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Pout Pout Fish</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> by Deborah Diesen is another favorite. As you read, you can ask questions such as: How do you think this character is feeling? </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You can also use stuffed animals, dolls, or puppets to help act out the emotions.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Talking with them about different emotions.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Use words like happy, sad, and frustrated when helping them work through their feelings. For instance, remind them that </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mommy gets upset when she bumps her head. When do you get upset?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Show children emotion cards or pictures and talk about each one.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Children can use the cards to draw an ‘emotion journal’ where they use
text such as I feel….when….. They can also use the journal and cards to
non-verbally express how they feel. <span id="goog_1898416999"></span><span id="goog_1898417000"></span> </span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kids themselves have a lot of insight on this matter too!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />Recently, I was given the opportunity to talk with Isabella, a seven-year-old and the creator of </span><a href="http://www.myhappypillow.com/#home-1" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">My Happy Pillow</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.
My Happy Pillows are cute, character pillows with one expression on
one side and another feeling on the other. The lovable pillows provide a
source of comfort for children. In addition, it has helped make </span><a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2015/08/how-to-make-bedtime-less-of-battle.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">bedtime less of a battle at my house</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Recently, My Happy Pillow won the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Toys Best Picks </span>award for children's products for 2015! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To
help parents understand how to help children express themselves and to
learn more about the young creator of My Happy Pillow, Isabella was
gracious enough to answer the following questions:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Me: How did you come up with the idea for My Happy Pillow?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Isabella</span>: I wanted to make something that other kids could play with and show
how they're feeling. (happy or mad, and how each face looks).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Why is it important for kids to be able to express themselves non-verbally?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Isabella:</span> Sometimes, it’s hard to explain what you're feeling. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">How did you choose the emotions on the Happy Pillows?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Isabella: </span>It’s how I feel the most or what my friends and I talk about the most. It’s how I feel most often. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What helps you calm down when you are upset? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Isabella:</span> The best is when I can talk to my mom. Having something to help me explain myself like the pillows still helps. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In your opinion, how can parents help children who are scared at night?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Isabella:</span> Just being with them and making them feel safe and letting them talk. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you have a favorite My Happy Pillow character?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Isabella: </span>Rosie the dog and Zee the monkey.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What helps you fall asleep at night?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Isabella:</span> Having my mom there with me and all of my pillows and toys. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchQdNGJ9XI8ALsRgXSqWhRgwGIHAaEHNVSqF-E31lZOvCzz1NCXolf0RXkKItBCwu3QKRJGuLmywqsmo6BeVGEECexzPdK3lXkwStyRWmvO-0zL_0xnmQxHavjAsZ19fA_TzurOe8TESe/s1600/myhappypillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchQdNGJ9XI8ALsRgXSqWhRgwGIHAaEHNVSqF-E31lZOvCzz1NCXolf0RXkKItBCwu3QKRJGuLmywqsmo6BeVGEECexzPdK3lXkwStyRWmvO-0zL_0xnmQxHavjAsZ19fA_TzurOe8TESe/s1600/myhappypillow.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs like yourself?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Isabella: </span>My mom always helps me take chances and not be scared and just do stuff.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">How do you help your kids express their emotions?</span></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-67473441268367614152015-10-25T17:18:00.000-07:002015-10-25T17:19:39.470-07:00 The 12 Emotional Stages I Go Through After My Kids Break Stuff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilyCNABV_4bQVRPvcIOl8onpgBElKMuiWIUljH4a7Lpn71hujG_SMspLZgTBCdmhdnfx3lOqikqSKA-_YpZGpsPO2-7QNFZBTGjfF4ZLoA2A8_zRqrIon4_nbqL_cGGLe8wfljArTiF7E/s1600/12+emotional+stages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilyCNABV_4bQVRPvcIOl8onpgBElKMuiWIUljH4a7Lpn71hujG_SMspLZgTBCdmhdnfx3lOqikqSKA-_YpZGpsPO2-7QNFZBTGjfF4ZLoA2A8_zRqrIon4_nbqL_cGGLe8wfljArTiF7E/s640/12+emotional+stages.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sometimes my kids break stuff. Perhaps, it’s because I let them play ball in the house. Perhaps, it’s because they are wild little monkeys. Perhaps, that’s just life with kids. Even though I hardly have any breakables around the house, my kids still seem to manage to break things. Here are the 12 emotional stages I go through after my kids break stuff.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Shock</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />(Huge eyes) OMG! I can’t believe it. How can two kids possibly make such a mess while I go to the bathroom? </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Fear</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />No one move! I don’t want anyone to step on a piece of glass. That would hurt, plus urgent care is a nightmare on the weekends. Go put on shoes and stay out of this room until you are 18.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Anger</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Deep breaths, deep breaths…... I can’t believe you broke that! You’re going to have to owe me allowance money for the next 50 years….wait I don’t give you an allowance. Hmmm….let me think of something else. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Remorse</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Wait, no, don’t cry, mommy was just kidding. I won’t take your allowance that you don’t even get. If you stop crying, mommy will buy you a unicorn or a mockingbird. Let’s hug. Hugging solves all problems.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Stress</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />When am I going to have time to fix that? When am I going to have enough money to fix that?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Sadness</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />That was the first piece of art I bought after we got married. I know it’s just a print from Bed, Bath and Beyond that I purchased with a 40% off coupon from Michaels (yes, you can do that). Still, who knows when I will have enough money in my budget to replace it. Sniff.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Guilt</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Well it’s my fault because I’m the one who let you play ball inside the house. I’m a horrible mother. I should have taken you to the park to play this morning. I should have signed you up for soccer this year. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Denial</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Who needs that piece of junk! I never liked it. I wanted to re-decorate anyways.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Joy</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Oooo...now I can go buy that new picture I’ve been eyeing at Pottery Barn! It will look so beautiful over the couch with the holes and black tape on it! Come on kids, I’ll turn on the clean up song and we’ll clean up this mess in a jiffy.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Awareness</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Ha ha! That Pottery Barn picture is $300. Besides, I would be really mad if the kids knocked THAT off the wall. I’ll just stick with my cheap wall art. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Confidence</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />I can fix that. I’ll just Google how to make a DIY picture frame from an old pallet or some twigs. A little wood glue will make it look as good as new.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Acceptance</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />(Puts picture back on the wall without frame). It’s okay kids, just keep playing! After all, it’s 100 degrees outside and I don’t really want to brave the fecal matter at the indoor playground…..just be careful!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />CRASH!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Oh no, what did you break now?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Have your kids ever broken anything? What did you do?</span></span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-26528014309306639602015-10-18T16:27:00.000-07:002015-10-25T17:19:27.892-07:00How to Tell If You’re an Introverted Parent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDbMHHh0U3pKSKJVdBoctWubIowkn40mtKJFllXSzOaOFy4wAxfUixXOaJh1J3MgcU1dWoccyKiGdezXFiFU8NqR1KjB296CQMSQPtKqWUcuhKjxi_XnrGISg2eBH3xQQRHrTb-cX-fu9/s1600/how+to+tell+if+you%2527re+an.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDbMHHh0U3pKSKJVdBoctWubIowkn40mtKJFllXSzOaOFy4wAxfUixXOaJh1J3MgcU1dWoccyKiGdezXFiFU8NqR1KjB296CQMSQPtKqWUcuhKjxi_XnrGISg2eBH3xQQRHrTb-cX-fu9/s640/how+to+tell+if+you%2527re+an.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Introverts are often given a bad rap. They are labeled as unfriendly, anti-social, boring, etc. People are often surprised to find out that some public speakers are introverted. In fact, when my church pastor said he was an introvert a few weeks ago, I, an introvert myself, was surprised. If you’re wondering what an introvert really is, I like this definition from </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/introvert" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">vocabulary.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Introvert</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> comes from Latin </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">intro-</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, "inward," and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">vertere</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, "turning." It describes a person who tends to turn inward mentally. Introverts sometimes avoid large groups of people, feeling more energized by time alone.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Here are few ways to tell you might be an introverted parent (although a lot of these things apply to people who aren’t parents):</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You Thrive in Small Groups (or Large Playdates Scare You)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You might be an introverted parent if you enjoy hanging out with one or two parents and their children. When my daughter was young, I belonged to a playgroup with a few moms and their children. On many occasions, the playgroup consisted of just a few moms and less than five children. I found it very relaxing and enjoyable. Then, more and more people started to join and before I knew it, there were about 20 people in the playgroup. For me, this was no longer enjoyable, but chaotic. If you’re an introvert, you might enjoy small gatherings with a few close friends rather than a large party. Likewise, you probably have a few close friends rather than a lot of acquaintances.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You Enjoy Going Out but You Need Your Alone Time More</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You might be introverted if you enjoy going out with your friends but sometimes need your alone time more. I love getting dressed up and going out! However, if it’s been awhile since I’ve had any ‘</span><a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2015/02/me-time-why-mommy-needs-break.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">me time</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">’, I will choose to do something by myself rather than go to coffee with a girlfriend. Introverts thrive on alone time. So, after a crazy week of school functions, chit-chat, and soccer games, you might decline an invitation to go out with friends for a mom's night out. After all, if you don’t get any time to be alone with your thoughts, you might start feeling overstimulated and drained. You also may </span><a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2014/07/so-here-i-am-again.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">stay up too late</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> to soak in some more quiet time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You Dread Going to Kids’ Birthday Parties where You Have to Make Small Talk</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If you dread making small talk with strangers, you might be an introverted parent. Once my daughter entered elementary school, she was invited to a lot of birthday parties. Sometimes I felt like there was a party every weekend forever. Since my husband often stayed behind with my younger son, this meant I went to the parties with my daughter alone. Sometimes this was hard because I had to make small talk with a bunch of parents I didn’t know. Luckily, over the years I have gotten to know a lot of the parents at my daughter’s school, so things are much easier. If you’re introverted, you might feel the same way at your child’s soccer parties or PTA meetings. This doesn’t mean you don’t like talking to people. It just means you’re more likely to want to have a passionate conversation rather than one about the weather. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I also liked this quote about the difference between introverts and extroverts from </span><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts/transcript?language=en" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Susan Cain</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, the author of ‘Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking’: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;">"Extroverts really crave large amounts of stimulation, whereas introverts feel at their most alive and their most switched-on and their most capable when they're in quieter, more low-key environments. Not all the time -- these things aren't absolute -- but a lot of the time.” </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s also important to remember that extroverts are not better than introverts, or vice versa. </span></span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So are you more introverted or extroverted? Are there are any social situations you dread as a parent? </span></span></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-13127751892494509932015-10-11T17:22:00.000-07:002015-10-12T09:26:50.738-07:00When Your Emotions Take Over: Just Breathe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQiwH8oJ6tjp2Lw0sndJxVNoH5Fd8COrJCYb6LIL2MjmElE1eva476paaZ5PsK-Uaq99OwaUOW3TCWP9xsftOW8TAm81fcP5WihI2cDstgthSDiOnh_zJivjFfSisnf9_6e7C8HqgM_db/s1600/when+your+emotions+take+over+just+breathe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQiwH8oJ6tjp2Lw0sndJxVNoH5Fd8COrJCYb6LIL2MjmElE1eva476paaZ5PsK-Uaq99OwaUOW3TCWP9xsftOW8TAm81fcP5WihI2cDstgthSDiOnh_zJivjFfSisnf9_6e7C8HqgM_db/s640/when+your+emotions+take+over+just+breathe.jpg" width="542" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sometimes, I forget to breathe. When I’m excited, when I’m scared, when I’m angry, my emotions overflow and I forget to breathe. I just keep talking, crying, shouting, and then, suddenly, I’m breathless. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">On many occasions, my children have caused me to stop breathing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I stopped breathing during childbirth, when my daughter’s heart rate slowed due to the cord being wrapped around her neck. Laying on my back, I felt helpless. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I stopped breathing when I took my newborn son to the doctor because something just didn’t seem right and they told me his body temperature was dangerously low. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s hard to stay calm and keep breathing when our kids get hurt or when we feel overwhelmed or pushed to our limit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But breathing is essential for living. Without oxygen, we will soon be lifeless. Additionally, when we don't take care of ourselves, we can’t to take care of our children. I mean, there’s a reason why the flight attendants tell parents to put the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">oxygen mask on yourself before you try to help your children.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As parents, we need those slow, deep breaths to calm us down, to remind us that this is just one moment in the book of life. <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Tweet this: </span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/G97f_">http://ctt.ec/G97f_</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRIXu2aRazk05dqYFeNaX9Mjidnfxlyi1AeP2yecLE3WsrTklUCvhT_DmEB-UcPqXxfqu4TxU4-_nUXC2c5H7a52kwfkweUxpG_wOQwLZQKNRjWBrEi6TsI9wdX6iOjt8AxU5WITDsssf/s1600/slow+deep+breaths+quote+melissa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRIXu2aRazk05dqYFeNaX9Mjidnfxlyi1AeP2yecLE3WsrTklUCvhT_DmEB-UcPqXxfqu4TxU4-_nUXC2c5H7a52kwfkweUxpG_wOQwLZQKNRjWBrEi6TsI9wdX6iOjt8AxU5WITDsssf/s640/slow+deep+breaths+quote+melissa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So, when your toddler is throwing a tantrum and you feel like the whole world is staring at you, just breathe. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When salty tears are bathing your face because you feel like you’re the worst mom and you’re not doing anything right, just breathe. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When you’re racing around because there is too much to do and not enough time, just breathe. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breathe in the smell of your children’s freshly washed hair when they cuddle with you at night.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breathe in the aroma of your morning coffee, whether it be hot, warm, or stone cold. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breathe in the moments of beauty, the silver linings, all the small, good things. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When everyone else has gone to sleep, breathe in the quiet night air. Breathe out all the negativity. Exhale and remember you can’t control everything. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Remember that it’s okay to feel anxiety, frustration, sadness,….it means you’re human. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breathe in, breathe out, deep, deliberate breaths, you’re doing just fine!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>How do you prevent frustration and stress from taking over?</b> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />Please take a moment to send a vote for me for Top Mommy Blogs! Thanks so much for your support! </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span>
<a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="If you like what you just read please click to send a quick vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs- The best mommy blog directory featuring top mom bloggers" border="0" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/top_mommy_blogs_signature_banner.gif" height="138" width="600" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-87718369115219688742015-10-09T15:17:00.000-07:002015-10-12T09:27:15.389-07:00How to Parent with Purpose: A Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0U1PjvsnnHrrRwHg4eeY7ogQnPN_uMVdBQDI0Ke4gt5n9azhTABI368hc3nLYjMfLomW_4Tna71PfF1uArZ04b5xPGHG0c9IHKmEN5XeYffUr8UK_oS6P3Clkml4Q41pwZqVh9JvcvrPz/s1600/3d-book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0U1PjvsnnHrrRwHg4eeY7ogQnPN_uMVdBQDI0Ke4gt5n9azhTABI368hc3nLYjMfLomW_4Tna71PfF1uArZ04b5xPGHG0c9IHKmEN5XeYffUr8UK_oS6P3Clkml4Q41pwZqVh9JvcvrPz/s400/3d-book.png" width="343" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Do your children throw a lot of tantrums? Do you feel frustrated when you have power struggles with your children? Do you feel like you yell too much? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I know I sometimes feel like I’m making discipline mistakes with my kids. That’s why I was so happy to get a free digital copy of Nina Garcia’s new book </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Parenting with Purpose</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> that focuses on “How to Raise Well-Behaved Children and Build a Strong Parent-Child Relationship.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One of my favorite parts of the book was Chapter 1 where readers will learn about connecting with their children to prevent conflict. Personally, I know I sometimes become frustrated, and my kids become frustrated, when I’m not completely present. For instance, I might be trying to blog but my kids want to play with me. Sometimes, you need to forget about all the housework, put the smartphones away, and connect with your kids. In her book, Nina suggests to “give your child your full attention, even if only for a few minutes.” By fully connecting with your child, you’ll prevent outbursts and frustration from setting in. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Throughout the book, Nina also gives advice on how to communicate with your child, prevent tantrums, effectively use routines, parent calmly, and more. The book ends with 20 actionable steps parents can take to create strong connections with their kids. I love how specific the actions were and how I could start using these tips right away. Since reading the book, I have been spending less time multitasking and more time where my focus is on my children only. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nina’s book will be released on October 18. You can find out more about the book and download a free chapter </span><a href="http://sleepingshouldbeeasy.com/parenting-with-purpose/" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. For those of you who are interested in this book, I have some great news. You can snag a free copy of the ebook version of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Parenting with Purpose</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> on Amazon from October 18 to 22. In addition, you can become an </span><a href="http://sleepingshouldbeeasy.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=1967a0974ee74be62107d789d&id=41a129a304&utm_source=Sleeping+Should+Be+Easy&utm_campaign=e741422886-Guilt+and+Shame&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_726606fba9-e741422886-227435841" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">email subscriber</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> and get a free bonus chapter</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">along with other great information and freebies. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRaIJvmKFL0GBBSuwIW20RltNzCXM5OpgHzmn6U7JhaS02Xnd-8jm77ai1VFnOjE5jSwGJfMLRrlI74oUvEM_-VUB6iccxdg9F_vL-J1QEcujSSyDcKh5hz9eW-Mcvr-Op2pvyHMyPvkn/s1600/author-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRaIJvmKFL0GBBSuwIW20RltNzCXM5OpgHzmn6U7JhaS02Xnd-8jm77ai1VFnOjE5jSwGJfMLRrlI74oUvEM_-VUB6iccxdg9F_vL-J1QEcujSSyDcKh5hz9eW-Mcvr-Op2pvyHMyPvkn/s320/author-photo.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nina is a fellow parenting blogger over at </span><a href="http://sleepingshouldbeeasy.com/" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Sleeping Should be Easy</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. If you haven’t checked out her blog, it is full of helpful advice. She’s also a working mom with toddler twins and a six-year-old, all boys. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I hope you all get a chance to read this great book!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="If you like what you just read please click to send a quick vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs- The best mommy blog directory featuring top mom bloggers" border="0" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/top_mommy_blogs_signature_banner.gif" height="138" width="600" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-79544121947692850212015-10-03T23:59:00.002-07:002015-10-06T00:19:31.135-07:00Why I Sent My Kids to Preschool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-dUvqY07W_TRXoSahPv0TdN5HLwVMAyjONE8cXCP_s4ZNk10lxruzKi5UzzV_hFDJ0c-2zHuewY_yXGONOEJutWjB5WKKfaBdA_K0nHL5OqJ0IYqE0wetkXHB37JHBHJSyJJrBzpFHQ8/s1600/why+I+sent+my+kids+to+preschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-dUvqY07W_TRXoSahPv0TdN5HLwVMAyjONE8cXCP_s4ZNk10lxruzKi5UzzV_hFDJ0c-2zHuewY_yXGONOEJutWjB5WKKfaBdA_K0nHL5OqJ0IYqE0wetkXHB37JHBHJSyJJrBzpFHQ8/s640/why+I+sent+my+kids+to+preschool.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lately, I have been seeing a lot of articles on why people aren’t sending their kids to preschool. While I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer to this topic, I’m giving my insight to help those that might be on the fence about sending their kids to preschool. Here are a few reasons we enrolled our children in preschool. </span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-b97ed12f-3162-a7c7-1746-4af949a14247" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-b97ed12f-316b-e91d-a9ee-de99d5d7dd35" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Learning to Listen to Other Adults that Weren’t Part of my Family</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Being a SAHM, I have been my children’s primary caregiver. Their grandparents have watched them. They have been to Sunday school. However, preschool allows my kids to be in a setting where they had to listen and follow instructions/class rules (for a long period of time) from an adult that wasn’t a friend or family member. Likewise, I also like the idea that my kids are interacting and working together with other kids in a school setting without me. </span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-b97ed12f-316c-6729-dbc0-0095b8944ab4" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Structure</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My kids get plenty of unstructured social play at the park and playdates. They have had more structured experiences at story times, church, and mommy and me type classes. However, preschool provides time away from me in a more structured environment where my children have to advocate for themselves without me around. When I say structured, I think it’s important to note that I have always thought play-based learning preschools were the best. While there should be some structure at a preschool, structured doesn’t mean your children have to be sitting in desks doing worksheets. Yes, you can definitely provide structure for your child at home. However, I really feel like it would have been hard for me to replicate the structure that goes on in a classroom setting with 10 or so other children. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Helping with Separation Anxiety </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My daughter never had a lot of trouble being away from me. However, my son did. I took him to Sunday school and a toddler gym class so he could get used to being around other adults. It helped a little. However, I was nervous about him going to kindergarten and being away from me for six hours a day. I wanted to ease him into this routine. When my daughter started kindergarten, I witnessed other children having a very hard time leaving their parents. The first week of preschool was hard because my son didn’t want me to leave. However, he soon realized that preschool was fun and that I always came back. I made sure that I never snuck out, always said goodbye to him, and made sure he knew I would be back.</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-b97ed12f-316e-27cc-9509-9aa88c3686fa" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Being Exposed to Different Teaching Styles</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m a credentialed teacher and we have always done a lot of educational activities at home. Furthermore, I know I am fully capable of teaching my kids counting, letter recognition, reading skills....and I do. However, I like the fact that my kids have been exposed to different teaching styles. I know the teachers at my son’s preschool are all trained in early childhood development and might have a few tricks up their sleeve that I don’t. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Tips for Choosing a Preschool</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I don't think going to preschool is a necessity for everyone. Also, preschool can be expensive. In addition, you can focus on having structured learning time at home and giving kids opportunities to follow instructions from other adults. However, If you do decide to send your child to preschool, here are a few tips:<b><br /><br />Look for a low teacher to student ratio: </b>My son’s preschool has a very low ratio of about one teacher to every five kids. There are two teachers and about 10 students. As far as I know California’s law say the ratio should be 1:8 for three to four-year-olds. However, I noticed a lot of the other states were higher. I would also look for a lower maximum group size. Most importantly, make sure the staff is certified and trained. <b><br /><br />Know what you want:</b> Before enrolling your child, ask about the school’s learning philosophy. This </span><a href="http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/going-to-school/choosing/comparing-preschool-philosophies-montessori-waldorf-and-more/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">PBS article</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> breaks down the different types. Overall, the school should have a consistent curriculum with goals. Your preschool should be open to letting you come in and observe or take a tour. <b><br /><br />Look for a preschool that encourages a community:</b> I like the fact that my son’s preschool encourages parents to come in and read at circle time. The staff is very loving and treats the children and the parents with respect. <br /><br />I think all kids are different. This post is not intended to make anyone feel bad about not sending their child to preschool. A lot of kids that don’t go to preschool will likely adjust to kindergarten fine. However, for me, I was worried about walking my kids into public school kindergarten without having the out-of-home preschool experience.</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-b97ed12f-3162-a7c7-1746-4af949a14247" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But that’s just me.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So what are your tips for finding a good preschool? Why did or didn’t you send your child to preschool?</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-89809852461857073022015-09-27T14:41:00.001-07:002015-09-30T09:22:45.420-07:0020 Signs You're a Parent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqWXvr1HsoelYrVUCfmyn6wqzlLr1dtPxeP_45ASiiRxMH1t37i9SA30w_D31HEqsrDpF4NScrVzbjJSq5p-5Hzo9x72kcCvCpytOtL4WCCllMjvdmK9OjlO8jiA2ZxBBWsVQKGbBHTLF/s1600/signs+you%2527re+a+parent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqWXvr1HsoelYrVUCfmyn6wqzlLr1dtPxeP_45ASiiRxMH1t37i9SA30w_D31HEqsrDpF4NScrVzbjJSq5p-5Hzo9x72kcCvCpytOtL4WCCllMjvdmK9OjlO8jiA2ZxBBWsVQKGbBHTLF/s640/signs+you%2527re+a+parent.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">Parenthood! It’s a big lifetime change. <a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2015/09/before-i-had-kids.html" target="_blank">Before you had kids</a>, you might have enjoyed sleeping in and watching a little more reality television than you should. But now, things are different. Here are 20 signs you’re a parent (especially a parent with younger children):</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">1. You say to your significant other (feeling pretty bad ass), I can’t believe we stayed out so late!(it’s 10:00 o'clock …..okay it’s 9:00 o’clock).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">2. When you reach for the keys in your purse/diaper bag/pocket, you often also pull out some cracker crumbs, a Lego, and a Bandaid. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">3. You get excited to go get the mail, take out the trash, etc, because hey it’s alone time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">4. You’ve had a conversation about poop or pee in the last hour. No, you’ve had three conversations about poop or pee in the last hour. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">5. Going to the grocery store feels like a mini-vacation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">6. Going to Target feels like a mini-vacation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">7. Going just about anywhere by yourself feel like a mini-vacation….now what’s this I hear about something called a kid-free weekend? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">8. You woke up past 8:00 am and no one else was up yet! You looked around to see if there were any unicorns or flying pigs in the room. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tweet this: </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="line-height: 33.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Woke up past 8 am and my kids weren't up! I looked to see if there were any unicorns or flying pigs in the room too.</span><span style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span></span></span><a href="http://ctt.ec/5b4dP" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2ba6cb; font-family: 'Noto Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">http://ctt.ec/5b4dP</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">9. Your dinner often consists of someone wanting the food off your plate, someone else complaining ‘I don’t like this’, and maybe a third child trying to slip some peas to the family dog.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">10. When you’re at the grocery store with your threenager, you say a prayer for a tantrum-free shopping experience.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">11. You stay up way too late every night and every morning you say I’m not going to do that again. You go through a lot of coffee. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">12. You find yourself humming the tunes of your kids’ favorite television programs, even the ones that you hate.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">13. You can never seem to get the <a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2015/04/how-to-do-laundry-in-22-steps.html" target="_blank">laundry</a> completely done. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">14. You’re amazed at how much room a toddler can take up in a king bed and how their feet always end up in your face.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">15. You’ve signed more documents (for school, daycare, sports, bounce houses, etc) than the president has for his entire term. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">16. When your house is quiet (and your kids are home), you automatically assume something is wrong.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">17. You sometimes play hide and seek just so you can have a few minutes of <a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2015/02/me-time-why-mommy-needs-break.html" target="_blank">me time</a>, or scarf down the last cookie without having to share. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">18. You can’t believe how much time you spend cleaning stuff off your walls. Before having kids, you hardly ever had to do this. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">19. You’ve held your pee or sat in an uncomfortable position because your baby/toddler fell asleep on you. You wouldn’t dare chance waking him or her up. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">20. You have a sign over your doorbell that says baby sleeping….your child is five but you just kept it up there because it sounds better than a ‘No solicitors’ sign…..if you’ve never done that, it’s a good idea huh?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope you could relate to some of these! Anything else you want to add? </span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-73417044454775427672015-09-20T15:45:00.001-07:002015-09-28T22:39:39.133-07:00How to Be the Best Mom Ever<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUo_O4DcqGF3qFvd4wPa1fwc-SFntKbtxCbvmRx9LlDLc2b8iuEolZHLF0_6fi9yPQXWvESpDDNicUmsZd8BksF5OpWHArukfB34Kx1xjylSa9bWuL_ZWnEwgqg_L04hyphenhyphenDv7WxsU353z5j/s1600/how+to+be+the+best+mom+ever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUo_O4DcqGF3qFvd4wPa1fwc-SFntKbtxCbvmRx9LlDLc2b8iuEolZHLF0_6fi9yPQXWvESpDDNicUmsZd8BksF5OpWHArukfB34Kx1xjylSa9bWuL_ZWnEwgqg_L04hyphenhyphenDv7WxsU353z5j/s640/how+to+be+the+best+mom+ever.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you want to be a <a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2015/08/we-used-paper-plates-for-dinner-tonight.html" target="_blank">perfect</a> mom? I do. After reading a lot of parenting articles and research, I think I’ve finally figured out how to be the best mom ever.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Appearance</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Your children should wear appropriate attire. They should match but not too much. Otherwise you will look like you are trying too hard. Mix in some stripes with polka dots so your children look fashionable. Finally, add a smudge of dirt on their face so they look as if they are getting plenty of unstructured play.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Breastfeeding</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Exclusively breastfeed your children for one year. After that, stop because it’s weird. When out in public, make sure to use a nursing cover so you don’t offend anyone.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Be Happy</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Be happy because perfect parents are always happy. Don’t let anyone see you cry or act vulnerable. And, definitely don’t admit your imperfections. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch Your Children...but not too Much</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch your children from exactly 15.5 feet away. Any closer and you’ll be called a helicopter parent. Any further and your neighbors might call the cops on you for being negligent. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Tweet this: How to be the Best Mom Ever: Watch your children from exactly 15.5 feet away.</span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/Xfr35">http://ctt.ec/Xfr35</a> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pinterest-Perfect</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Each day you should make and perfect at least 10 pins from your Pinterest board. Crafts, strawberry <a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2014/09/10-cupcake-worthy-parenting-moments.html">cupcakes</a> with homemade frosting, and cornbread made from non-GMO corn. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Have it All</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To be a perfect mom you’ll need to be a CEO of a company, the president of your school’s PTA/PTO, and do all of this at night so you can be a SAHM during the day. Drink at least 8 cups of coffee a day so you’ll be able to achieve this.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Prepare your Children</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">By age two, your kids should be potty-trained. By age three, they should be able to count to 100 and write their name in D'Nealian style script. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Food</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Only feed your child organic food from your backyard or rooftop garden. All meals must include five different-colored fruits and vegetables. However, make sure no ones sees your kids eating organic food because you might be labeled trendy or snobby.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Swaddle</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Swaddle your child using blankets that are 25 inches by 25 inches. But don’t swaddle them too tight or they might get hip dysplasia. Wait no, new research shows swaddling is bad.<br /><br />There, that doesn’t seem too hard or confusing, now does it? Now, you are ready to be the best mom ever!</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaP-p2cB5VF4Wjy8cSlcbvvt6uh_Tcc3CrXeWdXgtDIz0tmiXt0jBhMmldEa9lj8L0GOljATja8GsA9KUKeXG0UlNwK6AAwqJCzR2dR-CrkA_44Xp_2638lGvIiTQtBdZ7gSVbSUjLJa5p/s1600/%25E2%2580%259CThere+is+no+such+thing+as+a+perfect+parent.+So+just+be+a+real+one.%25E2%2580%259D+%25E2%2580%2593+Sue+Atkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaP-p2cB5VF4Wjy8cSlcbvvt6uh_Tcc3CrXeWdXgtDIz0tmiXt0jBhMmldEa9lj8L0GOljATja8GsA9KUKeXG0UlNwK6AAwqJCzR2dR-CrkA_44Xp_2638lGvIiTQtBdZ7gSVbSUjLJa5p/s400/%25E2%2580%259CThere+is+no+such+thing+as+a+perfect+parent.+So+just+be+a+real+one.%25E2%2580%259D+%25E2%2580%2593+Sue+Atkins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class='shareaholic-canvas' data-app='share_buttons' data-app-id='' expr:data-title='data:post.title' expr:data-url='data:post.url'></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-63721607211988850912015-09-14T00:55:00.000-07:002015-09-28T22:38:29.412-07:00Before I Had Kids.......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sebIJ_WPelDL827IXI4wHfOVvoDWg8ev620MymJLfp3dF9muI2kjiT-34ZQZIb-WknTjfcCpKbi7CPi1NbXJsnPXakNhNF5VRtkPgaepY6megvrHodxw0_7qRFXyCBQ0Xn3nU1u96EWl/s1600/BeforeI+hadKids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sebIJ_WPelDL827IXI4wHfOVvoDWg8ev620MymJLfp3dF9muI2kjiT-34ZQZIb-WknTjfcCpKbi7CPi1NbXJsnPXakNhNF5VRtkPgaepY6megvrHodxw0_7qRFXyCBQ0Xn3nU1u96EWl/s640/BeforeI+hadKids.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Before I had kids I would go shopping on the weekends. I’d spend an hour trying on clothes to find the perfect outfit. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Before I had kids, I’d go out to dinner almost every Friday night. I’d order hot soup without worrying that someone would dump it on their lap. I’d order dessert and slowly savor each bite. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Before I had kids, I subscribed to a lot of magazines. When I lived in a condo, I would read those magazines poolside while I worked on my tan. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Before I had kids, I slept in on the weekends. After a long day at work, I enjoyed soaking in a hot bath. I took hour-long spin classes. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And, then I changed. My interests changed. My body changed. My wardrobe changed. My budget changed. </span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I was a mom.</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Suddenly, I was responsible for another human being, from sunup to sundown. Then, I was responsible for two little ones. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">From time to time, I participate in some of the pre-kid activities. I still go out on <a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2015/08/5-signs-you-need-date-night.html">date nights</a>. I still enjoy dessert, even it’s the last cookie that I’m secretly scarfing down in the kitchen. I still workout but now it may be a run around the neighborhood rather than going to the gym. I watch television, but a lot less of it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Before I had kids, I didn’t really know what it meant to sacrifice. I didn’t know that I could feel fear and love at the same time. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I didn’t know I could enjoy blowing bubbles in the backyard so much or watching a spider spin a web. My life is faster but I’ve also learned to slow down and enjoy the small stuff, because my kids certainly do. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Now, I appreciate those golden days of sleeping in past eight. I enjoy date nights more. I appreciate the few moments when my house is completely clean. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m the same person. I have an identity that’s separate from my children. But I’m different. How could I not be? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Because I’m a mom and I’ve been changed forever. And, since becoming a parent, I really get this saying:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlCn1-L8cnWtMSyJj1otWwakQxwQdXrd9DJgQAT0OUkbgTi0yZ6obzXbYUcvPjtOXRlNjKqkbYfp-f2Hb-Ql5HaTaS-NeWLq1zoXh40DJWzBirUSBY59iJn4qHaELu4vDKliNQqMB0w9R/s1600/heart+outside+of+body.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlCn1-L8cnWtMSyJj1otWwakQxwQdXrd9DJgQAT0OUkbgTi0yZ6obzXbYUcvPjtOXRlNjKqkbYfp-f2Hb-Ql5HaTaS-NeWLq1zoXh40DJWzBirUSBY59iJn4qHaELu4vDKliNQqMB0w9R/s400/heart+outside+of+body.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I also get this:</span><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh3rtobrvoOOtP-Kyh7YE03CHglGsHw2k-d0-goZ58StCRXkgD9OQHFDiXFGpl3Pex04lkufrVckTwMI-1tPaGJuuKduB3IsOZwDO_9UWqqH3_-_cv4hE0919s0WoyWI13Wt4ShIMgKKr/s1600/being+a+parent+means.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh3rtobrvoOOtP-Kyh7YE03CHglGsHw2k-d0-goZ58StCRXkgD9OQHFDiXFGpl3Pex04lkufrVckTwMI-1tPaGJuuKduB3IsOZwDO_9UWqqH3_-_cv4hE0919s0WoyWI13Wt4ShIMgKKr/s400/being+a+parent+means.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>
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<b><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>So, </b></span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>what did you do before you had kids?</b> </span></b><br />
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<div class='shareaholic-canvas' data-app='share_buttons' data-app-id='' expr:data-title='data:post.title' expr:data-url='data:post.url'></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-25208071210576694622015-09-06T16:53:00.000-07:002015-09-14T16:04:59.239-07:00Dealing with Your Baby's GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6XoE0OFwDUH21c8PcFbjeNdJrVReNMpGUPffOgmVB3xRFb7HH6Uo8BDp_hyQWCF0_AtWtZ2QLCqNN4uhea0hwa6UTbM_ndX-8BGM09hg9X-XXyWjGzDqG2DgRueJ9Xt5WZTcqyHPcHRb/s1600/Dealing+with+your+Baby%2527s+gerd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6XoE0OFwDUH21c8PcFbjeNdJrVReNMpGUPffOgmVB3xRFb7HH6Uo8BDp_hyQWCF0_AtWtZ2QLCqNN4uhea0hwa6UTbM_ndX-8BGM09hg9X-XXyWjGzDqG2DgRueJ9Xt5WZTcqyHPcHRb/s640/Dealing+with+your+Baby%2527s+gerd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m pretty sure all babies spit up! However, when I had my second child, he spit up excessively. I could never lay him down flat on his back. Sometimes after feeding, he would cry for hours, as if he were in pain. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I knew something was wrong! M was a late pre-term baby and, as a newborn, had a stay in the NICU so my mommy instincts were already heightened. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When M was almost five months old, he spit up some blood (not bright red blood, but a brown ‘coffee grounds-like” substance). At that point, we got a referral to see Pediatric Gastroenterologist to investigate the situation further. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To get a look inside, my son’s doctor performed an </span><a href="http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/upper-endoscopy" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">upper endoscopy</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, which involves using a narrow “scope with a light and camera at its tip...to look inside the upper digestive tract”. Since my son was just a baby, he didn’t have to be sedated. He cried, but mostly because I think he didn’t like strangers holding him. The staff swaddled him, so he wouldn’t squirm. Luckily, the procedure only took a few minutes and soon, he was back in my arms. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After the procedure, it was confirmed he had GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), which is basically severe acid reflux. We were told many babies outgrew this before their first birthday. In fact, only </span><a href="http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/infants-children?page=2" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">5% of babies</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> have symptoms as toddlers. At this point, M was 5 months old so we were hopeful. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WebMD lists some of the main symptoms of GERD:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NUrJPypVIiBz_tvPB5yVD-ufr1Xand3oNmET0QBYpEJZqukRRo8ZfAujliFdMm3P63L0YXr_WOAAMKalBh51tQaH_D1WQJ96HBnl4uihEGL6r4-5is5DKT6RypZZhyphenhyphenrfSVH-PStoom8Z/s1600/Gerd+symptoms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NUrJPypVIiBz_tvPB5yVD-ufr1Xand3oNmET0QBYpEJZqukRRo8ZfAujliFdMm3P63L0YXr_WOAAMKalBh51tQaH_D1WQJ96HBnl4uihEGL6r4-5is5DKT6RypZZhyphenhyphenrfSVH-PStoom8Z/s320/Gerd+symptoms.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My son was started on acid reflux medication. In addition, since I was nursing him, I had to avoid dairy, acidic foods, carbonation, caffeine, and fatty, fried, or spicy dishes….pretty much anything fun. Actually, this “GERD” diet was probably good for both of us. When M started eating solids, I followed this same diet for him. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Another big thing that helped was keeping M upright, at least two hours after eating. Since he still had two naps and liked to eat, this was sometimes hard. So what ended up happened was me holding him a lot of the times when he napped. At night, I elevated his crib so it was at an angle. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As his first birthday approached, things were going pretty well. M was spitting up less, sleeping better, and gaining more weight. Unfortunately, the day after Christmas, M threw up quite a bit of blood. Again, it was brownish blood...not bright red….otherwise I probably would have freaked out. We were in San Diego visiting family for the holidays and we decided to take him to the ER to make sure everything was okay.<br /><br />Despite the blood incident, M was actually doing much better. And, when we took him to get a second endoscopy, everything looked normal. <br /><br />Until he was about two and a half, M still had to remain on medication and we were very careful about what he ate. Now, at three and a half, he occasionally enjoys some ice cream and is a very healthy boy. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbmjUA-QF5gmZMPVju-_nUmnxVnx-CcnpwbdEDJ4wlMSGkU-7gLoJmoHfUICjY-9Ne9YZvc4Zjphuvnt9Ntef3274Ousb92yGovK5lIciv00MWH8dUDhNXmduMUHhqaUpuShUm7CNIiuL/s1600/micahbeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbmjUA-QF5gmZMPVju-_nUmnxVnx-CcnpwbdEDJ4wlMSGkU-7gLoJmoHfUICjY-9Ne9YZvc4Zjphuvnt9Ntef3274Ousb92yGovK5lIciv00MWH8dUDhNXmduMUHhqaUpuShUm7CNIiuL/s400/micahbeach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Did your child experience GERD or reflux as a baby, or as an older child? Tell me about it in the comments.</span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />*This post is not intended to be substituted for professional advice. If you think your child has GERD, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br />If you liked this post, please take a moment to click the banner below to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs. One click=one vote and you're done! Thanks.</b></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Vote for me @ Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory" border="0" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/tmb-728x90-an.gif" height="90" width="728" /></a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-65154341617050618482015-08-29T22:21:00.001-07:002015-09-14T16:04:42.769-07:00The Benefits of Starting a Parenting Blog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihteWke5YtStEU6APos3fThFXrqgy61qg6P33M3E94Cnx3sGIDYscM06QLXFwXLjg6Z5k6pyLc04ZMjaMhgcnDSvxdR4h1Pgegm4-WRnJ67zV8R-be6iV5XyhiWMcPRp645TWEUzdo2gwR/s1600/thebenefitsofstartingaparentingblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihteWke5YtStEU6APos3fThFXrqgy61qg6P33M3E94Cnx3sGIDYscM06QLXFwXLjg6Z5k6pyLc04ZMjaMhgcnDSvxdR4h1Pgegm4-WRnJ67zV8R-be6iV5XyhiWMcPRp645TWEUzdo2gwR/s640/thebenefitsofstartingaparentingblog.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br />I’ve been blogging for a little over a year. It’s been a great journey and even though blogging has it’s own share of frustrations, there are a lot of benefits. Here are some ways blogging has benefited me, and I think it could help you too!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Meeting Other Parents</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I know you can meet other parents pretty much anywhere. However, sometimes, it can be hard to make parent friends. And, if you don’t have a great support system, parenting can be isolating. Through blogging, I have met some amazing people. Some of them are like-minded and some of them challenge my beliefs. Some of them live in the same county as me and others live thousands of miles away. As a southern California parent, it’s interesting to get the inside scoop about places to visit in <a href="http://www.mamabyfire.com/2015/07/27/discovering-washington-lake-chelan/">Washington</a> or <a href="http://andthreetogo.com/">Thailand</a>. I’m hoping someday I will get to meet some of my blogging friends in person or visit the places they have talked about. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Tweet this: Writing is therapeutic.....and other reasons why I blog. <a href="http://ctt.ec/4p419">http://ctt.ec/4p419</a></span> <br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Working Through your Feelings</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I believe writing is therapeutic. While I often write humorous or practical posts, I also like to share personal parts of my life such as the time my son stayed in the <a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2014/08/an-unexpected-trip-to-nicu-part-i.html">NICU</a> or my feelings of <a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2015/08/we-used-paper-plates-for-dinner-tonight.html">imperfection</a>. While it’s sometimes hard to share your parenting trials and blunders, it can be helpful to share these feelings. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiY12WDTzISQB4ZZKNK-5NYYdm_t3MZ50ejBR0D7umKytXCdQQukQ8FQIpI-j0PlfoBBrE_IoF8dUwSngZr9u4fsi6yCXdGrYR_MWjGijexZaic0Gt5XU73b1cM_UyIrmsoBJaaHwJnEcr/s1600/scott+fitzgerald+post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiY12WDTzISQB4ZZKNK-5NYYdm_t3MZ50ejBR0D7umKytXCdQQukQ8FQIpI-j0PlfoBBrE_IoF8dUwSngZr9u4fsi6yCXdGrYR_MWjGijexZaic0Gt5XU73b1cM_UyIrmsoBJaaHwJnEcr/s400/scott+fitzgerald+post.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Helping Others</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">By writing about your own feelings, you may also find that you help someone else in the process. You may be the voice that a struggling parent needs, the inspiration for the mom who is not sure if she wants to home school, or the blogger that opens up the dialogue about a difficult topic. Or you may give someone a much needed laugh or a great tip about how to get <a href="http://parentingfromtheheartblog.com/2015/08/01/get-food-colouring-out-of-skin-with-this-hack/">food coloring</a> off their kids’ faces.</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-99346098-7d0a-dbde-2ba8-ee13664e8ab7" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Seeing Life Through Another Person's Eyes</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I think it’s easy to judge other parents because we haven't walked in their shoes. I read blogs by working parents, single parents, and really parents from all walks of life. Each one of them has different experiences. Sometimes I can relate to these experiences and sometimes I can’t. However, it has opened my eyes, challenged my thoughts, and made me appreciate other parents. Of course, you don't have to blog to read other blogs. However, if I didn't blog myself, I probably wouldn't network and be exposed to so many different types of blogs. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Making Money</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s always nice to make money doing something you love. I make money through ads, affiliates, and sponsored posts. Money doesn’t have to be a focus but it’s nice to have the opportunity to bring in some income. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCP7HmufykHWqZpafLcuQD1T7H2a6ncV7Eud3YsrUjBxEv3TQivrj8IJFgWfeSmYl5wUqQcWeV_UUxYh-6deyu-tofhiiPlvy6iRB-6sv63-uy2frpAljV8XyfL1wxsX2lcSIT4zAK_Oi/s1600/rocket+science.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCP7HmufykHWqZpafLcuQD1T7H2a6ncV7Eud3YsrUjBxEv3TQivrj8IJFgWfeSmYl5wUqQcWeV_UUxYh-6deyu-tofhiiPlvy6iRB-6sv63-uy2frpAljV8XyfL1wxsX2lcSIT4zAK_Oi/s400/rocket+science.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Blogging isn’t for everyone! However, if you’re on the fence about starting one, I encourage you to jump right in….the water is perfect.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Why do you blog? If you don’t, have you ever considered it?</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-26203135921430667212015-08-27T11:32:00.001-07:002015-09-14T16:05:13.555-07:00How to Make Bedtime Less of a Battle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFvQTe2RFSpqv4fe09Lw92hzL6aO5bFlnyj9jgsWqcg9tuuUx0qOBjcSDYNSQreMedKx7SHpLF5ZXroSPmJvLTaMlUkNwxD8a3hgFqKO17Kho2ti662wTiim4Um9osXMCaIinfU-1521w/s1600/make+bedtime+less+of+a+battle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFvQTe2RFSpqv4fe09Lw92hzL6aO5bFlnyj9jgsWqcg9tuuUx0qOBjcSDYNSQreMedKx7SHpLF5ZXroSPmJvLTaMlUkNwxD8a3hgFqKO17Kho2ti662wTiim4Um9osXMCaIinfU-1521w/s640/make+bedtime+less+of+a+battle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-7ef037a6-6687-9e0f-dfc2-237832eac86c" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of </span><a href="http://www.myhappypillow.com/#home-1" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">My Happy Pillow</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">All opinions are 100% mine.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I don’t know about you but sometimes my kids’ bedtime routine feels like it takes longer than an oral reading of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gone with the Wind</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Tweet this: What to do when your kids’ bedtime routine takes longer than an oral reading of Gone with the Wind.</span> </span><a href="http://ctt.ec/0RU4x">http://ctt.ec/0RU4x</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">They want a drink of water. Then they have to go to the bathroom. Then they want more water.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You ask them to pick out two bedtime stories and they come back with five. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I imagine you’ve probably experienced something similar?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sleep is important for kids. With school starting, I want to get my kids to bed at a reasonable hour to make sure they are rested and ready to go in the morning. Luckily, there are a few tricks I’ve learned that have helped make bedtime less of a battle*. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Exercise</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m a big fan of a healthy dose of exercise each day. My kids enjoy swimming, indoor rock climbing, and running around at the park. Kids and teens need at least an hour of physical activity a day. Children need additional unstructured play time time too. Along with helping kids stay fit, exercise can also help kids </span><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/5887603/Exercise-helps-children-fall-asleep-faster-study-indicates.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">fall asleep faster</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> and improve their sleep quality. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Before Bed Snack</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Since my kids are constantly moving, I offer them a snack before bedtime. I often give them oatmeal with a little bit of honey and cinnamon. As a complex carbohydrate, oatmeal is a great snack because it </span><a href="http://www.todaysparent.com/recipes/bedtime-snacks/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">stabilizes blood sugar</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> and helps keep your child full through the night. Other good snack choices include bananas, whole grain toast, and eggs. Just make sure your child doesn’t eat too much because a very full stomach can actually disrupt their sleep. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Calming Bath</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My kids take a bath every night. I don’t lather them up with soap but I find a warm bath is a great way to help kids wind down. Lavender is a soothing scent so I will often add a few drops of lavender essential oil to the bath or use a lavender-scented bubble bath or body wash. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">An Object of Comfort</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Being separated at night can be scary for some children. A personal object, such as a stuffed animal or a special blanket, can be comforting and help a child fall asleep more quickly. This is one reason I was thrilled when I was asked to review </span><a href="http://www.myhappypillow.com/" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">My Happy Pillow</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. My Happy Pillow are lovable character pillows that also help children express their emotions. At age six, a young entrepreneur named Isabella thought up these great pillows that have one facial expression on one side of the pillow and another emotion on the other side. My daughter chose the pink </span><a href="http://www.myhappypillow.com/new-products/rosie-the-dog" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Rosie the dog</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> pillow with happy and sad emotions and my son chose </span><a href="http://www.myhappypillow.com/new-products/leo-the-lion" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Leo the Lion</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> with happy and scared emotions.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">These pillows are soft, lovable, and well-made. I was amazed at how well the kids took to their new toys. Sometimes, they receive a new stuffed animal or toy and within a few days the toy has been forgotten. This is not the case with My Happy Pillow. Along with taking the pillows to bed at night, they take the soft toys on the couch with them to snuggle with in the morning. They also took the pillows on a recent visit to their grandparent’s house. In addition, they have been using the My Happy Pillow to help talk about their emotions….which are, thankfully, mostly happy. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Along with pillows, the company also has cute, matching </span><a href="http://www.myhappypillow.com/new-products/rosie-the-dog-1" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">mini-me’s</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. These will be available soon and are available for preorder. My kids have been taking their mini-me’s everywhere. They have a sturdy plastic clip that can be put onto backpacks. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Oh, and as for the last minute dashes to the refrigerator and extra stories, I keep those to a minimum by being very clear with my kids and reminding them this will be the last thing we eat tonight or this is the last story we’re reading. Overall, keeping our bedtime routine consistent keeps everyone happy!</span></div>
<b><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you have any tips to make bedtime less of a battle?</span></b><br />
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*The tips in this post are from personal experience and should not be used in place of professional advice.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-26678566571978923222015-08-22T17:07:00.001-07:002015-09-07T00:13:17.623-07:005 Signs You Need a Date Night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqONLCQipWLWhQ3i3I3pTM5cbTt-SJWgb3lC15G9B-qO6ra1T7VkU3qzBZQ3sMTyz1ugk2hn5x2j4lpaZ8FXjttwuHVAKcQAwUNnTF8_4iMhIcbBR8feXk6_iFEiprq7q2GlGv4bpT4RFK/s1600/beach+date+black+and+white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqONLCQipWLWhQ3i3I3pTM5cbTt-SJWgb3lC15G9B-qO6ra1T7VkU3qzBZQ3sMTyz1ugk2hn5x2j4lpaZ8FXjttwuHVAKcQAwUNnTF8_4iMhIcbBR8feXk6_iFEiprq7q2GlGv4bpT4RFK/s640/beach+date+black+and+white.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-46285777-57d4-1242-d8b8-98c1d5443ac2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Recently, I went on a date night. And I don’t mean a Netflix movie and some takeout. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span>But sometimes it’s<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> good</span> to put on something other than yoga pants and go out to a nice dinner without having to worry about a three-year-old trying to snag all the french fries off of your plate. Here are <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">five</span> signs you need a date night.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You’re Ready for Bed Every Night at 8:00 pm </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Let’s face it. When Friday night rolls around, most of the time I’m so tuckered out, I just want to watch a television show, chat with my husband or go to sleep. However, I decided it’s not a good thing to be in my pajamas by 8:00 pm every night<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">, even if I end up staying up way too late.</span> That could get a little boring. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Your LBD and Heels are Collecting Dust</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I have half a dozen pairs of heeled shoes. Most of the time, they just sit in the dark closet glaring at the flats and flips flops that get so much more use. Date night is a time when I can pull out my little black dress and some heeled shoes. After all, I feel kind of silly wearing those types of things to play with my kids at the park. Plus, who wants applesauce or boogers smeared all over their “dry clean only” outfit? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Is your little black dress collecting dust? Tweet this: </span></b></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://ctt.ec/gbo19">http://ctt.ec/gbo19</a></span></b></span> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Last Really Exciting Movie You Saw Was…...hmmmm</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Not to knock Lightning McQueen or anything, but sometimes I like to see <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">a <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">movie </span></span>out of the G or PG range. For this reason, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">e</span>very few years, I’ll <strike>get robbed</strike> shell out the 2<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">0</span> or so dollars to see<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> something</span> exciting at the movie theater. Personally, I think T-Rex looks and sounds so much more menacing on the big screen. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Forgot What <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">it's Like to Have an Uninterrupted Conversation</span></span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We don’t go out to eat a lot. However, when we do go out with the kids, half the time I’m watching my <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">minions</span> to make sure they don’t choke, knock a plate on the ground, or douse the table with water. And of course, there is always a chance the three-year-old will get upset because his napkin is the wrong color. Going out on a date night means you can talk with fewer interruptions and focus on your relationship. </span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">In need of a date night? Here are a few ways to tell. Tweet this: </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/EBa5u">http://ctt.ec/EBa5u</a></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">No Longer Know <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">How to</span></span> Let Loose </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-9f011f2c-a6a5-b17e-09f6-850f853e9dda" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Are you used to having your life revolve around your baby’s nap schedule? Wouldn’t it be nice to be free of your nursing bra? Even though, you may not want to dance on any bars </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Coyote Ugly</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> style, date night gives you the chance to let loose</span>. This may mean staying out <strike>until 10</strike> longer, having another glass of wine, or spontaneously ordering the molten chocolate lava cake that takes 20 minutes to prepare. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So when was the last time you went on a date night? Is it worth all the trouble of finding a sitter? Would you rather have a date night at home?</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-21917151003262257622015-08-15T16:30:00.000-07:002015-08-21T01:35:07.773-07:00Because I'm Not Perfect<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v3pslERboKKjNwR0YonKkwaP0_LWcrUpuDdBQ-edVm8gSJMli9USmV9nthPfliNXQDrFbhKVblXxBPCGZzsmVhpWFp4QpOK8Nog6d6EYWC_f3jlJSHhbpwZuaoMr0PzuedBMYPrKU_P2/s1600/because+I%2527m+not+Perfect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v3pslERboKKjNwR0YonKkwaP0_LWcrUpuDdBQ-edVm8gSJMli9USmV9nthPfliNXQDrFbhKVblXxBPCGZzsmVhpWFp4QpOK8Nog6d6EYWC_f3jlJSHhbpwZuaoMr0PzuedBMYPrKU_P2/s640/because+I%2527m+not+Perfect.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We used paper plates for dinner tonight while rows of clean, white china sat unused in the cabinets. And, on those paper plates sat leftovers, roasted chicken revived with herbs, barbecue sauce and a simple side of raspberries. </span><br />
<b style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Because I’m not perfect.</span></b><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Unfolded <a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2015/04/how-to-do-laundry-in-22-steps.html" target="_blank">laundry</a> was pushed to the side of the bed as we collapsed from a day of playing, learning, and working. It may be put away tomorrow, but maybe not.</span></span><br />
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<b style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Because I’m not perfect.</span></b><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Because sometimes you have to push aside some of the chores and the allure of <a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2015/06/the-illusion-of-perfection.html" target="_blank">perfection</a> to savor the moments with your family. Sometimes, the workout gets skipped in favor of coffee and laughs with your friends. Sometimes, you realize that certain things are more important than others.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Today, I also raised my voice too many times, nagged my husband, and hardly gave my dogs any attention.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I wore mismatched socks. I ate half a pint of Ben and Jerrys. I cursed under my breath. </span></span><br />
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<b style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Because, yes, I’m not perfect.</span></b><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And, there may be moments when the notes of imperfection seem to take over until our lives are filled with discord. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It’s those moments of ugliness and character flaws that remind us that we are only human, that we need to slow down, get more sleep, and ask for forgiveness. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Life is about falling down and then getting back up again. It’s grace that allows me to get up again and again. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recently, I came across this quote from Emily Ley that rang true for me: "</span><span style="line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I will hold myself to a standard of grace Not perfection."</b></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I may have stumbled a few times throughout the week, but that’s okay because I’ve decided to swim in the pool of grace: unconditional love that keeps on giving and forgiving. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If I think about life this way, in the grand scheme of things, I realize I’m doing better than I thought.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I know this when I hear my children laughing wildly, their eyes lighting up with joy. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I know this when my children run into my arms after I’ve only been gone for an hour. And, I know this when my husband looks at me lovingly, even on my worst days. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When I notice my daughter’s latest drawing of four smiling people is captioned ‘I love my family,’ I know that I’m doing something right. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And then there’s this:</span></span><br />
<b style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Grace is the love of God shown to the unlovely; the peace of God given to the restless; the unmerited favor of God.” ~ Justin Holcomb</span></b><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">By focusing on grace rather than perfection, I can deal with my shortcomings.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Because I’m not perfect, but God loves me anyways. Tweet this: </span></span><a href="http://ctt.ec/w6f91">http://ctt.ec/w6f91</a></b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-74110859319056960842015-08-09T20:36:00.000-07:002015-08-17T11:36:22.825-07:00How to Break your Kids’ Bad Habits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmaNTOKck_CTzHuavn-A4V-9kXq6XxSlLlWzRmfgRGwlJ8Jn0JlA9b3o6x2PTGaN1Sqx63EndmDzWF8TNQ2LnbgswAdwxDAh6nOg0QBpwenlN0e2V7mJahroe-s6hBZLbh4ajrqKRhDnw/s1600/bad+habits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmaNTOKck_CTzHuavn-A4V-9kXq6XxSlLlWzRmfgRGwlJ8Jn0JlA9b3o6x2PTGaN1Sqx63EndmDzWF8TNQ2LnbgswAdwxDAh6nOg0QBpwenlN0e2V7mJahroe-s6hBZLbh4ajrqKRhDnw/s640/bad+habits.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br />Bad habits.</b> They start small. Then, they kind of creep up on you and intensify until you suddenly realize:</span><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />THIS IS A PROBLEM!</span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />I don’t know how it started, but somewhere along the way, I started letting my kids have snacks while sitting on the couch and watching television. First, it was a piece of fruit. Then, it was a piece of fruit and a graham cracker...and so on. Then I noticed crumbs were getting in between the couch and, even worse, my kids were constantly wanting me to get them something else to eat while they were watching their television program. <br /><br />In the process, they were making a mess and driving me crazy.<br /><br />So I decided it was time to break this bad habit.<br /><br />Here’s what I did:<br /><br />We don’t have cable. So, we have a set amount of time for my kids to watch a few shows on Netflix.<br /><br />Before my kids started watching television, I would make sure they sat down at the table and ate a large snack. If it was near lunchtime, we would eat lunch. Then, I asked them if they were still hungry. I made sure to tell them that once we started the show, we wouldn’t be eating or drinking anymore...unless they wanted water of course.<b><br /><br />And it worked.</b> (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Of course, kids are kids. I won't pretend my kids never ask for something to eat but the problem is much, much better). </span>I had to make sure my husband was on the same page too. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />As a result, my house, at least in the TV viewing area, has fewer crumbs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />In addition, now we can watch a movie together, without being interrupted, or I can get some chores or writing done. </span></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Breaking bad habits isn’t always easy to do, but it is possible. Tweet this: </span></span></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/fO3WJ">http://ctt.ec/fO3WJ</a></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYN1G1NLyRlGrVN8Y25ECafl9OqdDdM6Ri5QfU2zIr1Qf0Q7y1xqc1ZQiXLrKEuKNaGHMNTlyhKs1KO4FftS-clV46RccfhTkQ9LsR8BlRwi1sin0Gw5vI1mIFXhyphenhyphenh5FRc54zfPSWtsN4/s1600/bad+habits+quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYN1G1NLyRlGrVN8Y25ECafl9OqdDdM6Ri5QfU2zIr1Qf0Q7y1xqc1ZQiXLrKEuKNaGHMNTlyhKs1KO4FftS-clV46RccfhTkQ9LsR8BlRwi1sin0Gw5vI1mIFXhyphenhyphenh5FRc54zfPSWtsN4/s640/bad+habits+quote.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Here are a few more tips that have helped me break my kids’ bad habits:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Be Careful about Setting a Precedent</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kids have pretty good memories. One time, I went to the frozen yogurt shop after going to the store. Of course, from then on, every time I went to that store, my daughter asked to get frozen yogurt, even if it was 8:00 in the morning. While I quickly taught my daughter that we wouldn’t be getting frozen yogurt every time we went to the store, I often think about this incident before acting. As parents, we have to be careful about setting a precedent. If we give our kids candy for rewards, we might be setting our children up to expect sweets for good behavior. Thus, be careful about setting precedents. After all, once we allow these bad habits to form, it is much harder to break them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Be Consistent</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When trying to break a bad habit, I realize have to be consistent. I can’t let my kids eat snacks on the couch one day and then get mad when they want a snack the next day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Be Clear</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Setting up clear expectations is important. My kids now know that before they watch a show, they need to eat. Using tools such as chore charts and incentive (a.k.a sticker) charts have gone a long way for helping my kids clean up without me having to repeat myself over and over again.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Use Praise</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If I’m trying to break a bad habit such as my kids leaving their clothes on the ground, I make sure to use a lot of positive praise when they pick up their clothes on their own. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ignore It and Redirect</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As a child, I used to bite my nails. However, it was something I grew out of naturally. I have found the same thing applies with my kids. Some habits such as hair twirling or finger sucking may be bothersome. However, unless your child seems to be adversely affected (for example, if you think they might get a nail infection), the</span><a href="http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/badhabit.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">University of Michigan Health System</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, recommends “ignoring” it. </span><span id="docs-internal-guid-a20bf04c-15a7-9606-d7b0-f6cb0b0dcf95" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After all, children often do these behaviors when they are “stressed, bored, tired, frustrated, unhappy, insecure, or falling asleep.” If you notice your child is bored, give them an activity to do or something to play with. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Don’t Expect Things to Change Overnight</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bad habits can take time to break. Don’t get frustrated if those horrible habits don’t go away immediately.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So, what are some of your kids’ worst habits? How did you (or how do you plan to) break these bad habits? Tell me in the comments!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If you have a moment, please click on the banner below. One click = one vote! Thanks! </span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-6f29e6d8-1584-61fc-edb8-0223a3417408" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span> </span><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Vote for me @ Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory" border="0" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/tmb-728x90-an.gif" height="90" width="728" /></a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-67797422775984877502015-07-28T18:34:00.000-07:002015-08-17T11:36:35.227-07:00Back to School: 5 Signs the School Year Has Started<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvan_BxZXT3kX_65j6BS36juDvTUMH0eO1RHUZDz2hKKLXvfnPMFBLjPbw34AnNFE98cOgVX2lvbX6PoVXZKhm3vrM7pIgrGJ2xXsccwhO_88YkRGTQ_SidV4jcEnvZvuQfNN-5CAr-hp/s1600/erasers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvan_BxZXT3kX_65j6BS36juDvTUMH0eO1RHUZDz2hKKLXvfnPMFBLjPbw34AnNFE98cOgVX2lvbX6PoVXZKhm3vrM7pIgrGJ2xXsccwhO_88YkRGTQ_SidV4jcEnvZvuQfNN-5CAr-hp/s640/erasers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s coming! The back to school season! The return of homework, valet lines, and lunchbox dilemmas. Here are a five signs the school year has started.</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /><br />The school supply section at Target (or other big box store) looks like something out of a post-apocalyptic scene from</b><b style="font-weight: normal;"> </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">I am Legend</i>.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">Seriously</span></span><span style="line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline;">, I know it’s pretty exciting to get spiral notebooks for 3 cents but perhaps leave a few pencils and Minions folders for the people who were ‘left behind.’</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 33.1199989318848px;"><br />Click to tweet:</span></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 33.1199989318848px;"> </span><a href="http://ctt.ec/3oD4R" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">http://ctt.ec/3oD4R</a> <span style="line-height: 33.1199989318848px;">When the school supply section at Target looks post-apocalyptic #backtoschool</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span><b style="color: #20124d;">The amount of alarms/notifications on your phone has quadrupled.</b></span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38;"> Each week, my daughter has an early release day. There are also frequent minimum days. I don’t ever want to be that parent who has to do the ‘walk of shame’ because I forgot to pick up my child at school. So, I have a lot of alarms on my phone to make sure I never forget. In general, the start of the school year signals more extracurricular activities, playdates, and school functions.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><b><br /><br />Residential traffic and double parking is out-of-control.</b></span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> When the school year starts, the residential streets are suddenly flooded with cars. And, if there is a school function in the morning, I’d rather walk the mile to my daughter’s school, even with a tired three-year-old, than try to find a parking spot. I don’t know about you, but people in my neighborhood get a little desperate when they are running late. Parking spots that aren’t really parking spots get used and people try to sneak into the valet line. Luckily, there are a lot of great crossing guards that help keep order.</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><b><br /><br />Lunch box pin heaven. </b></span><span style="line-height: 1.38;">I notice that as the school year draws near, darling lunch box pins start taking over my Pinterest feed. From sandwich faces to lunch box notes, there are enough ideas to easily plan around 180 of the cutest school lunches you’ve ever seen. I begin happily pinning homemade fruit roll-ups and peanut butter banana sushi. Yet, by week two, my kids are lucky if they get a heart-shaped sandwich, some store-bought crackers, and a fruit leather (also store-bought). </span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><b><br /><br />The paper trail.</b></span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> I’m so glad many of the schools have decided to put the school emergency cards online. Still, during the first few weeks of school, there is plenty of paperwork to be signed, homework to be completed, and important notices to hang onto. I have </span><strike style="line-height: 1.38;">a steel safe</strike><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> a few baskets to keep important school papers contained, and away from my dog who eats paper like it’s raw steak, and away from my three-year-old who has a tendency to draw on <strike>everything</strike> stuff.</span><span style="line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />I have mixed feelings about my daughter going back to school and my son starting preschool. On one hand, I’ll miss going to the beach on a weekly basis. </span><span style="line-height: 1.38;">On the other hand, it’s nice to have a little more structure.</span><b><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><br /><br />Bring it on, back to school! I'm ready for you!</span></b><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><br /><br />So what about you? Are you overjoyed, sad, or indifferent about the start of school? Tell me in the comments.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-73232960445904482952015-07-23T09:44:00.000-07:002015-08-17T11:38:18.689-07:00Connect with Moms and Moms-to-Be With Preggie App<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83OZipvzZg4T35dpxx_iwjgI3Y8y2QsNSJnloFlvo4sieCLRa3GtKkTsSlKWLTgYpr0_sOg8vV7ooC2Y-gB4aQWLICQbopNUVyyQ9HbPCONNvJJ1JXvK4I9WB3JM9kp1M_lDcbPDGJQz5/s1600/preggie_logo_on+orange%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83OZipvzZg4T35dpxx_iwjgI3Y8y2QsNSJnloFlvo4sieCLRa3GtKkTsSlKWLTgYpr0_sOg8vV7ooC2Y-gB4aQWLICQbopNUVyyQ9HbPCONNvJJ1JXvK4I9WB3JM9kp1M_lDcbPDGJQz5/s640/preggie_logo_on+orange%25281%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Preggie App.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">All opinions are 100% mine.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When I was pregnant for the first time, I had a lot of dog-eared pregnancy books. I went for regular prenatal appointments and used Dr. Google and my family for support. However, I had very few friends who were expecting or who were already moms. </span><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />I wanted to connect with moms.</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I wanted a community of women going through the same thing as me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I needed someone who I could share my saltine crackers with because they were also going through morning sickness. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I needed someone to vent to when yet another person said to me, “You look huge”......when I was only six months along. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After having two late pre-term babies, I wished I had someone to talk to that had also been in the NICU trenches. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pregnancy is a joyous experience; yet it can be isolating. In addition, being a new mom can be a very emotional time. Even though you may know other moms, they may not understand what it’s like to battle infertility, to experience gestational diabetes, or to suffer a miscarriage.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is why </span><a href="http://go.onelink.me/2923115958?pid=wading" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Preggie App</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is an amazing tool for women who are pregnant, new to motherhood, or simply want to engage with other moms. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The social network for moms is easy to download and is user-friendly. It allows moms to express their emotions, joys, and trials in a safe community. In fact, one thing that I think separates it from other forums or social networks is its ‘live monitoring’ which helps squash any mommy shaming or arguments that I so often see online. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Once you download the app, you can upload a profile photo. You can also choose to add your pregnancy status, or your kids’ names, their sex, and birthday.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0dcEd71VXiOFHbnsakB9qoAJoHNHpPpIHTygKww58rMxjZZKf0Ye_9ouDRRk2Or-5s5E99cRQmb-lVIRVGBvIocxvRj5AfzGuGT1DKlNmulCHx0B_rwRNwK-Ogxdq_Yt8N_6W0HnY5Rr/s1600/504510-1dc509523f29c90b1d8e7509a44451b162d10395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0dcEd71VXiOFHbnsakB9qoAJoHNHpPpIHTygKww58rMxjZZKf0Ye_9ouDRRk2Or-5s5E99cRQmb-lVIRVGBvIocxvRj5AfzGuGT1DKlNmulCHx0B_rwRNwK-Ogxdq_Yt8N_6W0HnY5Rr/s400/504510-1dc509523f29c90b1d8e7509a44451b162d10395.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then, you can connect with moms both near and far. The app has an option to enable your location so you can find other moms in your city for park dates and more. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You can upload pictures or texts, follow other users, and send direct messages. You can also like or comment on other people’s posts. And, if you aren’t too fond of someone, you can block that user. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Another great feature is the ability to search by content. For instance, I typed in “morning sickness” and found plenty of moms asking, answering, and talking about their tummy woes. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The last time I was on the app I saw a message in my main feed where moms were asking other users to keep some NICU moms in their “thoughts and prayers.” How awesome is that? I also loved all the adorable baby pictures along with the real and honest nature of the posts. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A few more cool things about Preggie App:</span></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Digitaltrends.com added the app to its list for "200 Awesome iPhone Apps for 2015." </span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s free! If you’re interested, you can </span><a href="http://go.onelink.me/2923115958?pid=wading" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">download the app right here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">! </span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s available on iOS and Android</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pregnancy is a great time to make new, lifelong connections with women who really get what you’re going through. This extraordinary app can help make this possible. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Come together with Preggie App!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="If you like what you just read please click to send a quick vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs- The best mommy blog directory featuring top mom bloggers" border="0" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/top_mommy_blogs_signature_banner.gif" height="138" width="600" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-38505407762940185612015-07-18T15:53:00.001-07:002015-08-17T11:38:46.196-07:00Overcoming Our Biggest Parenting Fears<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSKXShwR1Hp9aunjVNWqa_0b5a_Ud3-1Xc6uD374YNzyQUFbZ710CoMSPwM7vnjo6r3UVbHw60L8Ilcatsuo9mg5SLZ1lYlgVUyGbqUk8m9eHMUQjgFObFZj4MpQttw4CGl0UikD2xqdp/s1600/overcoming+our+biggest+parenting+fears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSKXShwR1Hp9aunjVNWqa_0b5a_Ud3-1Xc6uD374YNzyQUFbZ710CoMSPwM7vnjo6r3UVbHw60L8Ilcatsuo9mg5SLZ1lYlgVUyGbqUk8m9eHMUQjgFObFZj4MpQttw4CGl0UikD2xqdp/s640/overcoming+our+biggest+parenting+fears.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-8524c787-a33f-7fcc-fdc1-77430d7e7110" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There is nothing that can bring you closer to fearlessness about everything else in the world than being a parent</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">—</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">because everyday fears, like not being approved of, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">pale by comparison to the fears you have about your children</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">— Arianna Huffington </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Being a parent is an <a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2014/10/carry-me-physical-and-emotional-demands.html" target="_blank">emotional experience</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Joy, frustration, and wonder are just a few of those emotions.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Fear is another. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps my fear had something to do with the fact that both my kids were late-preterm babies, each born a little over a month early. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps, the fear stemmed from my experiences in the NICU, their lower birth weights, or the fact that my son had to be <a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2014/08/an-unexpected-trip-to-nicu-part-i.html" target="_blank">rushed to the NICU</a> in an ambulance when he was a few days old.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Or maybe a lot of parents feel this way. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After my firstborn, my daughter, was released from the NICU, I remember having trouble sleeping. Although</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I was still exhausted from the rigors of childbirth, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Through heavy eyelids, I watched her chest rise and fall. Part of this was due to amazement and part of it was fear...fear that that she would stop breathing, or choke, or something. Of course after a night of this, I did sleep because I realized I needed to get some rest.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">By the time we left the hospital, she was barely five pounds and she looked so small and fragile in her carseat.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When my son was born, I had similar fears. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">During the newborn stage, I was often worried about their weight. I was worried about people bringing over germs and having them get sick and lose even more weight.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As my kids have gotten older, I still have fears about my children being hurt, physically or emotionally. But, I have let go of some of my parenting fears. Part of that I attribute to time and part of it is realizing <b>I’m not in control of everything</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This summer, my family and I have been doing a lot of indoor rock climbing. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">At the facility we go to you have the choice to wear a harness and hook yourself into an auto-baley system (I’m not an expert but I feel like this system is so much safer than the manual baley systems I have used before).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Or you can boulder without a harness. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My son is only three and a half so he doesn’t boulder yet. And, even though he is securely hooked into a harness, when I see him 30 or 40 feet up in the air, I find myself holding my breath.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Rock climbing has forced me to step out of my comfort zone….when I’m climbing and when I see my kids climbing, my heart starts beating a little bit faster. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Because indoor rock climbing is not without risk. However, neither is riding in a car or going on a roller coaster, or even going on a walk around the neighborhood. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But rock climbing has helped me realize this:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlBu2xxFP3uNKa3mdymLRaGfrOPyo9vJhlwZcfLbAnyVMaz8Y-J0SvBiYp4gOrmf0IXrlU6SHVSVrfEVCTuV2a-MPwMGwnczciiiL5jO9ubMIcvZ85uh4qvrAmznBdTYR9SrD0iJMKRdv/s1600/life+begins+where+fear+ends.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlBu2xxFP3uNKa3mdymLRaGfrOPyo9vJhlwZcfLbAnyVMaz8Y-J0SvBiYp4gOrmf0IXrlU6SHVSVrfEVCTuV2a-MPwMGwnczciiiL5jO9ubMIcvZ85uh4qvrAmznBdTYR9SrD0iJMKRdv/s400/life+begins+where+fear+ends.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There are risks all around us. However, if we take the necessary precautions, if we inform our children about the world’s dangers and arm them with the skills to navigate through challenges, I know that risks are a necessary part of life and personal growth.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Indoor rock climbing, like most sports or recreational activities, has its risks but it also has a lot of benefits.</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The mental challenge of figuring out the best way to climb up.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The physical challenge of climbing up the wall.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The thrill of reaching the top of the route.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It builds your confidence and yes, it can help you overcome your climbing fears...and maybe even some of your parenting fears. </span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Plus, my kids love it. </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Tweet this: Nothing like a little indoor rock climbing to help chase away your parenting fears. </span><br /><a href="http://ctt.ec/225_Z">http://ctt.ec/225_Z</a><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Along the way, </span></span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">rock climbing</span></span><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> has helped me realize that wow, my kids can do this. They are growing up. <b>They are not helpless.</b> In fact, they are better climbers than I am. They are capable of handling challenges<b> </b></span></span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">on their own. </span></span><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Do you think risks are necessary for growth? What parenting fears have you overcome?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>If you have a moment, please click the banner below. One Click = One Vote! Thanks!</b></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b> </b> </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdjmAMAK6Ynj3Hu7KVG5AkI_e4wxGDP_7sHvj-48iXBgi7X9P0KFUxd1Ppyi2iekTn_upQznD7xLKiHAj7MU3czt_-wPLwTDXbW9S_7Cj4gDSeMBvPcNlNTIueHFrr02ekv-I3YfYBXin/s1600/5+phrases+parents+don%2527t+want+to+hear+middle+of+the+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdjmAMAK6Ynj3Hu7KVG5AkI_e4wxGDP_7sHvj-48iXBgi7X9P0KFUxd1Ppyi2iekTn_upQznD7xLKiHAj7MU3czt_-wPLwTDXbW9S_7Cj4gDSeMBvPcNlNTIueHFrr02ekv-I3YfYBXin/s640/5+phrases+parents+don%2527t+want+to+hear+middle+of+the+night.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s the middle of the night. You’re blissfully sleeping, dreaming of your Hawaiian vacation, a hot fudge sundae, Channing Tatum, or maybe a combination of the three (in case my husband is reading this, I’m just kidding honey, really) …..when suddenly you are jolted back to reality by the sound of screaming, crying, or a combination of the two. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="color: #351c75;"><i><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sound familiar?</span></i></span></b><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sleep is one of my most precious commodities! I'm lucky enough to have two "good sleepers." Since my kids are both out of the baby and toddler stage, I sleep a lot better than I used to. However, there are times when a bad dream or illness keeps my kids up at night. As parents, we want to be there for our children. Still, there are certain phrases and noises I dread hearing in the middle of the night.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />5). <i>There's a _____ in here. </i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">n the dark, kids see the strangest things. In the dark, even a poster of Olaf can suddenly look like a demonic marshmallow. Visions of spiders, monsters or creepy shadows can cause fear in even the best sleepers. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />4<i>). I'm hungry!</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> A few weeks ago, my son came into my bed and whispered, <i>Let’s get something to eat</i>. It was 2 or 3 o' clock in the morning. I whispered back, <i>Let’s lie down a little bit longer</i> and luckily he fell asleep because our house is not a “We’re Open 24-hours a day Denny’s.” Besides, I know you ate a proper breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><br /><br />3) I'm scared!</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i> </i>For 3- to 6-year-olds, nightmares are pretty common. For a short period of time, my daughter had a strange fear of dolphins. Go figure! Nightmares usually mean, I end up in one of my kids beds and will be kicked and elbowed in the face about 100 times before morning. I will admit it’s kind of sweet getting to cuddle with them. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />2) <i>I wet the bed!</i> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Wetting the bed is something that even young elementary-aged children can still experience. Other kids seem to have "super power" bladder control. However, if your child has an accident in the middle of the night, this entails changing the clothes and the sheets. Those mattress protectors can really be a lifesaver at 2 a.m.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><br /><br />1) My Tummy Hurts</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Seriously, I would rather wake up and see a velociraptor standing over me than hear this phrase. This phrase usually means I will be knee-deep in soiled linens for the next 24 hours. When I hear <i>my tummy hurts</i> I frantically start wondering if one of my kids has food poisoning. Or maybe they got sick from another child....like that one kid from the coffee shop; the little girl who, while we were waiting for our goodies, got about two inches from my son’s face and launched into a story about how she was just at the doctors because she had the "barfies” (true story). </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Click to Tweet: At night, I would rather wake up to a velociraptor standing over me than hear this.</span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/HnJ23">http://ctt.ec/HnJ23</a><br /><br />Taking care of sick or scared kids is part of the parenting job description. While I always want to be there for my kids, I still like a good night's sleep; at least, every once in awhile.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>What phrases or sounds do you dread hearing in the middle of the night?</b> </span></span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-26876381637535428142015-07-04T17:22:00.000-07:002015-07-05T16:54:24.764-07:004 Things Parents Can Learn From Mary Poppins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiR_Ql53axH7XTJFsis8LwnIqC-3TRL51ELx-COKYFoBSmoUo9lTDbht6ei6jBDKRfEUHT59uz6CX3kw3eFQIaPaOi06-0zVlCzgLGBnQpPzqPNjDDfY3uKq4CpQV_Bn2Sdd8aVuiI5WR/s1600/4+THings+parents+can+learn+from+mary+poppins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiR_Ql53axH7XTJFsis8LwnIqC-3TRL51ELx-COKYFoBSmoUo9lTDbht6ei6jBDKRfEUHT59uz6CX3kw3eFQIaPaOi06-0zVlCzgLGBnQpPzqPNjDDfY3uKq4CpQV_Bn2Sdd8aVuiI5WR/s640/4+THings+parents+can+learn+from+mary+poppins.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I love classic movies and not too long ago my family and I watched <i>Mary Poppins</i>. Along with a great soundtrack, I actually learned a <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">couple of lessons</span> from watching <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">this <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">magical movie</span></span>. Here are a few things I think parents can learn from <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Mary Poppins</span>. </span><span id="docs-internal-guid-3b8e1172-5b7c-8e9a-9b67-db1d314803b0" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Come Prepared</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />There’s nothing worse than going to the park and realizing you forgot a few extra diapers. As a parent, you need to be prepared. When my kids were babies and toddlers, I always tried to keep my baby bag fully stocked with diapers, wipes, a snack, a blanket and some small toys. Although my kids are older now, I try to bring drinks, a snack, a change of clothes... etc. You just never know when you might have to wait a long time at the doctor’s office, your car won’t start, or, better yet, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">someone might get carsick</span>...</span>.t<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">hat's always lots of fun!</span> Mary Poppins was always prepared and her carpetbag was full of everything she needed. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A lamp, a mirror, a coat rack, a tape measure, you name it. I’d like to see what she would pack for a day at the <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">beach</span> with a couple of kids.</span><span id="docs-internal-guid-3b8e1172-5b7b-f801-6ba6-4a0860ab6ee4" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />Chores can really suck. For instance, I hate laundry. However, if you can make chores <strike>a little bit more tolerable</strike> fun by playing music or turning it into a game for the kids, I say go for it. SNAP the job’s a game, right? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Tweet this: Need some parenting advice...you might want to ask #MaryPoppins </span> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://ctt.ec/u704O">http://ctt.ec/u704O</a></span></span> </span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-3b8e1172-5b7b-8a6b-cced-afed67e57919" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />Sugar...we all have a sweet tooth inside of us. Mary Poppins was really onto something when she said “Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” Growing up, I remember actually being excited to drink the pink bubblegum flavored amoxicillin I had to take for 95 percent of the ailments I had as a kid. My kids are the same. In fact, I usually have to hide the medicine and remind my kids...you can only take a spoonful, twice a day. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1058406/A-spoonful-sugar-really-DOES-help-medicine-say-scientists.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Research </span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">in the UK even found that a “tiny amount of sugar can ease the suffering babies and toddlers feel when receiving jabs or blood tests.” So I guess there really is some truth to the saying. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br />Use Your Imagination</b> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />From jumping into a chalk drawing to making up fun words (Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious anyone?), the fantasy elements in Mary Poppins are plentiful. This reminds me to tap into my children’s imaginative spirit. From cloud watching to making up songs, kids are always ready for some creative fun!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If you think a<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">bout, Mary Poppins ha<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">s a lot of great quotes and advice</span>:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>What lessons d<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">o</span> you <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">think parents can learn</span> from Mary Poppins? Tell me in the comments.</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-16448865304595907872015-06-26T17:09:00.001-07:002015-07-02T10:59:05.130-07:00Hey Kids, I'm Jealous of You<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hey kids I’m jealous of you. Not in a spiteful mean way but more in a nostalgic, wistful sort of manner. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m jealous of the way you sleep, like darling little cherubs, nestled up in your bed. Me, I wake up in the middle of the night to make sure one of you didn’t leave the refrigerator open or to turn off the lights or jot down something on my to-do list. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m jealous of the way you can fall flat on your face and then, moments later, you’re running around doing cartwheels. A fall like that would have me on the couch with an ice pack and some extra strength aspirin. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m jealous of the way you can eat pizza and a bowl full of ice cream and not regret it the next morning. Me, I’m looking in the mirror to see the damage my binging has done. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m jealous of your perfect hair with sunkissed highlights. Please make sure never to spray your hair with Sun-in like I did in the 80s.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m jealous that you get to order off the kids’ menu. How is it that your piece of chicken is the same size as mine but my meal costs $10 more?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m jealous of your energy. I suppose if I slept like you did, I might have a little more energy too. And, how can you spin around like that for minutes on end? I suppose I should have kept doing gymnastics so I wouldn’t feel so dizzy after doing one somersault. I might be able to do a few more pull-ups too. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hey kids, I’m jealous of you!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But I’m also so proud of you too!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And while I have twinges of jealousy, I also realize I’m pretty darn lucky to have you.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Because, I’m the one you often snuggle up with when you’re blissfully sleeping. I’m the one who gets an excuse to eat ice cream and later burn off those calories with a game of backyard tag.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And I’m lucky because you help me appreciate <a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2014/09/stop-and-smell-roses.html" target="_blank">the little things</a>, the things I don’t always notice because I’m too busy being an adult.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tweet this: </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Kids help us appreciate the little things; the things we don’t always notice because we're too busy being adults.</span> </span><a href="http://ctt.ec/678v0">http://ctt.ec/678v0</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You help me stay active. You help me want to stay healthy. You help me better myself. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Each day, you remind me what it’s like to be a kid again and I thank you for keeping me young.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When I put it that way, I guess I can’t really be jealous of you!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I love you!</span><br />
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<b>Do you ever get jealous of your kids? Tell me in the comments.</b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINbC760hfB5y5tt8OElEdXvY9locxItVITXth1wLctHhIlKn9iDlrIu5h6Qt5pbZL6CEfzdHQb1EXN64rWnEOzENFPGNuhm4AdMDMjchha0tkr1aPd-M7Qh1s71ZlWamzzoMrm3FKyhjZ/s1600/sierraandmicahonbank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINbC760hfB5y5tt8OElEdXvY9locxItVITXth1wLctHhIlKn9iDlrIu5h6Qt5pbZL6CEfzdHQb1EXN64rWnEOzENFPGNuhm4AdMDMjchha0tkr1aPd-M7Qh1s71ZlWamzzoMrm3FKyhjZ/s320/sierraandmicahonbank.jpg" width="180" /></a></b></div>
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<b>P.S. I'd love to connect with you on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wadingthroughmotherhood" target="_blank">Facebook</a>!</b><br />
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<b>I linked up this post at <a href="http://www.momresource.com/mom-blogs-party-week-18/" target="_blank">Mom Blog Party</a>. </b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-51901922541398905682015-06-20T16:58:00.000-07:002015-06-23T21:26:54.776-07:00When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left to Give<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyqQswtVEL2dlKzET_axBhQmyURn4c4Hwftru1KDXRLvho2BPjPAAA9CqGSdN74rfyMS8KNUACQH2T-zdgAjOZVUA3pNs_vDquYf1oQ_C2AJ2TbG5eKLXOsMeGZ4-QAS_3UDTtAd2oz5G/s1600/When+you+feel+like+you+have+nothing+left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyqQswtVEL2dlKzET_axBhQmyURn4c4Hwftru1KDXRLvho2BPjPAAA9CqGSdN74rfyMS8KNUACQH2T-zdgAjOZVUA3pNs_vDquYf1oQ_C2AJ2TbG5eKLXOsMeGZ4-QAS_3UDTtAd2oz5G/s640/When+you+feel+like+you+have+nothing+left.jpg" width="640" /></a><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><b>“I am sorry” sighed the tree. “I wish that I could give you something… but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump. I am sorry...” -<i>The Giving Tree</i> by Shel SIlverstein</b></span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />I don’t know if it was the hectic end-of-school year pace or my three-year-old’s non-stop nature, but last week I felt like I had nothing left to give. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />I felt like the stump in <i>The Giving Tree.</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />At first, I told myself it was ridiculous. Why are you so tired? You’ve been through way more challenges than end of the school year chaos and a few three-year-old tantrums. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Yet, I still felt depleted! And, as we all know, the adulting never stops. My kids needed me. They wanted my attention. And the housework certainly wasn’t going to stop piling up. <br /><br />But the thing is, we all have these moments when we feel like we are running on empty. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />It’s in those moments, when we realize that everything doesn’t have to be perfect. We don’t always have to be supermom (or superdad)! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />Because sometimes, my children simply want a lap to sit on or a shoulder to cry on. They just want me to be there. My warm embrace is good enough. Just letting them sit in my lap, just reading them a story or whispering I love you, is good enough.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />And I’ve discovered that even though my kids may need a lot from me, they will also love me when I’m tired. They will still love me if I don’t cut their sandwiches into shapes or make them hand-breaded, free-range chicken tenders for dinner. </span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: small;">Tweet this: Your kids will still love you, even if you don’t cut their sandwiches into shapes. </span></b></span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/Ac7Pq" id="docs-internal-guid-6f6fd4a5-1389-1634-14b0-bc2172bdc6b9" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://ctt.ec/Ac7Pq</span></a></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/Ac7Pq" id="docs-internal-guid-6f6fd4a5-1389-1634-14b0-bc2172bdc6b9" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></a> I’ve also realized that I don’t give my family enough credit. My kids are not like the boy in ‘The Giving Tree’ who just kept taking and taking. They are growing up and they don’t need me to do everything for them. They are capable of putting their own clothes away or picking up after themselves. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />In fact, last week my daughter asked if she could make ME a peanut butter sandwich.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Parenting can be physically and emotionally demanding. This is why we need to ask for help and to seek God for strength.</span><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />Isaiah 40:29 <i>“</i></span><i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”</span></i></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><br /></i></b><br />We may not be able to give 100 percent all the time but that’s okay.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Because real parents sometimes feel discouraged. Real parents get tired. Real parents go through a wide range of emotions everyday. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />We are doing the best we can.</span></span><b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />We are good enough. </span></b></span></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-53033750394715161592015-06-13T11:49:00.001-07:002015-06-15T16:56:37.420-07:00The Illusion of Perfection<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-0f14bd38-ebd9-ee0a-85bf-4cc5c8d90cd2" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xiUh5QHvZAbF1dwolFjrHms2jADxfRVCilwbRWg_a-pjRSbFzhqVjN0GJ0VVMtmDqEbwTV7uOutCxVQurs7ogFsQN7JCNwLtb5rf176HUejALkOLt-ZQs1IpuwUW4eDC7Ay406IhP0XE/s1600/The+Illusion+of+Perfection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xiUh5QHvZAbF1dwolFjrHms2jADxfRVCilwbRWg_a-pjRSbFzhqVjN0GJ0VVMtmDqEbwTV7uOutCxVQurs7ogFsQN7JCNwLtb5rf176HUejALkOLt-ZQs1IpuwUW4eDC7Ay406IhP0XE/s640/The+Illusion+of+Perfection.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved looking at model homes. Fresh paint. New lawns. Carefully placed decor. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">A few weeks ago, we went to look at model homes in our area. Having always lived in a one-story home, my kids enjoyed going up and down the stairs, checking out the kids’ bedrooms, and seeing what was in the pantry.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">My husband and I marveled at the walk-in closets, luxurious baths, and beautiful molding. Everything was perfect. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">Yet, even though those houses and condos had pictures of families, working televisions, and decorations, those homes were an illusion of perfection. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">As much as I loved the designer decor, I realized how impractical most of the decorations and furniture was for a family, especially one with small children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="line-height: 1.38;">Tweet This:</span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> Life with kids means your house is a little dirtier but your heart is fuller. </span></span></b></span><a href="http://ctt.ec/DPp7T" id="docs-internal-guid-b42bd2dc-ef08-c4ca-59a2-31df07b96a3b" style="line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://ctt.ec/DPp7T</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">For instance, the toddler bed frame was about four feet of the ground without any sort of guard rail. It was so tall and narrow, I’m pretty sure my three-old-old would fall off that bed multiple times during the night. I saw fragile vases hanging out on the edges of tables. One little bump and it would come crashing to the floor. And, as for all the white furniture and bedspreads, well in my house, it wouldn’t take long for it to have cat hair and a smear of peanut butter on it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">In the model house, there wasn’t any </span><a href="http://www.wadingthroughmotherhood.com/2015/04/how-to-do-laundry-in-22-steps.html" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;" target="_blank">dirty laundry</a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">. The drawers were empty. There weren’t any stubby crayons or fingerprints on the windows. There weren’t any giggles erupting from the backyard and chalk drawings on the driveway. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">Our house isn’t messy, but it’s lived in. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">As much as I liked the idea of living in a model home….it’s not realistic. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;"><b>Because l</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;"><span style="color: #20124d;">ife with kids means your house is a little dirtier but your heart is fuller. </span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">And, even when my house is really clean, you’ll still probably find a hamper full of laundry, some rogue toys stuffed into a closet, and some scuffs along the baseboards. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">My kids might be fighting over the last juice box or the lone ice pop in the freezer. Or they might be finger painting and making an absolute mess...and loving it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">My house isn’t perfect. </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">It’s filled with sticky spots on the floor, dirty dishes, and snotty tissues.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;"> And, even if it did look perfect (for a few seconds that is), my life wouldn't be. There will still be disagreements and </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">disappointments</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">My family isn’t perfect. I'm not perfect. Life isn't perfect. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; line-height: 1.38;">I don’t love my life all the time, but I do know that underneath the messes and the squabbles, there is a lot of beauty. There are some flawless moments weaved into the tapestry of life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">And, that's not an illusion.</span></div>
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<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Do you ever get wrapped up in the notion of perfection? </b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;">If you have a moment, please click on the banner below to cast a vote for Wading Through Motherhood. One click = One vote! Thanks so much.</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Vote for me @ Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory" border="0" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/tmb-728x90-an.gif" height="90" width="728" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-38783337283826392732015-06-05T17:58:00.000-07:002015-06-13T11:50:40.202-07:006 Signs You're Obsessed with Your Blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMPV9-H3exk9SIrhB15VOtOUAr09yGlnE_A_AlvXuimBP-U0dwUtKHamKalrMbB2zmA3mzOT8AwBVjAmnFYBXyfhZWNRRCp40AHGzctOGQbQKyHh7YnWr9rAR3ZDUg_lNuAijBirBHZlF/s1600/keyboard+6+signs+you%2527re+obsessed+with+your+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMPV9-H3exk9SIrhB15VOtOUAr09yGlnE_A_AlvXuimBP-U0dwUtKHamKalrMbB2zmA3mzOT8AwBVjAmnFYBXyfhZWNRRCp40AHGzctOGQbQKyHh7YnWr9rAR3ZDUg_lNuAijBirBHZlF/s640/keyboard+6+signs+you%2527re+obsessed+with+your+blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>My one-year blog anniversary is coming up so I thought I would reflect a little bit on how blogging has become a big part of my life. </i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #351c75; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I have a confession to make.</b></span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-54eac6ec-c5e7-adf1-2f0f-ebf30e0993d9" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #351c75; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m obsessed with my blog. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I’m always thinking about writing, blog design, social media icons, and new blog ideas. Here are a few ways to tell if you’re obsessed with your blog too. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1) </b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>You check your page views and stats constantly</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">How many times a day you do check your page views? Is it so many you’ve lost count? Do you get in a bad mood when your stats flat-line? Analyzing those hills and valleys can really mess with your self-esteem. On particularly low days, you might think blogging sucks but it’s those peaks that help you blog on. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>2) It’s the first thing you think about when you wake up</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you open your eyes in the morning, you immediately grab your phone, tablet, or computer and go to your blog. A tiny part of you wonders if your blog post went viral overnight. If it did, your neighbors might wonder why you are screaming. If it didn’t you might be tempted to chuck said phone, tablet, or computer across the room...but you wouldn’t dare because then you wouldn’t be able to blog. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>3) You feel a little lost without your computer/tablet/smartphone</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">On some days, you give yourself a ‘technology time out’. It’s good to take a day off from social media and blogging. But, deep inside, you wonder what's going on in the blogging world. And even though you are enjoying yourself on your vacation, you feel a little lost and anxious without your smartphone. </span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Click to Tweet: A Few Ways to Tell if You're Obsessed with Your Blog </span><a href="http://ctt.ec/fbdaJ" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2ba6cb; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">http://ctt.ec/fbdaJ</a></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>4) You’re Sleep Deprived</b></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you nod off while typing on your computer? Do you have perpetual bags under your eyes? Is your blog causing you to be sleep deprived? Believe me, I get it. There always seems to be one more thing you can do to your blog. Change the header. Reply to comments. Find the perfect picture. Make an infographic. You say you’re going to go to bed but then you decide to write a blog post. Then, you need to find a picture, and a quote to go along with the picture. Before you know it, it’s 2:00 am again and you have to get up at 6:30 the next day. It’s a vicious cycle. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>5) You have endless blogging ideas in your head</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re not writing a blog, then you’re thinking about it. You’re always jotting down blogging ideas. Your child says something funny, you write it down. You have one of those awesome parenting moments and it inspires you to write a blog post. Sometimes you feel like your head is going to explode. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>6) You’re so busy blogging you forget to meet your basic needs</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">With all the blogging you’re doing, you might forget to go to the bathroom. You might suddenly realize you are very thirsty or your legs are in desperate need of lotion and your hair has seen the dry shampoo fairy one too many days. If it weren’t for the rest of your family, you would probably forget to make and eat dinner. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m not really obsessed with my blog. <b>I’m kidding. Really. Sort of. </b> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you obsessed with your blog? </span></div>
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<div class='shareaholic-canvas' data-app='share_buttons' data-app-id=''></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402970504617949107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746397491517732092.post-624614338564134562015-05-31T14:26:00.000-07:002015-05-31T14:43:13.857-07:00How to Get your Kids to Read More this Summer (and Actually Enjoy It)<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XzmRfQHa6icuiKq8ramufWV0InXtG5esug9IH0eAfsiWZOLSix3dABktEMLOhMEZs5VyKZb9Tq6FgRMWB_sB1lqJT_nYzgt4IEcn-Yo4SgpOoFIecTpzqO-UBaRKUn3834lHObMjnCPq/s1600/how+to+get+your+kids+to+read+more.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XzmRfQHa6icuiKq8ramufWV0InXtG5esug9IH0eAfsiWZOLSix3dABktEMLOhMEZs5VyKZb9Tq6FgRMWB_sB1lqJT_nYzgt4IEcn-Yo4SgpOoFIecTpzqO-UBaRKUn3834lHObMjnCPq/s400/how+to+get+your+kids+to+read+more.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a credentialed teacher, I love books (I better right?). I also know that reading can help kids with fluency, writing, vocabulary development, creativity, and so much more. During the year and especially during the summer, I want my kids to have fun learning. After all, who wants to have to force their children to read? Here are some tips to get your kids to read more this summer.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Make a Summer Learning Pack</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">If your child has expressed interest in a certain book or series, you can make them a summer learning pack. Simply pick up a few books and some other items that tie into the theme. For instance, if your child likes science, you can get them a book about science experiments and an </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">experiment</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> kit. If they are into the ‘Magic Treehouse' Series, you might add in some binoculars with a few of the books. To make things even more fun, add in a journal, activity book, or a movie connected to the book. </span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Summer Reading Challenge</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A summer reading challenge is a fun way to inspire daily reading. Barnes and Noble has a</span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/summer-reading/379003570/" style="line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">program</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> where the child records eight books they read in a reading journal. After completing and turning in the journal, kids will receive a free book from a selected list. </span><a href="http://www.scholastic.com/ups/campaigns/src-2015" style="line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scholastic.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has a summer reading challenge where students log minutes to receive virtual badges and enter to win prizes. Chuck E Cheese fans can download a </span><a href="http://www.chuckecheese.com/activities/rewards-calendars" style="line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reading sheet</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. If kids read and check off their sheet for two weeks, they can bring in the reading sheet for 10 free tokens. Finally, those in the Pennsylvania area can take advantage of </span><a href="https://www.mymetrobank.com/ContentPage.aspx?name=summer+reading" style="line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Metro Bank</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">’s $10 for reading 10 books challenge. </span><a href="http://www.tdbank.com/summerreading/" style="line-height: 1.38; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TD Bank</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has a similar challenge. Of course, most local libraries should have a summer reading program too. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; line-height: 1.38;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tweet this: </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 34px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few tips to encourage your kids to #read</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 34px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> this summer:</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; line-height: 34px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://ctt.ec/6q2dI" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2ba6cb; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">http://ctt.ec/6q2dI</a></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Connect Books with Movies and More</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last summer my daughter and I read </span><i style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of Winn Dixie</i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">. When we finished, we watched the movie. There are so many great books that were made into movies. Some of my favorites include:</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lorax</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Dr. Seuss </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Horton Hears a Who</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Dr. Seuss</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of Winn Dixie</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Kate DiCamillo</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Charlotte’s Web</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by E.B. White</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by C.S. Lewis</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jumanji </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Chris Van Allsburg</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Robert C. O'Brien</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you ever want to check about the age-appropriateness of a movie you can go to </span><a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">commonsensemedia.org</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Along with movies, you can also make crafts and treats associated with the books. Green eggs and ham, anyone? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #20124d;">If you need a reading log to help your kids record their reading, I made a printable just for you:</span></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSsUQxRUG4nRtl0Ju6E8Thw8UpnlKoVsbxvTE54afiIdOogLIcGXRCbBInc_2sXh_GlI2bZaHRhs6-vHOw-RGU8l0u2QsMCwrs95xI2V2pmLkJ7vhuEf4-7w878Sc997nJdvasN0uvPDU/s320/mysummerreading+log+printable.jpg" width="256" /></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uhWW4AnLrRux7SWqzA8Ws-Knpn2J-Q3qbFrjesxxyqk/pub" target="_blank">Print Reading Log</a></span></div>
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<b>What do you do to encourage your kids to read during the summer?</b> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Don't Forget to Vote! One click = one vote and that's it! Thanks in advance!</b></span><br />
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