It’s a day of videos for me today,this one made me almost pee my pants.
In my attempt to get my kids to school,there is not a day that goes by that I don’t get pissed when people cut me off or try to merge in front of me when they feel that they don’t need to wait in the traffic line like the rest of us and come up next to me when the light turns green to try and sneak in. And no I don’t let them in and yes I flick them the bird!
MommyWarriors.com
Written by Alyssa Banko
Published in SCV Health &Family Magazine December 2012
A publication of The Signal
One of the things that my family anticipates about the holidays is receiving the holiday cards. Sure,it’s a great way to be able to keep in touch with family and friends and see what everyone is up to but honestly,it’s all about the holiday photos for us. There are days when the entire family fights over who is going to get to the mailbox first and be the one to rip open the cards. As we huddle around the kitchen counter to look at the holiday photo cards,battles often take place when the cards don’t get passed around quick enough!
For years,those that shared their family holiday photo focused on the perfect traditional family portrait. Those are the photos that cost them a boat load of money due to hiring a fancy professional photographer. Yeah,they’re nice,everyone is matchy,matchy in their holiday outfits with their coiffed hair and the family is overly posed waiting patiently for the photo session to end. More often than not,that holiday card is viewed by the recipient for about a second and tossed into the pile. And think about all the stress it took to get that picture.
- Finding the right outfit and the ridiculous amount they cost,
- Getting everyone dressed in that outfit was a feat in itself,
- The aggravation of getting everyone together at the portrait studio in a good mood,
- The crying kids and the ones not willing to smile,and
- Arguing over who is going to stand next to who and mom yelling,“just put your hand on your dad’s shoulder already!”
In the end,how many people were truly happy with that picture anyway?
The holiday photos that we love the most in our house and are becoming the norm are not the formal portraits but the ones that stand out and are a little wacky and crazy. For example,some of our favorites we received last year were a photo card where everyone was holding up a little black mustache to their face,one where the whole family was pushing their Christmas tree out of a field on a Little Tykes plastic car,and one where the family used their bodies to spell out the word ‘PEACE’.
These are the types of cards that show that the family put some time and effort into making their holiday photo special. Often,those are the photos that spark the memory discussions in my house and lead us to re-connect with those old friends whether it be through a phone call or a Skype session. And believe it or not,those families that move away from the traditional portrait and try something different really have a lot of fun with it.
Fun holiday photos allow the entire family to get involved and come up with some great ideas to really bring out the family personality during the holiday season. There is no need to stress over the perfect photo. Go out on a limb and have a good time with it. You will be surprised how much enjoyment your family will have rather than have them cringe at that dreadful yearly photo shoot.
I’ve created a list of some simple tips to help increase the odds of getting a great holiday photo that you and your family will love.
Enlist a friend (one preferably familiar with a camera) to take your photos rather than deal with the self-timer. If no one is available,be sure to bring a tri-pod and let different family members set up and take the shot to get different perspectives.Pick a theme that fits your family and find the right setting. From baking cookies in the kitchen with aprons on to the kids taping each other up with wrapping paper around the Christmas tree. There are some fun situations that can easily be set up,if you aren’t very creative,just do some searching on the Internet.Match your clothing to the theme of your card and use lots of props. Have the kids wear matching PJ’s as they read holiday books in mom and dad’s bed or snap some shots of the kids having a snowball fight in their bathing suits.Play on words or phrases of the season. Take a photo of your family members each with a milk mustache and have the card say,‘Got Eggnog’? It can be as simple as dressing the kids in Santa hats with shaving cream beards and writing ‘Ho Ho Ho’ on the card.Play with different settings on your camera. Shoot photos in black and white,sepia or monochrome to get a vintage look. Capture different angles,move in really close or even shoot the photo off-center. Take individual or mini group photos instead of one large group photo and be sure to shoot a ton of them. Get those candid shots instead of all the fake smiles.Most importantly,keep it light and simple and everyone will enjoy the photo session. Let the kids come up with poses,allow them to make funny faces,be creative and show your family’s goofy side. Let the scene unfold in front of the camera,there’s no need to force it.So I urge you to go and try something different this year and see how much easier and fun your holiday photo will be. Take some time and talk with your family to come up with some great ideas. In the end,the stressful holiday photo will become enjoyable and you will be amazed at the amount of comments you will receive once your holiday card starts arriving in mailboxes this season.
www.mommywarriors.com
CBS CASTING AMATEUR BAKERS for a fun new BAKING COMPETITION SERIES based on “The Great British Bake Off”
Amateur skilled bakers will compete against one another in baking challenges that will test every aspect of their baking skills. At the end of the competition,one baker will ultimately be crowned the winner. The series follows the trials and tribulations of the competitors – young,old,from every background and every corner of the United States – as they attempt to prove their baking prowess.
We are seeking all types of non-professional bakers from across the country,whether you’re an athlete,teacher,truck driver or retiree,as long as you have the zest for baking,we want to hear from you!
CLICK HERE to APPLY TODAY
* Open Call:Sat,Dec 1,11am-4pm @ Chef’s Inc. 10955 W Pico Blvd,LA,CA 90064
* Bring your best baked good! Please pre-register online.
Good Luck from MommyWarriors.com
I recently wrote a review about the 2012 Hess Toy Truck (Click to read review) and in exchange,I received a 2012 Hess Toy Truck in the mail. I can’t tell you how excited I was to get the box. My kids looked at me as if I was nuts as they watched me rip open the box. They just don’t understand the long standing tradition my family had collecting the trucks every year during the holiday season!
There was never a question of the quality of the truck in the past and the same holds true today. The 2012 Hess Toy Truck is great for kids of all ages. It’s always been one of the trucks that went above and beyond the average trucks with lights,sound and motors. Around since 1964,it’s one of the longest running toys brands delivering a new model every year.
Check out the video below to see what this year’s model is all about and be sure to order yours today online at HessToyTruck.com.
http://www.mommywarriors.com/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 30,2012
WASHINGTON — Americans did this more than 400 million times last year: visited usps.com.
With the holidays just around the corner,usps.com will be as busy as ever. That’s because it’s the easiest way to accomplish your holiday shopping and shipping at home or on the go.
“This Post Office is always open,and with a click of your mouse,you can ship from your house — with free package pickup by our dedicated letter carriers,” said Kelly Sigmon,vice president,Channel Access.
With Package Pickup,a carrier will pick up your shipment free during regular mail delivery if you’re using an expedited service like Priority Mail,Express Mail,Global Express Guaranteed or Merchandise Return services.
Other services on usps.com to make the holidays simpler:
Click-N-Ship — Using a home or office computer,customers can pay for postage,print shipping labels and schedule free package pickups. Check out this cool video.Track &Confirm — Enter your label number to see the status of your item. If you shipped with Express Mail,you’ll get point-by-point tracking details. If you used another service — Delivery Confirmation,Certified Mail,Domestic or International Registered Mail — you’ll see when it went out for delivery.Calculate Postage — Whether your letter or package is domestic or international,the Postage Price Calculator provides the right amount of postage for a variety of Express Mail and Priority Mail services. Don’t know the package’s weight? Weigh yourself on a bathroom scale and weigh yourself again holding the package. Calculate the difference. It’s that simple.Post Office Locator — Find Post Offices by typing in a city and state or ZIP Code. You’ll also see other locations such as grocery,convenience and other stores selling postal products and services.At usps.com/shop,customers can order this year’s Santa and Sleigh or Holy Family Forever stamps as well as shipping supplies,philatelic items and holiday gifts,including high-quality framed and canvas artwork,books,puzzles,games,totes and collectibles — all from the Postal Store.
Looking for an educational holiday gift? Consider the 2012 Stamp Yearbook or the 2012 Holiday White House Ornament.
With ZIP Code Lookup,you can find all those missing ZIP Codes for your holiday cards and personalize them with holiday stamps or Customized Postage. Or,Create Customized Holiday Cards via third-party websites. These sites help you create not only personalized greeting cards but also envelopes,postcards and a holiday newsletter.
Customers going out of town for the holidays can have their mail held from the Hold Mail Service till they return.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage,products and services to fund its operations.
AND DON’T FORGET ABOUT OUR TROOPS OVERSEAS,USPS CAN SHIP TO THEM TOO!
MommyWarriors.com
As I prepare for Thanksgiving,I was planning on doing our usual tradition of going around the table and asking everyone to name someone or something for which they are thankful,until I read the article,“What’s Better than Gratitude,” at PsychologyToday.com. The article reports on two studies conducted at the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania where they took a group of people and randomly assigned them to list either things they were grateful for or things that they had done that others might be grateful for. In follow up behavior the latter group showed more signs of an increased desire to be charitable.
As a mother of 3,I’m constantly looking for ways in which I can teach my kids to be even more generous and kind. I want them to appreciate what they have and find motivation to make the world around them better. So this article got my attention.
There was conventional wisdom that if you focus attention on good deeds,people will feel satisfied and stop doing them. But this research shows the opposite. If you make people focus on their good deeds it motivates them to do more.
So I’m going to experiment this year. I’m going to let my kids know the morning of Thanksgiving that at dinner I’d like them to each tell us what they think they do that others might be thankful for. For example,did they help with making the meal? Did they help set the table? Are they generally helpful and kind? Do they think of others before themselves? I’m curious to see what they say,but I’m even more curious to see if it motivates them to make Thanksgiving a day not of giving thanks,but of giving thanklessly. Along the way they may actually be more thankful,too.
www.mommywarriors.com
Americans can be very hypersensitive to anything that even hints at racism,and for good reason. As a country born on the principles of equality,most of us strive not only to practice tolerance,but to teach it to our kids. So the reaction of the dad in the following story won’t surprise you,but his kid’s response will.
A friend of mine was sitting outside at a kid’s birthday party when he thought he heard his 6 year old son say the “n”word. He immediately stood up,grabbed his son,pulled him into the corner of the yard and said,“Where did you hear that word?”
The boy was shock and afraid as he looked into his daddy’s angry eyes. “I don’t know,”he whimpered.
“Who taught you that word?!”his father asked again.
“I don’t know,Daddy.”
“That is a horrible word! We never say that word! Do you understand me!”
“Okay,Daddy.”the boy said on the verge of tears.
“I want to know who taught you that word,”the father asked one last time.
“I don’t remember.”
“Did you learn it at school?”
“No.”
“Where did you learn it?” The father was intent on getting to the bottom of this. Somewhere his son had been exposed to bad language. Somewhere a piece of his son’s innocence had been stripped away. He had to get to the bottom of it.
“Where did you learn it!”
“I don’t remember,Daddy. I thought Snickers was just a candy bar.”
I’m glad to see our younger generation being taught tolerance with such intensity,but that poor child will never enjoy his favorite candy bar the same way again. And honestly,I’m not sure I will either.
www.mommywarriors.com
My 8 year old daughter was very curious last night while I was tucking her into bed.
“Mommy? How do you get a husband?”
“Well, when you’re a grownup you meet a man who you like, who you think is handsome and smart and funny, and maybe he thinks you’re pretty and smart and thoughtful, and then you decide you want to spend your life together. “
“Do you have to make a baby if you get married?”
“No, you don’t HAVE to.”
“Does it hurt?”
“You mean to make a baby?”
“When the baby comes out.”
“Yes, it can.”
“Do they give you shot or something?”
“They can.”
“Does the shot hurt?”
“A little bit.”
“How much?”
“Just like a little prick.”
“So how do you make a baby with a husband?”
I look at my watch. It’s already 25 minutes past her bedtime. “That’s a long story. We’ll have to talk about that when we have more time.”
“But real quick, what do you do?”
“You do special kinds of hugging and snuggling with your husband.”
“Let’s do that right now! You and me! I want to make a baby!!!!” She had a huge smile on her face.
I struggle to think quickly. I respond as calmly and seriously as I can. “Well, two girls can’t make a baby together like that, but besides, you’re still little and your body isn’t ready to do that yet.”
“Mommy?”
“Yes,my girl.”
“Can you hand me the rest of my stuffed animals?”
And then she rolled over to go to sleep. I guess I answered all of her questions for the night.
www.MommyWarriors.com
It will either be a late night on Thanksgiving or an early morning on Black Friday as shoppers gear up for the busiest shopping day of the year. In addition to scoring doorbusters and store giveaways,be sure to save a little extra on deals and everything else with in-store coupons. Coupon Sherpa has rounded up the top 15 offers for additional savings on Black Friday (and beyond),available on his handy mobile app for even more convenience. Save on!
1. Aeropostale
Take $15 off your in-store purchase of $75 or more through Nov. 30.
2. Ann Taylor
Take 40% off any full-price item through Nov. 30.
3. Bath &Body Works
Get a free product with any $10 purchase through Dec. 24.
4. Carter’s
Get $10 off your purchase of $50 or more through Dec. 5.
6. Famous Footwear
Take an extra 20% off your Black Friday purchase between Nov. 22 and Nov. 25.
7. FedEx
Save $10 on FedEx shipments of $20 or more through Dec. 31.
8. Guess
Spend $50 in November and get a coupon for 50% off a December purchase through Nov. 30.
9. Justice
Take 40% off your purchase through Nov. 30.
10. Macy’s
Get $10 off your purchase of $25 or more on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24.
11. OshKosh B’Gosh
Get 20% off your purchase of $40 or more through Nov. 28.
12. Payless Shoes
Get an extra 15% off your purchase through Nov. 30.
13. Sally Beauty Supply
Save $5 on any purchase of $25 or more through Dec. 31.
14. Sam’s Club
Receive a free one-day pass to Sam’s Club through Dec. 31.
15. Tommy Hilfiger
Take an additional 15-25% off Black Friday promotions through Nov. 23.
Just a few short months after "the egg panic" - in which we learned that our breakfast might be trying to kill us - there's more bad news about a beloved morning beverage.
A new study suggests that drinking enough coffee can cause vision loss or even blindness.
Published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science under the incredibly concise title, "The Relation between Caffeine and Coffee Consumption and Exfoliation Glaucoma or Glaucoma Suspect: A Prospective Study in Two Cohorts," the study is the first to examine the link between caffeinated coffee and exfoliation glaucoma in America.
Researchers tested 78,977 women and 41,202 men who were at least 40 years old and found that females with a family history of glaucoma were at a greater risk of facing these kind of health problems:
"A meta-analysis of the two cohorts showed that, compared to abstainers, participants who drank three cups or more of caffeinated coffee daily were at an increased risk of developing exfoliation glaucoma or glaucoma suspect. The researchers did not find associations with consumption of other caffeinated products, such as soda, tea, chocolate or decaffeinated coffee."
Glaucoma, which is usually caused by a buildup of fluid in the eye, is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world.
Pretty depressing news - especially considering that I'm drinking my third cup of coffee as I write this.
How many cups of joe do you drink on a daily basis?
Kids say the darnedest things, and they love to explain how grown up things work... or rather how they think these things work.
Probably one of the most confusing concept for children to grasp is love and marriage. To the youngest children, their parents just ARE. If you ask how their parents found each other or how they see their parents interacting, you’re sure to get the greatest explanation ever.
Our friends at the UC Berkeley Parents Network asked children aged 5 to 10 about love and life, and some of the answers were simply incredible:
What is the proper age to get married?
“Eighty-four. Because at that age, you don’t have to work anymore, and you can spend all your time loving each other in your bedroom.” (Judy, 8)
Why does love happen between two people?
“No one is sure why it happens, but I heard it has something to do with how you smell. That’s why perfume and deodorant are so popular.” (Jan, 9)
Surefire ways to make a person fall in love with you:
“Don’t do things like have smelly, green sneakers. You might get attention, but attention ain’t the same thing as love.” (Alonzo, 9)
How can you tell if two adults eating dinner at a restaurant are in love?
“Lovers will just be staring at each other and their food will get cold. Other people care more about the food.” (Brad, 8)
When is it okay to kiss someone?
“It’s never okay to kiss a boy. They always slobber all over you… That’s why I stopped doing it.” (Jean, 10)
How to make love endure:
“Don’t forget your wife’s name… that will mess up the love.” (Roger, 8)
What's the funniest thing your little one has ever said about love and marriage?
Is it ok to give a seven-year-old medical marijuana?
Mykayla Comstock is a little girl from Oregon who suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
She's also one of the youngest cancer patients authorized to use cannabis by the state.
Her mother, Erin Purchase, gives her a gram of cannabis oil daily in pill form (so it's not like she's lighting up a joint...) to help combat the side effects of the intense chemotherapy treatment she's been receiving.
Purchase credits the medical marijuana with her daughter's remission. It helps with nausea and restlessness even though it makes her feel "funny."
"As a mother, I am going to try anything before she can potentially fall on the other side," she told reporters.
"It helps me eat and sleep," said Mykayla. "The chemotherapy makes you feel like you want to stay up all night long."
Mykayla is one of 52 children in Oregon served by the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. Each one has a qualifying medical condition, parental consent, and a doctor's approval.
But many are concerned by the notion of children using marijuana - including Mykayla's father Jesse Comstock.
He's worried that the cannabis oil will impair his daughter's mental development and has even contacted child welfare officials, police and her oncologist.
There is still very little research on the effects of marijuana on the developing brain, which makes this issue especially sticky.
As a parent, how do you possibly make this decision?
Do you give your child something to ease the incredibly brutal side effects of chemotherapy... or do you watch them suffer because of the possible long term consequences?
1. “Don’t throw like a girl.”
2. “Take it like a man!”
3. “Stop whining; you sound like a little girl!”
4. “Big boys don’t cry.”
These are examples of things I recall being said throughout my childhood, and no one thought anything of it. However, recently, I’ve been hearing these things again, and it’s really disturbing. It is a reminder that there is still a lot of work to be done in how we express what we value, especially to our children.
I live in Asheville, NC. I don’t know how much you know about Asheville, but it’s a hippie, liberal kind of place filled with folks who are consciously trying to evolve. I say this only because it is such a stark contrast to what I am about to tell you.
Let me share the two incidents that are the reason I am now writing this post. The first happened in my own home a few weeks ago and the second occurred just a couple of days later.
Incident #1: “Stop screaming like little girls!”
My husband, Jeff, and I were standing in the kitchen talking with our daughters, Ella (6) and Cassie (5). I don’t remember what about, but I do remember that they were being obnoxiously loud, laughing and screeching in pure delight. Right as I was about to say, “Let’s take it down a notch,” Jeff beat me to it. He blurted out, “Stop screaming like little girls!”
Now, I wish we had this on video because his words did in fact stop the screaming. All three of us turned, looked at him like he’d lost his mind and then Ella said, “Dad, We AAARRRE LITTLE GIRLS! Ha, ha, ha!” And, the craziness resumed because her dad’s remark sounded so absurd, she didn’t think he could possibly be serious.
Score 1 for “little girls” everywhere.
Incident #2: “Don’t hit like a girl.”
It’s a random afternoon. We’re hanging out with some of our very favorite friends. Approximately eight kids (all girls and one boy ages seven and younger) are running around like maniacs and the adults are talking in between trying to tame the madness. After a while, the kids decide to grab some bats and hit some balls. Think age-appropriate, brightly colored toys. Noise-level increases, the crazy-factor goes up, and the fun continues until, for me, it stops.
As I am getting ready to toss a ball to someone, I hear one of the fathers say to the only boy in the group, “Come on buddy, don’t hit like a girl.”
I think it’s important that you know the tone was not shaming or condescending. It actually had a singsong rhythm. The words could have been replaced with, “You’re so silly. I know you’ve got more in you than that. Show me what you’ve got!”
The little boy smiled at his daddy, looking a little shy and a little devilish all at once as if to say, “Gee, dad you caught me. Ok, I’ll give it a real try next time.”
During this brief exchange it felt like everything around me was moving in slow motion as two worlds collided - the old and the new. As the words, “Don’t hit like a GIRL,” registered with me I literally felt myself flinch and my mouth fall open in shock. Who knows what kind of expression I had on my face. I looked around for reactions from all of the “little girls,” and seeing no one stopped in their tracks, I diverted my eyes from the adults knowing they’d give me away.
Sorry to disappoint, but there’s no epic line or drama about how I spoke out on behalf of girls and women everywhere right then and there. Instead, I vowed to write about the experience in hopes that it would be a much more productive way for a greater number of people to become more aware of actions that seem harmless, but in fact are not.
So, what is the big deal if comments like this slip every now and then? The bid deal is the message we are sending to our children about what we and the world values in them and from them. The message is that the masculine is superior to the feminine. That being strong, fast, tough, while always calm and cool is better than… well, anything else. I don’t know about you, but that’s not what I believe. And, it’s not the message I want my daughters or their future partners to receive.
You see, the men who made these statements are loving dads with great big hearts who want the best for their children, like we all do. I know: I am married to one of them. But, we all have blind spots that require awareness before we can change.
There is a song by Dar Williams, “When I Was a Boy,” that illustrates how much little girls and little boys have in common, not because they are children, but because they are human beings. As we grow into adults, we seem to lose a bit of that shared humanity as we learn what society expects from a man and what it expects from a woman.
But, let’s stop for a moment and imagine. Imagine a world where these restrictions and limitations are lifted. Rather than attributing feelings and behaviors to one gender or the other, image a world where men and women alike are able to integrate both their feminine and masculine energy. Imagine a world where we all express ourselves in ways that reflect our most authentic nature. That’s the kind of world I want for all of our children.
And, so, THAT’s the big deal.
Rachel A. Keener is a women's leadership expert and the founder of the New Vision Project--an organization dedicated to increasing the prominence of women leaders around the globe.
My two younger kids had a minimum day and decided to go to lunch with their friends. Their place of choice was Fatburger. For those of you who don’t know,Fatburger offers burgers from a size small to XXXL (their triple king challenge).
My kids are always begging me to take the XXXL Challenge and my answer is “NO”. Why should I waste money on a ridculously sized hamburger for them to gorge themselves until they puke.
Yesterday,when mom was NOT present,one of them decided to go for the XXL,thinking he was totally cool. By the time they waited in line and finally got their food,their carpool arrived to pick them up. He didn’t have time to “impress”his friends with his consumption of the XXL burger so he had to resort to trying to impress mom!
I can eat this no problem mom!I was so confident that he couldn’t eat the 16 oz. burger with all the fixings,including bacon and a fried egg,that I slapped $20 down on the counter and told him if he ate it all,he could have the money. He snickered and said,“I better go get my wallet,I’m $20 richer!”
As the saying goes,his eyes were bigger than his mouth,he certainly gave it his best shot but failed to eat the whole 1550 calorie burger concoction!
Defeated by a Fatburger!I knew he couldn’t do it and so my 20 bucks went right back into my wallet!
www.mommywarriors.com
Despite the fact that whooping cough is reaching epidemic levels in much of the nation, more California parents who send their children to private schools are foregoing some or all vaccines for their kids.
A recent analysis by the Associated Press shows that the immunization opt-out rate among private schools in the west coast state is more than two times higher than in public schools.
Perhaps even more troubling to public health officials: The rate of children entering private schools without all of their shots jumped by 10 percent last year, while the opt-out figures held steady in public schools for the first time since 2004.
What are the reasons behind the shift?
Many still fear the oft-debated relationship between autism and vaccines, although the prominent study on the supposed link has been debunked and retracted by the medical journal in which it was published.
Other reasons include religious beliefs, and concerns that the shots could have other detrimental health consequences and/or prevent children from developing strong immune systems.
But health officials are concerned that the rise in opt-outs could lead to an increased risk of an outbreak of a communicable disease like whooping cough.
"We're very concerned that those schools are places where disease can spread quite rapidly through the school and into the community, should it get introduced," Dr. Robert Schechter, medical officer with the Immunization Branch of the California Department of Public Health told the AP.
As a result, the state Legislature has approved a bill requiring parents to at least discuss vaccinations with a pediatricians or a school nurse before they can opt-out. Gov. Jerry Brown has until the end of September to sign or veto it.
What do you think about this issue?
What is most valuable to you? What is most valuable in your life? It could be anything: your car, favorite jewelry, engagement ring, family memento? How is it kept safe? Maybe it’s hidden away or locked up in a safe or safety deposit box?
No real surprise: That’s how we safeguard the most valuable things in our life. And what if it won’t fit in a safe, or stay hidden, or… crawl away? Whether one chooses to hire a Nanny or chooses to be a Nanny, it is a choice of the most profound trust and greatest responsibility.
No pressure, right?!
That's why our (Classic Nannies) screening process is so thorough - and especially why my years of experience and education are matched only by my genuine love for what I do: Finding you the ideal Nanny.
So, until we meet - because I meet with all my client-families - here’s a little “summer reading assignment” to help you have a strong relationship with your childcare provider:
1. Respect.
Whether you’re setting the rules as the parent or following them as the Nanny, it is vital that each be done with respect for the other. If you have an issue about something, take the time to sit and communicate. Even if the answer isn’t what is wanted or expected!
After all, as a Nanny it can be challenging to do something for someone else's child that you may not do for your own - but you must both remember that it is your task to do what is asked of you and respect the trust that is given to you.
2. Interact.
When the Nanny interacts and encourages the child, that child is learning too! Remember that a Nanny is not a “babysitter” who just watches and feeds the kids. A Nanny can help foster development in so many ways; teaching the importance of sharing with others is a central life-skill. A Nanny is there to care and encourage; a “babysitter” is there for the check, the TiVo, and whatever’s in the fridge.
3. Attention!
The Nanny’s responsibility is to be aware, attentive, and pay attention. Remove those outside distractions: leave the TV and cell phone off. Really, how else is a Nanny going to keep the troops entertained, fed, safe, engaged, and comfortable. Of course, if there should ever be any signs of illness, whether the children or the Nanny, respond immediately.
4. Time.
Believe it or not, it’s not just the little ones who rely on the Nanny’s professionalism: it’s the whole family! Parents, siblings, housekeeper, pets, friends, grandparents all count on the Nanny to do what they say and follow-through. Be respectful and mindful of other’s people time.
5. Beyond.
When I check a Nanny’s references and I hear that they’ve “always gone beyond the call of duty;” This is music to my ears! For instance, if the children are napping or watching a movie, the Nanny can take a minute to load or unload the dishwasher, break out the vacuum cleaner, or fold laundry.
6. Communicate.
The Nanny and the parent(s) must communicate. If there aren’t any crystal balls or Tarot cards lying around then you know that mind-readers don’t live there! The Nanny should let them know what their children did during the day, and feels secure enough to communicate concerns, fears, or worries. Let’s not overlook the Nanny’s needs either. A day off is not an unreasonable request, as long as it’s planned well-ahead and agreed upon. I was once taught by a Rabbi that the better you care for yourself, the better you can care for others.
I called this a “summer reading assignment.” There’s no Essay to write or Final Exam to take - but you can expect to feel tested at anytime. Think of them as “Pop Quizzes.” And when you’re ready to succeed, call me. Think of me as your Tutor and an “A+” is almost yours.
Heather is a seasoned, career nanny with over fifteen years experience in the Southern California area. Ten of those years were spent with a high-profile family with whom she remains very close. She holds a BA in Early Childhood Development from California State University at Northridge, and is the Co-Founder of Classic Nannies, a 100% female-owned nanny referral agency. Heather is devoted to establishing loyal and long-standing relationships between selectively chosen nannies and the families who deserve them. Countless families have benefited from Heather’s experience, education, and dedication; now you can too! Modern Moms receive a special discount on all placements.
Why are some women more prone to miscarriages than others? It's a question that has baffled doctors and medical experts for decades.
But a new study may shed some light on the problem. Research suggests that "super-fertile" women may be more likely to have multiple miscarriages, possibly because their uteruses are more accepting of implantation, whether the embryo is healthy or not.
"This is important as - for the last 60 years - the whole field believed that miscarriage is the consequence of maternal rejection of the fetus because of immunological differences," Jan Brosens of the University of Warwick told LiveScience. Brosens is the co-author of the study, which was recently published in the journal PLoS ONE.
Instead, the new research points to a different explanation.
"Recurrent miscarriages can now be seen not as failure to carry a pregnancy, but perhaps as failure to prevent one, in other words super-fertility, but with distressing consequences," wrote Nick Macklon, co-author of the study and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Southampton in the U.K.
In the U.S. alone, 1 in 10 pregnancies end in miscarriages, and 1 to 2% of couples have more than three miscarriages in a row, which is known as recurrent miscarriages. In most of those situations, doctors have difficulty pinpointing a problem. What this new study suggests is that a woman’s uterus could potentially allow unhealthy embryos to implant - instead of rejecting what won’t survive and only allowing healthy embryos to implant.
The sample for the study involved six women who had suffered with recurring miscarriages and compared them to six women with normal fertility. The researchers placed high- and low-quality embryos on channels in between strips of uterus cells of the two groups of women. The cells of the women with normal fertility rejected the low-quality embryos while the cells of the women with “super-receptive” cells accepted both high- and low-quality embryos.
Researchers believe that their findings may help women to understand miscarriage in a new way - and ultimately pave the way for new treatment.
"Many sufferers of recurrent miscarriage feel that they are failing as mothers, because they seem to reject lots of pregnancies," wrote Macklon. "In fact, the opposite may be the case: They are super-fertile, allowing embryos which would normally be allowed to implant and survive long enough to show up as a pregnancy, before miscarrying."
For quite some time now,whenever I hung up the kids clothes in their closets I ended up cursing under my breath and getting aggravated. Why,you ask? Because even though 3 out of 4 of my kid are taller than me,I refused to get rid of those cute little kiddie hangers and their clothes kept falling off to the bottom of the closet. It’s just another one of those little things that reminds mom how her kids are getting older and she doesn’t want to accept it.
Today,I got over it. I jumped into the car,went down to Walmart and bought a cart full of new hangers. I cursed even more as I transitioned the clothes from the kiddie hangers to the big hangers,it was a royal pain in the butt and it took me quite a while. I got through 3 of their closets and ran out of big hangers,which pissed me off even more! Who would have thought I would have needed more than 200 hangers!
bye bye kiddie hangersI got a bit anal,OMG my husband is starting to rub off on me,as I started to separate the kiddie hangers by color and zip tie them in groups of 10. At least now the kids can sell them at the next garage sale!
www.mommywarriors.com
My girlfriend once told me that the names of imaginary friends are actually names of children that have died in your house. That’s an awesome urban legend isn’t it?
Well, it turns out her imaginary friend’s name was Jolef, which is a fairly random name to come up with when you are five. She Googled the name when she was older and it turns out there was a child named Jolef that died in her parents’ house long before they lived there.
Creepy right? We’ll chalk that up to a very, very weird coincidence and not that my friend can see dead people, she certainly doesn’t claim to.
But I digress…
Imaginary friends are a natural part of growing up and can be a child’s way of dealing with a new or changing situation.
My daughter does not have an imaginary friend, but instead has an imaginary family. She tries to get her big brother to play along and at one point he had 18, 5-year-old kids. A handful to say the least, but at least they’re quiet.
My daughter has since scaled back and she now has three imaginary kids. We don’t know anything more about them, apparently they don’t have names, which allows me to sleep better at night. But they really like grilled cheese sandwiches and we always have to wait until they are buckled in in the car, fortunately, they can buckle-in themselves.
I really don’t mind playing along, I actually find it very entertaining and more insightful than anything. I like that she speaks nicely to her kids. I’d be worried about how she’s interpreting things I say if she weren’t. It actually allows her to speak quite freely and I’ve heard some pretty amazing things come out of her mouth. She’s always telling them, “We don’t play while we eat and we don’t eat while we play” - not something I say, but I might steal it.
It was often thought that only children or children who aren’t socialized are kids that have imaginary friends and this isn’t the case at all. Sixty-five percent of young kids will have a make believe friend.
Imaginary friends can help kids with a new situation, my daughter just started at a new school so this is likely her way of coping with the change. They can also help a child cope with learning a new skill, and for some the sole purpose is that the make believe is fun according to Psychology Today.
For now, I’ll rest easy, knowing that her imaginary kids make her happy so I’ll continue to play with her brood and make them lunch. That is, until they take on names, then I may have to plug my ears and feign deafness.
Does your little one have an imaginary friend?
Sarah is a mom of three kids under the age of five. For the last four and a half years she has been sorting through the daily challenges of being a mom after having spent the previous ten years focusing on her career in brand marketing in the computer technology industry. Sarah pulls from her experiences working as a camp counselor, swimming instructor and lifeguard to motivate and inspire fun into her children’s lives. Not one to ‘dish out’ unsolicited advice, this blog is the ideal forum to share some valuable tips, tools and experiences that she wishes someone had shared with her! Sarah has a BA in Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University and an MBA in International Marketing from the University of San Diego. She is originally from Toronto but now resides in the windy-city of Chicago. You can follow her on twitter @sarahdyer or send her an email through Modernmom.
A new study published in the journal, Nature, found that a man’s age may affect his child’s chances of developing autism or schizophrenia. This is because random mutations in the chromosomes provided by the father become more prevalent as the man gets older.
The research was prompted by the belief that increasing cases of autism in the last few years may be due to the increasing age at which couples are starting families. However, it also noted that the age of the mother had little or nothing to do with the outcome of her child developing autistic traits.
How many cases of autism can be attributed to the father’s age? The study claims that roughly 30 percent of all autistic cases can be traced back to the father being 40 years old or older.
Children born to a 20 year-old father would have an average of 25 chromosomal mutations. Researchers found that every year, the number of mutations provided by the father increases by 2, topping off at an average of 65 mutations by the age of 40. In comparison, the average number of mutations provided by the mother is 15.
“This study provides some of the first solid scientific evidence for a true increase in the condition of autism, “ the director of the Child Study Center at the Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Fred Volkmar, told the New York Times.
In response to questions of the study’s validity (especially in light of certain “studies” that have overlooked other variables), he added, “It is extremely well done and the sample meticulously characterized.”
The study was conducted in Iceland by the firm deCODE Genetics. They looked at 78 couples who were parents with no signs of mental disorders but that had a child with autism or schizophrenia. Blood samples were taken for all three members, which allowed the researchers to isolate mutations in the child’s genes that were not present in the parents’ DNA.
So why does the father's age contribute to the risk of autism?
Well, sperm cells are constantly being developed and divide every 15 days. Continual copying leads to errors and mutations in the DNA. The study’s senior author, Dr. Kari Stefansson said, “It is absolutely stunning that the father’s age accounted for all this added risk, given the possibility of environmental factors and the diversity of the population. And it’s stunning that so little is contributed by the age of the mother.”
Evan E. Eichler, professor of genome sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle responded to the study saying, “You are going to have guys who look at this and say, ‘Oh no, you mean I have to have all my kids when I’m 20 and stupid?’ Well, of course not. You have to understand that the vast majority of these mutations have no consequences, and that there are tons of guys in their 50s who have healthy children.”
My daughter and I went to the LA County Fair with some friends and we decided we were going to let loose and eat our way around. And eat is exactly what we did. Let me see if I can remember everything we had. Deep fried Reese cup,deep fried Snickers,deep fried oreos,BBQ’d corn on the cob,giant turkey leg,and even ended the day with a chocolate covered banana covered in sprinkles. Sometimes it’s fun to just eat like crap!
Where do they find those giant turkeys anyway?As we walked around the fair,I took notice of some the wagons parents were pulling their kids around in. They were like wagon SUV’s! Where on earth were these wagons when I was pulling 4 kids around in a plastic Little Tykes wagon with a cracked wheel on the Seaside Heights boardwalk in New Jersey? Take a look at this one,complete with a shade top,a cooler rack and a hidden storage compartment!.
That's one heck of a wagon!As if that one wasn’t cool enough,I nearly got run over by this one. With a little cart in tow on the back and a license plate that read,“I Just Carry all the Sh*t!” I stood in awe for a second and then came back to reality. I thought to myself,all that stuff for one kid? They must be first time parents. And then I realized,I don’t think this one folds up neatly to put in your trunk,they must need a trailer to pull it behind their car!
Is this 4 wheel drive or what?www.mommywarriors.com
The other day I was cleaning the house and stumbled upon a box. Well of course I’m going to open it and I was quite surprised to see what was inside.
An Oscar for "Best Boyfriend"Hmmm, one of my boys has a girlfriend I see. Not sure which one it is but,I certainly don’t want to whip this thing out and embarrass whichever one it is. Mom is going to have fun with this one,my strategy will be to do some secret investigating and questioning to see what I can find out!
Stay Tuned!!
http://www.mommywarriors.com/
My kids have had so many broken bones I’m waiting for Social Services to come and investigate me. I say that as a joke,but only partially. I do wonder if I’m doing something wrong because they get hurt so often. Do you want the list if injuries in just the last 4 years? Here it is…
1. My daughter had stitches in her head after her twin brother bonked her with a toy,TWICE!
2. My oldest had staples in his head when a rock rolled down a hill and hit him on the head.
3. My youngest boy broke his left leg playing soccer at pre-school.
4. He then broke his right leg playing soccer at our family reunion a year later.
8. My son cut his hand wide open when he fell off of his Razor scooter.
9. My daughter sprained her ankle,badly,at summer camp.
This can’t be normal! My kids drink their milk. They take their daily vitamins. They’re not overly clumsy. They’re active,yes,but not so crazy compared to other kids. So,what is the problem here? When will this insanity end?! When you’re on a first name basis with the staff at the orthopedist’s office,you know it’s bad. When the ER staff is asking how your mother is,you’ve got a problem! I only wish I had had the forethought to save all those casts. With all of the colors they would have made a lovely wreath for the holidays,don’t you think?
www.mommywarriors.com
America’s birthrate is at its “lowest point in 25 years,” USA Today reported, blaming the “poor economy” and the hesitance of women in their 20s to have children for the declining numbers.
“As the economy tanked, the average number of births per woman fell 12 percent from a peak of 2.12 in 2007,” USA Today said. Citing data from a Virginia company which tracks birth rates nationally, the paper said the U.S. birthrate is expected to reach 1.86 next year, “the lowest since 1987.”
A researcher for the Council on Contemporary Families told USA Today: “This is probably a long-term trend that is exacerbated by the recession but also by the general hollowing out of middle-class jobs. There’s a growing sense that college is prohibitively expensive, and yet your kids can’t make it without a college degree,” leading many families to have a single child.
Do you know anyone who put off having a child because of the economy?
I was watching my two youngest son’s midget football game the other day when I noticed they opposing team only had one cheerleader. In talking with the parents,I learned there were apparently many excuses,one didn’t feel good,another had a doctor appointment,it was too hot,etc.
The one cheerleader that showed up didn’t let the fact that she was the only one stop her. She decided to cheer,BY HERSELF! I give this little girl (who was either 11 or 12) SO much credit. She stood out there in triple digit weather and cheered her heart out! She was loud,knew all the cheers,made no mistakes,never took the smile off her face and got the crowd on her side. Even I was cheering with her!
By the 4th quarter,the home football team that was playing next decided to help her out a little while they waited. It was great,these little football players in their padded pants and cleats were out there following her lead. They were getting the arm motions down,doing high kicks and one little guy dropped to a split. God bless his little heart that he had a cup on because he went down hard!
The lone cheerleader with her boys! www.mommywarriors.com
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It was nice while it lasted,wasn’t it? Sleeping until 8. Planning the days as we went. Living by the moment. Forgetting the rules. That was Summer. This is now. Time to return to school. Now it’s back to a schedule. Back to making to-do lists. Back to homework. Back to expectations and goals. And back to the stress. For some reason,this year seems even more stressful of a start that in years past.
Part of the stress is personal. We are house hunting,in hopes of moving to a new place with more space for the kids. Part of it is that I’ve committed to a large role in the Parent Association as the chair of the school’s largest annual fundraiser. Part of it is coming back to LA after 2 months of being out of town. Whatever the cause,I’m having a hard time getting back into the swing of things. I went from having summer jello brain to having so many thoughts spinning in my head that I keep waking at 3 in the morning. And I had a headache last night for the first time in months.
I hope this isn’t indicative of how the year is going to go. I hope that this rough start will calm down and I’ll fall into some sort of rhythm. I ended the last school year totally in synch with my kids and our routine,and now I feel like I’m trying to dance the waltz to salsa music.
And,of course,we have yet another injury. My oldest broke his ankle while at a trampoline place. Before you judge me for having allowed him to go,you should know that he was taken without my permission by his best friend’s mom who also signed the parental waiver without my approval. And before you tell me that I should sue the mother and give her a dozen pieces of my mind,trust me when I tell you that she is beside herself with remorse. Sometimes being forgiving has more impact that being mad.
As if that wasn’t enough,we also are being told that one of our children may have ADHD,so I’m up to my eyeballs in research. You have to love how the experts try scare the living daylights out of you when it comes to providing information and stats on “conditions”. I was 5 pages into my first book on ADHD only to discover that people with ADHD have a 30% greater chance of being addicted to drugs,a 40% greater chance of having a hard time keeping a job,and a 50% greater chance of getting divorced. Only later do they tell you that these stats apply to people who go untreated. I’ll have more info to share on this on another day…
So,as you can see,this year for me Back to School = Back to Stress. I sort of feel like one of the Olympic sprinters who trips out of the blocks. But I’m hoping that despite my stumbling at the start,I’ll still have a good time. And that I don’t pull all of my hair out along the way.
www.mommywarriors.com
I put a bug in my kids ears the other about my upcoming birthday. When they asked what I wanted,I told them I knew just the thing and showed them this picture…
The high boots really sold me!They took a look at it and these were their comments,
“OMG,you WILL NOT ride around town on a scooter,no way!”“Mom,really,you’re going to pick me up from practice on that? I refuse to get on one of those things,I’ll look like a total idiot!”“Are you serious mom? Don’t even come near my school riding one of those freakin things!,I will never live it down”“Well, if that’s what you really want,just don’t think I’m gonna get on that thing with you!”and then my husband says,
“I think we should get you a special zebra print paint job with a matching helmut!”At that point,the kids threw their hands up in the air and walked out of the room yelling,“NO WAY”in total disgust!
Well,it looks like a Vespa Scooter is out of the question,hopefully I’ll at least get a pair of earrings or something 
www.mommywarriors.com
OMG,after living in Southern California for 8 years,I can with CERTAINTY that the folks around here are a bit different than the little rural New Jersey town we moved from. With that being said,I just HAD to share this commercial for the LA County Fair. ENJOY!
http://www.mommywarriors.com/
It's August and back-to-school is getting closer - but that’s not the only reason we’re excited for this month! This is the second ever National Breastfeeding Awareness Month!
Established in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Breastfeeding Month raises awareness of the rights of breastfeeding moms and the positive side of nursing. In light of the TIME magazine cover featuring an extreme breast feeder, it’s extremely important to know the facts about mother’s milk as well as your rights to feed your child.
[Read "Breastfeeding Do's and Dont's]
In terms of rights, you should know that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ensures that employers provide a private place for new moms to either pump or nurse other than the bathroom. The act further requires health plans to cover breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling.
To translate, this means that when you go back to work and are dealing with the discomfort that comes with not feeding on time, you have every right to take a moment to go to a private place where you can pump or feed without negative repercussions.
[Read "Celebrity Moms Open Up About Breastfeeding"]
This month is also about educating women about the positive effects of breast feeding. According FitPregnancy and HHS, babies who are nursed for their first six months are less likely to develop ear infections, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses. Further research also suggests that exclusive breastfeeding could help to prevent childhood obesity.
Celebrate National Breastfeeding Month by learning more about the laws in your state regarding breastfeeding or otherwise (for example, NYC's Mayor Bloomberg is limiting the availability of formula to new moms). And don't be afraid to express your opinion to your senator or representative- these laws affect women everywhere!
Forget marriage counseling or couple's retreats - apparently the real key to a happy marriage is adultery. That's the underlying premise of a new book from bestselling author and sociologist Catherine Hakim, who proposes that infidelity can actually revive a tired marriage.
In "The New Rules: Internet Dating, Playfairs, and Erotic Power," Hakim maintains that not only is it natural to think about being with another man, it would be healthier to act on those fantasies.
Say what?
Her reasoning: Monogamous marriages are unnatural, and we should allow for the more “natural” habit of taking other partners. In the book, she compares the monogamous spouse to a caged animal that continues to see temptation beyond the bars, but cannot get to it. Whereas partners who engage in "no-strings attached" flings do not feel trapped in their marriage.
What’s the only catch? Your spouse can never find out about the affair. To me, that sounds a little like the punch line of a joke: affairs are the key to a happy marriage - but only if your spouse is lied to and betrayed.
She, herself, claims, “I am happily married, and I hope that if my partner had an affair, he would be so discreet about it that I wouldn’t notice anyway. Total discretion is the absolute rule; the other party should never find out.”
This feels contradictory. If affairs are so good for a marriage, why then should they be secret? The last time I checked, a healthy relationship was one with open communication and trust.
In an article written by Hakim for The Telegraph, she cites the high divorce rates of the United States and Great Britain as a result of monogamous relationships where having an affair (or “cheating” as we like to call it) is a major contributor to the ends of marriages.
She suggests that couples should model their relationships on French marriages - where there is no feeling of betrayal when a woman finds lipstick on her man’s collar or a hotel bill on his charge card statement. Hakim claims that nearly a quarter of the French population and a third of the Finnish population engages in extramarital affairs with no repercussions.
Her conclusion is that if one is locked in a celibate marriage, the best solution is to seek sex from an alternative source instead of trying to work through whatever issues you have having with your spouse. This will result in staying together... or will it?
It seems to me, that if you can't discuss your problems, divorce might already be on the horizon...
What do you think?
WHAT:The Disney family is expanding and guests are invited to welcome the arrival of the first Disney Baby Store in the United States in Glendale,CA on Saturday,September 8,2012. To commemorate the occasion,the first 100 babies to arrive at the store will receive FREE Disney Baby Mickey Mouse ears,plus a free gift for each of our first 500 guests. The premiere Disney Baby Store provides an exclusive array of products to help families celebrate baby’s magical moments throughout the day such as playtime,bathtime,on-the-go,getting ready,mealtime,dressing baby,baby’s first,and in the nursery. In addition to shopping at the store,guests can find all the Disney Baby products in the new online boutique at DisneyStore.com/disneybaby.
WHEN: Saturday,September 8,2012
· 10:00 a.m. —Disney Baby Store Grand Opening Ceremony with ribbon cutting
· 12 p.m. – 4p.m. Meet and Greet with Winnie the Pooh and friends. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
*Characters alternate every 30 minutes. Character appearances are subject to change or cancellation without notice.
WHERE:
Disney Baby Store at The Americana at Brand, 889 Americana Way, Glendale,CA,91210
ABOUT DISNEY BABY
The Disney Baby brand provides parents with essential products and information they need for Creating Magical Moments Right From The Start™. From its launch of the Disney Cuddly Bodysuit™ in spring 2011,and through products designed with parents in mind,Disney Baby offers today’s parents everything they need to bond with Baby at every stage. The Disney Baby product line includes essentials for Apparel,Nursery,On-the-Go,Bathtime,Mealtime,Playtime and Baby’s Firsts.www.mommywarriors.com
As the national awareness of bullying becomes more prevalent, it’s no surprise that concerned parents in New York City pulled their daughter from her public school and placed her in a private school after learning that she was experience bullying at the hands of other students.
But they didn't stop at switching schools - they took the case to court. The family argued that when their 12 year-old daughter was teased for her learning disability and humiliated by other students, the faculty did nothing to protect her and end the bullying. They are demanding that the New York City Education Department pay the cost of her year at Summit School ($40,000) before the family moved to another school district in the staet.
Apparently, PS 6 Principal Lauren Fontant received complaints about bullies tripping and pushing the girl from classroom aides, but didn’t take action to stop the behavior and refused to discuss the incidents with the girl's parents.
A judge has ruled that the girl was indeed denied her educational rights, but they are doing further investigation to determine just how much the school district owes the family.
According to the New York Post, the New York City Department of Education “reimburses about $235 million a year in private-school tuition to parents who prove public schools did not adequately serve their kids with disabilities - but never before because of bullying.”
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