Mother

Our Interview with Jenna McCarthy Book Author

We we so thrilled to have with us today Book Author Jenna McCarthy. Jenna was such a warm and inviting and FUNNY lady to chat with this morning it was a geat interview. This was probably the funniest interview I have given over my last three years, Jenna was a down to earth lady who talk about the joys of motherhood in the funniest way. Before becoming a renowned book author Jenna started her career writing for large magazine publications like Mademoiselle and Shape just to name a few.

Also during her career she was a Morning Deejay on a popular Early Show where nothing was NO HOLD bar, she talked about her marriage and her kids and it was huge hit. After writing all of her columns for her magazines and realizing that there wasnt any books out there that just told it like it is about being a mother and her pregnancy, she decided to write her book “The Parent Trip”.  Jenna shared with us how there are many baby experts out there telling you to raise your child a certain way, and her philopsy is that every child is diffrent and every Mom has their own parenting techiques. And whatever works for each individual Mom is great!

Jenna ’s book “The Parent Trip-From High Heels and Parties to Highchairs and Potties” is an honest and funny look at the trials and tribulations alot of Mothers go through that you are likely NOT to find in another book. The way Jenna uses humor to talk about such delicate subjects as giving birth is hysterical.  Listed below are just some of these chapters from inside the book:

• Anyone Seen My Maternal Instincts?
• 287 Days is a Really, Really Really Long Time
• This Just In: They Don’t Call It Labor For Nothing
• So That’s What They’re For!

Here is an excerpt from the first book that is so funny it literally sets the tone for this hysterical book.

I was Twelve the first time I had the dream. Maybe the health class I was taking at the time put the idea in my head: perhaps it was the litter of kittens our family cat had recently delivered. It certainly wasnt because I was worried about getting knocked up. That would be at least another four and half years.

Be sure to grab yourself your favorite cup of tea or coffee and sit back and plan on laughing hysterically as we interview the funny and sweet Jenna McCarthy! Also her latest book was just released on Amazon called “Cheers to the New Mom!/Cheers to the New Dad! Tips and Tricks to Help You Ace the First Months of Parenthood” You can purchase both of these books by using our links below and purchasing through Amazon!

Also if you would like to win a FREE Copy of “The Parent Trip” all you need to do is listen to our interview and tell us your favorite part and be sure to include your email address and we will draw a winner in a couple of days! And Don’t forget to stop by Jenna’s site to learn all about this funny lady and to keep updated on her latests books coming out!

Mother

Frugal WAHMs Talk Radio Thurs Jan 22nd Show

On our show today we had a great chance to meet another fellow Work At Home Mom, today we chatted with Genesis Davis. Genesis is from Guatemala and is a stay at home Mom to two lovely boys Dante and Dorian the loves of her life!

One of the challenges that Genesis mentioned in her interview was having to remind herself that the reason she decided to stay at home was to make sure she spent time with her kids. Not letting work rob  her of that time which I think is something that effects all of us as work at home moms is doing the constant juggling act.

 Frugal WAHMs Talk Radio Thurs Jan 22nd Show: Download

Mother

Baby’s First Year

The first year of your baby’s life can be the hardest, happiest, scariest and best year you get to experience with your child. You are going to experience so many emotions during the baby’s first year! Luckily there are baby books about every aspect of baby’s first year, and reading several books while pregnant, as well as during baby’s fist year will make you more comfortable around your little one.

Everyone is always concerned with the next milestone that their new baby is going to reach and if he or she is doing things at the same pace of their piers. In fact many new moms focus so much on what everyone says their child should be doing that they seem to lose focus on what the child is doing.

Then years later, you may look back and wonder what happened to that cute, cuddly baby you once had. While you were looking ahead, he or she was growing up and before you knew it that magical first year of their life was gone. It starts out kind of stressful, with the new parents not knowing what to expect next: from sleepless nights, colic, and spitting up to growth spurts, there is never a dull moment or a time to relax.

Before you know it those first few months are gone and your baby is sitting up, crawling and finally walking. He or she is talking or trying to and eating real food. The best advice I got when I brought my babies home was to slow down, to stop looking ahead of what comes next and to enjoy what the baby was going through at this time. You can never go back and get these moments again. So, instead of looking to what your child should be doing, could be doing or what is next, live in what is now and keep a record of it, for you and for your child. And enjoy motherhood!

Mother

Finding More Mom Time

What Mom hasn’t dreamed about having more time to herself? Moms are great at organizing their time each day to make sure that the household runs smoothly and the children’s needs are met; but they lack in the simple skill of setting time aside just for them.

Without their own “Me” time, Mom’s face burnout and stress. This can ultimately affect your spouse and children as well, so it’s important to find that Mom time for yourself and keep your sanity as well as your family’s. There are many ideas you can use to incorporate Mom time into your life and here are some of them:

Mothers’ Day Out – There are many childcare centers that provide a Mothers’ Day Out program. These programs don’t require that your child be registered for daily care, so you can use it only as the need arises. This is a perfect solution for mom time, because this allows you an hour or two a week to shop, hang out with friends or just pampering yourself.

Play Dates – Take a look at who your child’s friends are. Will their moms be willing to join you in a play date group? The moms in these groups can trade off and watch the other children while those moms get a short break. When it’s your turn, you return the favor and watch their children while they take some time for their own short break.

Tea Time – Taking even a short break during the day can be enough to recharge your batteries. See if you can keep your children entertained with a movie or some kind of game they can play amongst themselves. While they’re busy, you can sit down and enjoy a cup of tea or a drink of your choice. Take those couple of minutes to just sit back and enjoy a peaceful moment to yourself.

Date with Dad – It’s important for the kids to spend some quality time with dad. Why not suggest he take them out for a few hours, while you stay home and relax. The kids can go on an adventure with dad and you can stay home and appreciate the quiet atmosphere that you don’t normally experience.

Mothers’ Helper – Ever thought of having another person to help you out a couple of hours a week? If you don’t feel comfortable leaving your children with a sitter; consider having a sitter come in while you’re there. Some young teenagers that are fresh out of babysitting courses can use some experience before they go off on their own. This would be the perfect way to relieve you of some of your motherly duties and enable you to be just a “supervisor” of sorts while the sitter learns the trade.

These are only a few examples of what you can do get some time for yourself. Check with other moms and see what they do for their own Mom time. As a mom, you’ve done a great job with your family, but don’t neglect yourself in the process. Mom time is not only something you need, but deserve as well.

For more help, visit Real Life Guidance for a happier and more fulfilled you.

Article Source: http://greatarticlesformoms.com

Mother

Every Mom Needs a Break before the Breaking Point

It’s probably no secret to you that today’s mom is busier than ever. It doesn’t matter if you’re a career mom trying to balance work and family or a stay-at-home mom trying to run the household and manage the many activities your children are involved in. This hectic pace often translates to isolation and leaves you little time for anything else.

I’ve been working closely with stay-at-home mothers since 2002 and it’s no secret that most moms will do everything they can to provide the best for their families, often at the sacrifice of their own happiness. We lose contact with friends, don’t take care of ourselves like we used to and seemingly lose our true sense of self.

Still, it’s not easy when we have heavy demands on our time and sometimes the only spare moments we have are when everyone is finally in bed and the house is silent. When the house if finally silent, take the time to read a good book, call an old friend or put in that exercise DVD you’ve been promising yourself you’d try.

And never be afraid to ask for a break. Ask a trusted friend or family member to watch the kids for a while and go do something fun for a few hours. The kids will be just fine and you’ll be a much happier mama when you return. That’s good for the whole family!

Recently, I spoke to Life Coach Aurelia Williams of RealLifeCoaching.net and she told me, “Being a busy mom, it can become so easy to fall into the mommy guilt trap where you start to neglect yourself. Many moms feel guilty if they take time for themselves and end up taking care of everyone else around them and pushing their own needs aside. This ultimately will leave you feeling burnt out, stressed out, truly unhappy and sometimes resentful. During the journey of motherhood, it is easy to lose ourselves along the way and inadvertently cut off or not seek out the support and camaraderie of other mothers.”

Aurelia also urges you to give yourself “time to unwind, socialize and bond with others, especially other moms.” This allows you to truly rediscover yourself – you know the woman you were before all those wonderful kids came into your life? When you socialize with other moms, you can gain support, ideas and tips to help you with deal with certain parenting and relationship concerns from others who feel just like you do or have dealt with the same issues.

Even when you’re busy, you can always connect with other moms during your children’s activities. Start chatting with other moms at your child’s soccer practice or after her piano recital. Social opportunities are available to you many times in the day – you may just not notice it.

Alice Seba is a mom who never wants to see you go it alone. Find support and advice from other moms just like you at www.MomsTalkForum.com”> www.MomsTalkForum.com

Article Source: http://greatarticlesformoms.com

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What Kinds Of Lessons Do SuperMoms Teach Their Kids?

What Kind of Lessons Do SuperMoms Teach Their Kids?

If you hear someone described as a “supermom”, immediately you think of someone who is good at everything that she does. She is the mom who manages her household flawlessly while working a full-time job and carpooling kids to after-school activities. A “supermom” is a mother who puts the needs of her family above her own and wants to be that dependable person who volunteers on every school committee.

Basically, a “supermom” is a mother with an overextended schedule and rarely does she do everything well.

Parents are the best and most important teachers in their kids’ lives and very often kids will watch and imitate what their parents do, even if it seems as though they don’t listen to what their parents say. So let’s deconstruct the fictional supermom character and see what lessons her children may be learning from this behavior.

A supermom generally does not ask for help, hence the reason why most moms still do all the cooking and cleaning, even if they work a full-time job. The reasons for this may vary, from their spouses think running a household is still “women’s work” to the kids are too busy with homework and activities.

Supermom’s children who watch this behavior will start to think that: someone will always take care of me; it’s a show of weakness to ask for help; or it’s a woman’s job to do everything for her family. This is an unbalanced view of life, especially for the college freshman who is now living on his own and can barely manage because mom has always cleaned up after him. This same son may also expect his own wife to take care of everything, which could lead to marital problems.

Someone who is in the supermom trap feels the need to volunteer or help everyone who calls, whether it is for family, church, or school. Learning how to say “no” to some of these obligations is tough but worthwhile because it will lighten supermom’s schedule.

Children naturally question if they can have everything or participate in every activity. They have a natural curiosity to try something new or to continue lessons in which they excel. But if supermom has trouble saying no to her own commitments, then she will also have trouble limiting her children’s schedule. While after school activities are fun and exciting, if they cause a student’s grades to suffer, then cutting back should be a priority.

Saying “no” to certain activities also teaches the children that there are limits in life and that you cannot participate in everything. This is common sense from a monetary viewpoint as well as from a time viewpoint. Also, learning how to say “no” will do children well when faced with such issues as teen sex or peer pressure.

Another trouble spot for supermoms is that everyone else’s needs come before their own and they rarely get the time to do something fun for themselves. This can drain your energy to always be giving to everyone in the family but it can also affect one’s self-esteem, thinking that your needs and your fun ideas are not important.

Parenting experts agree that children suffer from low self-esteem in record numbers so it’s important to give validity to their original ideas. Even if you think a certain activity will be boring, give it a try for your child to show him or her that their ideas matter. If they want to paint their room black, make a compromise and paint one wall black. If parents always tell the kids what is good or bad, they will hesitate to voice their own opinions in adulthood.

Many women who deem themselves “supermoms” may hesitate to change their habits, thinking it is too difficult or that they are too important to a certain committee. These supermoms need to realize that even though the road may be difficult, the reward will be great when their children see their mother taking care of herself and can spend quality time with them.

Aurelia Williams is a certified life coach and author of Don’t Fall Into The SuperMom Trap.

Article Source: http://greatarticlesformoms.com