How to juggle it all… August 14, 2007

After being on bedrest for five months, I’m faced with the scary prospect of having an active 2 1/2 year old and a newborn under the same roof. Don’t get me wrong it will be a very rewarding/frustrating time in my life, but after sitting and watching everyone take care of the major responsibilities in my life, I’m a little afraid. Moms today have a double standard to live up to. We’re supposed to be Supermom while maintaining a job and keeping a house that doesn’t consistently collect dust bunnies. A little overwhelming, don’t you think? If you are an overwhelmed stay at home mom or full time mommy, here are some tips that we can both try to balance it all.

• Let it go… I have learned this after five months of bedrest. The house is NOT going to be perfect all the time. I find that as long as toys are somewhat picked up at the end of the day, that is good enough.
• Get over the guilt… Many working moms are laden with the guilt of being away from their children. Many studies are supporting that child care is a wonderful opportunity for children to develop great social skills while learning to be independent.
• Take a time-out… We don’t have to be Mommy martyrs. Take time for yourself, preferably daily time-outs of at least 10 minutes. I teach aerobics and I enjoy that time to move my body while not having to think about diaper changes for an hour.
• Believe in yourself… We need to believe we are doing a good job. We may not always get that praise so it needs to come from within. Are your kids (usually) happy, are they fed, is there a roof over their heads? If yes is the answer, then you are doing fine.

As we all know, being a mom is our most important job of all. Take time and appreciate the little things of this job as it changes over the years. Trust yourself!

Childhood obesity June 16, 2007

30% of kids are overweight and plagued with childhood illnesses. What can be done about this growing epidemic?

• Throw away the TV – okay maybe not that extreme but at least limit it to no more than one hour per day. Kids are spending 4-5 hours of screen time per day.
• Kick ‘em out of the house – not literally of course. Encourage your kids to get outside by playing in the yard or swimming at the local pool. You can even jump on board too, and take a family walk together.
• Limit the junk. With the media honing in on our impressionable children, it’s hard to say no. Keep in mind the long term effects of obesity to motivate you to not give in. How to get around it? Don’t keep it in the house.
• Be strong in the face of your kids. It’s very easy for me to sit here on my couch and give advice, but I also understand how tough it can be to break some of these habits. Ideally, you would want them never to have started, but if they have, then you want to be resolute in your new rules. Set a good example for them and stand strong to implement them. Get help from your partner or friends to help you stay resolute in your new requirements.

You are making these changes to improve the health of your child. It’s our responsibility as parents to teach our children healthy habits so that they can improve the health status of our country. Stand strong and trust yourself.

ADHD – to medicate or not June 5, 2007

Is it just me or does it seem that every other kid is being medicated for some condition or other? Over 7% of our children are being diagnosed with ADHD (boys are more than two times as likely to have the condition). Many of these children are being placed on various forms of stimulants (such as the infamous Ritalin) or anti-depressants at the tender age of 2! Check out all the fun side effects of these drugs.

This is where I become an Alpha mom. I have serious issues giving a small child a medication to treat a potentially subjective condition. I know that there are kids out there that truly have issues that the ADHD diagnosis address, but rather than resorting to our “quick fix” attitude towards everything, why don’t we take a closer look at what could really be going on.

More often, our children are losing their time for creative or imaginative play. Their lives have become more scheduled with limited time to be “just kids”. Other stresses such as divorce and a lack of getting outdoors can lead to children being unable to focus on tasks. There are other treatment options such as behavior modification and counseling that have shown to give some benefits, but are still being evaluated for effectiveness. Chiropractic care is also an important contender to the caring of this problem. Check out this case study that was recently televised.

Personally, I would rather see our kids get outside, get regular holistic health care such as chiropractic, and eating a healthy balanced diet. On top of that, we need to spend QUALITY time with our kids that doesn’t involved devices that need batteries or an electrical cord.

What about Mom? May 30, 2007

With Mother’s day becoming a quickly distant memory, I want call attention to our special moms that are so easily taken for granted. Many of the moms I know spend most waking moments thinking of their family while consistently sacrificing their own needs. Giving the moms in our lives a day dedicated to them is a great step. But don’t you think every day should be Mother’s Day?

Before you guys get all excited, let me explain. More than receiving flowers and getting pampered, women want to be loved and valued. Okay, I know, we all think that our mothers already know that we love them and didn’t we just give her a fantastic bouquet on Mother’s Day? She doesn’t need constant reminders right? Ummm……yeah!

The next time you talk to your own mom, or the mother of your children, give her some encouragement by telling her that you love her. Add to that an appreciation of what she does for the family, especially the little, everyday things. You may want to mention something that she did, but didn’t think you noticed, such as when she picked up your stinky clothes off the floor. That will score you major brownie points! Just the act of noticing and speaking up, will make her day!

When mama’s happy, everybody’s happy!

Otitis media – also known as miserable May 26, 2007

Otitis media, aka middle ear infections, plague many youngsters every year. Antibiotics have been the standard course of treatment for many ear infections. However, studies are finding that treating with antibiotics may only shorten the infection by half a day. That isn’t much of an advantage when you think about other side effects that can occur with antibiotic use. Such fun disadvantages can be diarrhea, allergic reactions, and a build-up of antibiotic resistance.

Another helpful option to diminish the length of time that children are dealing with their infections is chiropractic. Having your child receive chiropractic adjustments can diminish the time and frequency of ear infections. Need further proof? Check out this study.

Next time your child appears to have an uncomplicated ear infection, consider consulting a chiropractor. As long as the ear infection is not severe, antibiotics may not be the best way to treat. However, keep an open dialogue with your pediatrician and ask questions if they think antibiotics are the best way to go forward. Good luck!

Breastfeeding in the 21st Century May 22, 2007

To breastfeed or not to breastfeed, that is the question many women are plagued with as they go through pregnancy. I remember while I was pregnant with my first I was a little weirded out by the concept. It seemed like it would be very uncomfortable and embarrassing. Well I ended up doing it for 13 months and I got over my discomfort when I realized how truly natural and easy it was. Especially for the 3am feedings – just lift your shirt and go without worrying about heating up bottles. I look forward to that bonding time with my next baby (due this September). Granted it’s not always an easy process and it can seem inconvenient at times. But I would suggest using a good pump for those moms that need to go back to work. You may feel like a cow at the dairy farm at times, but think about all the great nutrition you are able to provide your baby with.

Breast milk contains antibodies that helps strengthen your baby’s immune system. More studies are being published frequently announcing all the many other benefits of breast milk. It was recently discovered that breast milk may help protect your child from suffering with obesity later in life. Another fabulous benefit of nursing, is that you need to eat an extra 500 calories a day to meet the demands of your ever hungry child. Ben and Jerry’s anyone? Also, hospitals are equipped with lactation consultants that are readily available to assist you in your quest for breastfeeding. You can also join your local chapter of the La Leche league.

Now, I also understand that breastfeeding is not for everyone and that’s okay too. If you find that breastfeeding your baby leaves you stressed and dreading the next feeding then it may be time to find a formula appropriate for your little tyke. It’s completely your choice. Again, I think it’s important to make an informed decision.

Are you an Alpha Mom??? May 21, 2007

What is an alpha mom? I had never heard of one until very recently when I was reading an article about “slacker or beta” moms. Don’t you just love it? More labels and standards to think about. Well here is my understanding of an alpha mom. Apparently they are moms that are “excessively” concerned about everything that could harm their children. These moms are obsessed to be the “perfect” mom. What a tough quest. I think we can all agree that we want to be great parents. But let’s face it, we are going to have some strife with our children, 110% guaranteed.

A “slacker or beta” mom who is less concerned about every little way of protecting their children. Apparently, she understands that sometimes “good enough” is sufficient. Personally, I believe both types of moms love their children just as much. I believe our society has spent more time worrying about outside influences and how to protect our children from every possible disaster. I know I want to protect my son, but I also want to teach him to be responsible for himself as well. I can attempt to show him how he can control his environment by being a thoughtful, trusting, respectful person who is responsible for his own actions.

Being perfect shouldn’t be our quest. I think we should redirect our efforts towards encouraging the next generation to be responsible, free thinking adults. Who cares if the house isn’t perfectly clean or if our kids aren’t spotless at all times? We don’t have to compete with each other to see who is perfect and secretly cheer when others are not. Let’s work together to make the next generation the best yet!