Motherhood 24/7

Birthday Parties for Kids

2009-12-02T13:37:00.001-08:00

As a new mom living in the northeast I am constantly amazed at the production and costs that have become associated with kids birthday parties. I can remember when I was young, all of my cousins, friends and I celebrated birthdays in the basement of their respective homes. Or, for my later pre-teen birthdays, we went to Howard Johnsons for a big "birthday celebration" with some friends and cousins. I think all the kids got to pick their own meal off the menu, we got birthday hats, and there was a cake. I felt like a grown up. Although today, Zack was eating out with us at Outback steakhouse when he was only a couple weeks old!

For my sons first birthday we had a few family members over to celebrate the big event, and the highlight was when Zack stuck his hand in the frog cake. Then for his second birthday we decided to have some friends over and make it an "adult" get together, with a couple of his neighborhood friends. He was excited to send out the Batman invitations and see our dining room decorated with batman party decorations.

But for three years old, I wanted to have a little more of a kids party, with several of his friends. But being that it is winter, where do you hold it? Children with birthdays in the spring or summer have it made. You can celebrate at a park, or the beach, or a lake pavilion, but in the winter you really need to be inside somewhere? But where?

I started investigating and was amazed at the costs that places were charging for hosting a party, without any real decorations, not many options in food and very little in entertainment!!! Before you know it, a "simple" birthday party for ten people or less could cost a minimum of $300. (For a child's birthday party)

I am all for celebrating -- but I would prefer my son be older to appreciate the expense of a big event.

What I ended up doing was having another gathering at my house, with six other children and ten adults. I cleared out the coffee table for the kids to have space to run around and decorated the dining room and kitchen in a Spiderman Theme. I sent invitations asking that the children come dressed in a superhero costume and they had fun running around the house playing their role. I organized a few activities that we did in the basement (to limit the mess) -- like pin the string on spiderman, and spraying silly string on pictures of villians. Then upstairs the kids pulled strings on a spiderman Pinata that splashed out chocolate candies for all of the participants.

Zack had a blast playing with his friends, being dressed up, celebrating his big day, receiving presents and doing something fun! It was a huge hit and was the perfect celebration for a three year old.

The question will be, what do we do when he turns 4, than 5, than 6.......

I guess I will address that next year!

Giving Away Toys

2009-11-16T10:10:00.001-08:00

About a week ago I found myself constantly picking up toys around the house and getting extremely frustrated because I knew that my son's birthday and christmas were soon approaching and there was no way this living room could handle more toys. So I said to my son that we should really go through his toys and figure out what he isn't playing with any longer and give them away to make room for the new toys he will be receiving.

Well, wasn't he the cutest. The next morning before I even had a chance to make my tea he had gone through some of his toys and pulled out 10 small toys that he wanted "me to give away because he doesn't play with them any more." I just looked at him in amazement and was so proud of him. I said that I would put them in a bag and give them to children that don't have any toys. He thought that was "a good idea", and helped me go through the rest of his toys to review what he was willing to give away.

Three bags later, we had not even made a dent in the stuffed animals, had cleaned out some of the bigger toys he doesn't play with any longer, and had some nice toys to pass along. I called my friend Lisa because I remember her telling me that she does something similar with her daughter Peyton before Christmas every year and I wanted to find out who she gives them to. There is a woman around the corner from her that collects items for a shelter with mothers and children close by. Perfect!

As we approach the holidays I think it is a perfect time for younger children to understand the spirit of giving and especially to those who are less fortunate. Is it time that you cleaned out your child's toy box and gave those toys to children who could really use them?

I think I want to make this a yearly tradition!

Vaccination Choice

2009-11-13T10:31:00.000-08:00

When my son was born, almost three years ago, I had already been talking with parents for a few years about the possible link between vaccines and autism. At the time certain vaccines were laced with mercury, which I find interesting, since pregnant women are told to stay away from certain fish, sushi and even more than a can of tuna fish a week because of mercury. But yet, once a baby is born it seems ok to give them vaccines that may contain mercury?

So as a parent, and the guardian of my son, I feel it is my choice to make sure that he is not given anything that is not safe for him or may be harmful in some way. In doing so I wanted a Pediatrician that understands my beliefs and is willing to give me the pros and cons about certain vaccines and then ultimately leave the decision up to me.

And I am not alone in that thinking. In 2008 an organization formed in New Jersey that I happily signed up to support -- it is called the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice. Recently they called all their troops together in support of Republican Chris Christie for governor, who for the first time made an unprecedented and historic move by making an official campaign promise in support of vaccination choice. He further cemented his position on live radio with Don Imus, by becoming the first gubernatorial candidate to utter the words vaccines, autism and parental choice in the same sentence. Vaccine choice supporters showed up in record numbers to cast their vote for Christie.

Anger towards Governor Corzine has been building. It is well known that New Jersey, Autism Capital of the world, is also Ground Zero for mandated shots for school. Many parents and grandparents blame environmental causes, including the state's ultra-aggressive vaccine schedule. The "Freedom of Choice" rally in Trenton last fall garnered national media attention and catapulted this issue into the mainstream dialogue. On the heels of Corzine's 2008 decision to add four additional vaccine mandates to the state's already crowded schedule, thousands of parents have lined up to attend vaccination choice seminars and protests across the state.

I feel every parent should have the choice to decide what is safe and not safe for their child, and not be mandated to give their child something that could be life altering. Why should our state be allowed to mandate MORE vaccines and a flu shot for our children to be allowed into school?

Busy Launching Company on National Level

2009-11-12T09:38:00.000-08:00

This blog entry is an apology to my readers for being out of touch for the last two months. As all moms can relate there are only so many balls that one can juggle in the air; and for the last couple of months I have been putting pieces together, finalizing my business plan, and tapping into resources that I will need, to launch A Child's Voice onto a national platform.

So while doing this, a few things needed to be put aside, in order for me to do the other roles well -- that of a business woman, a mother, a wife, a daughter (also went to visit my parents in Florida with my son for a long weekend) and a friend.

I look forward to getting back into writing this blog and bringing more "motherhood juggling" and "insights" to my readers.

"The Good Wife" CBS Pilot Show

2009-09-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

I was asked to review the pilot of an upcoming series this fall on CBS entitled "The Good Wife." On hearing the name I thought it was going to be a sappy show about an obedient wife and put together stay at home mom. But was I ever wrong!!

I was intrigued from the beginning when Peter Florrick (played by Chris Noth) opens up the show with a news conference announcing his resignation as District Attorney due to a very public sex and political corruption scandal. And there stands his wife Alicia (played by Julianne Margulies) standing right by his side, portraying "the Good Wife;" but yet you can see that she is frozen like a deer in the headlights, astonished that she is caught in this position.

As the cameras flash and questions are yelled to the resigning District Attorney, he finishes his statement, grabs his wife's hand and leads her out of the room, caught up in his own world. But as soon as they step into the empty hallway, she slaps her husband across the face, and you realize that soon the tables will turn.

This show is ripped straight from the headlines, depicting a politician who lived a corrupt life, with no regard to his wife or family, and they are the ones who suffer the consequences when their dirty laundry is aired in public. But in our world the media is so caught up in shining the spotlight on the criminal, very rarely do they show sympathy towards the innocent families that are devastated by the fall out.

This show follows Alicia Florrick, a dedicated mother of two teenagers, after her husband is sent to jail and she has to sell their house to pay for Peter's legal fees. She ends up going back to work as a junior associate at a prestigious Chicago Law Firm where she joins her former law school classmate and firm partner Will Gardner (Josh Charles), after being out of the courtroom for 13 years. She gave up her law career to support Peter's career and raise their children, now she has to start at the bottom and prove herself amongst public ridicule as a corrupt politician's scorned wife.

It is wonderful to watch her gain her confidence as she jumps into a pro bono case that the law firm is involved in and starts using her skills as a sharp defense attorney. She finds an ally in Kalinda (Archie Panjabi), the firms tough in house investigator and for the first time in years, Alicia trades her identity as the "good wife" and takes charge of her own destiny.

I applaud the writers of this show and I look forward to watching the series and routing for Alicia Florrick this fall.

Ode to Our Family Pet

2009-08-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago when I met my husband Jeff he had a one year old boxer puppy named Jasmine. She was his baby. And within six months Jeff, Jasmine and I were living together in New Jersey. After just transplanting myself from Florida to New Jersey, Jasmine became my best friend; especially when Jeff was working a lot of hours at the Meadowlands.

As with any couple that doesn't have kids yet, their dog or cat becomes their baby and is considered their child. That was no different with us. Jasmine was our "girlie" and received all of our affection until she was 6 years old, when we decided, since we still did not have children, we would bring another boxer puppy into our family -- a white colored boxer we named Aspen.

Jasmine was so good about becoming the big sister and put up with Aspen's craziness and extreme energy. I think his energy kept her lively over the years. Before he came along she spent a lot of time hanging out on the couch -- but with a new puppy in the house, he kept her busy and they began to play together.

When Jeff and I finally did become pregnant Jasmine was eight years old and we both knew that she would be the protector and once again, big sister. Sure enough, once Zack was born we would find Jasmine laying on the carpet, by Zack's crib whenever he was sleeping.

As Zack has gotten a little older he has stated that these are his "two doggies" and that while Aspen can run around and play rough with him, Jasmine is an "old girlie" who he gives hugs and kisses to.

I am very sad to report that on Sunday, at 11 years old, our loyal, loving, good natured and extremely sweet Jasmine girl passed away, leaving a very large void in our life. I am truly grateful for having her in my life all these years, and loving me and our family unconditionally.

We will all miss her tremendously, but know she is in a place of peace and joy.

Being the Best Dad (FM)

2009-07-31T10:59:00.000-07:00

I was very pleased to have two very interesting Dads on this show. Both of these men have careers that do not revolve around being an author, yet each of them felt compelled to write a book about being the best dad possible, and what impact one father had on his son.

My first guest is Tom McManus, who is a former NFL football player with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is now owner and host of a Sports Talk Radio Show in Florida called "The Rumble with Tom McManus" and he recently published his first book "We'll Always Be Pals." He is also a father to three daughters.

This book was written as an ode to his father who passed away due to cancer while in his seventies. Tom shares his close relationship with his father and how his encouragement and guidance helped him play college and professional football. He also points out several lessons he learned from his father, which has molded him into the man and father he is today for his daughters.

Then Tom Sturges, an Executive VP and Head of Creative for Universal Music Publishing Group, and father to two boys 17 and 11, has written his first book entitled "Parking Lot Rules and 75 Other Ideas for Raising Amazing Children." On one side Tom has worked with some of the greatest songwriters of his generation...shortly after our interview I spoke to him and he had just attended Michael Jackson's Memorial. And on the other side Tom mentors at-risk kids at a south Los Angeles school with a learning program that develops creativity in children via song and lyric writing.

When he first became a dad he wanted to be the "best dad possible" and went in search of books to show him how to do just that. When he couldn't find one, he decided to ask parents, grandparents, sports legends and rock starts for their advice, ideas and tips to be the best father. This book is a compilation of "Rules" he had picked up and found effective over the years.

I think you will find them effective too.

Facebook Obsession

2009-07-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

I am sorry that I haven't been as current on my blogging as I would like, but I have become swept away in the Facebook obsession. While most people have heard about facebook, and many people are already on it (250 million people) I have only recently signed on to see what all the buzz is about.

As with any new trend like blogging and twitter, I have been asked to sign on to the latest trend with Facebook many times over the past year, and for whatever reason have not. But over the past couple of months I must have had three or four people close to me suggest that I get on to use it as a platform for the business, and to connect with old high school friends. It was only until my husband (who is not a social network person) signed on because his cousin wanted him to, and shortly there after had all of my immediate family and cousins signed on as his friends. Suddenly I knew that I was missing out on something!

Within a day I saw what all the commotion was about....I had reconnected with several people that I had been trying to find for several years, to no success -- but yet I sign onto Facebook and there they are. I also discovered that my 25 year high school class reunion was coming up within the week, that people I hadn't thought about in all that time were suddenly wanting to connect with me, and two old friends of mine had gotten married and were living only 30 minutes from me. (which is amazing in itself because I went to high school in Florida and am now living in New Jersey!

My girlfriend and I met up at a Starbucks for coffee and it felt like we had only seen each other last year, rather than 25 years ago. We picked right back up as if the passage of time had not existed.

Each day I am reconnecting with a new person that I had lost touch with, or someone from my really distant past pops up, and I am keeping up to date on what people are doing on a daily basis!! It has also provided a new platform to provide up to date information for my clients and interested parents, that are looking for information and ideas to help empower their children.

So now I will try to balance my blogging, with facebook entries.

Being The Best Mom (FM)

2009-07-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

On my radio show I wanted to tap into two authors addressing issues for moms. The first is Suzanne Eller, a veteran youth worker, author, parenting and youth culture columnist who wrote the book "The Mom I want to Be." I thought this was such a great book because it unearths a topic that is not talked about very often -- how to be a good mother if you have had a painful past. And how to let that past go and not continue the cycle with your own family?

When I was working with kids in foster care I saw so many families that were caught up in the vicious cycle of abuse and didn't know how to change. It requires a lot to not make the same mistakes that were made to you while growing up because there weren't any positive role models to learn positive ways to parent. I loved Suzanne's book and I recommend it to anyone that is trying to do the best for their family and leave a dysfunctional past in the past!!

Then Brenda Nixon joins me. She is also an author, a speaker and parent educator. She has written articles for more than 100 publications and is a contributing author to 23 books and has published 4 of her own. Her most recent book is "The Birth to 5 Book -- Confident Childrearing Right from the Start." During this interview we talked a lot about a child's temperament and knowing who your child is to be able to parent in alignment rather than conflict. Brenda shares with me how temperament consists of specific traits that determine how your child responds to the world.

These are the nine categories that temperaments fall under:

1. Activity Level
2. Regularity
3. Approach/Withdrawal
4. Adaptability
5. Sensory Threshold
6. Quality of Mood
7. Persistence
8. Distractibility
9. Intensity of Reaction

Tap into the show and learn which categories your child falls into and how to relate to your child better and eliminate many of the battles that you may be running into.

Tracey's Tip #22 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-07-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

Find time to get away! The best gift that you can give yourself is to get away for a break -- whether it be for a week long vacation or a short weekend getaway -- time away from the house provides new momentum.

Usually in the summer we go off to Seabrook Island for a week to hang out at the beach, spend the day in the pool, go out to dinner at night and just be lazy. It is the best week because I am not a slave to the house, or the dogs, or an agenda -- I can go at my own pace, and the responsibilities of Zack are shared by both Jeff and myself.

That week away really helps me to clear my head, put the world of work behind, spend quality time with my family and truely enjoy being present in the moment!

I wish the same for you!

Tracey's Tip #21 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-07-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

Try to catch up on your sleep!

With summer upon us life should be going at an easier pace -- the kids aren't having to get off to school, there isn't homework to be done, and activities that have to be attended.

Find some time on the weekends to take a siesta, or sleep later in the morning if you are lucky enough to not have to rush off somewhere....but give your body and your mind a rest.

Your family will thank you for you being happier and more at peace!

Wake Up Call

2009-07-17T10:44:00.000-07:00

Last week my young, athletic, 44 year old brother-in-law had a heart attack while walking through the Port Authority in New York City. He was leaving work and going to catch a bus to the Park in Ride in NJ to then drive home. We are extremely grateful that he was in the Port Authority and received assistance right way. There was a couple of police officers and the EMT's on the scene immediately. They worked on him there and then rushed him to Saint Vincent's Hospital.

The only way that my sister-in-law knew that something had happened,was when she tried calling him on his cell phone and he didn't answer. However, one of the nurses, while working on him, heard it ringing and called her back. She was then told that Dave was at the hospital because of a heart attack. (Talk about being freaked out).

You hear stories all the time of other people having situations like this happen to them, but when it happens to someone close to you, that you would never expect, it makes you stop and reflect on your life. Since then I have highlighted important contacts in my phone in red, and then next to my husbands name -- I wrote husband. And next to my sitters name I wrote sitter. This way if anything happened to me someone would know who the important people are to contact to let them know that I am currently out of commission!

Life is so fragile, as we know. Especially lately with all the celebrities that have passed away recently due to unexpected circumstances. (Michael Jackson, Ed McMahan, Steve McNair, Arturio Gotti, and although Farrah Fawcett's was inevitable it was still shocking and sad)

Sometimes I reflect on the wake up calls that we get in our lives and wonder what people do with that second chance that they are given? Do they make the changes necessary? Or do they fall into old patterns and soon find themselves facing the inevitable quicker than they should?

For me I am thankful every day for my family, my friends, and the wonders of life!

Celebration of Dad (FM)

2009-07-10T10:23:00.000-07:00

This show I recorded for Father's day is a celebration of dad and how much more involved dads are on a day to day basis with their children. Joining me again is Chris Pegula, founder of Diaper Dude, a masculine diaper bag company that has created a lifestyle and brand with the belief that fatherhood doesn't have to be complicated or uncool. His diaper bags are seen in celebrity magazines everywhere, being sported by such celebrity dads such as Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise.

Chris share how his diaper bag appeals to image conscience men everywhere looking for ease of use. And how he had become a role model for dads helping hundreds of dads get into the groove of parenting by approaching fatherhood from a fun, realistic and relaxed perspective.

Then Melissa and Ellie, The Baby Planners are back talking about products and websites that are developed by dads. These are some of the items we discussed:

Miracle Blanket -- mimics how baby is in the womb (a swaddling blanket)

Belle Baby Carrier -- a front carrier for an outdoors lifestyle

Munchkin Company -- Steve Dunn created this company that makes sippy cups, pacifiers, and baby essentials, with the slogan "It's the little things."

Tote-a-tot -- Created by Doug Bacon -- A Car Seat on Wheels to take through the airport.

A Book -- Daddy's Home & Other Poems -- Created by a Father of 2 Stay at Home Dad.

Summertime Safety (FM)

2009-07-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

Now that it REALLY feels like summer in the northeast; after having the month of June filled with rain and chilly weather, this show can now apply to keeping your kids safe while running around outside this summer.

I brought on Debra Holtzman, and internationally recognized safety and health expert and author of the book The Safe Baby: A Do-it Yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healty Living to discuss some of the major concerns of summertime safety. She fills us in on areas to be aware of such as the dangers of portable pools, fireworks and sparklers, as well as drowning prevention and lawn pesticides.

Then Jenna McCarthy, author of the books "The Parent Trip" and "Cheers to the New Mom & Dad", and an internationally published writer with her work appearing in more than 50 magazines and dozens of websites, and mother of 2 daughters, adds humor to the bumps and bruises that our children acquire.

While the first part of my show is more get real, down and dirty information about being an aware parent, the second part of my how is hilarious as Jenna and I discuss how to balance caution as a parent without being afraid of every little thing where our kids are concerned. She dishes on when one of her girls stuck a sharp bead up her nose, when one of the girls fell from the top of a play structure, and once when Jenna was convinced her daughter swallowed a penny and rushed her to the hospital. I on the other hand confess about accidentally locking my son in the car as I got out of the drivers seat to go around to the passenger side to take him out of his car seat and the door locked behind me.

The strangest thing about all of this was, after recording this show, maybe because the discussion of these accidents were floating in the air, later that night is when my son fell 10 feet from our upstairs banister onto the steps below and we thought he had a concussion. (read an earlier blog entry about a parent's worst nightmare.

For all parents out there the hardest thing we can do is allow our children to have freedom to run around and be a kid, while watching that they don't harm themselves in the process. I am constantly trying to figure out that balance.

In the meantime, have a great summer out in the "finally" wonderful weather!!

Kicking Off The Summer (FM)

2009-06-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

To kick off the summer I wanted to bring on two experts to talk about two important topics; how to deal wit a picky eater, and how to keep your child safe from the sun.

Joining me on the topic of picky eaters is Jodi Greebel, President of Citrition and a registered dietitian in New York City, to discuss ways to get your child to eat especially in the summer when all kids want to do is be outside playing and having fun! (www.Citrition.com)

Jodi shares some tricks to feed a picky eater, summertime snacks that are heathly and provide great options between meals, what to do if your child isn't hungry at meal time, how much juice is too much, and how do you know if your child is eating enough protein and veggies? If you have any questions or concerns about your child's eating habits, tap into this show and gain some insight from an expert on nutrition.

Then Liz Eglinton, CEO of Snapper Rock, which is a line of sun protection beach clothes created for toddlers and kids, joins me to discuss keeping your child safe in the sun. Liz created this line of clothing (which are funky, fun and lightweight) back in 2003 because her family had a history of Cancer and she saw a need to develop a range of clothing to protect our next generation from the sun. Snapper Rock is now sold in over 300 stores in 15 countries and a lot of celebrity parents are now purchasing her clothes for their kids. (www.SnapperRock.com)

I actually have two pairs of swim suits with matching tops, and a beach hat for my son and he absolutely loves them. You will hear on the show how much I rave about her clothes because my son is so finicky. He will change his clothes 3 - 4 times a day on a regular basis, depending on how he is feeling at the moment. And there are certain shirts he refuses to wear. In the mornings I usually let him pick out what he wants to put on, otherwise he will fight with me (which is a battle that neither one of us needs).

The day that his first outfit appeared in the mail I showed it to him and asked him if he wanted to try it on. He was excited and put both pieces on right away. Figuring he would want to get out of the outfit afte trying it on, I asked him to keep it on until his dad came home so he could see it. Instead he loved the outfit SO MUCH he didn't want to take it off for days. He kept it on to show Jeff, then he wanted to sleep in it that night, so I let him, and then he wanted to continue wearing it to his sitters the next morning. Then over the next few days he would keep changing in and out of it, with my needing to wash it twice. Now he wears either outfit to the beach whenever he can!

Liz talks about factors affecting fabric UV protection, the difference in UVA and UVB rays, and the sun protection factors. If you are interested in finding out the best ways to protect your children from getting burned this summer, when all they want to do is be outside, tap into this show and gain a few mothering tips.

Tracey's Tip #20 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-06-26T08:16:00.000-07:00

Try to focus on living in the moment!

When you are with your children be present and soak up the time together. Cherished memories are captured by living in the NOW.

Kids grow up so quickly and you want to be able to enjoy all the fun statements they say and the wonderful experience they live through.

Be present for your kids and for yourself!

Tracey's Tip #19 -- Being A Balanced Mom

2009-06-26T08:11:00.000-07:00

As summertime is upon us, figure out ways to enjoy the summer with your kids.

Spend time focused on having fun, getting outdoors, playing, and taking advantage of a more casual and easy going lifestyle.

Leave the chores and 'to do' list behind and go out and have fun in the sun!

Create those lifelong memories with your family!

A Parents Worst Nightmare

2009-06-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

We actually had a huge scare with Zack a couple of weeks ago. It was the evening and I was arriving home from work. I walked in through the garage, and I heard Zack yelling to me from the stoop above as I began walking up the stairs to come onto the main floor. Suddenly I saw something fall from above onto the steps in front of me and my first thought was that Zack had thrown a doll down to me....and then I immediately realized that it was him. He must have been playing on the railing above and had slipped and fallen about 10 feet from above me onto his head on the wooden stairs with very little padding from a border rug that covered them!!!!

I dropped everything and grabbed him so that he wouldn't fall further down the stairs -- yelled for Jeff who dashed down, scooped him up and brought him upstairs to see how he was. I was freaking. Oh my god, is he alright?

Jeff was checking him all over for any broken bones, asking him if anything hurt, did he know his name, how many fingers were we holding up, who were we etc... But no bump began to form on his head from the fall and I began thinking that he had experienced some internal injuries -- like Natasha Richardson!!!

Once we assessed that he seemed to understand who he was, where he was, etc...I called the doctor to find out what I should be looking for in case there is a concussion.

The doctor was very nice and shared with me that we needed to watch him for three days because symptoms may not appear right away. If he was sluggish, not acting like himself, wanting to lay on the couch and his head continued to hurt him over the next couple of days she recommended that I bring him in. Also, she wanted us to go in and check on him a couple times throughout the night to see that he wasn't in a really deep sleep. We should touch him feet and see that he responds. Not to wake him up but to see that he is conscious on some level, which we did.

We are so lucky! Besides having a headache for a day (because he took a tremendous fall onto his head) and laying on the couch for a little while afterwards, later that night he was up playing and appeared to be fine!

Let's just say that I was holding my breathe for a day or so until we saw that he was fine! I totally believe that the toddler angels were watching over him and took care that he was alright!

A Relationship Checkup (FM)

2009-06-23T16:20:00.001-07:00

One of the main areas that I like to focus on is how to strengthen a couple's relationship and provide tips and tools to stay connected. This can be an especially hard task when adding a baby or children to the family mix.

On this show I am joined by Barton Goldsmith, PhD who has more than 20 years experience as a therapist and was named one of the country's top relationship experts. He has written two books that I absolutely loved called "Emotional Fitness for Couples" and "Emotional Fitness for Intimacy." They are both a very easy read, with great tips for couples that can be easily implemented and accomplished in 10 minutes a day.

Now who doesn't have ten minutes a day to dedicate to their relationship???

Barton made a very interesting statement about why he titled the books the way he did. His comment was that most people spend more time "working out" and on the physical health of their body than they do on their relationship, which is just as important.

Tap into some examples that he shares from his book as well as two important tips about how a couple can handle financial stress in their relationship, and how important it is to "go to bed together" -- and have that time for cuddling and just touching.....

Than Shoshana Bennett, PhD, a regular contributor to my show focused on mom's mental health, joined me to talk about reigniting intimacy after baby. She also talks about the many factors that come into play as barriers to the easy flow a couple enjoyed before becoming pregnant and having a baby. We get personal when discussing intimacy and how often it can be the glue that holds a relationship together. But what happens if it isn't happening in the bedroom.....and how easy it can be to fall into a slump where intimacy becomes the last thing on a woman's mind.

Moms need to be aware of the dynamics that play out around her as she becomes comfortable with her role as a new mom, and how dads may feel left out as moms dedicate all their attention to the new baby.

Tap in to Family Matters and get a relationship checkup.

Tapping Into Your Assets (FM)

2009-06-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long delay in getting back to my blog....but time seemed to have gotten away from me!

As we continue to live in a crazy, constantly changing world, I wanted to focus one of my shows on how parents can utilize their best resources for the benefit of their family. For this show I brought on Kathi Crawford, founder of People Possibilities and a human resource specialist with over 15 years experience to discuss how to tap into your company's benefits such as paternity leave, health benefits, maternity and unpaid leave. She enlightened me on a new family and medical leave expansion act for smaller companies, and the company's requirement to protect your job when you are away on leave.

Then Mindee Doney, Co-Creator of Boogie Wipes and Co-Founder of Little Busy Bodies, Inc. talks about how to utilize your "moms skills" to start a business. At a time when families are looking for ways to supplement their incomes or prepare for a shift with their current job, Mindee shares information about how to tap into your skills and find opportunity within your current circles to generate revenue.

The ladies at Boogie Wipes are also launching a new section on their website for resources that "mompreneurs" can tap into, as well as two new opportunities for moms to work for Boogie Wipes on a part time/freelance basis through the Boogie Brigade, or Boogie Believers. Check out their website to learn more at wwww.BoogieWipes.com.

Advice For Moms & Dads (FM)

2009-05-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

In thinking about the topic for this radio show, two authors came to mind. One of them always makes me laugh and knew she would add humor to this show, and that is Jenna McCarthy (not to be confused with Jenny McCarthy). Jenna wrote the book "The Parent Trip: From High Heels and Parties to High Chairs and Potties" and just came out with a new one entitled "Cheers to the New Mom/Dad," just in time for Mother's and Father's Day.

The second author has written a very intriguing book and I really wanted to get his input on a man/dad's mindset. He is Charles Orlando and has written the book "The Problem with Women is Men -- The evolution of a man's man to a man of higher evolution." Needless to say it was a title that grabbed my attention, and made me feel that having Charles as a guest would be very enlightening!

Just as I was getting ready to interview Jenna I ran across an article in the USA Today that I thought was extremely relevant to the topic of passing along words of wisdom to my new parent listeners. It was titled "More Parents Share the Workload When Moms Learns to Let Go...." I know that when I became a new mother it was very difficult in the beginning to hand over the reins to my husband to take care of my son.....he didn't know what certain cries meant, he did things differently from me and would he have the patience to handle Zack without getting upset? These were all the thoughts that ran through my head whenever Jeff stepped in to help. But I soon realized that I needed to hand Zack over and walk away if I was ever going to get any time to myself (to accomplish anything, or even if that meant taking a shower in peace) and Jeff needed to learn how to handle Zack in his own way.

Needless to say Jenna and I had many laughs about letting our husbands share the workload and how two type A personality women had to learn the hard way (and how maybe we are still learning!!)

Then Charles filled me in on all that he ldiscovered after talking with and interviewing almost 1600 men and women for his book. Learn tips about the core flaws of men, what they bring to the relationship, and how women should interact with those flaws.

Passing along words of wisdom to moms and dads.

Many Toddler Firsts

2009-05-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

This past weekend my son Zack experienced a couple of firsts and it is so amazing watching a little person experience something for the first time. I loved watching the excitement in his face and his enthusiasm for the event. Spending these times together with my son brings joy and happiness to every aspect of my life!

On Saturday he went to his first "real" birthday party. We had thrown him a birthday party for his 2nd birthday in December, but had only invited two children that he plays with on a regular basis, along with various adult friends and family. But this party was for his good friend Natalie who was turning 4 years old and there were 15 children there varying in ages from 2 1/2 (he was the youngest) to 9 years old. It was a wonderful party with a Luau theme and while the children were engrossed in various games and playing with all the other kids, the adults were chatting, drinking wine and enjoying themselves as well. It was a win-win for everyone involved!

But when Zack first arrived he became a little overwhelmed by all the children and the fact that he had to share his "best friend Natalie" was all these other children. So he was unsure about what to do, he was clinging to me, and started to cry if I wasn't right there with him. But once he settled into the atmosphere and got into the fun of the event he was fine, and was soon running with all the rest of the kids! We had a wonderful time and chocked up our first birthday party event.

Then on Sunday my husband and I took Zack to the circus! The Shriners were putting on a circus in Morristown, NJ and we decided to head down there for the 12:30 show. We arrived at around quarter to 12:00, got our tickets, talked to a couple of the clowns that were mulling around in the entrance and then walked around. We soon discovered that they were having pony and elephant rides and the first thing Zack wanted to do was to ride a pony. So we bought our ticket and I walked with him around in a circle as he rode atop a beautiful tan colored pony. The we bought some popcorn, hot dogs and water to really experience the circus feel.

Soon the circus started and Zack was amazed by the Tigers, the man riding a motorcycle on the high wire, the clowns, the acrobats and performing dogs. But with any new experience we realized that an hour into the event he started getting tired....it was time for his nap, and the circus decided to take a 20 min (or so) intermission and it became time for us to leave. Sure enough, 5 minutes into the car ride home he was fast asleep in the back seat!

But he did get to enjoy his first circus, and maybe next time we will be able to stay for the whole show! But for Jeff and I it was a wonderful outing, just experiencing the circus through his eyes!

You can't get much better than that!!

Tracey's Tip #18 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-05-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

Based on my radio interview with Jenna McCarthy -- L.I.G. -- Let It Go!!

Many of us are perfectionists and have Type A personalities and want everything to be just so! But if your partner is willing to watch the kids while you go off and have "me" time....and if the house or the children aren't just so when you get back home -- Let It Go!

As long as everyone is happy, and no one got hurt while you were gone, that is what matters. Moms need to let dads handle things while they are away and give them the space and the consideration to do it.....so they will continue doing it!

Balanced moms need a team to help her and she needs to let that team do their jobs!

Tracey's Tip #17 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-05-15T11:34:00.001-07:00

Drop the guilt!!

There are only so many things that you can take care of and get done in a day. If one day you can't get that perfectly nutritious dinner on the table, it's ok if you order in for pizza, or pick up a bucket of fried chicken on the way home.

If your kids are happy and healthy -- that is what matters!

Focus on all the great things that you do...instead of what you weren't able to do that day!

You are a great mom and your kids love you for it!

In Sickness & In Health

2009-05-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago my son came down with a stomach bug and it was the first time he has been really sick. Up to this point he has had several sinus infections and small colds, but nothing that has kept him from not going to the sitters during the week.

But this time I had to clear my calendar, cancel appointments and reschedule radio show interviews to stay at home and take care of Zack. It was an interesting experience!! I felt so bad. Zack was so scared about vomiting because he hadn't experienced that before, and of course he didn't like it! (who does??) So he was clinging to me on the couch, and where normally he would be running and playing, now he was sedate and lethargic.

He instead cuddled on the couch watching movies, barely eating, trying to keep liquids down and keep him hydrated -- while he carried a low grade fever and was experiencing bouts of diarrhea.

A phone call to the doctor, and then a trip into the office to make sure I was doing everything I could, and to verify that he didn't have anything more serious than a stomach bug. Luckily the doctor said he should be fine in a few days.

During that time period I learned all about the items I should be feeding him (bananas, saltines, toast, cheerios and plain rice) and the drinks I should be pushing such as pedialyte and gatorade to replenish his electrolytes.

The whole experience made me feel so helpless because I couldn't do anything to "make him feel better," and I hated seeing him suffer; especially when I knew his head hurt and his tummy was upset.

I just had to wait it out and be there for him!
Four days later he was back to his old self and ready to eat!!
A very good sign.

An Ode to Mom (FM)

2009-05-10T10:52:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day I wanted to do an Ode to Mom and who better to help me but Ellie and Melissa from The Baby Planners -- my Baby Product Experts. Through their travels they meet more and more women who have become moms and then saw a need that was not being met and decided to fill it themselves.

On this show we start out by talking about "Moms Who Have Made It" by turning motherhood into a business through websites and baby products. Two regular contributors on my show fall into this category -- Dr. JJ Levenstein, a pediatrician who collaborated with another pediatrician mom to create Baby Silk, a line of products for babies. And Mindee Dooney and Julie Pickens who created Boogie Wipes, when they were constantly chasing after their children's runny noses.

Ellie and Melissa discuss many great websites:
www.TheWellMom.com
www.TheCradle.com
www.HotMomsClub.com

And several wonderful products:
Emily Green
Mountain Blue Eyes
Rain or Shine Kids
Woobies

Then later in the show Lu Hanessien, author of the book "Let the Baby Drive" discusses how moms should Trust Their Gut and Follow Their Instinct, and learn to block the outside world's input, because no one knows your child better than you do!

So to all the Mothers out there, I hope you enjoy the day dedicated to all that you do for your family!

Happy Mother's Day

Tracey's Tip #16 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-05-09T10:42:00.000-07:00

If you don't already have it in place, gather up a list of babysitters and keep in handy. I am right now tapping into kids in my neighborhood to arrange for nights out with my husband.

Babysitters are also great to use in case I need to do something where I can't bring Zack, and my husband is working.

We all know this but sometimes we forget about ourselves and will tend to put ourselves last. If our partner or family members aren't around to watch our children, we may forgo the event instead. To stay balanced and be the best mom we can be, we need our own time, whether it be to work out or to go out with friends.

So as the summer nears tap into those college kids who are home for the summer -- they are looking for ways to make a little extra money!

Tracey's Tip #15 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-05-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Learn to tap into your inner voice to determine what you should do in regards to raising your children, handling a particular issue and going about your daily life.

Sometimes my brain will tell me the things I "should get done" but my inner voice will tell me to take a break and recharge a little. Those things can always get taken care of later.....because what I really need is a break, especially when I have the opportunity to take one (like when my son is taking a nap)!

What is your inner voice saying to you? Can you hear it?

Expectant Mothers Day (FM)

2009-05-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

When I was about 4 months pregnant we chose Mothers Day to let everyone in our family know that we were pregnant. And even though it was a joyous day I still felt a tremendous longing for the day I would be able to officially celebrate Mothers Day as a mom!

It was the next year that I discovered May 4th is officially Expectant Mother's Day and I thought 'how wonderful is that' to honor the pregnant woman that is carrying her child to birth; and especially if it is her first child and one she has been longing for!! (like I was)

So I wanted to dedicate this show to all the Expectant Mothers and Fathers out there by bringing on two experts to provide information they wished they would have received before bringing baby home.

Gregory Keer, my fatherhood expert and publisher of www.familymanonline.com, is also a father of three children. He discusses tapping into paternity leave, prioritizing your new family and not extended family, how not to feel guilty about asking for help, be careful where you spend your money, and accept failure as part of the process.

Then Claudine Wolk, author of the book "It Get's Easier! And other Lies we Tell New Mothers" and mother of three children of her own, dishes on her own pieces of advice. She shares how new moms should become friends with their delivery nurse, how you should watch a woman breastfeed before having to it yourself, make sure you get help when you get home and start building a list of babysitters to tap into, get your baby on a sleep schedule and put the baby down to sleep when he is drowsy, not completely asleep.

If you are expecting your first, second or third tap into these words of wisdom because as my experts shared, they learned these tips on the second or third time around!!

Being Emotionally Ready

2009-05-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I wrote an entry about how my son had transitioned from the crib to the toddler bed, and how monumental that felt for me. Well, it was just as monumental for my son, but in a difficult way.

During that first week when Zack began sleeping in his bed without the railing on the side, he was constantly crawling into our bed in the middle of the night. Now in the past if he would need us he would call out in the morning and one of us would go get him. But almost all the time he was sleeping through the night. So why now was he getting up in the middle of the night and wandering into our bed? Besides the fact that he could??

Was not having the railing there waking him up if he rolled over, or was he scared he was going to fall out of the crib?

Finally after several days of this I asked Zack if he was scared about falling out of the bed and he said yes. So Jeff and I talked about him not being "ready" for the toddler bed emotionally -- even though he could physically crawl out of the crib.

Later that day Jeff put the side back on the crib and it seemed to work. Even if Zack did wake up and come into our room, I could put him back in the crib and he would fall right back to sleep.

Sometimes children may be physically or mentally ready for a transition in their life but emotionally their not. It is our job as their parents to pay attention and to not push them before their ready!

Surrogacy Goes Celebrity

2009-04-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Just as I entered my blog the other day about my radio show topic on Surrogacy as a conceivable option, I clicked on to USAToday.com last night and read the headline that Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband Matthew Broderick were expecting! First off, I love Sarah Jessica Parker, and who didn't get glued to the television when Sex In The City came on once a week...but I also loved watching Matthew Broderick back when he was acting in movies on a regular basis....with my favorite movie of his being Ferris Bueller's Day Off!

So I was excited to hear that they were going to add another child to their family. But I was surprised when I read further into the article that they are expecting twin girls this summer through a surrogate, and thought how interesting a coincidence that is. Up to this point celebrities having babies have been splashed across magazines as the topic to cover, and "following their bump" through pregnancy to delivering their baby is hot news! But I haven't heard any celebrity say that they have used a surrogate to expand their family!

I will be very interested to see what further information comes out about this exciting news and whether or not it will open the door to other celebrity couples going the route of surrogacy, as an option?

Conceivable Options/Surrogacy (FM)

2009-04-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

To highlight Infertility Awareness Week as in international issue, I brought Mindy Berkson back on the show. As founder of Lotus Blossom Consulting (www.LotusBlossomConsulting.com), she has become the premier national resource for offering unique, unbiased infertility consulting to help explore family building options for individuals and couples. And one conceivable option for family building being discussed on my show is surrogacy.

But before Mindy talks in depth about the many movable parts involved in gestational or traditional surrogacy, one of her clients Shari Stewart is very gracious in sharing her personal journey, with her husband Bob, to find a surrogate.

After going through numerous IVF treatments to conceive their two boys, Shari and Bob found themselves with a difficult decision. It seemed to confront them on a yearly basis when a bill came due for the storage fee of their 8 frozen embryos they had created from their previous IVF treatments. What should they do? Discard them, donate them to research, or locate a surrogate to implant the embryos and carry their child to birth?

These are all interesting, emotional and philosophical questions that a couple faces when dealing with stored embryos.

It was one of the reasons the Octuplet mom gave when talking about all the embryos she had implanted.....she didn't want to discard her frozen embryos and her belief that those embryos were her children.

Supposedly there are hundreds of thousands of frozen embryos being stored across the country.....costing families a lot of money in storage fees, and creating an ultimately difficult decision about their fate.

Which was one of the reasons I liked what Dr. Shapiro discussed with me on an earlier show, regarding the fact that it is easier for people to discard frozen eggs, rather than frozen embryos.

Tap into this show to learn more about how Shari and Bob chose surrogacy, and how Mindy Berkson helped them achieve their goals.

Tracey's Tip #14 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-04-26T10:41:00.000-07:00

Spend some quality time with friends. Many times busy moms find that between work, taking care of the family and the house, there is very little time for themselves.

One of the best ways to carve out some "me" time is scheduling time to get together with a friend; to talk, connect, vent, and see the world from another perspective....from someone that cares about you and loves you unconditionally.

Friendships always keep women balanced!

Tracey's Tip #13 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-04-26T10:38:00.001-07:00

Add fun to your life! And what better way to do that then fun activities with your kids. There are plenty of times to "be the parent" -- but there are also wonderful moments to be a kid with your child.

Some examples of those activities are easter egg decorating, hunting for eggs, getting outside, and spending time in nature with your family! So go have fun!!

Food Allergies & Nutrition (FM)

2009-04-25T10:53:00.000-07:00

In today's world it seems that a tremendous number of children are having food allergies and these allergies have become a concern for new parents. Dr. J.J. Levenstein MD, spends time on my show debunking the fears of allergies and the concerns of pregnant women who may feel that they are created in the womb. Learn where Dr. JJ feels these allergies have started and what to be aware of as your infant grows into a toddler and starts expanding his food choices.

Then Nicole Meadow, a registered dietitian focused on pediatric nutrition, goes in depth in how to help your child learn good eating habits from the beginning. Obesity in children has become out of sight -- causing an increase in childhood diabetes. She also delves into role modeling healthy behaviors and creating a lifestyle for your child to follow that includes activity and not being sedentary. Tap into Nicole's segment on how to offer healthy food and not get into food battles with your child. www.NicoleMeadow.com

Easter & Kick Off of Spring (FM)

2009-04-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

Easter can be a fun holiday as it kicks off the beginning of spring. There are Easter egg coloring, hunts for Easter eggs, brightly colored baskets, straw hats for church, and yummy chocolate bunnies.

I wanted to create a fun radio show filled with family fun activities to be shared with everyone; and that was done beautifully by Debra Immergut, Senior Editor of Family Fun Magazine. She opened the show by providing crafts, parties and activity suggestions for Easter and spring time. You can tap into some great ideas provided by Debra on the show, and also through their website www.FamilyFun.com on a monthly basis.

Then, later on in the show, I welcomed Debra Pascali-Bonaro, President of Mother Love, Inc. -- one of the oldest doula training and consulting agencies in North America, to talk about the role of a doula in assisting moms while giving birth. Since Easter is a time of rebirth, I wanted to focus on helping moms with the "birthing process." Debra goes in depth discussing the benefits of having a doula involved in a mom's delivery, and what the difference is between a doula, midwife, and a regular doctor. Lean about the importance of working with a doula......and Happy Spring!

Fitness & Nutrition for Pre-Natal & New Moms (FM)

2009-04-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

While most expectant moms realize that they have to eat right and exercise during pregnancy, there are many issues surrounding those two topics that are misunderstood.

On this show I am talking with Sheila Watkins, Founder and National Program Director of Healthy Moms Pre/Postnatal Fitness Programs and Jodi Citrin Greebel, a registered dietitian and President of Citrition, a nutrition counseling practice in New York City.

Sheila starts out by saying that a marathon runner would not jump into running a marathon without intensive training, and expectant mothers should consider training for their main event, The Sport of Motherhood. Exercise has a lot of benefits for expectant moms such as getting her body in shape for labor and delivery, as well as the physical toll that being a new mother entails.

It also helps to keep the pregnancy weight gain down, helps return to pre-pregnancy weight faster, decrease pregnancy related discomforts, increase muscular endurance and strength, and fit women tend to have shorter labors with a marked decrease in the need for medical intervention. There are also psychological benefits as well, such as: good feelings of well being, improved self image, enhanced self esteem, less tension, anxiety and fatigue, a feeling or more control, and a stronger conditioned response to control labor discomforts.

Then Jodi shares information about nutrition for pregnancy, and especially for after delivery, when a new mom is breastfeeding. So often new moms are so busy taking care of the baby that they have a tendency to skip meals, or grab whatever is easiest but this is not healthy. Jodi and I discuss how important it is for mom to take care of herself, especially when she is recovering; and with a lack of sleep, she needs to keep up her health for herself and the new baby. Plus, for breastfeeding, moms require an extra 500 calories than normal so don't skimp during this time!

Tap into the show and learn about key nutrients needed during breastfeeding, calorie needs during pregnancy, and how not to add extra unwanted pounds. Find out the importance of Omega-3 fats, healthy snack ideas, and foods to avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Tracey's Tip #12 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-04-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

Don't neglect yourself. It is real easy to put everyone in your family ahead of yourself and that is not a good place to be. Find the time to eat right, and don't skip meals. Make time for exercise, to clear your head and recharge your body.

You are the heart of the family, and to be there for everyone else, you need to take care of yourself!

Tracey's Tip #11 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-04-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

Now that Spring is upon us -- it provides a great opportunity to get outside, take a walk, go for a hike, just get outdoors and clear your head!

Being out in nature helps to ground us and allows us to think clearer. It also helps to bring us back into balance -- so get outdoors!

A Battle of Wills

2009-04-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I really experienced the terrible two's in action. There have been times over the past several months where my son has had meltdowns and we have worked through them. But the numerous temper tantrums that Zack experienced the last couple of days seemed to go on forever and were like something from a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde episode.

I was so concerned at one point that I was combing the Internet for information about temper tantrums to find out if this was a phase, or part of his personality that I should be concerned about!! Usually my son is so easy going and happy, that when he does get strong willed about something I can easily divert him, or give in to the situation because it is not a big deal. But these tantrums were over something he became frustrated about, or became a battle of wills, in which he wanted me to do something that second and would not take "no" for an answer, causing a sudden eruption.

Now as a mom, I get tired of doing a million things for my son, but he is a toddler and I am there to help him get what he needs. But there is also a fine line that gets pushed throughout the day when there are things he can do himself, that I shouldn't have to do for him, and there are things that I need to do, that will cause him to wait until I am done before I can help him. So patience and self sufficiency are tools that he is being pushed into learning that he may not like and I have to tow the line as his parent.

But with these episodes I could not give in to his behavior and set up a pattern with him believing that it will get him what he wants. So I saw my son erupt into a temper tantrum in which I couldn't talk to him, he wouldn't listen to anything I was saying, he started hitting, and would continue to scream....there was no calming him down. Time outs were not an option because he wasn't calm enough to sit, and it was as if all he saw was red.

What I did learn from various articles is that this is normal (great) and that I need to wait it out....try to calm him down and help him with his words...which is what I know as a professional, and have tried with him in the past but these episodes where uncontrollable!! But ultimately it will work itself out.

My husband was worried about even going out to dinner last night because we didn't want Zack to have an episode out at the restaurant and have to leave. But when we left for the restaurant and all the time that he was there, he was his happy go lucky self, flirting with the waitresses, dancing in his seat to the music, waving and talking to the other people going to their tables -- our precious little boy was back! But when would Dr. Jekyll come back to invade my sons body again?

The Business of Being a Mom (FM)

2009-04-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

The most challenging position in the world is being a mother and juggling a career. Not only is being a mom difficult on it's own, but then try juggling a full time career while trying to be the best at both. Which is what a lot of this radio show is all about -- how to find resources and answers to make life easier because before baby came along, most women were juggling a busy life to begin with.

On this show I am joined by Mindee Dooney, co-creator of Boogie Wipes, and now a regular contributor on the show as a Mom in Business expert. She had two children when she launched the product line of Boogie Wipes with her partner in December of 2007, she then got pregnant, and just recently gave birth to her third child, while building a successful business. She shares some parallel mom skills with business skills that can be used not only at the office, but also at home. Skills such as time management, schmoozing, strategy, negotiation and multi-tasking. Learn how she has managed to keep her personal and business life trucking along.

Then Laura Lowell, a mom, entreprenur and author of the book 42 Rules for Working Moms discusses some rules that she uncovered through her own experience, and by interviewing hundreds of other mothers while researching her book. She shared with me how 70% of all moms work in some capacity out of the home. If you are one of those mothers learn about several things to consider when first bringing baby home, how organization is the key to your sanity, and don't forget about your partner, he plays a major role in helping you keep it all afloat!

Tap in to the radio show and see if you can pick up some tips to make your life a little easier.

Tracey's Tip #10 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-04-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

Try to take life one day at a time....especially if you are juggling several little ones!

Don't try to do it all.

Keep a "to do list" as it will help you stay organized, but take each day as it comes. If you don't get to finish your to do list, that is ok as well. Don't put undo pressure on yourself. Just move those unfinished items to the next day and try to prioritize what is most important...move those to the top of the list and the other items can get done as you find the time.

Let your day unfold as it should and stay in the moment as much as you can.

Find joy in your family!

Parenting Multiples (FM)

2009-04-02T08:18:00.001-07:00

On my radio show I have addressed challenges and solutions for recovering from a c-section, dealing with sleep deprivation, teaching your child to sleep through the night and reconnecting with your spouse after baby. Now multiply those difficulties by 2 or 3 and that is what parents of multiples are coping with.

Maureen Boyle, Executive Director of MOST (mothers of supertwins) knows that better than anyone. As a mother of triplets and two other single children, she founded the organization 20 years ago to provide information and resources to parents of multiples. Over that period of time the organization has grown to 250 volunteers working in nearly every state and 50 countries worldwide. She has a website with a wealth of information (mostonline.org) and has created a magazine called Supertwins. She has also developed another website www.premiecare.org to address the needs of multiples that are delivered premature.

Then later on the show I am joined by Trista DeFilipis who shares her parenting experiences after delivering twin girls almost 9 months ago, while juggling her son who was 18 months at the time. She opens up about what she learned, good and bad, with raising three children under 2 years of age.

If you are having multiples or are trying to juggle the responsibility of twins, triplets or more tap into this show and learn from others who have been there.

Baby to Toddler Milestones

2009-03-31T07:51:00.000-07:00

As your baby grows and develops, each day, week, and month there are new things that your baby can do, and it is amazing to watch the progress. I can remember at 4 months how my son was able to finally sit up in a reclining high chair and that seemed like such a milestone....to have him sit at the table with us.

Then there is moving from just having formula to starting to eat solids, having your baby start rolling around on the floor, then moving to to crawling throughout the house, and then walking. With each accomplishment I could see my son becoming a little boy.

Now as he is almost 27 months his vocabulary, the way he articulates his feelings and interacts intelligently with the world around him is so much fun to watch. And one big milestone for us that just happened last week was converting my sons crib to a toddler bed. I felt as if it was such a monumental step, as if really acknowledging that my son is not a baby anymore.

This transition was made because Zack had started climbing out of his crib and crawling into bed with me in the morning. The first day he did it he scared me because he just appeared at my side of the bed and I was dazed, wondering how he got there. Before he realized that he could swing him leg over the side of the crib, crawl down the slats and jump to the ground in a flash, he would stand up in his crib and call out to Jeff or I to get him up. But with his new found ability, why wait for us when he can get out himself -- which is what he began to do after that first time.

This caused us to be concerned for his safety as he started climbing out early in the morning and late at night; we didn't want him to fall and hurt himself. So Jeff and I made a big deal out of converting his crib to a toddler bed and how much of a big boy he has become.

To me it felt like a rite of passage, my son was not a baby anymore!

Tracey's Tip #9 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-03-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

Take a yoga class to get out of your head, tap into the positive energy of yoga and just be in the moment for that class. One of my favorite types of Yoga is considered 'Hot Yoga' or Bikram yoga. It is yoga that is done for 90 minutes in 100 degree heat. But the heat is a dry heat which allows a person to totally warm up their muscles, provides for deeper stretching and causes a person to sweat out all the toxins in their body.

For me it provides for deep stretching in my back and neck which are always hunched over the computer or on the phone. I feel so much better when I walk out of the class after sweating out a bunch of toxins, and the long poses allow me to meditate and focus my mind on being in the moment instead of caught up in my constant 'to do list.'

Tracey's Tip #8 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-03-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

Many times outside negativity can seep in and throw a woman off balance, without even realizing that it is happening. Stop and figure out if negativity is seeping into your life. Is it coming from the media, or from people around you? I find that only scanning the news and not getting into it to deep helps me because the media has a tendency to build on fear and negativity -- which doesn't help anyone.

Try not to let that energy into your space. Always look towards the positive of a situation and try to stay in the positive flow of life, because that energy tends to bring answers and good things your way!

Options for Continuing Your Family (FM)

2009-03-25T08:13:00.000-07:00

In today's world people are having children later in life, whether it be because of career demands, waiting to find their right partner, or putting off the commitment of children. So when a couple does finally decide to start trying to become pregnant they may find that it isn't happening and infertility may be an issue. This is especially true for women who get pregnant in their mid 30's, wait awhile before trying for baby #2 and may run into a secondary infertility issue.

Joining me to discuss options for continuing your family is Mindy Berkson, founder of Lotus Blossum Consulting, one of the first infertility consultancies in the U.S. She is a one stop shop resource for all information dealing with trying to have a child when infertility is an issue. But what I love is her philosophy in discussing with a couple what their End Family Building Goal is. Not just that "I want to have a baby today and how can we make that happen," but more importantly, how to create a family of 2 or more children and work backwards; if that is the ultimate goal.

She can also work to maximize a couple's health insurance coverage to make that happen, and can provide direction for egg banking, egg donation, sperm bank and surrogacy avenues.

Then later on the show Dr. Daniel Shapiro, MD, an endocrinologist with Reproductive Biology Associates in Atlanta, Georgia talks in depth about the cutting edge work he has been doing with egg freezing. When I heard about the successes with egg freezing my immediate thought went to all the women in their early 30's that are thinking about putting off having kids until later on.....and how they can now freeze those eggs as an insurance policy.

But Dr. Shapiro also filled me in on three other reasons for egg freezing besides egg preservation; egg banking/egg donation, for cancer patients and the normal management of IVF treatments. We also discussed the difficulty couples have in disposing of unused embryos created during IVF. But with egg freezing there is no longer a need to create extra embryos, and it becomes much easier to discard unused eggs versus unused embryos.

Learn about all the option available for continuing that family that you desire.

Getting Away to Reconnect (FM)

2009-03-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

With my radio show I am always trying to provide resources, ideas, tips and tools to make life easier and to solidify a couple's relationship. Sometimes a couple's life can get put on the back burner once kids arrive, and what better way to jump start the connection than by getting away.

I have always felt that stepping out of the day to day routine and getting away from the hustle and bustle adds freshness to one's relationship. For this show I wanted to highlight two locations that provide a venue for quality time together, as well as romance and opportunities to reconnect.

The first destination is a 10 acre private island off the coast of Georgia called Eagle Island. With a 1700 sq foot lodge that sleeps 12, has 2 full baths, a 1500 sq. foot wrap around porch, and is fully equipped with everything a family needs, it provides a total getaway that can be rented for the week or a long weekend. The best part of staying at this lodge is the tremendous customer service. Andy Hill shares how guest services can stock the refrigerator before arrival, can rent and have delivered any baby items that are needed such as a crib or high chair, and can purchase diapers and baby food to have on hand as well. Guest services can also arrange activities for older kids and provide boating over to the local beach -- whatever their guests need, they are ready to accomodate!

It sounds like a heavenly retreat.

Then Mark Vandaloo, the General Manager of the Casa Marina Hotel and Restaurant, located on Jacksonville Beach, Florida talks up his family friendly historic hotel. With 23 rooms and parlor suites that come complete with ocean views and outdoor seating, the hotel provides an Old World Charm and Romance, with family friendly amenities. Being a beach property the hotel has it's own allure, but is also centrally located between the city of Jacksonville with its many activities, and St. Augustine with its trolleys, carriage rides, tours and museums, providing plenty to do with the family.

Tap in and learn about two destinations that you may want to escape to with your family!

Tracey's Tips #7 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-03-13T11:53:00.000-07:00

If you and your partner are happy, it makes your life much brighter. Your days are more in harmony when you feel your other half is there loving and supporting you.

So if your relationship is feeling out of balance address it through communication, and discuss ways to clear out any disharmony.

Strengthening Your Relationship (FM)

2009-03-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

I have worked with children and families for over 15 years and I have found one thing to be true; if parents are happy in their relationship, than kids feel more secure and happier overall.

On this show I wanted to talk to two experts about relationships after baby. Michele Weiner-Davis is a marriage therapist and maintains a therapy practice called "The Divorce Busting Center." She has also authored a book entitled The Sex Starved Marriage. While on a couple of previous shows I have talked about the importance of sex and intimacy in a couple's relationship, Michele confirms that emotional intimacy and the quality of ones marriage can be viewed as a barometer of what is happening behind closed doors.

Loving relationships are based on mutual care taking and if the sex is not happening as much as one of the partners would like, that person needs to ask the question 'what would make you feel closer to me to be more physical?' Again it comes down to open communication with your partner and how to work as a team to turn around the decline in your sex lives.

The importance of communication continues with my second guest, Harlan Cohen, author of the book Dad's Pregnant Too and founder of the website www.DadsPregnant.com. Harlan shares how playing an active partner role during moms pregnancy sets the foundation for continuing that role after baby arrives.

Through his book and website, dads are provided with information about what's going on with the pregnancy, how that is affecting their partner, and how to spoil their pregnant partner. With this knowledge dads are able to understand their role better and can acknowledge what makes them feel uncomfortable. This ultimately opens up more dialogue and hopefully continues after baby's arrival.

He also has a Pregnancy Tracker for expectant fathers on his website that is another informative tool just for dads!

To strengthen the relationship there are 4 factors that come into play:
1 -- Playing an active role
2 -- Having open communication about what is going on, or not going on in the relationship
3 -- The emotional and physical intimacy with your partner sets the stage for...
4 -- The deeper connection that is gained through sex with your partner

Negotiating With Your Toddler

2009-02-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

If your child is strong willed and you find yourself negotiating with your two year old on a regular basis, you are not alone! While being strong willed is an admirable characteristic in adults it can be very challenging in toddlers, elementary and middle schoolers; especially when you want them to do something and they don't want to.

So the question becomes how to not fight with your child, and instead handle the negotiation without getting frustrated, and how do you nurture instead of squash this quality that will be needed later on in your child's life?

I have advised so many parents on how to appropriately dialogue and how to avoid constant battles with their strong willed children, that when I began seeing those traits in my own son I had to laugh.

He definitely knows what he wants and he is gaining the vocabulary in lightning speed to let me know what it is. The hard part is to not get frustrated as I tend to the myriad of normal demands on my time.

Here are a few tips to help manage your toddler:

1) Pick your battles -- does it really matter if your child want to change back into his pajamas right when he gets home from the sitter?

2) What is important to your child? Let him/her pick out their own clothes if that is important to them.

3) If you child wants something and it is inconvenient can you offer up another option to appease?

4) Provide (2 or 3) choices and options so your child can pick from what you have selected.

Tracey's Tip #6 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-02-16T07:42:00.001-08:00

If you are feeling overwhelmed with juggling motherhood and life, spend some quality time talking to your partner about dividing up some of the responsibilities.

Many times guys are waiting for us to tell them what we need, and we expect them to know what we need, which causes a breakdown in communication.

Instead share with him your thoughts and feelings and see how you can work together to balance the load!

Tracey's Tip #5 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-02-16T07:37:00.000-08:00

Try to find ways to plan ahead.

One example is stocking up your house and medicine cabinet with anything your baby or child may need if he comes down with a cold or flu -- rather than having to find a way to run out when he isn't feeling well.

And always be flexible! If your child does get sick can you stay home and take care of him so he gets better quicker?

Not being open to a flexible plan can be stressful!

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T11:08:00.000-08:00

This week my radio show is filled with Romance. Joining me to talk about the National Day of Love is Adrienne Drew from The Melting Pot restaurants (www.MeltingPot.com) where fondue becomes a memorable dining experience, and Gregory Godek author of the book "1001 Ways to Be Romantic".

I wanted to share one of my favorite restaurants, and one that is filled with romance as a place to take your lover. It even has a lover's lane for special romantic dinners where marriage proposals and anniversaries take place. Between the Melting Pot's romantic, fun, and inviting environment, to the leisurely dining experience (an average dinner can take over 2 hours), it's the perfect dinner out to get reconnected and spend quality time with your partner.

Then Gregory Godek talks about why romance is so important in a relationship, how his book can help a couple to reignite their relationship, and we discussed various creative ways to show your partner you care. I for one fell in love with his book, it is a great coffee table book and can be easily accessed whenever you are looking for ways to romance your honey. I plan on tapping into various suggestions to add a little more romance into my relationship! You can never have too much of that.

And while I have always loved Valentine's Day as a way to say "I Love You" ~~ this year it is even better being able to share the holiday, not only with my husband, but also with my 2 year old son Zack. I went out and bought a box of Elmo Valentine's Day cards and little boxes of message sweetheart candies for Zack to pass out to a few friends, as well as to his sitters.

Then this morning when he woke up he found a big helium heart balloon tied to a small cuddly brown bear that I had placed on the dining room table to celebrate Zack as my littlest Valentine!

What small token or gesture did you do for your husband, wife, or your partner, and your children? Did anyone do anything special for you? Today is a day of expressing love, friendship and appreciation for the special people in your life.

I appreciate all my friends and family and wish them a Happy Valentine's Day -- thanks for being there to love and support me always.

I wish you only the best in life!

Tracey's Tip #4 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-02-11T11:26:00.000-08:00

Tap into the little things in life....your baby falling asleep on your shoulder, your child's glowing smile, your spouse's warm embrace, and try to live in the moment!

Let go of the running "to do" list in your head, breathe in the present and remember that time and moments are fleeting, make the most of each experience.

Winter Products & Illnesses (FM)

2009-02-09T07:59:00.000-08:00

While most of the country is heavily in the midst of winter, that can mean colds, flu and other illnesses may be knocking at your door. How do you protect your family, be aware of the warning signs and stock your home with items to help your kids if they do get sick?

Ellie and Melissa from The Baby Planners and baby product experts join me to chat up winter products.(www.thebabyplanners.com) And as always time flies as we touch on everything from the basic first aid kit, to natural soothing lotions and potions, to what we do for our own kids to keep them warm and healthy.

Some of the products they recommended are:
* Nasal aspirator and saline drops (a must)
* Nose Freda
* Clean George -- hand sanitizer
* Cozy Bug -- a blanket that wraps around a car seat
* Giggle Online store -- animal shaped humidifiers
* Halo sleep sack
* Trader Joe's for natural oils
* Boogie Wipes for those runny noses
* Woobee stroller blanket
* Achoo chest rub at www.naturebabyorganics.com
* Grobag -- egg room thermometer

Then Dr. J.J. Levenstein, MD, my pediatrician expert finishes our conversation from the beginning of January when she covered the common cold, flu and influenza. This time she delves into RSV and RotoVirus. RSV is known as the "wheezing respiratory virus" and can be very dangerous for high risk babies (preemies, heart patients and lung patients) and generally wreaks havoc during the winter everywhere in the country.

Then Rotovirus is a diarrhea illness that can cause extreme dehydration and can require hospitalization due to lots of vomiting and diarrhea ailments combined.

Learn the symptoms and be prepared to act sooner rather than later for your child.

Tracey's Tip #3 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-02-09T07:56:00.001-08:00

Do something spontaneous and fun to break up the routine and monotony. Each day can run into one another as you handle everyone else's needs but your own.

Ask someone to babysit so you can take off by yourself, or with some friends and have fun! Laugh and rejuvenate your inner child!

Mom & Dad's Mental Health (FM)

2009-02-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

So often, after a new baby arrives, the emphasis is placed on taking care of the infant and how is the baby doing, while mom and dad's mental and emotional health can easily get overlooked.

This show I wanted to check in on mom and dad after baby with Dr. Shoshana Bennett, PhD and Gregory Keer, fatherhood expert and publisher of the website www.familymanonline.com. While postpartum depression is gaining more awareness the concept of dad falling victim to postpartum is not commonly talked about and is just as real. Greg has a few articles on his website specifically focused on this issue.

But besides postpartum, there are a myriad of uncomfortable emotions that can crop up as well, such as the Baby Blues, feeling completely overwhelmed, paniced, fearful of the new financial commitment and added responsibilities. Dr. Shoshana taps into these aspects and discusses what is normal and what isn't, warning signs that professional help may be needed, and suggestions on where to seek support. And while family and friends may be a new parents first sounding board, that may not always be the best option.

Then Gregory Keer and I discuss what dad may be going through regarding concerns of added financial responsibility, his feelings of insecurity regarding where do I fit in, wondering where the intimacy went with his partner, and how to get in sync with my new baby?

Tap into a lively conversation all around.

Twins and Triplets (FM)

2009-01-26T10:45:00.000-08:00

I can remember growing up and going through school with only two sets of twins in my whole town. Back 30 years ago, twins were unique. Now with women having children at a later age, and with the assistance of IVF to become pregnant, twins and triplets are more commonplace.

But that doesn't make the job of taking care of them any easier. And to carry the babies during pregnancy, to go through the delivery of multiples, and to take care of their needs while trying to recover can be even more challenging.

So I wanted to talk to a mom who went through the experience and a labor and delivery nurse that is on the front lines of bringing these miracles into the world. My first guest is a good friend of mine, Trista DeFillipis who had her son a month after I had Zack, and then became pregnant within a year with twin girls. She shares her difficult pregnancy and delivery of twins after having such an easy time with her son -- showcasing how different each pregnancy can be.

Then later, Ilona DeSantis, RNC, a labor and delivery nurse for high risk births shares her experiences of working with women to deliver multiples on a daily basis. She talks about what difficulties they may face and provides information that women need to know as they gear up for delivery.

Also check out a hip breastfeeding cover designed and created by Ilona at www.3mooncouture.com -- proving again that women/moms can always see ways to improve on products out there for the baby market.

Tracey's Tip #2 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-01-23T07:34:00.000-08:00

Don't get overwhelmed or overconcerned by all the information and hoopla out there about how to be the perfect parent. Instead take in all the information and use your own instinct to determine what resources may work for you and what path is best for your child and your family!

You are the caretaker of the home, trust what feels right to you!

Baby Specialists (FM)

2009-01-23T07:21:00.001-08:00

As a parent of an infant or toddler everything is new and different, and sometimes parents can feel unsure as to how to best handle a particular situation. Which is why hundreds of baby specialists have cropped up over the years.

The first expert that joins me on the show is Shari Green, known as The Thumb Lady (www.thumblady.com). She is a certified Orafacial Myologist and has worked as a Pediatrician Dental Hygenist for 19 years. And yes her specialty is helping kids to stop sucking their thumbs, fingers and quit biting their nails, among other oral habits!

In the past 11 1/2 years she has worked with close to 1000 children helping them to break these habits. If you can believe it, she is one of 250 Orafacial Myologists in the world. Her website has a wealth of information if your child is 4 or 5 and is still sucking his thumb, and she shares what the risks are if it becomes a prologed situation.

Then later in the show I catch up with Renee Applebaum who is co-founder and co-owner of Baby Proofers Plus, a child safety company based in the NJ/NY area. (www.babyproofersplus.com) Renee and her husband Howard became pioneers on the east coast in 1993 when they began offering comprehensive in-home safety evaluations and professional installation services of the highest quality, government tested certified safety products.

They are experts in providing education and awareness to new parents, and helping to reveal hidden dangers that may lurk in their home which could put their baby at risk. You can also find a Baby Proofer or Pool Fence installer in your area by going to the website www.babyproofingdirectory.com and enter your zip code.

Tracey's Tip #1 -- Being a Balanced Mom

2009-01-22T18:39:00.000-08:00

Remember that you are not alone! Although it seems like each day is a struggle trying to juggle it all, and there is never enough rest for the weary...when you do find a moment that you can call your own, tap into some of the funny books on motherhood. There are several books that I discuss with other mom authors on my radio show. Find humor in how different your life has become with baby.

Laughter is a good way to ease away the stress and remain in balance!

I am always in search of fun and laughter, and luckily my son brings me alot! His laugh is contagious!

Where can you find laughter?

Making Light of the Changes in Your Life (FM)

2009-01-22T18:29:00.000-08:00

While my radio show is all about the changes a couple's life goes through when bringing baby home, I am usually talking with guests that are resources for the journey. This week I wanted to talk to two mothers who have written funny books dishing about the reality of motherhood and how humorous the difficulties can be.

Stefanie Wilder Taylor seemed to have paved the way for more mothers to write books about how life really is! When she wrote the book "Sippy Cups are Not For Chardonnay" four years ago, when her daughter was born, there were no real funny books out there for new moms. Since then she has written a continuation that speaks straight to me -- "Nap Times are the New Happy Hour" as her little girl became a toddler and she welcomed twin girls to her family. Listen in as we laugh it up and enjoy a funny motherhood rapport.

Then Claudine Wolk author of "It Gets Easier and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers" talks about how moms are now coming out of the closet with more enlightening books, and creating a movement through Blogging to let their voices be heard!

We chat about the "lies" other mothers tell each other and what she discovered in her 12 year compilation of interviewing hundreds of moms coast to coast for the content of her book. Check out her website at www.help4newmoms.com.

The Morning Demands

2009-01-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

I can remember a time in the distant past where I would roll out of bed in the morning, go about my business, make some coffee, putter around and then meander over to the computer in my office and start planning out the day. But as I took a good look at my current morning routine I wonder where "my time" went?

I am called out of my sleep by Zack wanting to get out of his crib. I crawl out of bed to go get him and find him happy, excited and raring to go! Meanwhile, I am trying to open my eyes andget a handle on the day. I lift him out of the crib and am suddenly attacked by our two boxers who are now whining for their food.

I explain to Zack that we need to go downstairs to feed the dogs and he is either up for that (the going downstairs part) or he is now interested in changing his clothes into another pair of pajamas (why, I have no idea!!).

I finally make it downstairs, feed the dogs, get Zack some milk and I am assaulted by his sudden demands....maybe he wants his cookie monster slippers (which are back upstairs and ones he didn't want before we came downstairs), or gummy bears (which I picked up last night for him) or something in the pantry closet that is not of the breakfast variety.....and I need to explain that we have breakfast first before eating anything else....a couple of times.

Then it is his show.....he gets in these obsessions where he had to watch Shrek every morning, or Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, or the Doodlebops and now (thank goodness) it is the Barnyardigans. (which are fun, filled with music and some imaginary adventure) But I have to hear that until I go over and turn on the show.

Of course, all of this happens before I make it to the bathroom or have a cup of coffee or tea in my hands. Then when I finally get that cup of Java and I sit down with Zack on the couch for a minute, the dogs are ready to go outside to do their business (although they already went out two hours ago with Jeff when he got up for work). Aspen will sit there in my face,being obnoxious and possibly whine until I get up and let them out!!

So off I go, hot coffee set on the table, Zack following behind, and we all go downstairs and let them out. Then it could be a fight with Zack to not get into dads memorabilia downstairs, or to leave things alone and go back upstairs.

We get upstairs, I look at my coffee, take a couple of sips and then realize I need to check out what Zack needs in his bag to take to the sitters, we discuss what he may want for breakfast and I try to make it and get him to eat it while running around playing with his plethera of toys. Then I go around the house making the beds, picking up some things, etc....and my day is off and running!!

Getting Particular about Clothes

2009-01-13T10:42:00.000-08:00

For the last several months Zack has become very particular about his clothes. It started with him wanting to wear particular shirts (over the summer)and then only certain shoes and now he is becoming very demanding with what he will and will not wear. (And he is only 2 years old)!!

This last weekend hit a high point in this drama that I believe is setting a precident for things to come. On friday night I was at my office working with clients and came home to find my son ready for bed in a Miami Dolphins jersey and pants outfit that was better fitting for the summer or early fall, not for the winter time. But Jeff said he wanted to wear it, so off to bed he goes in his football outfit.

Then in the morning I finally get a chance to change him into something more appropriate, and warmer; only to discover that while I ran out to the grocery store to pick up a few things, he changed out of those clothes and back into the Dolphin uniform!

So why fight it!

It then begins to snow and my husband gets called out for work, and my son decides, out of the blue that he now wants to wear Spiderman Pajamas. But he doesn't have any spiderman pajamas that currently fit him.....he wants the pajamas that he wore a few months ago that were part of his early fall clothes and he outgrew them. Which meant that they got moved to a bucket of outgrown clothes currently located in his closet.

I explain to him that they will be too small for him, but he is set on finding and wearing those pajamas, so I pull out the bucket and dig to find them. A few minutes later they are discoverd and Zack is happy as can be.....he wants to put them on. This obsession with the Spiderman Pajamas last throughout the weekend where he wants to wear them continuously, and even after spilling pasta sauce on them saturday night and pushing me to wash them the next day, does he grab them right out of the dryer and put them on again.

Then on monday morning....still wearing those pajamas, I had to convince him that he couldn't go to his sitters house, outside in the cold, in those pajamas. But if he wants, when I pick him up later in the day and bring him home, he can change back into those pajamas. I share this story with the sitter in the morning, and no mention of it again by Zack the whole day....until I go to pick him up at Mary's and a couple minutes into me being there does he say "he wants to go home and change into his Spider man Pajamas."

Which we do!

And tomorrow is another day of negotiation over clothes, wearing a coat, putting on boots, wearing layers, or not, and pursuading him not to run around the house for very long "naked" -- which is really his preference!!

Gearing Up For the New Year (FM)

2009-01-12T07:11:00.000-08:00

As we welcomed the New Year, I felt it was appropriate to bring back Dr. J.J. Levenstein, MD. As my Pediatrician expert, she openly discusses ways to beat winter illness and covers several illnesses that new parents need to be aware of such as the Flu and influenza. But there was so much to cover that we ran out of time. She will be back on in a month or so to further discuss illnesses such as RSV (wheezing virus) and Rotavirus (vomiting virus).

Then Alexis Martin Neely, founder of the boutique Estate Planning Law Firm of Martin Neely and Associates is back on my show. This time she is delving into what parents need to do to set up their estate properly to protect their children long term.

A couple of documents that Alexis feels parents need to have in place for their kids are a:

* Kids Protection Plan (www.KidsProtectionPlan.com)
* A Will
* Living Trust
* Living Will for Health Care Decisions
* Durable Power of Attorney

Also, tap into important tax information that could save your heirs 50% of their inheritance if your estate is set up correctly. And if you are interested in finding a Personal Family Attorney to get your affairs in order for your family, long onto www.PersonalFamilyLawyer.com to find one in your area.

** And if your plug in the certificate code FM2009 Alexis will waive the $750.00 first session fee with an attorney in her database.

A great way to start the year!!

Spending the Holidays (FM)

2009-01-09T11:04:00.000-08:00

Although this was a show focused on traveling to see relatives, the guests that I had on my show are valuable resources that I feel should be mentioned in my blog.

Patty Opoin is President of the company Jet Set Babies (www.JetSetBabies.com) which provides a wonderful service for parents traveling domestically or abroad and don't want to pack up and cart essentials for babies or toddlers such as bulky diapers, extra wipes, jars of baby food, or containers of formula. Instead you can go right onto their website and order these products to be shipped to your destination. And because of Patty's commitment to customer service, her company makes a point of following up to be sure that these products arrive on time to be ready for your immediate use.

I loved hearing about her company and I plan on using them myself when traveling with my son in the future!

Then Kira Ryan and Conner Herman from Dream Team Baby (www.DreamTeamBaby.com) provided some great advice for easing the difficult transition that can occur with baby when traveling to see relatives. Their main focus is creating a world of great sleepers one baby at a time, and their tips to keep baby sleeping while away on vacation are helpful for any new parent.

Having a Nanny (FM)

2009-01-09T10:50:00.001-08:00

Hiring the right person to come into your house full time to be the caretaker of your child can be an anxiety ridden experience. And then leaving your child in their care with a feeling of insecuity can cause thoughts to flash through a mothers mind...is my child being taken care of properly, what is the nanny doing all day in my house, and how do I handlteany possible conflicts with this person?

On this show I am talking with two women who have developed ways to provide an extra peace of mind to parents when bringing a nanny on board.

Dr. Lindsay Heller, a specialist known as The Nanny Doctor (www.TheNannyDoctor.com), is a licensed clinical psychologist and former nanny of 10 years. She consults with families on all issues related to the nanny -- family relationship. She also helps expectant parents identify their childcare needs, aids new moms in the process of returning back to work, helps families through the interview process, facilitates the transition of a new nanny into the home, helps families with conflicts with their nanny, and also helps with endings. She pretty much handles all things nanny!

Then Jill Starishevsky, a New York City prosecutor of child abuse and sex crimes, and mother of two children, created a website www.HowsMyNanny.com to give parents who employ nannies an extra peace of mind. Parents can become a member of this site and receive a license plate to display on their strollers to provide a way to be contacted if someone sees any negative or positive behaviors being demonstated by their nanny while taking care of their child or children.

This site and the license plate concept has gained tremendous attention within the nanny community because it allows parents to receive anonymous reports about their nanny and helps to weed out the bad nannies. It also allows for positive feedback which have led to good nannies being awarded bonuses by their employers for the excellent care they provide for their children.

Jill is currently working on creating a bumper magnet for suburban nannies who operate out of mini vans and SUV's, rather than strollers.

New Face of Fatherhood (FM)

2009-01-09T10:38:00.000-08:00

While my radio show may at times seem directed towards new moms, dads today are playing a full time role as caretaker to their child and I hope they are regularly tapping in for desired information.

With that thought in mind, this show was created because more and more dads have become active participants in child rearing. Some are the primary caretakers as their wives go back to work, most are tapping into paternity leave and flex time at work to spend more time with their kids, and there is a movement afoot as dads are carrying masculine diaper bags as a badge of honor.

Joining me on the show is Chris Pegula, known as the Diaper Dude (www.diaperdude.com)the creator of masculine diaper bags that are seen frequently by some of the hottest male celebrity dads in Hollywood. A father of 3 children, he created the first diaper bag for himself when his first child was born because there was nothing out there developed for fathers.

Then Armin Brott of www.MrDad.com has been building better fathers for more than a decade through his six best selling books on fatherhood. He admits to me that the face of fatherhood has changed and it is a very positive movement!

My husband is a perfect example, he is a very hands on dad. He juggles his work schedule to pick up our son from the sitters when I'm working, he takes days off from work to be home with Zack if I have to travel, and he spends dedicated time each day to play and interact with him.

Being an involved father is a main priority for him.

Where Did the Holidays Go?

2009-01-06T19:17:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that we are already into January and everyone is busy getting back into the swing of things for the new year! Personally, I don't know where the holidays went -- the last I remember I was getting a family picture taken for holiday cards, trying to figure out presents for friends and family, and BOOM suddenly it was Christmas morning, New Years day and now January!!

Normally I like to relax during the holidays, sit in front of my tree, and take in the peace that the tiny white lights and beautiful bright ornaments bring me, while watching inspirational holiday movies. And while I did get to do a little bit of that, it just seems like a blur.

However, the highlight of my holiday was watching my 2 year old son really experience his first Christmas -- that was the most fun. Although he was around for Christmas the last two years, the first year he was only a month old and didn't know anything, and last year while he liked opening presents he was more interested in the wrapping paper and boxes than in the presents themselves.

This year my husband and I really had fun going out shopping for him and thinking about how excited he would get when he walked downstairs and saw all these great presents under the tree. We even made a date out of shopping for Zack. I met my husband at the Garden State Plaza mall for lunch (it was so nice having a relaxing meal in the middle of the day without baby in tow) and then we shopped the mall and the surrounding stores on Rt. 4 and 17 before heading to the babysitter to pick up our little man.

The best part of the holiday has to be experiencing the excitement and wonderment through a child's eyes. He was so cute, walking down the stairs in his Santa flannel pajamas, watching his eyes and hearing his squeal when he saw what Santa had brought for him. And while I know as he gets older he will want to tear through the presents and rip through the wrapping paper, this year was precious. He opened each gift and then handed it to daddy to unlock all the twists and ties that come with toys today, so he could play with that one gift. He wasn't even aware of all the other presents he still needed to unwrap, he was focused on each present, and savoring each gift!

That was a good day!

But it too has passed and we are now back into the grind and I wonder, where was the REST that I wanted to get?

Sex & Intimacy After Baby (FM)

2008-12-15T08:48:00.000-08:00

Whenever a new baby comes along, a couples sex life takes a backseat to the needs of a newborn and sleep deprivation. But the key to keeping a couples relationship strong is to find the time and energy for intimacy and sex, even if that means scheduling a time together.

Wendy Jaffe, a former divorce attorney and author of the book "The Divorce Lawyers Guide to Staying Married" confirms that one of the biggest reasons couples get divorced is the lack of sex in their marriage. She also talks about how some parents can become "kidaholics" once they have a child and how that can affect their relationship.

Then Gregory Keer, father of three, and publisher of www.Familymanonline.com, provides a dads perspective on a couples sex life after baby's arrival. He shares how a dad can be supportive of mom, and be open to intimacy and other alternatives to sex when sex doesn't work such as cuddling, kissing and holding one another. Sometimes quiet time at the end of the day can help reaffirm ones connection and love for the other, and that is just as important.

We also discussed the idea of a couple getting away for a weekend, if at all possible, 3 - 4 months after the baby's birth to reconnect and jumpstart your sex life. If you have relatives that can watch the baby, that would be ideal. It not only gives you a chance to get away to sleep, talk, and get your love life back on track, but your baby will also get accustomed to staying overnight at someone else's house.

Remember you were a couple before you became parents, don't lose that strong foundation as you take on the new role of father and mother.

Motherhood Untold (FM)

2008-12-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

As I was gearing up for the birth of my son 2 years ago, I knew that my life would change, but I wasn't truly prepared for how much it would change! Or how challenging it would be to integrate this little person into my marriage, my career, and what used to be "my time." I had a friend tell me, after having her first child, how being a mom was the hardest job she ever had, and I brushed her off. I thought if I can work four months in a row, while working 60-70 hours a week without a day off, I can handle taking care of a baby.

Little did I realize that at the end of each day of work I was able to go home and not be pulled on by work, not so with a little baby that needs you 24/7. And at the end of 4 months I was able to take a reprieve from my job after completing that project, but that doesn't happen with a baby. Your baby is with you from the day he is born, until he hopefully goes off to college.

I used to be really good at pacing myself, knowing my limits, and taking time to take care of myself so I wouldn't burn myself out.....and that is so much harder with a baby. When you are sick you can't just crawl into bed and sleep it away, like you could before baby. The world changes, and you have to change with it.

On my show, Dr. Shoshana Bennett and I talk about several common fantasies that mothers have about motherhood that can create a harsh reality for them when they realize that those fantasies that they believed, are not true. Several are:

*This should be the happiest time of my life
*I should be able to do everything myself
*I shouldn't need breaks
*My life won't change that much
*My needs shouldn't matter
*Breastfeeding is natural, so it should come easily

Then later Jenna McCarthy, author of the book "The Parent Trip -- from High Heels and Parties, to High Chairs and Potties" and I laugh and joke about several sections of her book dealing with Take My Husband Please, How Competitive Motherhood kicks in when baby is born, The 5 Second Rule, and No Sex in the City.

Enjoy us laughing about the challenges that moms go through and know that we all face similar situations.

Connecting with Mom Friends

2008-11-24T12:12:00.000-08:00

During my adult years I have always been business oriented, I didn't get married until my late 30's, and didn't have my son until I was forty. So most of my friends were women with older children, or women without children, and as much as I love them for what they provide in friendship, they aren't at the same place that I am in regards to juggling a career, a relationship with my husband, and a toddler.

So it was so refreshing to go out to lunch with a friend that is at a similar place in her life. I met her while I was going through my infertility treatments. She and her husband were taking a medication class at the same time my husband and I were, while on our the first round of treatments; and then we reconnected, when the four of us showed at at another higher level medication class for further rounds of infertility treatments. The chances of us meeting again were millions to one -- and at that moment we knew there was a reason we were meeting up again. From that point forward we kept in touch as we both managed the process, and found ourselves pregnant at the same time, with each of us delivering a son within a 45 days of one another.

Since then she went back to the fertility clinic to get pregnant for a second time and found herself carrying twins, stuck on bed rest for the last four months of her pregnancy, and is now juggling three children under the age of 2.

And although we hadn't seen each other in many, many months (bed rest, delivery and recovery) as soon as we saw one another for lunch today and started talking, it was as if it was yesterday that we had seen each other. Our lives are so similar in the challenges that we face with raising little ones, managing our personal relationships, and keeping our sanity.

As our time together came to an end, neither one of us wanted to leave and get back to our lives, the camaraderie felt so good.....having someone else to talk with that really understood what you were going through. I know I am not the only one that craves that female friendship with other moms who are on the same level, going through the same challenges and finding compassion in like minded moms.

To all moms out there I wish for you a group of like minded women who you can talk with, share with, compare with, and raise your children with. Having friends is the best -- but having mom friends makes the journey even better!!

Talking Over Toddler

2008-11-11T11:24:00.000-08:00

I can remember thinking when Zack was just a baby, that I couldn't wait until he could talk. I wanted to hear what he was thinking, have discussions with him about the world and everything in it, and listen to what is important to him. Now as he continues putting words together, I am amazed every day at how much of a sponge he is, soaking up everything around him, and what a great memory he has.

But the downside of that is, it now becomes difficult to talk around him!! When I am trying to have a conversation with my husband, or talk on the phone, he wants to be part of everything going on and it can sometimes cause breakdowns in my adult conversations.

Yesterday was a perfect example, my husband took the day off from work to get some odd jobs done around the house, and later in the afternoon while hanging out with Zack, we were talking about our upcoming schedules when Zack interrupted to say "No talk mommy, no talk." I stopped in mid sentence and stared at him. I was amazed, and dumb founded; he isn't even 2 years old yet and already he is starting to dictate to me!!

The balance now becomes helping him to maintain his strong willed, outspoken personality, while not having it lead to bad habits. With parents every day it is a constant struggle to guide their children, create boundaries and not stiffle their personalities.

It also forces me to figure out ways to not have a break down occur in my adult conversations as well because those relationships also need to flourish. Striking a balance!!

What Parents Should Know and May Not (FM)

2008-11-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

This show hosted two nationally known experts in Alexis Martin Neely, a family legal expert and family wealth advisor, and Dr. J.J. Levenstein, MD, Pediatrician and founder of the company MDMoms. They have a wealth of information to share with new parents and they will both be regular contributors on my radio show.

For Alexis Neely, author of the book "Wear Clean Underwear", www.WearCleanUnderwear.com after reading her book I felt an immediate call to action regarding legal steps to protect my son. And I knew that the information she was sharing was knowledge that every parent should know and probably doesn't.

What happens if something fatal happens to you, the sitter or nanny is watching your children, you can't be found and your spouse is not easily accessible? Does your sitter have authority to take care of your children for the immediate time frame? And where are your documents naming a guardian for your children if both you and your husband happen to pass away at the same time? Do people know where to find those documents?

All are real serious questions that Alexis shares in her book, as well as on my show, along with 6 mistakes that couples make. Check out Family Matters on WebTalkRadio.net for crucial information that every parent needs.

She will also be on my show again soon talking about what a Personal Family Lawyer is and the benefits of hiring one to help your familly.

Then Dr. J.J. covers topics for new parents regarding issues with feeding a new baby, jaundice, cradle cap, ways to help your child from having a flat head, and what to look for if your baby is constantly spitting up. Tune in!

Going Green for Baby (FM)

2008-11-06T07:55:00.000-08:00

It seems that everywhere you turn you are encountering ads for eco-friendly products, companies that are becoming more eco-sensitive, and suggestions as to how you can live more eco-responsible.

For this show I brought back The Baby Planners (www.thebabyplanners.com) to talk about how the baby industry was expanding by leaps and bounds in this area. And how new parents are making an effort to "go green" with their baby, because of their baby!!

They shared what they have learned by working with "Green Experts" in this industry, as well as some of their favorite organic, natural and sustainable products available for newborns. You can also check out their Ultrasound blog on their website to get more specifics.

Then Missy Adams, a Greening Your Nursery Expert from Seventh Generation shared her company's new collaboration with Healthy Child, Healthy World to create an eco-friendly diaper bag with 100% of the profits going to educate parents about environment safety. Missy also discussed 10 Green Nursery Tips.

I was very impressed with Seventh Generation -- in the products that they have created for baby such as chlorine free diapers, wipes and specially formulated Baby laundry detergent, and for their cleaning products for the home. I also appreciated their mission of being "the trusted brand for your living home."

Domestic & International Adoption (FM)

2008-11-04T08:27:00.001-08:00

While there were 4.3 million births in the United States in 2007, about 20,000 of those children were adopted domestically, and another 20,000 children were adopted from overseas. So I wanted to talk about adoptions, the differences in domestic versus international, as well as the changes in certain countries now being closed for adoptions from the U.S. based on the Hague Convention. I talked with Rick Gibson with the Children's Home Society and Family Services Organization who has partnered with over a dozen countries to find loving homes for their children. He shared with me that Ethiopia and Russia are more open to U.S. adoption, while Guatamala and China are either closed or are slowing down the adoption process.

Jeanne Tate, an adoption attorney and founder of Heart of Adoptions also enlightened me about the huge number of children available for adoption through the Foster Care System in the United States. Helping these children is a passion of mine. When I lived in Florida I worked as a Guardian ad Litem, representing kids within the foster care system makings sure they received the services they needed and pushing them through the system faster. I then created a non-profit organization called For The Chidlren, to help children get adopted out of the system by creating a color catalog showing their beautiful faces that was distributed all over Hillsborough County, Florida. This was back in the early 90's before foster care had any marketing programs in place.

It seems, however, that although more marketing programs are in place, there is still a breakdown in helping prospective parents adopt these children out of the system and give them the loving and supportive homes that they truely desire.

Right now approximately 125,000 children are available for adoption in foster care and it doesn't cost anything to adopt these children, versus the thousands of dollars involved in a private adoption. Plus, the government is also providing tax credits, taking care of the cost of a home study, and funding for college tuition.

Contact Jeanne Tate to learn more if you are interested in adopting a child, want to provide a loving home to a child and really make a difference in their life!(www.FloridaAdoptionAgency.com)

Let's Talk About Sleep (FM)

2008-11-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

Sleep is a common topic of coversation for new parents. Questions such as: Are you getting enough sleep? Is the baby sleeping through the night? How do I get my baby to sleep a solid 8 hours? And are you irritable and less patient because you are feeling sleep deprived?

To discuss this topic I brought on Gina Reilly, owner of Night Nannies for Newborns (www.nightnannies.org), a service that works night shifts taking care of the new baby and allowing parents to get the rest they need. When people hear night nannies, most think of a Baby Nurse -- but this position is different. Gina discussed the difference and spoke about how many clients have told her that her service "has saved their marriage." Because without sleep many overwhelmed new parents, find themselves fighting amongst themselves and causing undo conflicts. She also talked about how Night Nannies can assist new parents in learning how to teach their chidlren to sleep through the night (an added bonus).

So instead of new parents having to cope with sleep deprivation, possible conflicts in their marriage, and having their child not yet sleep through the night, a Night Nanny may be your answer.

Then Kim West, a Baby Sleep Coach, known as The Sleep Lady (www.TheSleepLady.com)shared several methods that she has developed to reteach babies to go back to sleep when they have disrupters interfere with their sleeping patterns. A few examples could be when a baby starts teething, or after having their schedule interrupted because of traveling, or due to an illness.

I know that with my son, he has changed his sleeping patterns many times over the last year and a half, and it always helps to have a resource that you can tap into for direction on keeping everyone on track.

Our Kids Mirror Our Emotions

2008-10-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant I wanted to keep my disposition calm and happy. I felt that everything I did, ate, and allowed into my realm contributed to the birth of my son. My feeling was that by speed walking I was keeping my body strong, by being happy and content, those feelings were being sent to my baby, and as I ate well that nutrition was also helping to grow my baby.

Well I am happy to report that my son is a happy, healthy little boy. But sometimes I forget that what I was doing before he was born, is also just as important now that he is an active participant in my life.

When he was a baby and I was calm and reassuring, he was calm and at peace. Now that he is a toddler, when I am right there with him and not having my mind caught up in a thousand things he is happy and just as involved with me. But when I am stressed and scattered he can sometimes seem just as edgy.

Sometimes I need to come back to the moment and see how my son is mirroring my emotions and tapping into how I am feeling. Right now when there is so much uncertainty in the world, remember that your children can tap into your feelings and if you are not strong and confident they can mirror those emotions back to you.

We need to live in the moment, not get caught up in the negativity and express pure love back to our children.

Nurturing Mom....and Dad (FM)

2008-10-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

While the last couple of radio shows I have focused on subjects such as postpartum depression, recovery and healing of mom, I realized that it might be helpful to do a whole show about ways in which to nurture mom...and dad. Joining me again is Dr. Shoshana Bennett, Phd. whose specialty is mom's emotional and mental health.

Her and I had a wonderful exchange about the many ways that dad, family and friends can help to nurture mom and ultimately help her be the best that she can be. Several examples were to give her time to get out in nature, provide some sleep time, give her regular breaks throughout the week, and mom learning to ask for help when she needs it, and to set boundaries as the holidays approach so as to not burn out. And if mom is feeling overwhelmed, know that it is ok to reach out and get the support personally and professionally that is needed.

Then later on in the show I spoke with Milana Knowles with SpaFinder.com about her 5000 spas nationwide that pregnant and new moms can tap into to relieve any stress or anxiety, as well as physical ailments that a woman experiences during this transitional time in her life. We chatted about the benefits of pre-natal, swedish and hot stone massages. We talked about the many different packages and programs that spas have and how wonderful it is to spend a half day being pampered at a spa with a friend, sister, mother, or husband. And even how after baby turns 6 months, an overnight getaway to a spa for mom and dad may be just what the doctor orders for jump starting a relationship.

Milana also mentioned that if a woman is pregnant or is breastfeeding, she should always let the spa know when booking her appointment, and to let her service provider know so that person will not use certain products that could be harmful.

I enjoyed the conversation so much, it made me want to book an appointment at one of my favorite spas near my house, the Fountain Day Spa. I thoroughly enjoy having a hot whirlpool bath and then a hot stone massage to relieve my stress, clear my head and nurture my neck and back.

St. Gerard's Home for Unwed Mothers

2008-10-07T11:37:00.000-07:00

When I was in Florida in August, while conducting a seminar and book signing for women "Starting Their Families" I was surprised to see 3 teenage girls from the nearby St. Gerard's Home for unwed mothers, attend my seminar. If anyone needed advice and encouragement while pregnant, it was these three girls. One was 18, one was 16, and one was 15. They all planned on keeping their babies, and I had to reflect on how challenging my first year was with my son, and what a difficult road these girls were facing.

They were kids themselves, with boyfriends somewhat involved, and huge financial struggles ahead of them. One girl had even been kicked out of her parents house because she was pregnant -- which led her to St. Gerard's. I couldn't even imagine the emotional struggle she is dealing with, not having her family to support her, at such a difficult time in her life!!

She was the one that shared with me the high number of teenagers becoming pregnant today -- 1 in 10 teenagers!! And how little information there was out there to give them advice and direction. What is to become of these children, that are being born to children??

To all parents out there that are struggling to juggle their children and their lives, just think about how much more difficult it would be if you were a teenager trying to raise a baby!!!

Recovery & Healing (FM)

2008-10-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago my radio show was focused on Labor and Delivery; and while mom's recovery was touched upon, I felt it was an important topic to discuss in length, as not enough attention is brought to the struggle new moms face once coming home from the hospital.

To me, the recovery of my son's birth was worse than the labor and delivery itself. While labor may last as long as one full day -- a woman's recovery could take up to four weeks (based on any complications). And those 4 weeks are not filled with sleeping, laying on the couch or resting ones body so it can heal. Those weeks encompass little sleep, the constant needs of a newborn, swirling emotions, and the repercussions of trauma a mothers body has gone through.

Which is why I wanted to talk with Rachel Mahan, a postpartum doula and baby nurse, founder of Bella Bambini, about how her assistance can make a huge difference in the swift recovery of a new mom after delivery. If I had known about her services before I had my son, I would have definitely hired her to help me and my husband through that difficult first few months of recovery, healing and becoming new parents.

Joys of Motherhood

2008-10-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

From the day of his birth Zack has been the light of my life, but at 19 months I found that this was the most enjoyable time with my son.

For the first year he was totally dependent on me for everything. But through the next six months following, he developed into a walking, talking, running, eating on his own, playing on his own and with others, little person.

At 19 months he became so much fun -- watching his facial expressions, his excitement in discovering the world around him, listening to his language develop and the way he expresses his thoughts. He can play and interact with Jeff and I, adding so much dimension to our lives. And I love observing who this little boy is growing into as a person. Each day brings new experiences.

Sometimes I am amazed at how special he is and what joy and light he shares with the people around him, and the people he interacts with. He is always so happy and engaging. Saying hello to everyone he meets, flashing his big smile and waving in their direction; very few people can resist his enthusiasm.

I thank God every day for this happy and healthy little guy and how lucky I am to have him in my life.

Now at 22 months today, I am amazed by all that he can say and the little conversations we are now having. Two precious moments that pulled on my heart strings was when I was leaving his sitters house and he waved and said "good bye mommy" and then said "hug, hug." So I went over to hug him, and then he gave me a kiss, and waved again to let me know he was going off to play. At that moment I felt he was definitely growing up....And then two weeks ago when we were driving in the car, he said something from the backseat, and I wasn't sure what he said so I asked him, and this time he clearly said "mommy pretty." I was so overwhelmed with joy. I gave him a big smile and said "thank you honey." He became just as happy with my response, and then repeated mommy pretty several times.

Ah, the Joy of Motherhood.

The Pre-School Dilemma (FM)

2008-09-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

While most parents are not even thinking about a pre-school until their child hits the age of 2; other parents are stressing about the pre-school situation while still pregnant. These parents are city dwellers, and their friends have been discussing their own anxiety of how their little ones will get into a top tier pre-school when the demand for an opening far outweighs supply.

On my radio show I had an opportunity to talk with Amanda Uhry, founder of Manhattan Private School Advisors about this problem. She is an expert on this subject because her company's whole focus is to help parents across the country get their kids into hyper competitive pre-schools. Her company is located in New York City where Tribeca is now being termed Triburbia, and there are 700,000 more kids under age 5 than ever before. While having 3 kids is now the "new 2" -- there are now more children than spots available in city pre-schools. And while the answer should be to just build more schools, it is difficult to do in the city where real estate is limited and expensive, and insurance is costly.

So in lies parents concerns about what to do. In our competitive world, what used to be that middle school determined the best high school and then college -- now it is what pre-school your child starts at will determine their schooling from then on...

Which brings me to Jody Martin, Director of Education and Curriculum at Creme de la Creme Early Learning Centers, a day care, pre-school and kindergarten all in one. It is an upscale environment created in a 21,000 square foot facility that has a Disney World feel, a great enrichment program for kids and provides and easy transition from pre-school into kindergarten.

They currently have 20 locations across the country and are adding 5 more locations in 2009. (Although not in cities where pre-schools are in high demand.) I was impressed with their curriculum which combined social skills, with playing, and with learning.

With my work with younger kids -- many times I am advising parents to enroll their children into a pre-school that is focused on social skills, while other times kids will have the social skills, but will need a more curriculum based environment. With Creme de la Creme, parents can be assured that their children are getting both.

With social skills being such an important part of a child's foundation, for peer interaction in the future, I am always amazed at how many children are not receiving those skills early on!!

Bonding With Daddy

2008-09-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of moms that need to travel for work and leave their young children at home. I discovered first hand how difficult that is when I went off to Las Vegas for a few days to attend the largest baby expo in the country.

Those few days were defining for me. It was the first time I had traveled alone on the plane without my son, since his birth, and it caused flashbacks to when I would travel all the time for work, unencumbered. I was feeling caught between two realities -- the one of a career woman (before baby) and the other of being a responsible mom (traveling for work).

It was also the first time my husband was solely responsible for our son, for more than overnight. My thoughts wandered to how would they do? How would Zack's naps and bedtimes go, and how would Jeff manage for a few days without assistance?

I knew that if all went well, it would be much easier to travel again for business --but if there were a lot of challenges, it would make it harder for me to leave town (emotionally and mentally).

Luckily, those few days became a great bonding time for both Jeff and Zack. Jeff had dedicated time with our son without me being there, and Zack got a chance to hang out with dad and bond. And the bedtimes seemed to go easier for Jeff than I imagined!!

Those few days also provided a great opportunity for me to also get some sleep without having to get up with Zack at 6:15 am. Where in my previous reality I would have gone out on the town and gotten back to the room later in the evening; now, by 9:00pm all I wanted to do was to crawl into bed and get some sleep!!

My how times have changed!!

The ABC Expo Explodes with Mompreneurs(FM)

2008-09-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

As I walked aisle after aisle in Las Vegas, I was amazed by all the different products created by moms, because they saw a need and wanted to share their idea. Many were exhibiting for the first time and really launching their company at the show: while other companies have been around a couple of years and were receiving "buzz" and a positive response from retailers and consumers.

One of those companies is Boogie Wipes -- which grabbed my attention right away. I received a press release about their product and company right before the show and had to stop by to see them in person. Mindy and Julie, the inventors of Boogie Wipes, are two high energy women who were tired of chasing after their kids with runny noses and having the hard tissues pushed away...so they created a soft wipe made with saline for runny and stuffy noses. That to me sounded ingenious since my son was always stuffed up as a baby, and he hated having the saline spray squirted up his nose.

Mindy and Julie agreed to be on my show with The Baby Planners (which they knew very well -- no surprise there) to talk about the last year and how they have been on a wild ride, bringing their idea into reality, creating a fun name, putting together fabulous packaging, and setting marketing into place. Not to mention all the hard work that went into being able to produce almost $3 million dollars in sales by the end of this year.

We had fun chatting it up and I can definitely see them becoming regulars on my show, talking about the mompreneur aspect of creating a company based on a need discovered by having kids. And the best part of being a mompreneur is doing something that you love and having the flexibility to be there for your kids, because time with them goes by so fast!!

The ABC Expo in Las Vegas (FM)

2008-09-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

Before my son was born, almost 2 years ago, I was doing some consulting work for American Express, while building my business and I was traveling at least once a month. Once my son was born I was breastfeeding and didn't want to travel overnight the first year.

Throughout these past ten months, after his first birthday, I did do a couple of overnights; but my first big trip took place two weeks ago when I flew to Las Vegas for the biggest Baby Expo in the country. It took up two entire floors on the south end of the Las Vegas Convention Center, and took me almost 3 days to see most of it. Although I will admit that I flew passed the furniture and bedding areas (which were huge).

If I felt that the baby product industry was large before, this expo really solidified that fact...no wonder new moms are overwhelmed with the number of choices available to them. How do you know what you really need, which products are right for you, and which items you can live without?

On this weeks show, I brought back The Baby Planners from Los Angeles; the pioneers of the baby planning industry in the U.S.. Since the inception of their company, they have been intensely researching the baby product market, testing out strollers, car seats, accessories, etc...everything for baby; so they can provide solid information for their clients about what is best for them. They have also become my Baby Product Experts and are joining my Family Matters Radio Team as regular contributors on my show.

We swapped stories about the ABC show and they provided their Top Picks of products they uncovered while at market.

Breastfeeding & Postpartum Depression (FM)

2008-09-17T18:26:00.001-07:00

This was a very interesting show and both topics are the most talked about with new moms because no woman can control either one. An expectant mom can't really practice breastfeeding before baby arrives and ultimately the baby will determine how breastfeeding goes. And with 15% of new mothers being effected by postpartum depression, it becomes a question of whether you become part of that statistic.

Tamara Hawkins, a maternity nurse and certified Lactation Consultant with her own practice www.StorkandCradle.com provided a lot of information on the subject of breastfeeding. If I were to have a problem breastfeeding my baby once I got home from the hospital, I would feel very comfortable having her come to my house to help me.

Then Dr. Shoshana Bennett, PhD, a pioneer in the field of prenatal and postpartum depression enlightened me on the whole postpartum situation. I had no idea that 15-20% of pregnant women could also fall victim to pre-natal depression -- that was quite an eye opener to me. And discussing the ways that new moms can prevent postpartum were important keys for any new mom.

If anyone is interested in learning more about pre-natal or postpartum depression I totally recommend Dr. Bennett's book -- Postpartum Depression for Dummies. I learned a lot and it was a very easy read!

Labor and Delivery (FM)

2008-09-16T08:10:00.000-07:00

In this show I wanted to talk about the nitty gritty of Labor and what really happens in the delivery room! Which is not what you find in most of the expectant mother books available.

There are several different child birth classes to choose from, learning about each one and choosing the right one for you is the first step. I chose Lamaze, and although there wasn't a lot I learned from the class (since I had already been practicing breathing in my Yoga classes) -- what I did learn was the various stages of labor. That became important for me because I wanted to work through the stages without having an epidural. However, more important than that, was the bonding experience my husband and I shared as we went to the class together each week. I also think that he gained a lot of information about how to help me and become an active partner through the delivery process.

Kimmelin Hull, as a childbirth educator, shared with me the differences between a midwife and a doula -- which I get questions about a lot. A midwife is similar to an OB/Gyn but much more hands on, being there through the whole birthing process and delivering the baby as well. While a doula is more of an advocate for the parents through the birthing process. She is with mom from the beginning of her labor, helping her work through the pain while at home, and then goes with the parents to the hospital when she feels she is close to delivering, to become the voice for them in dealing with the hospital and their procedures. And as Kimmelin explained, with a doula there is a 50% decrease in c-sections because she is there speaking for the mother.

Then Ilona DeSantis, RNC shared with me the "real deal" of what happens in the delivery room -- information that most expectant moms do not know. We talked about how the nurse is with you during most of the delivery process, with the doctor showing up at the end to deliver the baby. And we chatted about the big topics such as having an epidural, breaking your water, receiving pitossin, and the recovery process after delivery.

Ilona and I could have continued talking for another hour -- there was so much that wasn't discussed. I am sure I will have her on the show again, specifically to address the whole subject of delivering twins and triplets.

Being a Mom -- Creating a Business (FM)

2008-09-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

As I explored women that are reinventing their career for their kids -- I saw more and more moms creating their own companies for the flexibility. They were also creating companies based on a need they saw in the marketplace for a product or service -- because they were moms.

Gretchen Menzies developed www.Essentialmom.com as a local resource guide in her community dealing with everything parents because there wasn't anything out there. She is now getting 250,000 hits a month to her website.

Nina Frye and Cindi Schmitzer had been wanting to start a business of their own, and then one day the humor of their chaotic life as moms sparked an idea. "Living the Dream" was born. They developed t-shirts with funny depictions of mom in her many roles to remind mom to laugh more....

Since the show I have been amazed at the companies in this particular industry that were started by moms -- mompreneurs -- and what has mushroomed.

Today's children are definitely a huge influence and they don't even realize it!

Reinventing Your Career (FM)

2008-09-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting trend that has been taking place. Ten to fifteen years ago women were pushing ahead with their career and their children were worked into the equation. It became a tough juggling act to provide the best for their child; but on the career side, they had worked to hard to get where they are and didn't want to jeopardize their position.

Today women are making different choices with their careers. They have decided to take a hiatus from their careers or reinvent their career for the sake of their children.

This show was an example of two women who were burned out from their careers, and wanted to do something different. They also wanted to spend more dedicated time with their children.

By creating something new -- they also provided two cool companies that give moms an opportunity. Catherine Clifford with YourOnRamp.com created a website and company for all the talented moms out there that had been taking a hiatus from their job and are now looking to get back in the career game, but on a more flexible schedule. This company provides the answer. It also helps moms create a better "off ramp" so that when they are ready to go back they will have done all the right things to make it easier.

Then Barbara Jones started One2One Network, where moms can learn about new products and services and have fun, while doing it. She is providing research to companies about what moms like and don't like and moms get to share their opinions.

It becomes a win, win for everyone as children are playing a role in their moms career choices.

Regaining My Equilibrium

2008-09-11T09:12:00.000-07:00

The interesting part of my trip away to Florida with Zack was seeing the difference in him while away (hanging on me, being so needy and whiney) which he isn't normally at all. Then when we arrived back home on saturday afternoon, he was back to his normal self -- happy to play with his toys and run around the house, without needing me! I was able to go upstairs and take care of some chores, go to the basement and let the dogs out, and he was fine.

Then on monday when I dropped him off at his sitters, he never looked back at me, as he went running off to play!!

I, on the other hand, needed a coffee and to sit outside, in the sun, and breathe.... for about an hour to regain my equilibrium. I had totally felt out of sorts emotionally and physically, after having to cope with Zack's clinginess to me, his demanding moods, his overstimulation and crying spats, with less than adequate sleep, without much help and no real break for myself for 10 full days. (It had been constant)

Amazing how a little person can totally throw my body, mind and emotions out of kilter.

It literally took me a whole day to get back to my balanced self, and get back on track!

Stresses of Traveling With Toddler (Part II)

2008-09-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

One way to alleviate stress was to not travel with extra items that I could arrange another way. That way came in the form of www.visitingbaby.com -- a national company that rented everything needed for baby and toddlers. I was able to rent a crib and booster seat for Zack, for my mother-in-law's house and it was great -- they arranged to deliver it, set it up, and came by to pick up when I left. Which was ideal when I arrived at the house with Zack asleep in the backseat of my rental car (worn out); I was able to pick him up, carry him into the bedroom, and place him in the ready made crib!

Although what I wasn't prepared for was his disrupted sleep the first night while getting acclimated to a new place, and as we ended up sharing a room, I didn't sleep well most of the week. I have now become an extremely light sleeper, after becoming a mom, and any noises he would make, would wake me up! So little sleep did not help in the way of patience.

And the biggest stressor that I didn't account for was him not handling the transition of house to house very well. He is normally very independent and will want me, but if he knows I am around he is fine. But while away, he didn't want me out of his sight, which made walking out of the room difficult, and he would break down in tears if I even went to the bathroom or tried to take a shower.

It was also difficult for family members that don't get to see him that often, they weren't sure what to do or how to calm him down. Needless to say, it was an extremely difficult week -- no matter how many solutions I tried to put in place!

Stresses of Traveling with Toddler (Part I)

2008-08-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

I knew that when I went down to Florida last week for work, and visiting family, that is was going to be rough -- as I would be traveling with Zack, without my husband. He needed to stay in New Jersey for work and couldn't come with us. So I started figuring out every possible scenario that could create problems for me and ways to make my trip as easy as I could.

Knowing that I would be pushing Zack in a stroller, bringing a carry-on piece of luggage on the plane (for all of Zack's essentials, as well as my purse items) and then would be checking in a bag, I knew I couldn't take anything else with us. Which meant that I would need to rent a car seat, a booster seat and a crib for wherever we would be. The car seat seemed easier, as I would rent it with my rent-a-car once I got to Florida. Which sounds easy enough -- until you realize that most of the local car rental locations do not carry car seats. The primary location for arranging a car seat for a baby/toddler is at the airport.

So my original option of my sister picking us up at the airport and then renting a car a few days later became a problem. So I needed to rethink my original strategy. The other part of my plan was that my sister would spend time with Zack and I in Jacksonville, FL and help with him when I was working. Then she would drive with us over to Orlando to spend time with my brother and his family, and then over to Tampa to finish up our visit and get work done over there. So instead of her driving us around, I had her fly from Tampa to Jacksonville, and I then rented a car at the airport with a car seat for Zack. I then picked her up about 90 minutes later and we drove over to stay at my mother-in-laws house.

But of course asking for a car seat is not as easy as one would think -- especially when you are traveling with a toddler by yourself. You would think that the car rental place would have the car seat already set up in your car, as requested. But according to safety regulations they are not allowed to put it in your car -- so as any new parent will attest, putting a car seat into a car is not an easy feat! Especially when your toddler is screaming for you, struggling to get out of their stroller, and run around like crazy in the parking garage.....which can really test your patience and nerves! By this time my son wanted out -- he had spent the entire morning traveling from home -- to the airport -- through security -- being held in the waiting area -- getting onto the plane -- and flying 2 or so hours......Needless to say Zack was tired of being tied down and wanted to be FREE!

So after I sweated through installing a car seat, and trying to calm my son down enough to get into that seat (another form of confinement) to drive to get something to eat, and wait for my sister, so we could drive another 45 minutes....I was frazzled, exhausted and ready to get to my destination!

How do I keep him happy, keep myself together and manage to do it all with a smile on my face???? (not an easy task)

Stepping Off the Corporate Ladder (FM)

2008-08-27T09:35:00.001-07:00

I felt that this topic was a very important one to cover for expectant and new mothers. In today's world more women have graduated college, have worked hard on their careers, and have achieved successful and powerful positions, before deciding to embark on having a family.

So what happens when a woman brings this beautiful baby into the world and suddenly her priorities shift. She doesn't feel as fulfilled in her job as she once did, and she instead wants to be with her child full-time? Is it a bad thing for her to want to put her career on hold, to share the first few years of her child's life at home -- providing a strong foundation, and experiencing those precious years, which are so fleeting?

I would say definitely not! And instead, I would applaud any woman that decides to make that transition to a stay-at-home mom. But making the decision to give up their career, which has been their identity most of their adult life, to become known as "mom" can be a tough transition.

But I believe that women today can achieve anything they set out to do, and I applaud this generation of moms who are taking the time to nurture their children. As we are now seeing -- those same women that have decided to take a break from their corporate careers are redefining themselves as moms, and as career women!

Don't allow the fear of the unknown to keep you from following your heart -- because if you follow your heart -- everything will work out for the best! And the benefit of that will ultimately be your child!!

Support Network

2008-08-27T08:56:00.001-07:00

A little over nine years ago I moved from Florida to Connecticut -- away from my family and friends, to get a fresh start on my life. I had originally planned on moving back -- but after meeting my husband, who lived in New Jersey, I found myself staying up north.

Over the years it has been difficult living so far away from Florida -- but never as hard as when I became pregnant and gave birth to my son Zack. Without that support network of aunts, uncles and grandparents to help raise my child, makes life that much more challenging; especially the first few weeks after having a c-section when I could have really used the help!!

I watch other moms in my community that have their mothers, sisters, and brothers to help take their kids for a respit, to get things done around the house, to go away overnight, and who babysit on a regular basis. I feelt hat I am missing out on so much by not having my family close by. And even though my husband has lived in New Jersey for most of his adult life, his mother, grandparents and uncle all live in Florida as well.

There have been so man times over the last 20 months when I would have given anything to have my sister close by to help with Zack -- or my mom to come by and pick him up for an afternoon, or even to take him overnight, to give me a breather and have a few hours to myself. The times that Jeff, Zack and I have gone down to Florida to visit -- my family has babysat and given us a chance to go out to dinner alone, and have some quality time together.

Having that alone time is so important in a relationship and it helps when you don't have to pay a babysitter, on top of the cost of dinner or a date night!

So I recommend highly to anyone starting a family, try to live close to your family, because having a support network in place is so important!! As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child -- in today's world -- it takes a support network to raise a child!

Stay-At-Home Dads (FM)

2008-08-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

When thinking about who is going to be the primary care provider for your child, more and more dads are agreeing to become At-Home Dads, while their wives are working. According to a U.S. Census survey released in 2006, there are over 160,000 stay-at-home dads (SAHDs) in the United States; which is 2.7 percent of the country's stay-at-home parents -- almost triple the percentage from a decade ago.

I appreciated hearing from Robb and Mike about their view on being at home with their kids. Robb, a father of 2 1/2 year old twins, has taken the approach of connecting himself to a group of like minded fathers, in his community, so that he can meet with them for a play group once a week, he gets together with the fathers once a month for a guys night out, and has attended several conferences held each year for Stay-at-home dads -- to learn what other dads are doing and how they are managing their new roles. I was amazed that even while living in Omaha, NE, instead of a suburb outside of a major city, there were quite a few at home dads that were involved in his group. Tap into their website to learn more www.athomedads.org.

Then with Mike, I was able to see another viewpoint. Mike is considered a stay-at-home dad because he is home during the day with his son, and now 4 month old daughter, but he is also juggling a freelance writing career at nights, on the weekends, and in between naps. So his focus is spending time with his kids and juggling his career -- instead of branching out into the community to seek out other at-home dads. Although I truely appreciated the fact that he taps into his strong family support network to make this juggle work, and also as an outlet for his kids.

It doesn't matter if you are a stay-at-home mom, or a stay-at-home dad, the challenges are the same -- keeping your kids busy all day, managing their schedule of feedings and naps, and not allowing the daily interaction of infants, toddlers or pre-schoolers to turn your mind to mush. As well as lose your self-esteem along the way, while doing the most important job, that many times gets overlooked and is underappeciated.

So I salute all the stay-at-home dads out there that have taken on this role, and are making a major contribution to their child's life by providing a strong foundation for the future.

Respecting My Time

2008-08-12T10:55:00.001-07:00

I am writing this blog, as a Shout Out to all you Moms and Dads, to see if anyone else has run into this problem in the past!! Please post me if you have!

Yesterday, I called my primary physician's office, to see if I could get in for a quick look at my ankle. Over the weekend I had gotten bitten by something, on my ankle, and it proceeded to swell up. get bumpy and a red rash started forming all around my foot. I was hoping that it wasn't infected and the cortizone cream I was putting on it, didn't seem to be helping.

Luckily she did have a segment of time available and they scheduled me for an appointment at 3:10 in the afternoon.

Being respectful of other people's time, I finished up some work, got in my car, drove the 25 minutes to my doctors office and arrived at exactly 3:10 for my appointment. When I entered the Valley Women's practice, the waiting room was full. I checked in with the receptionist, paid my co-pay and proceeded to find an empty chair and a magazine to read -- thinking that she would see me shortly.

I breezed through the magazine, looked up to see that some people had gone in, a few more people had arrived after me, signed in and were also waiting......30 minutes has now passed....and I look around for a second magazine -- wondering when my name will be called. I read through that magazine, and the waiting room proceeds to empty out as most of the people have been called in to see their doctor. 50 minutes and counting, and I am starting to get a little annoyed. How long do I have to wait for a simple check up of my foot? And what about those other people that came in after me, they have gone in already?

I grab another magazine and fly through it because I am really not interested in anything right now except seeing the doctor and leaving -- there are a zillion other things I could be doing with my time besides sitting here waiting to be seen. Finally, a little over an hour, I walk up to the receptionist and ask her what could be taking so long, and that I have been waiting here for over an hour. She looks right through me, as though it is not her problem, and proceeds to find my chart posted on the wall, waiting for the doctor. She tells me I am next.

I go back to my purse, but cannot sit any longer. I start pacing....looking at flyers posted on the walls, reading brochures that are set up as takeaways on the side tables, and make note that I am the last person waiting in the lobby area.

Finally, a nurse calls my name and I follow her to one of the back rooms. She wants to take my blood pressure and I explain that at this point it is probably going to be high, because I have been waiting for an hour and 20 minutes for the doctor. She apologizes, takes my blood pressure and then fills in the chart with information about why I am here to see the doctor. As she is leaving, she ASSURES me that the doctor will be in, no more than 5 minutes. (wrong again)

10 minutes later the doctor finally comes in the office to see me. (Now mind you, she is a wonderful person, with a warm and caring personality -- which is why I am here to see her -- but really) I explain my situation, she assures me that my ankle is not infected, that it looks like I had an allergic reaction to the bug bite. She gives me a perscription for an ointment to put on it and recommends that I take Bendryl to fight off the allergy. (I am done within 5 minutes).

But I cannot hold my tongue at this point. As we are starting to walk out of her office, I shared with her that "for future reference" if she is 40 minutes behind when someone comes to sign in for their appointment, it would be really helpful if the receptionist would have passed along that information. In my case if I would have been given that information I would have accepted it and then chosen to walk over to Starbucks next door to get a coffee, I could have than made a couple of phone calls and I wouldn't have felt that my time was wasted. But instead I felt like I was held captive for all that time, and that my time was not respected.

I then added that I Don't Know Any Woman that has 1 - 2 hours to waste. Does she? Then in her soft, warm manner she went on to explain that my wait time was a little excessive, but there were some older people ahead of me that took longer, and they don't like us to "stray too far" in case they call me -- but the norm is an hour wait!!!!

Upon hearing that I proceeded to leave and was just totally floored!! Instead of trying to take my advice about giving her receptionist a heads up.....instead she talked about how a few other patients had increased my "normal wait time from an hour, to 30 minutes longer......but the normal wait time is usually an hour!!!"

Unbelieveable, I mean than why even schedule me for a 3:10 appointment, instead I should have arrived at 4:10 pm to be on time!

Thank goodness I am a very healthy person -- I am rarely sick and never see a doctor, except for my yearly gynecology exam. So I haven't been in the situation where I have had to wait like this for a doctor. Even when I was going through my infertility treatments, and when I was pregnant with my son -- both doctor's offices had me in and out rather quickly. And even my pediatrician has me in and out!

This is why I was so annoyed -- if other doctors that I have seen respect my time enough to get me in and out rather quickly -- shouldn't all doctors be that way??

My question to moms out there is -- have you found this to be a norm at doctors offices and if so, how long have you had to wait? Does it truely annoy you, to be wasting your precious time while you are waiting to be seen, or are you so used to it that you come prepared by bringing a book, and you just expect to have to wait?

I think it is really the responsibility of the doctor to work their schedule more efficiently to not allow this long wait time in their office. But if it does happen, as things do come up, they should pass along the delay to their receptionist so the patient that is waiting feels respected and can now make decisions about their time!!!

Maintaining Balance of Work and Baby

2008-08-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

This is the hardest part of being a mom. How to be a successful at work, maintain an identity that is not just being mom, but also spend quality time helping to shape, nurture and guide your child to become a strong, independent person.

I am constantly working at balancing the right amount of time away at work -- that time away allows me to be the person I am, and it also provides an example to my son of a role model that hopefully he will respect. In the right environment, the time that he spends away from me will also provide further growth opportunities for him -- by being with other kids and interacting with other role models.

Then when I am with him, I try to spend that dedicated time with him, with as little work interruptions as possible.

How to find and achieve that balance is an ongoing struggle, but knowing what your goal is -- provides a template to shoot for.

As Time Moves On

2008-08-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

In my last blog I wrote about the sitter I found, for my son Zack, once I went back to work. Well, as with everything in life, not all things stay the same. My sitter was very open to helping me on a part-time basis, as I eased back into a full time work load. However, when I needed to expand the amount of hours she was watching Zack, that became more of a problem. (Remember she still has 6 children of her own, and suddenly she was also becoming the main caretaker for her ailing father) -- So I needed to find a back-up person to handle watching my son, a couple days a week.

While I really liked my sitter, and Zack was very comfortable with her and her children, I also needed to take care of my work responsibilites and make sure that my son was taken care of. (which meant, that if my work was getting done, and he was taken care of, all was right with the world)

But finding someone you can trust and is a good role model, is not always easy. I continued to put off the search, and continue limping along, until I couldn't do it any longer! But as I had consciously made a decision to find my first sitter, once I started searching for someone, the second one that I found, came to me right away. She was just the person I was looking for!!

And what I love about her watching Zack a couple days a week is that there is a nice balance between the two environments. This new sitter has a lot of experience working with and teaching smaller children, so he is having fun at her house, but is also learning and is being exposed to a wealth of "pre-school" concepts at an early age.

Then when he goes over to his first sitter's house he has fun and just plays with the kids -- which gives him more social skills experience. And now I am not over taxing my original sitter because she gets a break two days a week -- and my work schedule gets covered! It is a win-win situation.

So, with everything else with Motherhood, if you understand that everything changes, and nothing ever stays the same -- and the best way to approach life is to be flexible -- your daily existance will be less frustrating.