Putting it all in Perspective

This last week seemed incredibly hassled. I found myself constantly on the back foot never really getting ahead (welcome to parenthood).  I was running around trying to get the family ready for our “road trip,” planning a birthday party, and oh, yes, working and raising a family. Whenever this mom gets overwhelmed and starts to feel like it is all unraveling, one thing that helps me cope is to put it all in perspective. What are mom’s favorite ways to do this?

Read the NY Times or Watch BBC World News to remember the plight of others. In reading about, or watching the footage of, the recent cyclone in Mynamar or the earthquake in China, it reminds me of how blessed our family is.

Break the cycle of the day with a walk, book, or prayer. Honestly, I have found the way to put it all in perspective is to change both my physiology and my psychology.

Count your blessings everyday. It sounds cheesy, but I do think this is valuable. I remember once Oprah did a show on keeping a daily journal of everything you were thankful for, and I think there is something to that. Recently a close friend of mine lost her mother. My friend knew her mother was dying, but nevertheless it was inevitably still difficult when her mother passed. Every day I talk to my mom or hear the words “ma-ma” I feel like dissolving in tears of gratitude for still having all of my family.

Watch an episode of John & Kate Plus Eight. Honestly, think about it, two twins and a sextuplets. We have it so easy by comparison!

Ditch the list of to do’s and play with the kids for a bit, smile, and laugh. As a stranger in the drugstore just told our family “enjoy every minute of it because it is over in a blink of an eye.”

A Long Weekend Treat

Thank goodness for a long weekend. So bring out the sunshine, grills, and great food and family this Memorial Day Weekend. Like so many out there, this mom loves long weekends. I honestly can not wait. So in planning a few special touches I have been scouring my cookbooks, food magazines, and websites to find a few extra special touches to add to the weekend. And the winner is an adaptation of a French recipe by Jean-Louis Palladin, which I have made several times before, and this variation is a nice, easy, and healthy treat to add a special touch to your weekend festivities. It is a French light custard style dessert which features fresh or frozen fruit and which you can prepare ahead:

Blo(ah)g, Blo(ah)g, Blo(ah)g

Several years ago one of this mom’s favorite things to do was watch Seinfeld. I loved Jerry’s “Blah, Blah, Blah” comment and found myself frequently using (and abusing) it. Now in my family the new tag line for mommy is becoming “Blo(ah)g, Blo(ah)g, Blo(ah)g” – an obvious take-off from the before mentioned catch-phrase. Yes, mommy is enjoying her new found way to voice all the things our family and friends have been discussing for years, but really what is motivating me most is to share some of the insights we have come to after these discussions and musings. Sometimes moms (and dads) don’t have a place, time, or energy, to think through the things of life, and so I am happy to supply a few hints to help. So, let the blo(ah)ging continue!

A Place To Call Your Own

Blocks on the floor, links in the bath, cups on the counter, stuffed animals on the couch, and crumbs in the bed. Yes, once kids enter the picture, welcome to the loss of serenity. Saying that, I wouldn’t trade this place for the world. But I might just barter for a little place of my own. No mother with young children could really dream of such a thing (even our chest of drawers is invaded on a daily basis), but recently I have been trying to carve out a little “mommy space” and I have found that it actually makes me a better mom. This really isn’t a place per se, but it definitely is a frame of mind. So this mom’s favorite tips for creating “a place to call your own” are:

Arrange a hair (or even a doctor) appointment late in the day (after Dad gets home). I did this recently and took a couple minutes on either side of my appointment to catch my breath and quickly read the March (yes March) edition of Food & Wine magazine.

Get up a little bit earlier than normal. Not that sleep deprivation is a good state of affairs, but I find that if I can grab a few snippets of time in the morning before the chaos begins, I am more on top of things (and I might get my hair combed).

If you are so lucky to have a “nap-time” in your child’s routine – take advantage of this! At least once a week skip the errands you set yourself during nap-time, and instead take some time to read, breathe, catch up with friends, etc.

Make a mommy date with a friend sans children. Meet a friend for a quick coffee, walk, dinner, or snack. You don’t have to be gone long, but the break will do you a world of good.

Choose a family activity that you like to do. I love walking, so with family in tow I find myself crafting a place to call my own by doing something that I really enjoy.

Ditch the Baby Einstein cds, and when there is a moment of quiet, listen to your favorite music.

Finally, give yourself the permission to create your own place to call your own.

For a Rainy Day

One of this mom’s favorite things to do is read books, but as most moms know it is hard to make the time. So how do I deal with this? Probably not in the most realistic way. I rationalize all the books that I buy, or receive as gifts, as being “for a rainy day.” Even when it rains though it is hard to get to my once beautifully ordered bookshelf, which now have been ravaged by little inquiring hands. I recently received Through the Children’s Gate: A Home in New York (Vintage)by Adam Gopnick and today it rained. And guess what? I got to the second page…oh well, there is always the next rainy day to look forward to.

Safe Toys

Mom’s Favorite Hints to Finding Safe Toys

Are you worried about the lead, toxins, and other chemicals in our kids’ toys? As a mom, I have been concerned with reports of toys that have high lead levels and toys that are toxic. Keep reading to find out how you can make sure your child’s toys are not causing them harm.

With so many toys recalled, how can you be sure your child’s toys are safe? Here are some of mom’s favorite helpful hints:

Buy American. If possible, see if you can find toys made in the USA. You would be shocked how few there are, but hand-made wood toys are usually pretty safe.

Buy a Lead Test. Now most baby and kids stores sell these. You simply rub them against the toy to find out if they leach chemicals.

Buy organic products. Some companies now boast “organic” stuffed animals, clothes, and other toys. This will help give you piece of mind that what your child is putting in their mouth is not leeching harmful chemicals.

Buy products that are labeled “non-toxic” or “lead free” vs. “natural.” If products have the word non-toxic or lead free, they must verify this is true, however if toys simply have the word “natural” there are no specifications for what criteria the product must follow.

Buy toys from companies that have dedicated themselves to more rigorously testing their toys.

Who are these companies?

Try Melissa & Doug Products. They are great, educational, and safe! Our family and friends simply love their products and they engage in extra testing of their toys. We also like “Uncle Goose” Products, as well as these great “organic” baby & teething sets.

How else do you make sure that the toys you buy are safe?

There are a few good resources that every mom and dad should be sure to check out. It will take a bit of elbow grease to make sure that your toys are safe, but hopefully this information will help.

If you would like more information on what toys are unhealthy and why, see the PBS show “NOW.”

So many toys that have been recalled due to high chemical levels (especially lead). Make sure to check the US Consumer Product Commission Website for a list of all of these toys.

Another site that is a good resource is “Healthy Toys, because it provides a database of tested toys. You can also sign up for a texting function where you text the toys name into their database while shopping.

There are many published & online safety guides as well that listsafe products for kids.

We do a lot of research about unhealthy toys through Consumer Reports. Subscribe to the magazine at a low price to find the best and safest toys for your child.

One of the countries that has the best testing for toys is Canada. They have stringent requirements as to what counts as “safe toy” and they recently published their results for 2008. There are many winners that are available in the United States, and we would say these warrant making it onto mom’s favorite wishlist for safe toys. For see the Canadian Council’s List of Best Toys, click here.

“Reel Meals”

This mom’s favorite thing to do is stay in for dinner and a movie – and now even NBC has caught on to this. This morning they featured a new chef from the Food Network’s new show “Chic and Easy” – I did think that the pasta and popcorn ideas were reasonable and quick *but definetly needed a bit more veggies.* If you opted for the pasta one night and then the popcorn another you might strike the balance just a bit more. As always let us know your mom’s favorite ideas for “reel meals.”

Beware of a Baby Sweet-tooth

We love our pediatrician, and she along with every other “expert” reminds parents not to load babies with sugar. Although tempting to feed babies lots of fruit, cereals, and snacks, these are all high in sugar and can result in overweight infants who grow into overweight adults. Related to these concerns, The NY Times reported today that some infant formula has what many pediatricians believe to be too much added sugar.To make matters worse, this formula is organic (and you all know that one of mom’s favorite things is organic). If you use Similac Organic formula be sure to read this article “A Top-Selling Organic Formula Is Also Sweetest” here.