It was in a gas station parking lot when the vision for The M.O.M. Initiative and The Making of a Mom was conceived. As I sat and watched a very pregnant teen girl walk by and light up a cigarette, I reflected on my teen pregnancy and how motherhood was like a messy experiment for me and how my kids ended up being the guinea pigs. And how I thought I was ready but didn’t have a clue. I couldn’t help but wonder if she understood the significance of her newfound roll. Did she understand that everything she now did would affect …
Juicing Once a Day for a Healthier Me & for Healthier Kids
I LOVE food! All food! Well, almost ALL food. But the older I get the more my food shows up on my hips, my thighs, and unfortunately all that yummy stuff affects my heart and my health. When I was younger, I could eat what I wanted and then just watch my intake for a few days and lose the weight I had gained. But those days are LONG GONE and my body is now in need of a little makeover. Okay…so a big makeover. And it’s not about my weight…it’s about my health. So, I started juicing. At first, …
Sleep: It is Worth the Fight
Sleep. It is difficult to do without it. And as moms we often get our first real taste of sleep deprivation as our tiny infant wakes frequently through the night. There are many schools of thought on sleep for infants and young children. Most stem from even deeper seated parenting philosophies. And I don’t want to debate the finer points of sleep training, attachment parenting, or baby wise parenting etc. The bottom line is all kids need sleep. Below is a graphic from the National Sleep Foundation. Sleep is connected to our mood, our overall health (adults who habitually …
Tips to De-Clutter and Organize before & after Christmas
I don’t know about your home little mama but when it’s time to put up the Christmas tree, our living room gets rearranged. And the smallest mess seems like mountains of clutter on top of the kids’ indoor adventures from negative temperatures. And if you’re already wondering how to reorganize your home, the loot, and de-clutter with little ones under foot, here are some fun tips for you. Christmas Ornaments You can either save the boxes each ornament comes in, or save space and time with egg cartons. …
Mom’s Winter Emergency Survival Kit
Ice is frosting the view outside our front door and soon, we will be scurrying to and from cities to visit family, friends and maybe even do a little shopping; but are you prepared in case of an emergency Do you what to do if your car slides off the road and do you know what you should carry in your car for you and your kids? It pays to keep your trunk packed with a winter survival kit for you and your kids AND to keep your cell phone with you. Before we get to your packing list, take a …
Facing the Mother “Hood” Alone
Hello little mamas! We have a special guest today. Catrina Gray signed up to have a mentor from The Mom Initiative and the funny part is we were just beginning to become friends while I was already on the M.O.M. Team. Catrina is a single mom with a heart for God and an eye for beautiful shots of life. Because she is in college and has dyslexia, she shared her story and I wrote her article; as a single mom, she has faced many trials including whether or not her daughter would be “normal.” Motherhood is a challenge for …
16 Rules for Raising Boys
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Elijah Michael–my midnight baby. We went into the hospital during the early morning hours on October 5th and he was born at the stroke of mid-night on October 6th. As I yell his name, I can’t help but smile because I’m yelling, “The Lord is God–Who is like God?” And this week he will be 7, which is amazing considering that he tested my sanity with all his boy-ish stuff like worms in his pockets, opening the door to …
Strategies for Shopping with Youngsters
The little one rounded the corner, alone, crying, carrying her pink, velcroed, tennis shoes. She was maybe three years of age, at the most. “Are you looking for your, Mommy?” I asked. I looked around, expecting to see a frantic mama in search of her child. No one matched that description. Then out popped a young mom from behind the shelves of shoes. I suppose she was fearful of me, a stranger, talking to her child. “Oh, look! There’s your mom. See she won’t leave you. She’s right here.” The woman gave me an icy stare and said, “I was hiding to …
QbyUand4U: Getting kids to eat fruits & veggies & TMI Link Up
At one time or another, I think every mom wonders if she is mothering a child worthy of an expose on 20/20. Some children struggle with medical or emotional challenges expressed in eating habits that require the help of a trained therapist, nutritionist, or doctor. But when one of our moms asked, “How do we get our kids to eat more fruits and vegetables?” the mom audience collectively nodded their heads. It’s time for a “Question by U and 4U!” Most children aren’t born craving broccoli. If your kids beg for brussel sprouts on their birthday, just go ahead and …
To Count or Not to Count
It was hard not to notice her struggle, since she and her husband sat across from us while we all waited to board our flight. Her little princess was Pottery Barn catalog pretty, but she had an attitude that shouted “Diva!” With a patient voice and bottomless bag of tricks, the mom was trying to work her magic (emphasis on “work”) before we ever approached the plane. Nothing worked. Just then, she found hope in the form of another “traveling mommy.” Different kinds of moms Traveling mommy #2 took a different approach. She was streamlined. She was in charge. She …