Support for Moms

Why are we so obsessed with our weight?

2007-01-13T03:17:00.000-05:00

While doing some posting on a few forums that I am a member of, I was reading posts about people trying to lose weight and some of the ladies who were saying they still needed to lose 10-20 pounds look so skinny right now they look like they are skeletons!

So why is America so obsessed about their weight? Could it be because of all the commercials, MTV, the skinny stars and sports fanatics who are constantly bombarding us with their idea of an attractive person? The tv or movie commercials that say if you are not a size 4 you are overweight!

I was watching The Devil Loves Prada the other night and was so upset when they told the secretary that she was a pig at a size 4! I couldn't imagine being in a size 4, let alone being told I needed to lose weight to be in a size 0 in order to look good! Come on!

Why are we so obsessed?

Why can't we love ourselves for ourselves?

Below is what I posted in reply to someone asking for diet tips etc:

I too am doing a "healthy living lifestyle" change...I have found for myself if I focus on losing weight I want to eat more items that are bad for me. I refuse to tell myself I am losing weight...I don't need to lose weight I just need to become healthier and tone up, sure there may be a few pounds I could lose BUT that should not be the main focus, becoming healthy should be.

What I have been doing, and this is for me as it works for me, is eating more raw fruits and vegetables, have a salad already made up as during the day I reach for something quick and easy to eat since I am working or chasing my 4 yr old around that I don't want to take the time to cook for myself.

I also have added more water to my diet, when I get hungry and its not meal or snack time I reach for the water.

Another thing I have been doing is finding DVD's that I enjoy some of you may laugh at the one I do that I just find so much fun to do and the time just melts away (no pun intended lol) I bought Carmen Electra's Strip Tease aerobics...I know but you know what it is so much fun! I also vary it with Turbo Jam and Yoga Booty Ballet all of them are fun and have great music that keeps me going.

Cutting out the real sugars I can't do as far as using items like Splenda etc because I don't feel they are safe, so I just cut down on how much real sugar I use in my coffee which I have also cut back from 2 pots, yep 2 pots a day, to 2 cups a day which is a feat in and of itself for me a coffee addict. To be honest what has helped me get over that "trial" was Tally Green's Gano coffee which really tastes good and is good for you, so if you need a coffee alternative contact Tally Green she sells Gano coffees and I highly recommend you using it I know when I am done with what I have here I will be ordering from her.

Everyone says to stop eating when you are not hungry, that's simple if you have the will power or are not using food to deal with other issues as I have been doing since my MIL died.

I was aneroxic and bulmic once, sorry about the sp, and I know all about eating and emotional disorders. If you look at food as either the enemy or a comfort food you need to see your doctor about those issues so you can get those resolved before you start any diet...trust me I have been on both sides: so skinny I looked like I was dying, I was...and being overweight it was affecting my entire health and mental well being and for me both sides I was dealing with emotional problems and the only way I felt in control was with food.

Good luck to those who are trying to lose weight, for me this year my goal is healthy living! I did this once 10 years ago, just watched what I ate and exercised 5 days out of 7 and lost 30 pounds while hubby was in Korea. So I know I can do it.

Besides you need to be at a healthy weight and not a skinny minny...who needs to look like a model or those ladies on tv who everyone loves and wants to be like.

If you are happy with the way you look or know your goal weight so you can feel better is to only lose 10 pounds then go for the 10 pounds and not the 20 pounds to fit societies image...sorry this is a hot topic for me, I have two nieces right now that are so thin they would blow away if the wind picks up and they are starving themselves because they want to look like the stars or sports people they know when I look at them all I see is what I did to myself and my body and how many of my health issue right now stem from not loving myself for me.

So what if you weigh 145 are you in good shape? Do you love what you see? If not you need to explore whether it is really for health reasons or emotional reasons why you want to lose weight...

I am off my soapbox now but I just wanted to wish all of you good health and let you know some of the things I do :)

Embracing Your Beauty

2007-01-09T06:44:00.000-05:00

Embracing Your Beauty

By Rebecca White

For so many women beauty is what we see in magazines and on TV, we don’t focus on inner beauty or our own uniqueness. Don’t roll your eyes and tell me “I know that already” Well do you?

How many times do you go into your bathroom and look at yourself and compare yourself to those women on TV or in magazines? How many times so you pick yourself apart? I need to lose weight, I have my frizzy hair, my butt needs to be smaller so on and so forth.

What about taking a good long look at yourself and see the things you do like about yourself? Do you like your smile? Do you like the way your legs look in a skirt? Does your face light up when you smile? Notice the things you love about yourself! Only when you can honestly say you love you, that is the time you will show others your confidence and your inner beauty. You will walk with an air of pride because you love you!

Stop listening to the negative thoughts in your head:

I am a failure

I don’t deserve….

I wish I had…

This will never work out….

These thoughts only bring you down! Find that powerful woman warrior inside of yourself the one that tells you:

You are beautiful

You are successful

You do deserve this or that

It will work out

Think of the negative thoughts as a knarled old tree. Darkness surrounding it, no animals around, the way the branches are leaning towards the ground and the bark is falling off it.

Then think of the positive thoughts as that giant oak tree, standing there magnificent, tall and proud. The sun is shining behind the tree, the birds are singing and building their homes and the branches are rising to the sun to meet the day!

Who do you want to be?

Do you remember the old saying “I am woman hear me roar!” We as women need to stand up and be proud of ourselves, our bodies, our homes, our careers, our choice to stay home with the kids, or our choice to work outside the home. There is enough negative thoughts around us each day, don’t let your own thoughts be another thing to tear you down.

We, as women, tend to give out all our positive energy to our families and friends and all we are left with is the negative energy. Many times we don’t even realize it till we are sick or tired or wondering where to go next.

When you have negative thoughts go write them down on a piece of paper, walk over to the sink and with a lighter or match and light the paper while saying “I release all negative thoughts and energy. I will only allow positive thoughts to rule inside of me”.

So be proud of who you are, no matter what imperfections you may have. Would you want to live in a world were everyone looked the same, acted the same? I know I wouldn’t.

Rebecca White is the host for Heal Yourself Talk Radio. HYTR was started to help teach others to learn how to heal their mind, body and soul. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter for weekly inspirations, podcast releases and more. Visit HYTR today at http://www.healyourselftalk.com

SMART PARENTING: Raising Happy and Responsible Children in the 21st Century

2007-01-03T00:30:00.000-05:00

CHILDREN IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Don’t be Surprised if Today’s Kids See Life as One Big Commercial Break

Television today is still a “baby sitter” both for adults and preschoolers. When people are bored or simply want to rest, they watch TV. Some are not really interested to watch at all. They need the TV to put them to sleep. As soon as you turn it off, they wake up.

With the remote control, watching TV can be a dizzying experience. I get confused with what characters go with what plot. What with that mysterious hand switching channels during commercial breaks, you find yourself following several shows at the same time. Sometimes you have to shout, “stop!” and confiscate the remote control. “Please decide which program you want and stick to it”.

That was supposed to be final but what’s this switching channel again? “Mom, there are commercial breaks!” would be the excuse. Today’s TV imports still have family-oriented shows and the rest are soap operas, game shows and their local counterparts which include slapsticks or tearjerkers, noontime variety shows, movie personalities’ song and dance, and movie Dom’s gossip sessions.

These are the kinds of shows very young children are exposed to. Most of these are shown at times when kids are awake and those of school age are already home. Programming leaves much to be desired.

One of the positive developments in local TV is the emergence of talk shows discussing current issues as well as TV-magazine formats. For mothers, “Sesame Street” is heaven-sent. You can put the little tykes in front of the TV (at least 4 “rulers” away – instructions to the little ones) and have a little break from mothering.

But violence even in cartoons is the order of the day. You see Bugs Bunny hammered on the head or blown to pieces by Sam his Enemy No. 1 or Road Runner running over the coyote. Tom and Jerry and now their sons slug it out; and of course, the Japanese robots and the superheroes in the endless fight between good and evil.

You don’t have to think about the violent “drama” teleplays or movies and their trailers, especially the one where the lead actress pokes a gun on the actor’s head who says, “Go ahead, and shoot it”. You’d probably close your eyes and shudder to think of the countless kids exposed to this kind of violence. And you parents are helpless. Ads just pop out of the boob tube every 15 minutes and you can’t tell which one will go on. Not unless the stations publish a list of advertisers or sponsors. Boy! That’s going to be a long list!

The crucial thing about TV is, it is a powerful medium. Repetitious subliminal messages are being exploited by advertisements that target kids. They are mesmerized by commercials. Cigarette and liquor ads suggest, “It is good to smoke and drink” without warning about its dangers. They often show images of sophisticated living.

Teachers reveal their frustration with college students who have limited concentration that usually lasts only for 15 minutes due to commercial gap syndrome. They suffer from what noted psychologists term “attention deficit disorder”.

Moreover, these teachers lament. Kids raised by TV hardly read, preconditioned as they are by TV-spoon feeding. (How many students actually read a book for their term paper? If they do, they choose a very short book but most just rent a DVD version.) There is nothing wrong with this audiovisual education like “The Planet Earth” but reading is entirely different from watching. Reading develops the imagination unlike TV, where the camera can focus on the smallest detail.

The fast pacing of images gives the illusion that “life is never continuous...it is fragmentalized; it is made up of commercial breaks. And if one doesn’t like what is seen and heard, one can change channels”. In reality, one can “change channels” in one’s mind and switch to fantasy.
Television’s powerful medium can be utilized in a positive way. Already public service ads by both the station and advertiser are being shown. It aims to educate the public on traffic and safety rules. Effective communication must be two-way. TV programs now feature citizens’ woes and call the attention of the concerned government agency or ask citizens’ cooperation in government programs. Not surprisingly, this produces faster results.

It is hoped that the government will subsidize alternative TV productions that will really give wholesome entertainment, education and develop local talent rather than the superstar “mentality” and its subsequent commercial rating that dominates the industry today.

In the high-tech world of communications via satellites, fax and computers, our children are bombarded with instant, varied and conflicting messages. It is easy to be carried away with images of fun and make-believe like the MTVs that seem to be getting more and more hallucinatory and lead an aimless life. Or children of the TV generation might be indecisive due to the myriad choices they are confronted with.

This is real life. There is no instant replay or fast-forward. “Changing channels” needs a lot of thinking and weighing of consequences, advantages and disadvantages.

There is great pressure not to be traditional. Don’t apologize. You can still be progressive and choose traditional values. Indeed, your children need to have an anchor and a focus – good old-fashioned principles and priorities.

Like It or Not, Kids Grow with Violence

Like most of the parents, you are probably against guns. Real guns. At the mere sight of them, your knees turn to jelly. A gunless society is ideal but only law-abiding citizens can make it one. If guns are in the hands of goons, who will protect the gunless citizens? Nowadays, it’s hard to tell who are the law enforcers and the law-breakers.

You must be able to enforce “toys for peace” in your home. You should be conscious about this, as your boys and girls graduate from plastic toys that go “bang bang” to water guns. What are popular now are air soft guns using plastic pellets. They are quite expensive.

This is probably one step ahead of video or role-playing games, where one uses the computer or imagination. In war games, they can act it out. You probably don’t notice it but when your kids start playing war games, their relationship skills improve. They become a team with a hobby to share. It’s good, clean fun. Nobody gets hurt. They wear protective goggles or face masks, long sleeves and long pants. (It seems there are some adults who join, not to play, but to hurt.)

The children’s justifications should never change your stand about toy guns. They know they can never ask you to buy such guns for them. (So they’d probably try asking their other parent.) Besides, you reaction is always economic: “How much? That’s a month’s groceries! No way!”
But when violence is deliberate, such as in hazing, then that’s a different story. This is no longer a game. The pain is real. It is not like those “blood pellets” you can wipe away when the game is over. You can actually have blood on your hands.

Hazing does not teach brotherhood. It teaches revenge. So this batch was made to take a gulp of milk, spit it out, and pass the same glass down the line. From a half-filled glass, by the time it gets to the last guy, it’s nearly full. Next year, this same batch will do the same, or worse, to their neophytes. And so the violence escalates.

Is this a rite of passage every boy must undergo to be a man, or a girl to be a woman? A father, especially one who got by without joining any fraternity, is proof enough that fraternities are not necessary. If by brotherhood, it means cheating by test paper leaks and connections, then you shouldn’t want that for your children.

They say the culture of violence is bred by violence in comics, movies and television. That enough exposure to violence can dull one’s sense and one can become insensitive to gore and blood. Power can be such a heady experience. Guns or even a car can give one a feeling of power. You’ve seen houseboys transformed into veritable kings of the road, once they get behind the steering wheel. Can you imagine those out of school youth recruited to be security guards and issued guns?

What can we do about this culture of violence? Parents ask the schools to be stricter with those involved in frat violence. For students, the best thing is to boycott fraternities. Those who join are mostly insecure students from the province who really need some form of brotherhood, as they are new in the city or university. They do not know that one can pass the course and find jobs based on one’s merits.

More Coming Soon....Look for the Book to be online soon at Support for Moms

FREEBIES for everyone no strings attached!

2006-10-31T14:41:00.000-05:00

FREEBIES for everyone no strings attached!
A lot of great freebies this week w/no strings attatched! Come join our newsletter at http://www.plussizemommy.com and you will automatically receive the following ebooks free:
Blogging Made EasyMake Money BloggingKeyword ToolHow to Build a Thank You PageHandy Hyperlist Linkbook
Plus, each day of this week, you will receive an email with a link to other great freebies! On Friday the 3rd, we will be having a chat on the site and giving away some great prizes. After this week is over you will not receive any more newsletters from us, so there is no big commitment. Why are we doing this?
Our fabulous team is a part of a competition going on at www.wahm911.com We are all competing for some great prizes and learning a ton along the way. So you see, there really are no strings attached.
Our competition this week is to have a higher traffic flow to our website (which is not a real site, just our first challenge in the competition) than the other team. We just want to reward you all for helping us out and visiting our site. If you’d like to join the Yahoo group for WAHM 911 and learn from our discussions, join in mini competitions and meet some wonderful ladies, please visit (copy & paste) http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/wahm911/ and once you join up you can go to the poll section and vote for Rebecca White as the person who referred you.

Rebecca WhiteGraphic and Website DesignerView all my businesseshttp://www.rebeccawhiteonline.com

Living with Diabetes

2006-10-26T21:17:00.000-04:00

Do you or someone you love have Type 1 diabetes? Susie and I talking about type 1 diabetes and the effect it has on not only the person who has diabetes but the family as well.

Rebecca White talks about her husband and how they found out about his diabetes, the symptoms and some helpful hints on how to deal with Type 1 Diabetes.

Susie Glennan from The Busy Woman tells how they found out that her 19 month old grandson had Type 1 diabetes and the families struggle as they learn how to take care of his needs.

This is going to be a continuing segment so be sure to come back often to hear more information about Diabetes and how it affects both the person with diabetes as well as the family members of a diabetic.
http://www.healyourselftalk.com

Two new shows on Heal Yourself Talk Radio & a Surprise ad special!

2006-10-19T13:48:00.000-04:00

Two new shows on Heal Yourself Talk Radio & a Surprise ad special!
Why I Forgave My Mom for Abusing Me for 44 Years
It took my mother's stroke to heal my broken relationship with her and to show me how EASY it was to forgive her for abusing me for 44 years.
Listen in to Sharon and Roy Montero as they share various events in their lives as it relates to the healing process between a mother and daughter.

and

Halloween or Fall Festival Tips and Recipes

How one family chooses to celebrate a given holiday should be between them and their family and their God.
Recipes, tips and how my family celebrates "Halloween or Fall Festival"

http://www.healyourselftalk.com

Also help me celebrate my son's 13th birthday all button ads on all pages till Friday October 27th are only $13.00 for one month!
Only those who read this ad will get this price!
http://www.healyourselfradio.com/Happy_Birthday_Alex_Ad_Specials.html

What Happened the Morning of 9-11? Two Survivors stories...

2006-10-05T13:19:00.000-04:00

What Happened the Morning of 9-11? Two Survivors stories...

9-11: no other day in the history of our nation can strike the fear, the pain and the anguish that we suffered on that date from a terroist attack.

We woke up to the news blaring the impossible! We sat stunned as we watched the events unfold!

But what was that day really like for those who lived through that aweful experience?
Michelle Rosado and Eula share their stories. From the weeks before the event to the weeks and months after, you will hear what they experienced, how they survived, how they were in shock for many days and even years later from the life altering event.
Kim Mutch Emerson comes on at the end of the show to share how those who suffered, whether they lost a loved one or are a survivor, that they can have victory in healing even now.
Hear how Michelle and Eula have changed since that day and how they are finding victory in their experience.

http://www.healyourselftalk.com

A personal invitation…to The WINning Sisters of Ryze Fall Fling Oct 12th

2006-10-04T15:59:00.000-04:00

A personal invitation…to The WINning Sisters of Ryze Fall Fling Oct 12th

You already have what it takes to WIN!

Here’s your chance to create NEW connections, network and play games while learning Business Promotion Techniques.

Guest Speaker Kelly McCausey from http://www.wahmtalkradio.com will be teaching us how to use ezines and newsletters to grow our businesses!

Among the 14 prizes to be given out Denise Michaels from http://www.marketingforher.com has donated her best selling book “Testosterone Free Marketing” and her E-Book “Sales Letters”

The WINning Sisters of Ryze Fall Fling is scheduled for Oct 12th from 4PM - 8 PM EST. Details can be found on the Sister Site at http://www.winningsistersofryze.com/events.html

How to Get Assistance for Medications-FREE or Discounted

2006-09-22T11:28:00.000-04:00

How to Get Assistance for Medications-FREE or Discounted

This week on Heal Yourself Talk Radio:

Learn how to be able to get your medication for discounts or free from Rebecca Templet.
Rebecca was a patient advocate and has written a free ebook giving you a guide to be able to get help for your medications.

Hear from Ginger Marks who downloaded Rebecca's free ebook and how she is saving $250 a month on her medications.

http://www.healyourselftalk.com

Next Week's Episode: Living with Lupus

Heal Yourself Talk Radio

2006-09-16T23:35:00.000-04:00

Summary
For those that suffer from depression, health concerns, financial problems, or unbalance in their lives in any way would do well to check out Heal Yourself Talk Radio, a ground breaking internet radio show discussing natural and alternatives ways to happy healthy living.

Among the shows expert speakers are Chipo Shambare, speaker, facilitator/coach and owner of Healing Bridge, Kim Emerson, public speaker, author, mentor/coach of the Law of Attraction, and owner of SecretofProsperity.com, and Linda Alexander motivational author and speaker.

America is Dying: Heal Yourself Radio Has Answers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Sylvania, Oh) September 8, 2006. As the sunlight hours lessen during the fall season those that suffer from depression often times feel their depression enlarge. For those that suffer from depression, health concerns, financial problems, or unbalance in their lives in any way would do well to check out Heal Yourself Talk Radio, a ground breaking internet radio show discussing natural and alternatives ways to happy healthy living.

Out of a deep desire to reach the masses and offer ways of healing Rebecca White of Sylvania, OH undertook this exceptional project and developed a talk radio show that really says something. Her style is refreshing, her speakers engaging, the material is valuable.

“Because of my own personal journey I have for the past year felt a strong urging to start an internet talk radio show to offer guidance and help for those who are looking for ways to heal their mind, body and soul no matter what the source of pain is,” states Ms White. “After speaking with several advisors on the subject I felt absolutely confident that this show was one of great value. That is how Heal Yourself Talk Radio was born.”

Among the shows expert speakers are Chipo Shambare, speaker, facilitator/coach and owner of Healing Bridge, Kim Emerson, public speaker, author, mentor/coach of the Law of Attraction, and owner of SecretofProsperity.com, and Linda Alexander motivational author and speaker. You can listen to those or many other dynamic speakers to assist in your healing journey at http://www.healyourselftalk.com

For more information or to become a guest contact Rebecca White by email at rwhitenhcd@bex.net

Its summer time

2006-07-06T15:37:00.000-04:00

Wow, I noticed its been a long time since I have updated this blog.

Things around the house here have been going crazy.

First off I got really sick in March and had a hard time just making it through a couple hours at a time, after much testing and doctor's visits I found out that my right ovary dropped and was embedding itself into my vaginal wall.

So in May I had surgery and now finally I am almost feeling back to normal, well as normal as any mom who has kids, lives with her FIL to help him with bills, has several home based businesses and well is an OCD and perfectionist lol.

So life around here has been very interesting, from learning new ideas and trying to learn new graphic programs to starting a talk radio show (will talk more about that once it is launched :) )

The kids beleive it or not love to tell me they are bored, how in the world can anyone be bored :) they have a pond to swim in, animals to play with etc. But thinking back to the days when I was young, no wise cracks lol, I remember days that needed to be spruced up and I did get bored.

So now I am looking for ideas for kids to do around the house, preferably outside games, etc etc. If you all have any suggestions please feel free to let me know.

We have had some no stop days of rain thankfully they stopped on Tuesday and hopefully looks like the rain will stay away for a while now, I sure hope so my herb garden is over grown with weeds because of all the rain.

Well off to do some house cleaning for the day.

If anyone spots the sock monster tell him I am missing socks for 2 pairs of socks :)

Scheduling time for you in your busy schedule:

2006-03-11T16:42:00.000-05:00

Let’s talk about your day.

How does your day start out?

Here is a sample of a schedule where I am not organized and don’t take time for me then I will show you another schedule where I am more organized and take a couple 15 minutes breaks for me during the day and about 30 minutes in the evening for a total of 1 hour a day, that’s now much for a 24 hour day but you will get the idea of how to incorporate a few minutes a day for you time:

6:30 am
Rise and shine start waking up the household to start their day

7 am
Hubby is out the door time to get the kids ready for school, pack lunches, and make sure everyone has everything they need for school.

8:30 am
Kids are out the door and on the school bus; about 20 minutes later get a phone call from Kyle that he forgot his homework

9 am
2-year-old wakes up

9:15-10:15 AM
Feed 2 year old, clean the kitchen, put in one load of laundry while running back and forth to check my emails, call a client, check emails, while already feeling like I lost my head somewhere. Have you seen it?

10:15-11:15 am
Work on networking while trying to get my son to stop throwing things out the window, all the while listening to the cat meowing because my oldest took him outside the day before. Looking all over my desk for that phone number I was suppose to call about the product I needed. I know I wrote it down somewhere….

11:30-1:00 pm
Forget to eat lunch for myself because I am too busy cleaning up after my son’s lunch, finish cleaning my floors, remember I forgot to call a client and am about 5 minutes over due for the phone call. Post a few advertisements, read a few posts, make a couple phone calls…

1:30-2:30 pm
Struggle with son to take a nap I now only have an 1 hour before the evening rush starts, getting stressed because I now have to do some articles and phone calls and the older boys will be home wanting dinner, which reminds me I need to figure out what to fix! Make a mad dash to the kitchen throw my hands up in the air because I have no idea what to fix, hubby is diabetic and I need to have dinner on the table by 5pm…

3:00 pm
I hear a crash from the living room where my 2 year old is suppose to be asleep, go see that he has dumped over my TV trays and is laughing as he is chasing his cat around the room with bubble soaps, as I am chasing him and the cat…I fall down….oooooo

3:50 pm
I hear the bus pull up, oh no I forgot to put something in oven for dinner, another mad dash to the kitchen…kids come in to tell me their day and to remind me they have soccer practice in 30 minutes and I didn’t get the socks dried I run down to the basement, slip on the spilled cat litter and almost bust my butt run to the dryer hit the start button, then run back up the stairs jump over the spilled cat litter reminding myself to pick it up later.

4:30-6:00 pm
Take the kids to karate and soccer, wish I could take this time to use for myself but decide to do the bills instead, decide to pick up dinner from McDonald’s once a week is ok, alright you got me try 3 times a week. Eat dinner, make a few phone calls, check emails

7:00-9:00 Pm
Homework time, clean up time, decide if I want to go take a bath, decide no I don’t have the time to do this will try to do it after the kids go to bed. Where is hubby you may be asking? He ate dinner and took a nice hour bath and is now watching Monday night football or if it is hockey season Red Wings Hockey, listening to me yell that I am about ready to explode please help me….

10:00 pm
The older 2 boys are asleep and I am starting to realize that my kitchen still has dishes in the sink; the floor is a mess from older sons tracking in the mud after soccer practice.

10:05-11:05 pm
Fight with 2 year old to go to bed he decides this is the night that he will not go to bed no matter what mom does, moms is going to explode, again where is hubby in his room watching American Chopper

Midnight
2 yr old is asleep finally I can sit down and relax, wait I can’t do that I still need to get the orders filled, the last bit of the dishes done and now guess what hubby decides he will make an appearance, for what you may be asking…. take a guess.

I have decided that’s it, I’ve had it I can not get anything else done and go to bed vowing that the next day will not be like today. So I go through the kitchen mad because I still see dishes in the sink, I feel like all I did today was take care of everyone else, I feel spent, worn out and wondering why I try to be super mom!

Ok now that may seem to be a little exaggerated, but how many have you saw yourself in that schedule? This is a true day schedule for me when I am not organized!

Now I let you know this there are days where I am still not organized, but I am not perfect and as far as I’m concerned nobody should be completely organized…but you need to be somewhat organized when you work from home, let’s face it even if you don’t work from home you have a totally different schedule that needs to be worked upon.

So here is how it works in my house now that I am more organized:

#1 So I don’t miss any numbers or contact information (by the way it took my computer crashing to teach me this lesson LOL) I went to Wal-Mart and bought me a rolodex to hold all WAHP’s information that I deal with everyday so that if I find someone who needs a service or a product that I don’t work with I can have it right at my fingertips.

#2 The Night before I know what I need to do the next morning, work wise and home wise, I have it planned out. Of course you have to expect changes to your schedule so make sure you don’t schedule it too tight.

Times that are just for me will be in bold

6 am
Get up early so I can watch the morning news while enjoying my first cup of coffee.

6:30 am
Wake up hubby, lunch was made the night before so I am not rushing to pack it.

7 am
See hubby out the door, kids lunches were made the night before as well as clothes laid out and all papers and bags are packed for the day.

7:30 am
Get kids up for school, they already know what they are wearing to school so no asking me where this is etc.

The next hour runs smoothly, I can do some laundry because everything is already done and the kids are eating breakfast, no fights no stress this early in the morning.

8:30 am
The kids are on the bus, I have had time to talk to them about the day and send them off with a good attitude I am not feeling pressure already and passing that on to them.

I have about 30 minutes before my 2 year old wakes up so I go into the kitchen and look through my freezer and cookbooks to find a recipe to put into the crock-pot.

I bought a wonderful cookbook called “Munchkin Menus” from Shelly Howard a couple weeks ago and let me tell you it has some wonderful recipes in there for both the crock pot and meals to make under 30 minutes! What a time saver! If you are interested in purchasing her cookbook to save you time and frustration go to her website at http://www.munchinmenus.com and take a look around.

9:00 am
Adam is still sleeping so I take this chance to sit at my computer to check emails, if nothing needs to be taken care of right away I go to my date book and see all the things I have planned for my day.

I then go about picking up my house for about 15 minutes, I have to give credit for this to http://www.Flylady.net for all those who have a hard time being organized her site is a wonderful tool to get yourself on track and get used to doing things in “baby steps” they will send you reminders to do things throughout your day and each task only takes about 15 minutes but well worth it.

10:00-Noon
I work on my networking, my emails and any phone calls to clients I have scheduled. Adam has had breakfast and is watching me work and playing on his toy computer.

Noon
I take a break, I go fix lunch, sit down with Adam and enjoy eating lunch, then I clean up from lunch right then, I have a soap dispenser that has a sponge on the end of it so instead of placing a dirty dish in the sink I just clean it then, I do this every time I dirty a dish so no more worries about a sink full of dirty dishes.

1:00 pm
Adam and I relax and watch a little TV together or play with his toys, if the phone rings, I try not to answer it, the machine will get it.

1:30 pm
Time to check my emails again and post a little on my networking groups

2:00 pm
Nap time for Adam, of course with any child you know they will not want to go to sleep when you do, so for the sake of an argument here let’s pretend he does go to sleep.

2:30 pm
I now have an hour to myself, the older boys and hubby will be home in about an hour. I take the next 30 minutes and do something I have wanted to do, if I am tired I go lay down and set the alarm for 30 minutes, I may not sleep but my body feels better after laying down for that little bit.

3:00 pm
I now can have 45 minutes to work, again I check emails etc.

3:45pm
Kids will be home in 15 minutes I walk away from the computer check on dinner in the crock-pot and start getting together the bags for after school activities. Since I already have these together with clean clothes from the last game (I washed them right away and had Kyle put them right into his soccer bag) it only takes a couple minutes.

4:00 pm
The kids are off the bus and coming in the house telling me all about their day and of course competing with each other on who’s day was better. The normal complaints of my stomach is empty when is dinner is heard, but no worries dinner is in the crock-pot and ready to be eaten all we are doing is waiting on dad to come home.

The kids take their folders out of their bags and place the items I need to look at in their in boxes I made up for them. So when I have time after all the after school activities I can read over them and place them back in the boxes for them to place in their bags before bedtime.

5:00pm
Hubby is home and we are setting the table for dinner, we all sit down I am not stressed because I am caught up on my work and can enjoy the night.

5:30 pm-7:00 pm
Time to leave for soccer practice, Kyle was dressed and ready to go before we sat down for dinner, I take him to practice and dad will pick him up so I can use that time to clean the dinner dishes up and check emails.

7:00 pm
Homework time, I make lunches and do little odds and ends while they are working on their homework so that I can help them if they need it. This is the time I fold laundry or read over the papers they put in their in boxes.

8:00 pm
Time to get ready for bed for the kiddos

8:30 pm
I take a warm bath or shower, or just take this 30 minutes to read in my current book, or get my basket that I made and do something in there that I want to do, I set the timer so I only take the 30 minutes.
9:00 pm
Theoretically the older boys are in bed and their bags are ready for the next day.

9:30 till about 10:30
I check more emails, plan for the next day by looking at my calendar and seeing what is going on that day.

10:30 pm
I now am done for the day, kitchen is clean, I have done a few loads of laundry and put them away as soon as I folded them (this is my biggest weakness, to let the clean laundry sit)

11:00 pm
Mom and dad time

Midnight
Yes I am still awake but I am not working I am doing what I want to do believe it or not watching The Nanny on lifetime. If I was tired I would go to bed, if not I watch my show…I just love to have a good laugh before I go to bed.

12:30 pm
I go to bed feeling great because things got done and there is nothing weighing on my mind.

I will say this is not everyday you have to allow for mix-ups, unplanned events etc but I was able to take a couple of breaks for me and still get everything done I had set out for that day.

It also helps if you have older kids and I am including my husband in this one, to make out a chore list or a schedule with what will be happening each day so they can look for themselves and not come bugging you about what is coming up.

Again that will take time, I still have to tell them I have the schedule on the wall by the computer desk for this week, go look, but now I am more organized and can just tell them to go look.

Rebecca White has been marketing online for over 3 years. During the 3 years she has used e-books and software products that she has purchased to help her become the well known WAHM internet marketing expert that she is today. She started out on the internet not knowing how to build a website, not knowing how to market online. Visit her site today and Learn while you Earn http://www.experts4wahms.com . Rebecca also owns http://www.advantagemarketing4u.com and http://www.supportformoms.com

Tips from other moms:

2006-03-11T16:40:00.000-05:00

"Take one hour a day for YOU even if it means you spend your hour watching
Days of Our Lives! Get away and let your family know this is your time too"

"Make an arrangement with your spouse that you get 2 hours on Wednesday
nights (or any other night) to do what you want to do make use of this time
any way you want to" or "Join or form a neighborhood playgroup or mom's night out -- the playgroup
is something you can take the kids to and still have mom time too!"

Tara Crooks www.advertisingmoms.com and www.armywifetalkradio.com

Whenever I have a really stressful day, I can either burn a lavender-scented or lavender/chamomile-scented candle, and it really helps to relieve the stress! This also helps to calm a baby and get him/her to go to sleep, and they tend to rest better. You can also diffuse the lavender or lavender/chamomile combination of essential oils in a diffuser. You’ll be delightfully surprised at how much this will help to calm everyone in the room!

Pat Thomas :o)
pat507@comcast.net Hugs and Blessings!
For the very best in Candles, Bath and Body products, great t-shirts, therapeutic-grade essential oils, the highest-quality health supplements, personal care products and non-toxic household cleaners, and other unique gifts, go to http://www.SouthernBouquet.com

Wake up with Cinnamon. Put a sprinkle of cinnamon in your coffee grounds
before brewing and you'll wake up to the smell of gourmet coffee, even if it
is the cheapest on the shelf.

Learn to say "no". This is an obvious thing, but so few of us can actually
say it. When someone asks you to do something, pause for a second before you
answer. Don't just think, "I can make the time" and answer yes. Oftentimes,
I'll say "Ask around first. If you can't find anyone else to do it, then I
will, but I really don't have the time to dedicate to this right now." That
way, I know that they'll only ask me if they've used their other resources.
The job won't be left undone and I keep my 'to do' list a LOT shorter!

Get the kids involved doing fun chores. The more your children help around
the house, the more time you'll have to yourself. My children (7 and 2) love
to swiffer the floor and to wash the windows (with a mixture of vinegar and
water). They also are great at washing the car (while I sit in a chair
reading a magazine and enjoy watching them play). These are simple jobs for
a very young child, and it helps you get things done around the house so
you'll have more time to relax.

Nicole Dean, ShowMomTheMoney.com -- because nothing smells sweeter than your
baby's precious head, www.ShowMomTheMoney.com

Ways to beat the blues:

2006-03-11T16:38:00.000-05:00

1. Sit back and enjoy (or at least tolerate) the tumble.
Realize that feeling a little bad is no big deal. Understand that the down feelings are only temporary-don't get sadder because you’re sad.

2. Do something active.
Go for a walk, ride your bike, play with your kids, etc.

3. Talk it out Go to your room and beat up your pillow scream into it...let it all out. Then leave your room and everything that happened there.

4. Have a good cry.
Let it out, don't feel silly or stupid, crying is our defense mechanism. It helps us heal.

5. Try and Try again-then quit.
"As kids and adolescents, we have ideas of what life will bring, we hang on to them even when life dictates that these ideas are unrealistic." says Arnold H Gessel, M.D.
Casing elusive goals can lead to depression. This is when you simply have to say "I've given it my best shot" and give up.

6. Exercise.

7. Pick up a box of crayons.
Draw your feelings, whether the page is totally black because you’re sad or red because you’re angry...let it out in your drawings.

8. Find something really boring to do.
Clean the floors with a toothbrush, boring yes but your mind will be on the floors not what’s bothering you.

9. Slow down.

10. Avoid making major decisions.

11. Treat others with respect.

12. STAY out of department stores....
Shopping will only cause you to get more depressed, especially if your depression comes from money woes.

I do that all the time, go shopping, feel a happy high and then the bill comes or I update the check book and now I'm beating myself up even more before I left the house.

13. Close the refrigerator.
Don't eat when your bored, depressed, or angry.... that will only make you feel worse.
Get out of the house instead, play with your kids, run, walk, ride your bike

We all find that there is so much going on in our lives and we don't seem to be able to find a few minutes for ourselves. I know I am very guilty of this myself...I may be writing on ways to "pamper" yourself everyday, but that doesn't mean I'm always on top of it myself.

So I thought I would, when I'm making out my to do list or writing down things in my calendar to, actually schedule 5 minutes (more if you can) for "me time" whether it be exercise, a long hot undisturbed bath or just something I've been wanting to do (scrap booking, crafts, etc.)

Just use:

your calendar or date book
a colored pen
a timer

Write in your journal add to your comfort kit, etc.
NO PRESSURE!!! Do it when you know you have time that ways you can actually enjoy it and not feel guilty!!

Rebecca White has been marketing online for over 3 years. During the 3 years she has used e-books and software products that she has purchased to help her become the well known WAHM internet marketing expert that she is today. She started out on the internet not knowing how to build a website, not knowing how to market online. Visit her site today and Learn while you Earn http://www.experts4wahms.com . Rebecca also owns http://www.advantagemarketing4u.com and http://www.supportformoms.com

It doesn’t take long to make yourself feel better!

2006-03-11T16:37:00.000-05:00

Spending 5 minutes on your face:
FACE

Cold winter winds deplete your skin of moisture. After cleansing, apply a hydrating mask: leave on for 3 mints. Then rinse off. Next, apply moisturizer. Look for a formula that replenishes nutrients naturally found in skin. Vitamin A & E.

MAKEUP

Apply gel-based blush. Blend it in with your fingertip, then top with a powder bronzer. The combination creates a natural-looking healthy flush. Add color and softness to your lips with an emollient berry or burgundy hued lip balm.

Spending 1 minute on your face:
FACE

Use cleansing cloths. They are really quick and convient. And if you use cloths that contain moisturizers, you can cut your morning skin-care to one step.

MAKE-UP

Use mascara. If that's all the time you have use it, then add a little lip gloss and you're good to go.

Ingredients you have in the house you can add to your bath water:
1 cup of powdered milk...great for softening the skin

Sprinkle a couple drops of your favorite perfume into the running bath water.

Rose water

Put oatmeal into a mesh bag ( use an old vegetable bag or laundry sock/lingerie) holder tie onto spout and let running water over it.

If hubby buys you roses for a special occasion save some petals to float in the water along with the instant dry milk...wonderful you'll feel like a princess.

Oh yeah and after you let the oatmeal mesh bag run into the bath water use it to exfoliate your skin by rubbing it all over. Follow with a good moisturizer.

Out of your bubble bath use baby's. My favorite is the lavender kind.... and I use the baby shampoo too!

Create your own home spa:

2006-03-11T16:36:00.000-05:00

No need to go spend money at a spa! There are a few things you can to do in your bathroom that can turn any ordinary bathroom into a place for you to relax and unwind from the pressures of everyday living:

Light candles any kind and lots enough to light up the whole room. Choose your favorite scent and color.

While the bath is running, pour powdered milk under the running bath water to help soften your skin.

Have a little soft music, or any music you love listening to playing while you are in the bath.

Light incense.
Pour a few drop of your favorite perfume under the running tap water, adds a light fragrance to your bath water, then add a few drops of baby oil also.

While you are waiting for the water to rise, give yourself a little facial, wash your face with your favorite facial cleanser. TRY TO AVOID soap it is drying to the facial skin. Rinse with warm water, NOT HOT that is also drying, then take some baby powder...yes, baby powder and add a few drops of water and gently apply to face. Let sit for about 10-15 minutes on your face rinse with warm water, your face will feel so very soft.

You can also use ground up oatmeal, (old fashioned) put into a blender, for a facial. After its been ground up mix with a little almond oil or even a little vegetable oil. Cleanse face, then apply oatmeal mask let sit for a few minutes then gently rinse.

Put oatmeal in a clean stocking (like a knee hi) and tie it around your bathtub nozzle as the water is running into the tub. Then when you get into the tub use it to "exfoliate" the rest of your body.

I know I love to do this part, with the candles going and a little "quiet" music going I grab my latest book get into the tub and just escape for a little while.

The number one thing though is see if someone can take the kids for awhile, if that isn't possible and they are old enough to "listen" (hey you can try) bribe them with something.
I tell my boys if they leave mom alone long enough to "freshen" up I will make cookies and we can watch a movie they love, which is usually the one I've seen a million times BUT it gets me about 1/2 hr in the tub undisturbed!

Rebecca White has been marketing online for over 3 years. During the 3 years she has used e-books and software products that she has purchased to help her become the well known WAHM internet marketing expert that she is today. She started out on the internet not knowing how to build a website, not knowing how to market online. Visit her site today and Learn while you Earn http://www.experts4wahms.com . Rebecca also owns http://www.advantagemarketing4u.com and http://www.supportformoms.com

Getting rid of your frustrations:

2006-03-11T16:35:00.000-05:00

Punch a pillow

Scream into a pillow

Turn on your favorite music and dance, sing...who cares who sees you. In fact your kids just might think moms lost it and laugh and join in.

Bake something you love. Brownies, cake, smoothies.

Turn your anger on to a task you hate doing, you'll be surprised to see how easy it is to do... mopping the floor instead of using a mop get into clothes you don't care about get on your hands and knees and "mop" take out your frustrations with the dirt!

Go for a walk...even if its cold out, bundle up go for a little walk, not only will you feel invigorated but if you look at the things around you you'll see all the pretty things around you and you'll appreciate more of what you have.

Get on the floor and play with your kids, nothing reminds you of being a carefree kid then playing with yours.

Pamper yourself, take 30 minutes to paint your nails, take a hot bath, and read a little, even if you have to lock yourself in the bathroom like I do!!!

The most important thing to remember is to think about you the way you want others to think about you. If you have a bad image of yourself you will send out that image to others.
Be positive and others will see you as a positive person.
I'm not a perfect person, who is? It has taken me years to learn this lesson and it’s a daily struggle to remember that I am a good person, that I deserve happiness. So what if when I Iook in the mirror I don't always like what I see...what's really important is what others see and I don't mean physically. How you feel is what others see. I know how hard it is to fake being happy I have done it so many times. Guess what? If you can forget about the things that are bothering you and focus on what you have it does start to change your attitude.
I know many here will think I'm crazy but if you love yourself for who you are now, who you want to be will eventually shine through. We all tend to put too much focus on how others see us (physically and monetary) and then start to whittle ourselves down..."She's smaller, brighter, happier, richer then me," There will always be someone around you who is what we think we should look like or be like. What we need to do is see what we have and focus on that.

Find out what you like about yourself. You may have a great sense of humor, you are caring, you're an excellent cook, you love to sew, paint etc. Focus on good things about yourself. Try for a couple days to write down the good things about yourself and only focus on those things.

Remember nobody's perfect. Everybody has flaws, its how you deal with them that make a difference.

Examples:

Write in your journal
Read the paper
Just sit on your porch with a cup of coffee or tea and watch the sun come up (yeah I am up that early...)
Scrapbook
Sew
Paint
Draw
Pilate’s

Whatever it is you enjoy doing or miss doing now that you are a mom, do it.... I know there are days that you honestly won’t have time...so just make sure you take at least 2 days a week to do something for yourself.

Even if you have to schedule a time in your day planner till it becomes a habit do that. Is 30 minutes a day too much to start out with? Then take 15 minutes a day!

Yes, I said schedule time for you!

I had to do that in the beginning, I was so used to doing everything. Staying up late to finish an assignment, or finish the last load of laundry, or finish something for work.

Being a mom does mean a lot of the things we are used to doing for ourselves, even the little things are left behind as we try to be super mom! Guess what? All being a super mom does is get you more frustrated! So what if the house is a little messy, so what if there are still a few dinner dishes left in the sink. Go take a break first, and then you can do the other things that are bugging you.

I know its very hard for me to go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink, but I must say there are nights were I decide I’ve had enough, I go take a bath or just sit and watch TV, after that little break, guess what? I feel energized to do the dishes; I don’t dread doing them anymore because I had a few minutes doing something I enjoyed.

Let me tell you this, I live in a 90-year-old house that has terrible water pressure so I can’t have a dishwasher so I get to do the dishes by hand! Yep by hand! I like to do the dishes when everyone is asleep, why? Because its my quiet time, believe it or not I have come up with some really good ideas while doing my dishes, but this is after I took a nice relaxing bath or just watched a TV show I liked. See I am relaxed, I feel good about myself I no longer feel like I am being taken advantage of.

I made time for me!

Don’t take on more than you can handle, I do this all the time; I love to be able to be the helper. I want to help solve everyone’s problems, but then I forget about what I am feeling I take on too much. This only leads to frustration and a feeling of anger.

Rebecca White has been marketing online for over 3 years. During the 3 years she has used e-books and software products that she has purchased to help her become the well known WAHM internet marketing expert that she is today. She started out on the internet not knowing how to build a website, not knowing how to market online. Visit her site today and Learn while you Earn http://www.experts4wahms.com . Rebecca also owns http://www.advantagemarketing4u.com and http://www.supportformoms.com

Positive things to do for yourself:

2006-03-11T16:34:00.000-05:00

*Have a journal that you can write down things that are bothering you, get it off your chest so that it doesn’t interfere with anything else. Read it once a month to see if you were able to deal with the problems or feelings you had at that time.
*VIEW yourself as attractive, beautiful-and you'll project that impression to others.
*Work at developing a positive attitude. You'll feel happier, more in control, and you'll radiate high self-esteem.
* Start viewing problems as challenges that you can overcome and learn from.
* Associate with positive successful people. Optimism and success are contagious.

* Alleviate stress with a relaxation technique such as meditation or yoga. Or simply do a 60 second deep breathing exercise 5-6 times a day.

* Do aerobic exercise daily to relieve tension and boost energy.

* Limit alcohol and caffeine intake. Alcohol can leave you feeling sluggish: too much caffeine can trigger restlessness and irritability.

* Learn to set priorities, saying "no" to nonessential activities. Can you do this one? I have a hard time saying no.....

* Eat healthy, choosing foods from the four food groups: dairy, protein, fruit/vegetable, and grains. Eating healthy gives us the energy! Don’t skip breakfast even if you don’t have time you can grab a piece of toast and an apple.

* Avoid drastic weight loss programs. Instead, combine aerobic exercise with an eating plan that limits fat intake. Do not go under 30 grams of fat a day though even if trying to lose weight, we need some fat in our bodies or our bodies will think it is starving and save all those calories instead of letting you burn them off.

I don’t expect you to do this list all at once. That would be adding just one more stress to your life. Read over the list again and choose the ones that are most important to you now. Once you have accomplished what you chose to work on then move on to another one that is important to you.

Rebecca White has been marketing online for over 3 years. During the 3 years she has used e-books and software products that she has purchased to help her become the well known WAHM internet marketing expert that she is today. She started out on the internet not knowing how to build a website, not knowing how to market online. Visit her site today and Learn while you Earn http://www.experts4wahms.com . Rebecca also owns http://www.advantagemarketing4u.com and http://www.supportformoms.com

How to stay positive about your life

2006-03-11T16:31:00.000-05:00

As a mother we all know that we give out so much of our own energy to others, that is what we do. It is hard not to give all the time it must be something that is imbedded in our souls. We must however remember that if we do not take the time to re-energize ourselves we will not be any help to our families.
I know there are times everyday where I look in the mirror and wonder do I have anymore to give? We as moms need to learn to not judge ourselves, there is always going to be someone out there that will already be judging us. Unfortunately that is a fact of life, so why add your self to that mix?
No matter what we as mothers choose to do with our lives, please remember we all have made a choice to do what we feel is best for our families. So please don’t put down another mother if she chooses to work out of the home or if she is a SAHM. We need to support each other. If we don’t support each other who will? I believe that if we all support each other we can show just how strong we can be together as a whole.

Now with all that being said let’s move on to finding time to rejuvenate ourselves and figuring out ways to give ourselves time everyday to unwind and make our lives run more smoothly.

One of the first things I would like to talk about is being positive about how you look, how you act, what you do in your life everyday. There are things you can do everyday to help you get rid of the negative feelings you may have in your life.

You need to adjust your attitude before you can expect others to adjust how they think of you.

For instance I used to have a real bad self-image about myself. I worried about what others thought of me and it always made me nervous to go anywhere out in public. I had to readjust the way I thought about myself. Once I did that I didn’t care what others thought about me I was happy therefore others looked at me as having more self-confidence.

I remember when I first started doing this I had friends coming up to me asking me what was different about me, did I lose weight? Did I cut my hair? I just smiled…they couldn’t tell that I had a change in attitude they just knew that I was happy!

Rebecca White has been marketing online for over 3 years. During the 3 years she has used e-books and software products that she has purchased to help her become the well known WAHM internet marketing expert that she is today. She started out on the internet not knowing how to build a website, not knowing how to market online. Visit her site today and Learn while you Earn http://www.experts4wahms.com . Rebecca also owns http://www.advantagemarketing4u.com and http://www.supportformoms.com

Being a soccer mom

2005-09-26T12:21:00.000-04:00

Oh boy its started the soccer season for my 9 year old son! I love it! Kyle is on the traveling soccer league here in our hometown and this year we get to travel, he has been waiting for this for 2 years!

We will be going to Indiana the second weekend in Oct to play tournaments in their FC Pride games.

I love it, this is the first year I am team manager and it is such a wonderful feeling to see how well these boys have changed over the last few months. They are working like a team now.

In the beginning of this season they didn't know how to talk to each other, they ran into each other didn't know who was doing what basically a big mess out on the fields. But being a mom I just knew that after a few weeks of working together they would be able to work as a team.

Yesterday sitting on the side lines watching them play against the roughest team in the area, seeing them talk to each other fake out the other team by looking one way and kicking the other was just priceless!

Guess you could apply teamwork to any situation as a family you are a team, in order fo things to run smoothly you need to work as a team. You cannot expect one person to run everything, your family will work together better if you all have "positions" to play.

We just started doing this last week I made up charts each child has things they are to do daily then when those are done they need to pick out 2 chores from the main chore list to complete, this may sound like a lot but really all it is is like washing the dishes or wiping off the top of the stove or sweeping our one carpet lol like I told them with all 5 of us doing things together and working as a team we will have more time to do fun things and be able to better communicate with each other.

Well I will update you later on how it goes this is really the end of the first week of doing this, so far so good but as with anything I see there may be times ahead that I will have to remind everyone around here about teamwork :)

Its that time of year-Back to school tips

2005-08-21T16:35:00.000-04:00

It’s that time of year again, back to school

I went school shopping last weekend like I always do the last full weekend of July since it seems that most stores have their school items on sale. I asked my kids what type of folders or book bags did they want, and their reply was “Oh mom it can’t be that time already, just get whatever you want we will just need to replace it in a couple weeks anyway”

I had to laugh, its true I don’t know about your kids but my sons are very rough on school supplies. Last year Kyle was only in school 2 weeks when I received a note from the teacher telling me that he needed 10 new folders because either A) he lost them or B) they were wrecked already! So this year I bought more folders than I hope realistically we will need since they were only 10 cents a piece can’t go wrong there .

So why do I say all this, well over the past few years I have come up with a few back to school tips for moms.

1) Buy in bulk. When you see a sale at Target or Walmart like Elmers glue for 25 cents or 10 cent folders BUY huge amounts as this will save you time and frustration later on when they tell you 5 minutes before the bus comes they need a new folder or glue for art class today!
2) The week before school starts make out a chart of what your kids need to do the night before school starts, this way they have a check list and hopefully not be asking you what they need to do before bedtime, plus as an added bonus after a couple weeks of reading the chart it will become a habit for them. Great place to go is http://www.chartjungle.com I have been receiving her newsletters for a year now and she has wonderful charts!
3) Have your children set out their clothes for the next day the night before, this saves on the last minute questions of “Mom I need socks” or “Wear is my army shirt to go with these pants, I can’t wear a plain khaki shirt” etc I’m sure you have all heard it at one time or another and of course this is being yelled at you about 10 minutes before the bus is to arrive 
4) Have lunches and back packs ready to go the night before, no more “Where’s my homework, I know I left it on the table” just to look under the table to see your youngest one ripping your oldest sons book report all to shreds.
5) Go to Office Max and buy one of those in and out trays one for each child and label it with IN papers and OUT papers. When your child comes home from school have them get in the habit of putting all papers that you need to look at in the IN box and before bed when they are getting their back packs ready to check the OUT box for any forms or permission slips that you have signed.
6) Purchase a HUGE wall calendar and mark down each child’s after school activities and assigned each one a different color marker. This way one quick glance will let you know who has what that night.
7) Be sure to meet with the teacher before school starts. Our school has an open house 2 days before class resumes. I enjoy this time as I get to see where my sons will be sitting, meet the teacher and see who is in their class. This gives me a little edge for when they come home and tell me the teachers mean LOL I won’t go ripping off the teachers head because I met her and know her rules etc.
8) Be sure to mark down on your calendar any planned meetings or activities that you signed up for at the open house.
9) Prepare snacks for after school. Already have them cut up or stored in a baggie or container for each child so when you are trying to get dinner together or getting ready for practice your children know they can just go to the fridge and get a snack. Very easy snacks can be cut up pieces of fruit, small sandwiches cut up into triangles or squares, or celery and peanut butter with raisins.
10) Finally once you hugged and kissed your kids good-bye and you fall down on the couch smile you have made it through another morning.

Rebecca White is a mom to 3 boys ages 11, 9 and 3 ½ and she owns a Marketing Company as well as a Support for Moms site where moms can come and meet other moms and share similar situations

Be sure to sign up for her offline printed newsletter filled monthly with tips, recipes, articles and resources just for moms.

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Depression-My Story

2005-08-21T16:34:00.000-04:00

Depression-My Story

What is depression?

Depression is a serious medical illness; it’s not something that you have made up in your head. It’s more than just feeling "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. It’s feeling "down" and "low" and "hopeless" for weeks at a time.

It is not something you can just pull yourself out of! It is not something that you can just shake off. To read more about the signs and symptoms of depression go to this link: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm#ptdep3

For many people one tiny thing can set off a huge depression attack. I have suffered from depression now for 8 years, I guess to be truthful I have dealt with depression my whole life but just didn’t realize it till the incident I am about to relate to you.

8 years ago my husband Brent was in the military, he had been having problems with his health for a little over a year and the doctors all said it was in his head and that they could find nothing wrong with him. Our oldest sons were only 1 ½ and 3 ½ at the time and we lived in Olympia Washington. I kept telling him to get a second opinion but being we had military insurance and at that time it wasn’t as flexible as it is now, he didn’t want to go get a second opinion. We lived in a nice apartment and I love our life, although I was homesick a lot of times it was the life we chose and so I was happy till the incident I will tell you about.

I woke up one morning your typical morning, get up to pack Brent’s lunch and wake him up for PT (physical training) it was 5:30 in the morning. He wasn’t in bed which for him was very unusual but I thought he may have just needed to use the bathroom and I missed him getting out of bed. I walked into the kitchen to start making our morning coffee, and realized that the TV was still on which it shouldn’t have been. I then started looking for Brent I went into the bathroom and found him in a coma on our bathroom floor.

I couldn’t get a response from him and I panicked. I got the boys up threw them in the car and then dragged my husband from our bathroom to our van to get him to the hospital as fast as I could. Now why didn’t I just call the ambulance? To be honest I didn’t think about that all I wanted to do was get him some help.

When we got to the hospital he was still in a coma, the doctors couldn’t figure out why he was non responsive. They pulled me and my sons out of the room he was in and told me to find someone to watch the boys and get back to the hospital as fast as I could and to call his family as they didn’t think he was going to make it.

I was thrown our perfect life, our safe life was in just a few short hours going to change. I can deal with some stress but the thought of losing my best friend was more than I could bare.

We didn’t have a cell phone at that time so I ran with the kids in both my arms to the payphone to call the only friend I had at that time to tell her what was going on, she was getting ready to move in 2 days but she told me to bring my kids to her house and she would watch them.

I then drove the 20 minutes back to our house dropped the kids off at her house ran home and called his parents. During that time I got a phone call from his captain that the doctor had called him to tell him to track me down as my husband was dying and they didn’t think he was going to pull through. I screamed I cried I just didn’t believe this was happening to us!

I got back in the car and smoked cigarettes to try to calm down, we had quit smoking a month before this, my friend had given me her cigarettes while I was at her house. I rushed into the emergency room and the doctor met me out in the hall way and was asking me all sorts of questions of course I didn’t want to take the time to answer I wanted to get back to my hubby, my world, my best friend. The Doctor told me that his sugar levels were 950 and that he really should have died sometime during the night but he was a fighter.

Finally he let me go into the room where Brent was and I leaned over him pleading with him to not leave me, pleading with him not to leave his sons. He opened his eyes and the only thing he said was “I am mad at you, you were smoking” then he went back into his coma. Of course the doctors then pushed me out of the way and started trying to get him to respond to them, they then told me they were taking him to ICU to work on him and get him on a heart catheter.

48 hours later he was awake and was responding to treatment, they had found out that he was a type 1 diabetic although they still don’t understand how he got it since no one in his family has diabetes and and Type 1 is not the kind you get because of your health or your weight you are usually born with it and diagnosed with it while you are still a kid.

After he was released from the hospital after a 7 day stay I lived in constant worry. I could not focus on anything except making sure he was ok, did he eat, did he take his medications. For weeks I could not sleep at night for fear he would have another attack, I still have times where I go through that now.

In an effort to try to calm my fears I started focusing on things in my life that I could control: my weight, the dirty carpets ( we rented so the carpets were very old and had always looked dirty but I was able to live with that till this happened.

I wouldn’t do the dishes, my poor kids were always dirty, the house was a total mess. I mean have you seen those houses that are on tv that Oprah has shown well at one point my house looked like that. I only focused on scrubbing the carpet. I would get up in the morning look at the kitchen try to clean it up and just couldn’t my attention would be drawn to the dirt spot in the carpet by the kitchen entrance. So I would go out to my cleaning closet get out my bucket and scrub brush and start scrubbing that spot. I would still be there scrubbing hours later when Brent came home for lunch.

My poor sons, I love my sons with all my heart but I will admit for the first month Brent was home from the hospital if it hadn’t been for my mom and my MIL they wouldn’t have been clean or fed. I looked at them and didn’t want to deal. When I was scrubbing the carpets I was zoned out to everything! I didn’t think, I didn’t care. This was so not like me!

Finally Brent knew that something was very wrong with me so he made an appointment for me to see a doctor and I was diagnosed with manic depression and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). They didn’t want to put me on medication right away they want to try to teach me other ways to focus my fears and obsession with out having to resort to medications. But after a month they realized I needed medicine to help me get through this time of my life.

I hate medicine, I don’t like taking it, I have a hard time remembering to finish the whole dosage. So for me it was a struggle in the beginning to just take the medication. After a few months the medicine helped me get my life back to where I was able to handle it again.

Why do I tell you all this, not sure really. I just know that for me it turned my life upside down over the past 8 years we have several times that I have had to call the EMS to save him, our world has changed. I live in the fear that we will have to go through this again.

When he has episodes I go into a state of worry, depression. I pray that our lives will get back to like they were 12 years ago. No worries living in our own little world where nothing hurts us.

I still go into states of depression but now I know the signs I know when I need to call my doctor and I also know now that for me I cannot pull myself out of it! I now can share with my friends when I am down and have made up a support line of other moms who know me and know that I suffer from depression, who I can call or email when I need that emotional support that sometimes a family member cannot give.

I started Support for Moms in an effort to help other moms who suffer from depression or need a place to go to voice their feelings.

I went through another major depression this past spring and when I reached out for help from an online board that I was at I got booted as a moderator after 3 years of being a moderator on the boards and helping other moms who dealt with depression. They told me it was not because I was depressed but since the day before I had just posted that I needed help, I needed to talk and I posted my soul something I rarely do online or for that matter in person to anyone who is not family. I had a hard time believing it was for any other reason. This made me start searching for a place to post to find someone else who I could talk to who was dealing with what I was dealing with.

So Support for Moms was born!

It is my wish that the site and the boards offer comfort, support for all moms from all walks of life dealing with situations that they have no control over.

So if you are in need of comfort, support or just want to vent and get life’s stresses off your chest please stop by our boards.

Thank you for reading my story and I hope this may help just one person.

Rebecca White
Support for Moms

Welcome to the Support for Moms Blog

2005-08-21T16:28:00.000-04:00

I create this blog as an opportunity for moms to post their articles or share ideas or circumstances they are facing right now.

I will be posting my articles and updates for Support for Moms here as well.

Support For Moms sustains mothers of all walks who need a source to candidly discuss today‘s bewildering, and sometimes taboo topics. New moms, single moms, moms with preschoolers, moms with teens, surviving moms, moms with blended families or moms who purely need compassion. The moderators have carefully categorized the links, resources and information gained by personal experiences to adequately supply sensitive support.

Creativity is booming throughout the pages with memorable birthday party themes for children. Cookbooks are on hand for camping trips, crock pot recipes, barbeques and even non-edible crafts like making soap paint. Learn how to use the top ten essential oils as stress relievers and acquire an education in how-to-make home remedies that actually work. Relearn to delegate time for you and beat the blues with pampering poems and bath & body recipes.

We proudly encourage interaction in our forums to meet other mothers with similar situations and to make life lasting bonds of genuine friendship. The forum is a comfortable, healing place where you can relate. Tips abound for saving time and money with coupons, rebates, organization and thirty minute dinner ideas. We freely give imaginative ideas guaranteed to keep your children occupied.

Our goal is to continually provide the means mothers greatly need to restore their broken wings to make them stronger so they can carry their dreams to their full potential and we will watch them soar.