Balancing Life at Home When Home is the Workplace

Posted on September 27, 2013 by llpitlwp

Do you know how to work from home without ruining your own life along with your family’s life?

I have been trying to do this for a few years now and it is difficult and the learning curve is steep for me as a grandmother.

When my own kids were young, I worked part-time as a nurse…either teaching nursing at a community college or working in Labor and Delivery, while my children were in school.

It was manageable but I was always fighting with the clock and trying to be two places at once. It was the 80’s and I had a pager which kept me in touch with my family in emergencies but life as a working mother was a definite struggle. There was no internet like today so support for moms in the workplace was limited.

Over the last few weeks, I have been struggling with time constraints and a type of “writer’s block”. It might be a “seasonal” thing which I experience in the Fall when the summer ends and the days begin to shorten. It is not depression but it is a melancholy that envelops me at times during this transition from lazy summer to frenzy fall.

I have been finding it difficult to balance my time…so I just stopped trying and put my blog on hiatus for a short while until now. My e-mails are full with ideas for some semi sponsored posts and my thoughts are bursting about how to stay well and happy with all that is upcoming during the seasons ahead.

And then my friend Jessica Gottlieb posted this just the other day on her blog. It hit home with me…even though I am now a grandmother working at home and trying to keep up with being a caregiving grandparent, wife and mom. She put a very good perspective on what it is important for the SAHM and in my case the SAHGM, “stay at home grandma”.

I have been learning over the past few weeks how to readjust now that school is back and there are hours where I am alone free to work on my own business.

It is a work in progress…

There are a lot of mompreneurs in my Facebook feed. Many are bloggers, network marketers or affiliate marketers. I’m lucky that cell use was very expensive when my kids were toddlers. The park can be boring, train sets can be mind numbing, putting on a princess dress for the 93rd time in a day would make a martyr twitchy but those are the reasons you wanted to work from home. You wanted to raise those kids so spend the time with them and not with the screen. Raise the kids, be a parent who has a job. It’s really easy to be the parent who turned their home into an office but it can’t be fun to be that kid.

via I Know How to Work at Home Without Ruining Everyone’s Lives | Jessica Gottlieb A Los Angeles Mom.

What do you feed your child?

Posted on September 27, 2013 by llpitlwp

I am a sucker for good advertisements and here is one of those irresistible videos from Plum Organics!

http://amazingmoments.shopigniter.com/post-3/post_4_live_upub_2-amazingmoments-post-4

Life and the “Invisible String”

Posted on September 12, 2013 by llpitlwp

Every Thursday I read a post on my FB page from Eric, who is Jessie Rees’ dad. He writes a post to Jessie, his little girl who died from an aggressive cancerous brain tumor.

I began following Jessie’s story before her death and marveled at the strength and determination of this little girl, who was fighting cancer. Jessie Rees Foundation

Today, I also read part of “Donna’s Cancer Story” written by her mom. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and her mom remembers Donna by posting her story each year during September.

Her “Family Portrait” post really resonated with me as a nurse, who many years ago took care of children and families going through such crises. Donna’s Cancer Story: Family Portrait | Mary Tyler Mom.

Another mom that I am know through blogging lost her son, Henry to a drug overdose when he was just a teenager.

It is a sad story and though addiction is not “cancer”, in my opinion, it is a type of “cancer” that can go into remission but it lurks always in the background just waiting for a moment of weakness or crisis to rear its ugly head. It preys on children. Henry’s Fund.

In 2010, I lost my teenage son, Henry to drug overdose. In celebration of his life and legacy, my sister Betsy and I founded Henry’s Fund, a non-profit organization that provides grants to pay the direct costs of high quality treatment and aftercare for young drug addicts between the ages of 12 and 23.

via About the Blogger – Big Good Thing.

This morning, my friend Jessica, (Momma’s Gone City) talks about visiting her sponsored child in Guatemala. It made me think about how small the world is and how we as mothers are somehow all connected by life and its challenges.

First, I want to thank all of these “friends” who share their lives with me through social media. I appreciate their words and the way they share their feelings. I feel somehow connected by an “invisible string” of humanity to each one of them.

September is “Childhood Cancer Awareness Month” and it is my hope that someday we will be able to conquer this disease but for now we can at least help by supporting their fight any way we can.

Every September, America renews our commitment to curing childhood cancer and offers our support to the brave young people who are fighting this disease. Thousands are diagnosed with pediatric cancer each year, and it remains the leading cause of death by disease for American children under 15. For those children and their families, and in memory of every young person lost to cancer, we unite behind improved treatment, advanced research, and brighter futures for young people everywhere.http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/08/30/presidential-proclamation-national-childhood-cancer-awareness-month-2013

Book review: ‘Apron Strings’

Posted on September 11, 2013 by llpitlwp

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love my Irish heritage,

and

I fell in love with Ireland on my first visit there about 15 years ago.

I thought my grandmother was in the kitchen when I visited Dublin and shared my first Irish breakfast with my family.

It was like I was a little girl again, sitting at the dining room table watching my grandmother cook breakfast in our small NY kitchen.

My husband and I have visited Ireland several times and have especially enjoyed the warm Irish hospitality and Irish cooking.

So when I came upon Nessa Robin’s blog, I was in heaven.

I baked her Easter cake for my family.

Again, I was treated to a taste from my childhood when my Nana used to bake a cake from “scratch” and frost it with chocolate glaze.

Now, Nessa has published a cookbook, ‘Apron Strings‘. She has successfully shared her family recipes along with her personal and professional remedies.

A nurse, Nessa currently is a SAHM raising her family and blogging about her life as a wife, mother, daughter, and now a cookbook author.

‘Apron Strings‘ is beautifully written and Nessa’s photos make me feel like I am in the kitchen with her and her family.

I love a cookbook that is personal and that shares the stories behind the recipes, Nessa does just this.

She feels like a friend giving me a recipe.

Nessa has made me want to travel back to Ireland and visit the Irish countryside that has inspired her.

See for yourself…have a look at ‘Apron Strings‘.

Disclousre: I was given a copy of ‘Apron Strings‘ for purposes of this review.

Book Reviews:

A few of my favourite things | Carolanne’s Kitchen.

One of our absolute favourite blogger’s kitchens to visit is the warm and inviting ‘Nessa’s Family Kitchen’ which is lovingly filled with beautifully taken photographs of family and food, delectable yet doable recipes and best of all is as a busy mum to four children, Nessa knows the limitations and demands placed on a mum’s kitchen.

Book review: ‘Apron Strings’ by Nessa Robins | MummyPages.ie – mummypages.ie.

Back-to-School: Your Kids Health

Posted on September 4, 2013 by llpitlwp

I both love and loathe this time of year. I love that my kids are excited to see their friends, make new ones, meet their teachers, and have a genuine enthusiasm to learn new things. But…I loathe that the passage of time is staring me squarely in the face, declaring…yes, your kids are growing up and moving on. Get used to it.

via: Back-to-School: On keeping your kids healthy and safe all year long | Confessions of a Dr. Mom.

Back to school, as I said in my last post signals “a new beginning” which is at best bittersweet.

Given my feelings and I am apparently not alone, there are things to keep in mind that may help keep your kids healthy and safe.

My first recommendation is to get enough sleep yourself and make sure your kids get on a back to school sleep schedule and stay on it.

Sufficient sleep will help to keep your immune system in its finest form to help ward off the coming colds.
Making sure that your kids are up to date on their yearly check-ups and their immunization schedule…I am in favor of vaccinations so no need to chastise me for this.
Make sure all of your emergency medications are up to date at home…get rid of expired and near expired meds…make a kit with bandaids, antiseptics for cuts, cleansing cloths etc….keep it in a place that is easily reachable. You should also have one in the car.

Be aware of recommendations when it comes to OTC medications for children.

Be aware of your child’s symptoms and whether they are allergy symptoms or cold symptoms.

Check with your pediatrician if you are not sure.

As a parent or caregiver, you are in charge of your kids’ health. Now that it’s allergy season, your child may be experiencing symptoms from allergies or a common cold – that can strike year-round.

There are many over-the-counter options available to help make your child feel better when he or she has a cold or allergies, but be careful to only use a medicine that treats your child’s specific symptoms. Our “Decrypting Your Child’s Symptoms: Colds vs. Allergies” checklist can help you better understand your child’s symptoms and how to treat with care.

via Medicine Safety | OTCsafety.

Last but not least, keep your child home from school if he/she is sick. If your child has a fever he should not return to school until 24 hours after he is fever free.

Does the Back to School Rush and Labor Day get you down?

Posted on September 2, 2013 by llpitlwp

Edgarown, Martha’s Vineyard

Labor Day and Back to School brings with it…

a feeling of nostalgia and a longing for things past.

recently, I have been experiencing a kind of “writer’s block” when it comes to blogging…

ever since I can remember,

my calendar year has begun when the school year begins shortly after Labor Day…

late afternoon shadows tell me that Fall and Winter are fast approaching.

white clothing used to be put away immediately after Labor Day

not to be resurrected until the following Spring and Memorial Day.

although that is no longer a dress code requirement…

it still lingers in my fashion sub-conscious.

yesterday…I came across this in…

Sunday’s New York Times’, “Photo Op” there was a reference to the poem Autumn by Keats, “seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness” “.

Philip Galanies also had this to say…

“Toss in some nostalgia for past hopes and school years long gone and Labor Day can get anyone down. Autumn is the season for growing up…

Today…I read this…

“Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.”

Autumn Fires. Stevenson, Robert Louis. 1913. A Child’s Garden of Verses and Underwoods.

Bump Club and Beyond…Gearapalooza

Posted on August 23, 2013 by llpitlwp

This week, I was fortunate to be able to attend The Bump Club Chicago’s Gearapalooza at Galt Baby. Baby Guy NYC (Jamie Grayson) was there along with “Angry Baby” sharing all the information parents and parents to be need to know, in order to choose baby gear that is best for their lifestyle.

Gearapalooza was held at Galt Baby in Chicago, where many sponsors were available to show you their products. I was so impressed with the quality of the carriers and strollers as well as the car seat information and the ability of the gear to grow with your baby. Galt Baby is a one stop shop for baby gear.

If you have not heard of Gearapalooza and it is coming to a city near you, San Francisco, CA, Austin, TX and Boston, MA, be sure to sign up early. Here in Chicago, it was sold out for two evenings with a wait list.

As you know, I am the “Baby Grandmother” since I became one almost 5 years ago. At the time, I was overwhelmed with what I did not know and all that has changed since raising my own children. As a former maternal child nurse, I wanted to fill in the gaps in my baby gear knowledge.

Today’s parents have the advantage of so many technology improvements on their side as well as the competitiveness of companies that are trying to give them what they need when it comes to making life easier at home and on the road with one baby or multiples.

It is not easy for moms and dads or grandparents to navigate all the available baby/children strollers, carriers, cribs, mattresses, breast pumps and other products. This is where Baby Guy NYC , Bump Club and Beyond and Galt Baby become valuable connections. They are the people that you can trust to truly help you decide what will be best for you, your baby and your lifestyle.

Jamie Grayson is fun and energetic….he shares a lot of information in one session…he makes it fun and is more than happy to answer questions.

To make the evening complete there a light dinner served and a raffle…where some valuable prizes were given out to some very lucky moms to be, in addition to fabulous gift bags.

If you are a mom-to-be visit, Bump Club and Beyond, Galt Baby, and of course visit Baby Guy NYC to keep up on what’s new in baby gear before it is even available for purchase.

Thank you to Bump Club Chicago and Lindsay,who started Bump Club, for including me in this event…it was a wonderful evening!

Happy Sister’s Day!

Posted on August 4, 2013 by llpitlwp

Premature Babies-How We Treat Them Fifty Years Later

Posted on August 1, 2013 by llpitlwp

WASHINGTON — Fifty years ago this summer, the nation was transfixed by a medical drama that is now largely forgotten: the desperate struggle to save the life of Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, the first baby born to a sitting president and first lady since the 19th century.

via A Kennedy Baby’s Life and Death – NYTimes.com.

It is hard to believe that fifty years have passed since President Kennedy and Jackie lost their prematurely born son, who died from hyaline membrane disease soon after his birth .

It was a very sad time.

Today, a baby born five weeks premature would have a 95% chance of survival due to all the medical advances since 1963.

Fifty years later,the pediatricians that took care of Patrick Bouvier Kennedy speak out. It is interesting to read what they have to say.

I wonder how the story would read if these events occurred today?

Jackie tried to mourn the loss of her child privately with her family…so tragic that the following November she would be mourning the loss of her husband as well.

Too Many Toys, Do You Want Some Alternatives?

Posted on July 31, 2013 by llpitlwp

As I stare at all the toys strewn around my family room, I wonder what I can actually put away, giveaway or throw away. I am sure that many of you face the same issue with kids toys.

It is true that children learn from even the most basic household items…so why all these toys?

Well, many are impulse purchases and an equal number are gifts.

How do you control the number of toys in your midst….especially when there are 2 or more children in the home?

As you know I am a fan of Janet Lansbury. This morning I came across this article for those of you looking for household items that turn a child’s world into a discovery adventure.

A couple of thoughts:

1. Allow your child to enjoy discovering them. Rather than presenting the jars to your child, include them in his or her play area, either with the tops on loosely or already separated.

2. Let whatever is, be. Trust children to use the jars their way and in their time.

3. Remember that young children are process oriented. If the jars are loosely closed, they will accept them that way, at least for a while. If you’ve left the jars and lids separated, there’s no need for your child to know that they are supposed to go together.

4. Let go of the impulse to tell or show children what the jars do, because this will likely create stress that is totally unnecessary and a dependency on the adult to fix something that otherwise wouldn’t need fixing. Again, let what is, be, and you will make room for independent, experiential learning and the power of discovery.

5. Relax, observe and enjoy your child’s experiments with the jars and the way she uses them in conjunction with her other toys.

via Unexpected Toy Find! | Janet Lansbury.

Parenting in the Loop

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