Made Moon Blog

Somehow it has happened. I never wanted this to happen, and I swore up and down that it never would. I vowed to be the well-dressed, sophisticated mama, with matching accessories and interesting things to say. But it happened anyway. Despite my best efforts, I’ve become a frumpy mama.

Before I had my daughter, I wore interesting clothes - even a VARIETY of interesting clothes. They weren’t necessarily expensive or even name brand, but they were put together in an interesting fashion. I even wore earrings (gasp!) and sometimes bracelets. I had a diverse selection of shoes and wore them all. I was equal-opportunity shoe wearer.

When I envisioned my life with a child, I saw myself as being that mother who looks like she has it together. You know the one - she’s always behind you in line at Starbucks as you wrestle your purse, your child and manage to dump cream all over your clothes. She’s got a designer handbag, is wearing those pointy-toed, high-heeled shoes, and her child is quietly standing there, holding her own designer handbag. Now it’s not like I wanted to be quite so precocious - I don’t need name brand - but I wanted to be “put-together.” Well, let’s be honest, I didn’t even need that. Mostly, I just didn’t want to be the one dumping half and half all over myself in public.

Immediately after I had the baby, I felt saggy and flabby and all the normal stuff. I went to Old Navy and purchased a new wardrobe that would cover the flab and still managed to somewhat meet my criteria of interesting. But after several months, I was a size or two smaller and the budget didn’t permit excessive shopping. So I bought a couple pairs of jeans and several shirts that were semi-decent and settled on those.

Now here we are, 14 months after baby and I’m still a little flabbier than I had hoped to be, but this is life. But the problem is that I still only have a couple pairs of jeans and a few shirts that I actually feel comfortable in. (See how now it’s about “comfort” and not so much about “fashion?”) I’ve tried some of my clothes from “before baby,” but the vast majority are either too short or too low-rise or too something-or-other. So every day, I am destined to put on any combination of the old tried and true. (Hmmm…brown shirt with jeans or black turtleneck with green khakis?)

Bottom line is that I’m getting tired of the same clothes; tired of feeling unstylish (is that a word?); tired of being the one dumping cream all over myself. But one good thing is that this has given me a better understanding of my mother and her wardrobe issues. And it’s only clothes after all.

I am a mother who is committed to staying home with my child. I am also committed to finding ways to supplement our income from home; ideally I’d like to do this through writing, as this is my passion. I am often sarcastic, cynical and raw in my writing. I am always honest.

If you have two young children, twins or just two under 3’s you will need a pushchair or stroller that can carry both of your children. It is obviously impossible for one person to push two buggies, so there are some very cleverly designed pushchairs that are suitable for two children.

There are two main types of pushchair/stroller that are suitable for two children. There is a twin pushchair and there is a tandem pushchair.

Twin pushchairs are by far the most common design and you will surely have seen many of these before. They have two front-facing seats side-by-side.

Tandem pushchairs have two forward-facing seats, one in front of the other, and are suitable for children of differing ages. To remember the difference, you can think of a tandem bicycle where two people are seated one in-front and one-behind.

How do you decide which is most suitable for you? Well, each type of pushchair has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages.

You will find that a twin pushchair (side-by-side, remember?) is most suitable for two newborns or children of differing ages. Twin pushchairs usually have adjustable seats with lie-flat position that operate independently, swivel front wheels for manoeuvrability and one or two shopping baskets. So, for example, your two year old can sit upright while your 6 month old baby lies flat.

A tandem pushchair will have adjustable seats with lie-flat positions that will operate independently of each other. They are quite long and not as easy to turn tight corners. They are narrower than twin strollers.

It is vital to make sure you choose the most suitable pushchair for you. Many parents often choose an unsuitable pushchair before they find the right one that suits their requirements.

Mark Hartshorne is a father with two young children and created a website to review pushchairs and strollers to offer parents a fair comparison on price, size, design and more. The website is My Pushchair

Will your child’s lack of manners keep him/her from attending the college of your choice? In this day and age, dining out may be done from a paper bag, but many colleges and universities are now evaluating the social skills of potential students.

Not all schools require personal interviews as part of evaluating a student for acceptance, but there is a trend in this direction. Often the student ia asked to attend a luncheon and his/her dining skills are monitored and assessed. Schools do not want people who are going to be uncouth alumni.

I was recently privileged to be the keynote speaker at a Chicago university which sponsors a program for high school girls who are juniors and seniors. These girls are introduced to the possibility of choosing a career in the fields of technology, and have a chance to explore whether or not a career in the technological fields would be appropriate for their college major.

As a professional in the field of teaching etiquette, I was asked to address these girls at a luncheon given in their honor. My mission at that luncheon was to teach the girls how to dress and present themselves for an interview, and how to exhibit proper dining skills while at the table.

By the time we had worked our way through five courses including instructions; the students were well informed competent diners, and often amazed by what they had learned.

Next, we addressed the issue that our personal income may be at least partially determined by how well we mind our manners and our attitudes. Our ability to be promoted may depend on our people skills as well as our techincal skills. Three seperate studies conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and the Stanford Research Institue agree that “Success in getting, keeping, and advancing in a job depends 85% on people skills and only 15% on technical skills”. So proper social skills including courtesy and respect may be the bottom line in determining a profitable future.

www.etiquette4u.com

Edith Vosefski MA.,is the Director of the Etiquette School of Northern Illinois. She works with individuals, schools, and corporations who want to perfect their social skills. She is a graduate of Northwestern University, and believes that manners are just important today as they ever were. In fact, she also believes that etiquette can be fun, fascinating, and functional. She writes a newspaper column “Hats Off to Etiquette” which is published regularly by the Liberty Press.

Choosing the perfect toy to purchase that newborn baby is often daunting so I’ve assembled my top 10 list of toys to help you make your decision easier. Any of these toys will be a hit with baby and Mom & Dad. All toys can be found online at Amazon.com which is a great place to see customer reviews and pricing (quoted prices may vary from store to store).

Gymini Super Deluxe Light and Music by Tiny Love ~$60
This fun activity mat is covered in interesting animals and birds. Each of the items creates unique sounds such as the giraffe and monkey that rattle, the elephant that shakes and the parrot whose wings make crinkle sounds. The mat plays music and also has a mirror where the child can enjoy looking at himself. This activity mat is soft and durable plus it travels easily as it folds nearly flat.

Ocean Wonders Aquarium by Fisher Price ~$30
This fun and practical toy attaches directly to baby’s crib to entertain them or help soothe them to sleep. The press buttons allow baby to spin the starfish, open up the clams or make music. There are multiple setting for music and lights that can be set for whatever activity you are trying to encourage (e.g. play or sleep).

Baby Einstein Caterpillar Discover & Play Activity Center by Graco ~$80
This stand-up toy was designed to stimulate and entertain baby with 8 different activities or toys within hands reach. The intriguing colors, shapes, textures and sounds will keep baby engaged for long periods of time. The animals make realistic sounds and most things are spoken in several languages.

Lamaze: Multi-Sensory Clutch Cube by Learning Curve ~$15
This brightly colored soft cube is ideal for young babies and it will hold their attention for a long time. It includes great play activities such as peek-a-boo flaps, clinking rings and jingling chimes to improve your child’s motor skills. The cube is scented like apple for some reason.

Baby Einstein Play Gym by Kids II ~$60
This is another great activity mat that I’d recommend. Gym features Baby Einstein characters on the mat and on the dangling part of the padded bars. The mat is brightly colored and has numerous activities to engage the child such as a ladybug rattle, squeaking duck, and a plush star with lights and music.

Tiny Love Trio by Tiny Love ~$15
This unique set of 3 colorful toys is perfect for younger babies. Toy stimulates hand-eye coordination as they learn to rattle, pull, grasp and more. Small enough to fit in diaper bags making it great for Mom’s on-the-go.

ExerSaucer Mega - Circus by Evenflo ~$60
The second stand-up toy on my top picks list, the Exersaucer will keep your child entertained for hours. Unlike some of its competitors, this brightly-colored toy folds up with a carry handle for portability making it easy to move from room to room inside the house. The Exersaucer rocks, spins and bounces. Plus, it has 9 circus-themed toys within the child’s reach. Flashing lights and music just add to the fun.

Baby’s First Toys by Sassy ~$40
As the name indicates, I recommend this set of toys for younger babies. This diverse set includes animals, rattles, teethers, balls, letters and more in bright colors to stimulate baby’s sense of sight and their hand-eye coordination. Various shapes and textures plus the soft chewing toys are sure to make this set a hit!

Hug & Learn Baby Tad by LeapFrog ~$27
Soft and huggable, Baby Tad (Tadpole) is a great toy for babies as well as slightly older children. His foot turns him on and off. He’ll even give baby a kiss when his cheek is squeezed. With colorful shapes, flashing lights and numerous songs, Baby Tad is sure to keep baby entertained.

Pull N Play Phone by Vtech ~ $16
This brightly colored play phone has big buttons that make dialing noises for baby to push and develop their motor skills. The phone comes with big wheels so that baby can pull the toy around with them once they start walking. The child will be delighted to hear the phone ring and the five melodies that it plays. All kids love to pretend and this phone can hold their attention for a long time.

Janice Kremer does all her shopping online. She prefers Amazon for toys, and Baby Gifts & Gift Baskets for personalized baby gifts, gift baskets, blankets and more.

At least one third of households have their TV turned on all the time. This I can understand. But would you believe one in four children under the age of 2 have a TV in their bedroom?

Parents and pediatricians are now questioning how much TV is too much. Is it affecting toddlers’ attention spans? Is it causing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? New studies are saying that it is a factor. The more TV your toddler watches, the greater their risk of developing attention difficulties. Too much of the tube is also a factor in childhood obesity.

Here’s some more food for thought. If your toddler watches TV all day, when do they have a chance to use their own imagination? Where have the days gone when going outside to play was the solution for boredom?

When I was a kid, my grandmother would make me go outside and play. If it was cold outside, I would dress up really warm. You wouldn’t dare tell her you were bored, or she would give you chores to do. So, I would stay outside for hours. I had to use my imagination and find ways to cure my boredom. I would make snow forts, slide down the hills on a sled and play with the animals.

Today, most parents are turning to TV to keep their kids entertained. And why wouldn’t they? With shows like Barney, Arthur, and Boohbah, you could easily keep your child glued to the TV all day long.

But here’s the kicker. An average 3-year old should be physically active for about an hour a day. But studies have shown that they are only active for 20 minutes. And we wonder why so many kids are becoming obese!

There are plenty of ways to reduce the amount of TV your kids watch. There are also lots of things to do instead of being a couch potato.

- One reason your child might be watching more TV is because they like the music. Instead of turning on the TV for them, put on a CD.

- Don’t eat in front of the TV. Make mealtime a chance for your family to sit together and talk.

- Try offering rewards to your toddler for not watching TV.

- Distract your toddler with other things, like toys or puzzles. Don’t leave the TV running in the background.

- Go outside and let your child explore. Going for walks will introduce your toddler to new things, but letting them walk instead of riding in the stroller will also help increase their physical activity.

- Reading books is a very important part of your toddler’s life. It encourages and enhances their imagination. It’s also fundamental for their language development.

Make sure you discuss your “TV rules” with family members and any other caregivers.

Here’s another reason to turn off the TV. Not only will you have a more active toddler, you might improve your own relationship with your partner by interacting and communicating more. This is beneficial for both you and the kids by showing a good example.

You don’t have to take your kid back to the stone ages, but keeping their day filled with a variety of activities is important for their growth and development. They will thank you when they’re older.

Cassandra Germsheid is the owner of Baby Tips Online (http://www.babytipsonline.com). She is a stay at home mother but sometimes works part time for her local newspaper.

Moving house can be an emotional experience for adults, so imagine how much more unsettling it can be for children who don’t really understand what’s going on.

There are many things to consider when relocating, none more important than the impact of moving on your children.

REMAIN POSITIVE:

The secret is to remain positive.

Most often the reason for moving is a happy one, such as a new home or job promotion, which generates excitement and compensates for the inconvenience of packing up and relocating.

However if the move is associated with an unhappy event it can be hard to keep a positive attitude in front of the children.

Children feed off the emotions of their parents.

If you are not happy the chances are they are not happy either and will need more reassurance and attention to ensure the move is a positive experience for all of you.

TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN:

Explain to your children what’s happening, why you are moving, where you are moving to and what they can do to help so that they feel a part of what’s happening.

Listen to them.

Let them express how they are feeling, and empathise with them, even if some of their feelings are negative.

It is only natural they will be concerned, leaving familiar surroundings and friends.

Leaving the known for the unknown can be pretty scary.

Most importantly be honest with your children.

Reassure them that they are an important part of the family, and can help make the move a positive family experience.

TEARS AND TANTRUMS:

Children express their anxiety in a number of ways.

Tears and tantrums are the most common. If your children have moved before, and the experience was not a happy one, they may show signs of depression, withdrawn behaviour, or signs of aggression such as tantrums.

Once again, the answer is lots of reassurance and a positive attitude.

You can read more of this article at Moving Again

Jason Hill is the owner of Moving Again, a successful Interstate Removal Company in Australia.

Have you purchased a “self-help” book lately? A motivational tape? How about an ebook about “achieving success”? What do they have in common?

Nine times out of ten you’re given the same instruction, “Visualize”. “See
yourself 10 lbs. lighter” or “See yourself as CEO of Acme Industries”. To
visualize is to see and to visualize in the mind’s eye is to IMAGINE. It’s the
alpha tool of possibilities and, often, the springboard to accomplishment.

Today’s parents have all kinds of options to occupy their kids’ busy day.
CDs, videos, low-tech, high-tech toys and even, the computer. The drawback?
Kids participate in a passive mode or by repetitive tasks. Sadly, imagination is
not an important component.

So what to do?

Open the door to potential.

Parents are the first teachers in the most formative years of a child’s life.
With a little effort, a little planning and a bit of time, parents can plant the
seeds to a creative imagination. How? Read books to your kids!

The process of reading aloud is dynamic. It offers the child the
opportunity to combine the spoken word with imagery…images not created
by someone else, but uniquely created in the mind of that child.

How to begin? Start with picture books. They’re the “training wheels”.
They introduce kids to shapes and colors and context. Illustrated books are a
great way for children to see the relationship of words to images, albeit,
someone else’s images.

The next step? Books with no illustrations. Read aloud. This experience
switches your kids into an active mode of visualization. They process the words
and create the images. All it takes is your participation.

Practice makes perfect. The more often you read to your kids, the more
often they have the opportunity to develop their mind skills. They create the
images, they organize the images, they sort the images, they categorize the
images, they recall and visualize the images…they imagine!

Somewhere, sometime, someone visualized converting chemical energy
into electrical energy and, today, we have the battery. Someone, somewhere
visualized a fabric stronger than steel. Today we have kevlar. Someone
imagined a diseased heart being replaced by a healthy heart. Today we have
heart transplants. Imagination is the key. Plant the garden.

Here are some suggestions:

• Choose a book to read to your kids that YOU like. If you’re
  enthusiastic about it, chances are, the kids will be too.
• Plan ahead. Set aside a reading time that’s quiet and with few
  distractions (turn off the cell phone).
• Pressed for time? Purchase books via the computer. Get the kids to
  help you browse. And consider downloading ebooks. They’re often less
  expensive than hard cover books. You can download immediately to read on
  the computer and you can store the files on your hard disk or removable media
  device to create a library of your own to read and reread when you choose.
• Take the kids to your local library. Let them do the choosing.
• Check out your local bookstores (and public library) for scheduled
  “book reading” days for kids. Great fun.

Patricia Gresham is a free-lance commercial artist and graphic designer, author
and educator, wife, mother and grandmother. She is currently the publisher of
the family website DoodleDuds
Depot.

Baby shower are such a wonderful occasion and should be a lot of fun. Unfortunately sometimes people get stressed out in the planning and they really bog themselves down and make everything harder then it should be. So the number one advice to having a great baby shower is lighten up and have fun.

For example many people get stuck on picking a hot baby shower theme. This really couldn’t be any easier if you just let it happen and follow the steps provided below. However, if you get stressed about it being perfect then this will become very difficult.

Here are some of the steps that we will often follow for picking hot baby shower themes that are cheap, easy, or free and fun for everyone involved.

Be Creative

One of the most important things to picking great baby shower themes is to be creative. That’s right just be creative and let your ideas flow. All too often people get stuck in trying to pick the perfect theme and it bothers them so much they do not get anything down. So simply give up worrying about it being perfect. Get out and away from the task at hand and just live life with this in the very back of your mind. What you will find is the often when we claim that we are not thinking about something the brain is really working in the back all on its accord. Then you are driving down the freeway and it hits you. BAM! Hopefully not the car in front of you but a great baby shower theme.

Consult with Mom

A great place to start the discussion about a baby shower theme is with the pregnant mom. Find out her likes, dislikes, hopes and dreams for the baby and you will come up with hundreds of great ideas. For example mom might say she hopes that her baby will have the chance to travel to Europe one day like she did. Wow! That was easy why not an airplane baby shower theme. What about a theme titled “Oh The Places You Will Go” from the great Dr. Suess book.

So often by talking with the mom you can discover a lot of ideas. Just sit and talk with her and enjoy the good company over a cup of green tea. Don’t worry about taking notes or trying to get the perfect theme. Just relax and have a nice conversation. Then take a drive on an stretch of road that is not crowded or go home and listen to some relaxing music and it will hit you.

Consult With Friends

If you do not want to go to the mom to be for whatever reason then talk to a few friends. Again have everyone sit down and talk about their favorite baby showers or baby shower themes they like. This is sure to generate a whole host of ideas that can be used.

So as you can see there are a wide variety of wedding shower themes and the ideas for the hot themes are all around you in your everyday life. Sometimes you will gain a lot by just letting go!

Mike just got back his math test from the week before. The mark he earned was a “C”. He can barely hold back his disappointment, because he studied for this test for quite a long time. He just can’t believe it. He feels that it doesn’t even matter if he tries or not. Even when he tries really hard, he still doesn’t get good marks. What is the use of trying?

Granted, it feels very disappointing when things don’t work out the way you had planned; especially when you put in a good effort.

So how to you keep going when the going gets tough? Would you call it “quits” too if you were in Dan’s shoes or would you continue to study for your tests despite the low mark received in this test?

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” - Tommy Lasorda

1. Keeping An Open Mind

In Mike’s case I hope that you would agree that it is too soon to throw in the towel. It’s important that you keep trying until you get the result that you want. When you say, “I quit” you shut off your inner dynamo and your determination leaves. Giving up is the easy (and tempting) thing to do! Don’t give up! Keep trying!

The one thing that you can do in pursuing your goal is to keep an open mind. You will be more aware of ideas and opportunities around you that could help you move you closer towards your goal. Once you say “I quit” you basically are closing off your mind from any more ways to getting closer to your end result and having any breakthroughs.

Like in the example about the math test, if Dan keeps an open mind and chooses to keep studying for tests, he may find new ways of studying - ways that work better for him to help him retain the information, because not everybody learns in the same way. There are always more ways than one to do something!

2. Trial and Error

One thing for you to remember when you get discouraged is that you actually tried in the first place. You made an effort! If you got a result that you didn’t like, you will need to adjust your action based upon your result until you get a
better outcome. Especially in the beginning of something, we feel overwhelmed at times and think that we will never get there. Yes, you may have temporary setbacks, but if you learn from those and change your actions you will get what you want.

Colonel Sanders was rejected over 1000 times before someone bought his famous chicken recipe.

The Wright brothers tried many times before taking flight.

Thomas Edison tried to invent the light bulb over 9999 times. He said that every attempt showed him just another way
how not to invent the electric lamp. He didn’t look at it as mistakes, but as each trial as an advancement towards his ultimate goal. What a powerful mindset to have!

The spirit of “stick-to-it-iveness” (in proper English the word is “tenacity”) is the one that wins! Each time you try again, you WIN!

3. Questions are the answer!

When you run out of ideas it’s time to start asking questions. Who do you ask the questions? Guess what, it’s YOU! That’s right, you have to start asking yourself the questions and you WILL come up with more answers. The trick is to ask yourself better questions so that
you will get better answers! What do I mean by that?

OK, let me give you an example and let’s use the scenario from above about Mike and his math test. Now he could ask himself, “How come I never get a good mark? How come I can’t do well in school?” The kicker is that when you ask those kinds of unhelpful questions you are going to come up with answers that are just as unhelpful like “Because I am stupid, because I’ll never learn it, because I am no good, etc.”

Now let me ask you some questions:

“Are those answers going to help you? How are they going to make you feel? Are they going to make you take action and try again?

Here is a better way of asking yourself questions: “What can I try differently next time to help me study? “Ask questions that are geared towards getting what you want, not what you don’t want. Keep the questions positive!

For extra effectiveness, try writing the question(s) down. Ask yourself the questions before you go to sleep at night and often times the answers will come the next day as your brain had time to think about it while you were sleeping! Sounds pretty easy, doesn’t it? Keep asking “better” questions and “better” answers will come!

4. Guidance

Here is another question. “Who can help you?”

Is there somebody that has already achieved the same goal? Find them and ask them what they did to get there. Asking doesn’t cost anything. If they won’t help you, find somebody else!

And guess what, chances are these people weren’t always doing great at first. The difference is that they kept going however small the action seemed at the time. Once you have the determination to persist until you get what you want, you will become more confident in yourself as well.

5. Excuse me!

A sure way to keep you from starting or even continuing towards your goal is to come up with an excuse. Let’s face it; there is always an excuse ready for you to use if you so choose. It’s easy to come up with excuses. If you find yourself making excuses take a minute and you will see that you are really just cheating yourself!

6. Picture it!

I know that to make your goals a reality it most likely requires you to venture outside of your comfort zone. That can be scary and not feel very uncomfortable at first! Keep focusing on the benefit of your goal to push yourself further along.

Take a minute whenever you feel overwhelmed and DREAM about your goal! See yourself already being there. Get a really clear picture of what you are going to look like, where you will be, and even what you will be feeling like! It’s fun to dream and it will help make your dream come true!

You deserve the best in life! You deserve to get what you are dreaming about and you alone can make it happen! It’s your birthright to have it all! Nobody has the right to take that from you no matter what you have been told!

Stay in the game. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Don’t succumb to pressure. You may need to take a breather every once in while to help you get back your momentum and that’s OK just as long as you get back in the game again. Any dream worth having is worth persevering for! You have it inside of you to create your dreams and your future! Go for it and make it happen!

“If you can dream it, you can do it!” -Walt Disney

“One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great Surprises, is to find he can do what he is afraid he couldn’t do.” -Henry Ford

PS: Just one last note to let you know about when it really isn’t advisable to keep trying. It’s when you’re trying to change somebody other than yourself. It’s great to help out a friend and do things for them sometimes, just know that in the end it’s really their responsibility to take care of themselves and have their own goals. It’s not going to work in the long run if you do it for them.

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Life is full of competition — even in childhood. Kids compete for good grades, the attention of their parents and teachers, and even to get picked for ‘the right team’ in gym class. There’s nothing wrong with encouraging healthy competition in your children. It can teach kids to perform at their best while encouraging teamwork and fostering a strong work ethic. Competition can teach valuable lessons about discipline, preparation and sportsmanship. Best of all, it can help to prepare them for other challenges they will face in life.

But the key word here is “healthy.”

We’ve all witnessed unhealthy competition: the over-involved parents who embarrass their children by shouting from the sidelines during every game, or the parents who are disappointed when their child fails to bring home the first place ribbon, the best grade on the test or the lead in the school play.

Sometimes, adults don’t accept that our kids won’t always win. Unfortunately, when that happens, we can do more than damage their self-image… we may just be teaching them an unhealthy, win at-all-costs attitude. And, as adults, we know that such an attitude doesn’t seem to serve anyone well.

Winning and losing both have valuable lessons to teach. Parents who remember that can give their kids a competitive advantage.

Andrea Patten is the co-author of What Kids Need to Succeed: Four Foundations of Adult Achievement which is now available on Amazon.com

For more information about ‘The Four Foundations’ please visit http://www.whatkidsneedtosucceed.com

“…because you’re not raising a child - you’re raising a future adult”