Parenting is a tough job, and sometimes, keeping a work-life balance can be difficult. To connect with other parents dealing with the same issues or for agency help, information and support on being a working mom or other parent concerns, you can visit any of the following websites for more information.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The dinosaurs have invaded the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Examiner Cleveland - Working Mom Examiner First Post
I am now a Working Mom Examiner for the Examiner Cleveland. Here is my latest post titled Finding Balance and Keeping it all Together. I welcome your suggestions and comments. Please subscribe to get email updates when a new post is added.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Follow Friday #5: Three Blogs I Always Make Time to Stalk
As many of you know, I am a mother, a grad student, a legal assistant, a blogger, and much, much more. I wear many hats, and I have a busy life. I am always running from one place to other and my days do not end until after my entire household has long gone to bed. One thing I manage to do, despite all this craziness, is stalk your blogs, and there are three blogs in particular I always make time to stalk.
We Are That Family. Kristen will be celebrating her second blogversary on October 22, 2009. Kristen’s family is like any other family in America; they laugh, they cry, and they deal with disasters. Here is Kristen in her own words:
Through the years, I’ve been in different conversations and either said or someone said to me, “You know THAT family?” They don’t even have to say a name usually. My mind automatically pulls up THAT family.
You know the ones.
The family that always has troubles. Something out of the ordinary is always happening and they are usually followed by disaster.
Through almost two years of blogging, Kristen has blogged about “being THAT family” (yes, you know the ones), about parenting, faith and inspiration, and just plain good stuff. Be sure to check out Kristen’s page, and become a stalker follower. Kristen always has giveaways, including this recent one where she has partnered up with Hallmark. She has posted two cards and asked her readers to leave a comment telling which card is the funniest, and they will be entered to win $60 worth of greeting cards.
Who Put Me in Charge of These People? Texan Mama is a full-time stay at home mother raising four children. She hasn’t quite figured out where she is a country gal or a city girl. She shares with us the craziness of her days, and despite it all, she manages to keep and have an amazing sense of humor (to our benefit, of course). Here is an excerpt from a post titled “How to Have a Relaxing Vacation.”
How to Have a Relaxing Vacation
1. Do NOT bring your children.
2. Enjoy the good libations.
3. Eat out - don't cook for yourself.
4. Leave all the bills at home or set-up auto pay or something brilliant like that.
5. Do not bring your computer with you.
6. Wear sunscreen.
7. Only pack shoes you've worn at least a few times before.
8. Stay somewhere that you aren't afraid to touch everything or leave something out of place.
9. Have some alternate activities planned besides "watch tv". Not that you have to do them, but at least you can have a back-up plan.
10. Don't watch any sexy movies unless you've brought your sexy mate along with you.
This post is a perfect example of why I make time to stalk Texan Mama’s blog.
Hope Floats. Melissa spends most of her days making her family happy. As she tells us, quite often she fails miserably. Despite dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis and other conditions that come along with RA, she manages to start her day with a smile, tenacity, and a great sense of humor. She asks her readers to join her with ups and downs and her journey into the world.
Melissa’s sense of humor and resilience is evident in her posts. Here is an excerpt from a recent post tiled “Learned a Valuable Lesson Today…” (This is sure to be a crowd pleaser.)
You know how I've always wondered what is the correct pair of underwear to wear to the doctor? Well, I got the answer today....it's any pair you don't mind your doctor seeing.
Which means my leopard print thong went over really well this morning. Especially when my 27 year old cutie doctor went to stick the pads to the electrical stimulation down my pants....(just typing that makes me shudder.) I'm sure he got quite the surprise when all he felt was cheek....
For more of Melissa’s stand-up comedy, go pay her a visit at Hope Floats.
Well folks, there are my three blogs I always make time to stalk. What are yours?
For more Follow Friday, posts click ---> HERE.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Keep on Blogging for Invisible Illness
Invisible Illness 2009 comes to a close today. It does not mean that if you suffer from an invisible illness or love someone who does you should stop blogging and stop talking about those invisible conditions. It estimated that 25% of the population from some kind of invisible disease. More than half of those people suffer from more than one condition. Only 7% of persons with an invisible condition will use a wheelchair, cane or crutches. The rest suffer in silence. Because of this, we encounter sociocultural indifference and support is limited. Moreover, many invisible diseases even remain controversial even by the standards of the medical community.
There are more than 80 autoimmune diseases that are known to the medical community, and the majority of those invisible conditions. Because of that, there is much indifference when it comes to cultural and social views of such conditions. For example, diabetes, heart disease and cancer are considered invisible diseases, but no one would ever question the limitations of those who suffer from those conditions. Yet, that happens for individuals who suffer from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis.
I know there will not be cures for many of the autoimmune diseases that exist, including RA, not in my lifetime at least. I know that Fibromyalgia, RA, and CFS are a part of my life and I have been for quite some time, and a cure is something that is currently out of reach, but I can lower my expectations. I can deal without a cure and I can live my life. However, I want more understanding for myself and for others who suffer from invisible conditions such as these. I don’t want to always explain to others how these conditions affect me, and how taking a vitamin or two, eating better, or even exercising isn’t going to make these diseases go away. These conditions are on their own schedule, and not mine.
So I ask of my fellow bloggers who suffer from an invisible illness or who have a loved one suffering from an invisible condition to keep blogging and keep making their voices heard. Awareness is the next thing to a cure.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know
1. The illness I live with is: Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2007
3. But I had symptoms since: 1998
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: not being able to be as alive as I used to be, especially when it comes to playing with my kids.
5. Most people assume: that my conditions are under control because I hide them so well.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Trying to pick up the baby to get him ready for daycare.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Grey’s and ER.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: The wonderful jar opener.
9. The hardest part about nights are: It can be hard to fall asleep because of the pain and the feelings of exhaustion.
10. Each day I take 20 pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: I am still thinking about them.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: visible.
13. Regarding working and career: I wish that my conditions didn’t hinder my success, but they do.
14. People would be surprised to know: I am sick because I hide my conditions so well.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: asking for help, but I am learning one day at a time.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: talk about it, make it known, and push for awareness.
17. The commercials about my illness: make me crazy.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: just knowing what the day will bring. I can’t plan like I used to because I never know I will feel.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: working out daily and a lot of my favorite foods.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: mediating, praying and blogging.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: I would run, dance and sing and do all the things I can no longer physically do.
22. My illness has taught me: patience, acceptance and strength.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: people who spend money like crazy or don’t take of their bodies.
24. But I love it when people: give to charity and help others.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: Admiration is the daughter of ignorance. ~Benjamin Franklin. I have learned not to admire and to enjoy what life has already given me.
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: It is all about attitude.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: how strong I am and how I patient I have become.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Told me I was beautiful, smart and funny.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I want there to someday be cures for my conditions so that my children never have to suffer as I have.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Happy, that someone else wants to know now important awareness is.
Find out more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and the 5-day free virtual conference with 20 speakers Sept 14-18, 2009 at http://www.invisibleillness.com/
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Babies and Toddlers Buying Guide
Whatever your needs are, you have come to right place to find any thing you need that is a reasonable price to fit your budget and you can compare what is the best bargain out there. The sky is the limit at the Babies and Toddlers Buying Guide. Let me give me an example of how the guide works. I am a mother to two boys so finding clothing for boys is always challenge because boys clothes don’t seem to last too long. Any mother of boys can tell you why, so it is important for me to be able to buy what I need at a reasonable price, and without leaving my home. That is an added perk because boys don’t like shopping; they is as torturous as taking away their video games.
So here I am at the Boys Buying Guide page. First, you are introduced to the sizes. Once you have the size you need, you able to decide what kind of clothing you are looking for: Casual or Dress, or you can look further, popular picks, outdoor clothing and underneath wear. I strolled over to the option on pajamas. When I got there, I was guided by store and price. I scrolled to the SpongeBob Squarepants by Nickelodeon - Toddler Boys Long Sleeved Pajamas, Blue, Yellow for $9 and clicked on that. I was directed to the Bargain Children’s Clothing’s website. I don’t know about you, but $9 is a great deal for a pair of PJs and Sponge Bob, my little guy will be in love.
And it is not just clothing, I also checked out the Nursery Furniture Buying guide. I clicked on the link for toddler beds, because it looks like my little one’s climbing out of his crib days might be over. I was given several options, but went for the theme beds option. (Babies and toddlers are easily amazed.) Again, I was given many options, and went for a reasonably price one at my favorite discount retailer, Walmart. I figured it would the job until my little monster gets destructive.
The Babies and Toddler Buying Guide is a great resource for anything and everything you need, clothing, baby furniture, baby gear, you name it – you will find what you are looking for a price that fits your budget.
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