Mom Writes Stuff

Gone are the days when all a pregnant woman had to wear were unflattering tent dresses which did nothing for her self-esteem. Just because you’re with child, doesn’t mean you don’t have the license to look good and celebrate your curves.

Fashion has certainly come a long way, as there are now a plethora of clothing options for the pregnant woman. Even the most frugal of moms will be pleased to know that there are discount maternity dresses available at our disposal. When shopping for maternity clothes, do consider the following staples which are sure to flatter your figure:

The One-Shoulder Top. These are simple yet flattering tops which show off one of your shoulders for a sexy look. Some of these come in tunics or comfortable form-fitting tops.

Maternity Jeans. These are adjustable at the waist as your belly gets bigger. They come in Capri styles or shorts.

Maxi Maternity Dress. If you must attend a special function, there are a wide range of dresses available. These tend to flatter your neckline and give enough room for your tummy. They have flattering designs such as ruffles. V-necklines also work to emphasize your upper body.

Tags: maternity clothes, maternity dresses

As a mom, you know all too well that nothing beats spending time with your kids.  You’d move heaven and earth just to be able to have an extra hour in a day with them.  But with the huge pile of paperwork sitting at your office desk, next to those coffee pods you got as presents last Christmas, that seems almost unlikely.  Your boss just asked you to work overtime again. 

Such is the dilemma for most working parents.  You toil away in the office to provide for your family, but your time with the kids gets compromised.  It’s a nasty trade-off, and sometimes you feel you’re left with no choice but to fall prey to the corporate world. 

They say that time- once passed- is gone forever.  Since we can no longer bring back lost time, we do what we can to make up for it by buying our kids fancy stuff, or taking them places on weekends. 

The good news is, you don’t need to wait for Saturday to make your kids feel loved.  On weeknights, for instance, if you manage to get home just in time for your kid’s bedtime, you can stop and read him a story, or have a quick chat about how his day went.

If you get home early enough for dinner, make it special.   Talk, ask questions about your kid’s day in school.  After dinner, make him a smoothie or some hot chocolate as you plop in front of the TV to catch his favorite cartoon show.

If you can, drive your kid to school.  Even if it’s just a short trip to his school, you can still strike up a conversation with him. 

Try as much as you can to be involved in your child’s personal and emotional affairs.  Even in your absence, he will feel the warmth of your love.  That will give him the confidence he needs to make it through life.

You know you’re a parent if your previous worries about your goals on getting small business equipment financing have shifted towards issues on your toddler’s developmental milestones. While it’s perfectly normal for any parent to worry about problems on raising their kids at one time or another, there are some who feel that whatever issue they’re facing will never be resolved. That then signals the onset of parenting anxiety. When a parent thinks this way, they can be severely stressed out. What can you do if you find yourself going through a case of parenting anxiety?

Talk. Find someone to talk to, whether it’s your partner or other parents. It helps ease the burden, knowing that you aren’t alone in your parenting woes, and that there are possible solutions to whatever it is you’re going through.

Ask. Don’t be afraid to get professional advice from your pediatrician, for instance, if you’re left in limbo about certain health or behavioral issues about your kid.

Take care of yourself. Don’t let yourself be overcome by parenting worries. Remember to eat well, get enough sleep, and exercise. Keep doing the things you enjoy.

If you feel that you can no longer function normally, seek professional help.

You almost did cartwheels on the living room floor and broke your electric sunglasses when you first saw your four-year old son take a keen interest in those box of crayons which were a gift to him a couple of years back. He’s definitely growing up, and you feel it in your bones that he is ready to start kindergarten. But how can you tell for sure if your little one is all set for it?

Here are the signs of readiness to start kindergarten according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics:

• He can communicate about things he needs and wants.

• He knows how to share and take turns.

• He is curious and enthusiastic about trying new activities.

• He has the ability to pay attention and sit still.

• He can use a pencil and paint brushes.

• He can count up to 20.

• He can recognize the letters of the alphabet.

Other common signs that a kid is ready for kindergarten are that he can follow one to three step instructions, behave well in the classroom, and can get along well with other kids.

Do know though, that four- and five-year-olds often develop at different speeds, so it can sometimes be difficult to know which kids are ready for school and which ones aren’t. You may find that while some five-year-olds are already reading, others can’t even count to 10 yet.

Before you make your kid take the kindergarten plunge, be sure that he is ready.

Tags: kindergarten readiness

When a child is at play, he’s seriously at work.  And when he’s at work, he doesn’t want to be disturbed- definitely not by his mom forcing him to drink a glass of water. 

We moms, of course, know that water is beneficial to our kids’ bodies, as water helps keep the body hydrated and moves nutrients around the body.  But when kids are busy fiddling with their e books, you can hardly do anything to make them go for a water break.  So, how can we get them to drink more water?

Try putting some lemon slices in a pitcher of water to give it a bit of a taste.  Keep it in the fridge, as kids may prefer drinking it cold. 

Use glasses or drinking bottles in their favorite cartoon character, so they will find the idea of drinking water more appealing.

You can try encouraging them to eat watermelons, or other fruits with high water content.

More importantly, you should set a good example and drink water yourself.  Stay away from soda.

Tags: kids and drinking water, kids health

Twas the night after Christmas, and all through the house… not a tiny tot was stirring, not even a mouse…

For us busy moms, the work doesn’t stop with the days or nights after Christmas.  In fact, this is when the real work begins.  Post-holiday cleanup can just be as stressful as preparing for the yuletide season.  Just thinking about the tall tower of dirty dishes waiting at the kitchen sink puts a damper on your goals at applying that eyelash growth product on your lashes.

Once again, we moms put ourselves at the bottom of the list.  Everything else comes first: household chores, picking up your hubby’s socks, mending that hole on your son’s favorite jersey.

At the end of the day, all that matters is that everyone in the family is happy and healthy.  It’s occasions like Christmas when we realize how much we should be thankful for.

Hope your Christmas was merry.  I’m sure mine was!

Image source: aboutpixel.de / kaufrausch #2 © maçka

The early bird catches the worm.  The late bird gets the retail rejects.  Well, not necessarily.  While it’s true that those who do their Christmas shopping early experience less of the stress which comes with the holidays, sometimes, if you wait until the last minute to do your shopping, you stand the chance to reap some benefits.

A few days, or even after Christmas day, stores usually sell their merchandise at rock bottom prices.  Everything must go, so they do all they can to get rid of old stocks.  Sure, there’s a high probability that you’ll lose your temper with the crowd and hold it against the guy behind the mall’s POS system, but you can certainly control that.  At least, you’ll get more for your hard-earned money.

Whether shopping early or late, always carry with you your shopping list, so you’ll be in and out of the shops in no time.

Have a merry Christmas, and an even merrier last minute shopping!

Tags: christmas shopping, last minute shopping

You couldn’t care less if you were singing slightly out of tune to “Deck the halls”.  What was going through your mind while you were merrily caroling at your office Christmas party was how you were going to manage to “un-deck the halls” at your upcoming mini-Christmas party-slash-get-together with your friends the following day.  There promises to be a lot of empty beer bottles and cigars boxes scattered around your living room after the party, and the mere thought of cleaning up makes you let out a resounding “Humbug!”

If the idea of cleaning up after a party makes your Christmas a little “un-merry”, take heart and realize that it’s not really that bad. 

Think disposable.  To save on energy doing the dishes, use utensils which you can dispose of.    Paper plates and cups will be a better choice, as these are more environment-friendly.

Clean as you go.  Have those garbage bags ready and toss paper cups in them right after use. 

You can even ask your friends- yes, they are your friends after all- to help out in the post-party cleanup.  If they need a little prodding, you can jokingly ask them to throw out their used paper cups after downing huge amounts of alcohol.

The stress of cleaning up after your Christmas party shouldn’t ruin your holiday mood.  With a little organization, your post-party cleanup will be a breeze.

Tags: Christmas party

A woman’s breasts are undeniably an important part of her overall aesthetic value. These seem to be even more important than expensive grad gifts for the Harvard graduate. We can never underestimate how firm and perky breasts add to a woman’s sex appeal. Women go to great lengths to either get them bigger or smaller. More than being concerned about how they make us look, we women should think about how we should care for our breasts. Here are some simple things to do to keep them in tiptop shape:

Get the right bra. Just because a bra looks fabulous on a lingerie catalog model, doesn’t mean it’ll look as good on you. It should, of course, fit naturally without pinching your breasts. They should give you adequate support, especially if you run. Get a sports bra if you plan to engage in physical activity.

Maintain a healthy weight. If your weight constantly fluctuates, this may cause your breasts to sag.

If you’re at least 35 and have a family history of breast cancer, consider getting a mammogram as soon as possible. Early detection is still the best cure.

Tags: breast care tips, healthy breasts

Instilling a love for reading in your children may seem as unattainable as winning the lottery.  Pulling them away from that video game in exchange for a paperback is almost like a shot in the dark.  Is it still possible to get them to enjoy reading?  Yes, it most definitely is.

First of all, as a parent, you must set an example to your kids.  If you want to get them to do something, show them that you yourself are doing it.  So, if you want them to start reading, stop spending hours surfing the net for rv loans, and start burying yourself in a good book.  Teaching by example still wins wars in whatever day and age.

Fill your home with good reading material.  Be it magazines or thick paperbacks, keep a worthy selection of books on different topics.  It would help to tap into your kids’ interests.  For instance, if your teener is into basketball, get him books on his favorite player.

Reduce TV time, and spend more time reading.  Show your kids that reading can be fun and interesting too.

The key is in luring them into the habit of reading.  If they realize that reading isn’t all about academics and boring theories, they will sooner or later develop in them a liking to it.

Tags: how to get kids to read, kids and reading

Every little girl dreams of growing up to marry the man of her dreams.  Although not everyone will get the chance to have a dream wedding like Kate Middleton’s, one’s wedding is no less a memorable and special experience.  If you’re one who’s about to tie the knot, try to think about these health considerations before you get married:

Pap smears.  If you’ve never seen a gynecologist, now’s the perfect time to do that.  Get those yearly Pap smears and exams to make sure your body is in tiptop shape to get pregnant.  Sooner or later, you and your hubby will want a little bundle of joy.

Your period.  Nothing can be worse than having your period on your honeymoon.  If you find out that your period is due on your honeymoon, talk to your doctor about using contraceptives to help delay your menstruation.

Remember, your health is more important than your precious collection of Morgan silver dollars.  In order to successfully fulfill your wifely duties, you have to be in the pink of health.