As the Mommy Wars wage on, the longstanding battle between working
mothers and those who stay at home can get particularly nasty. When
over-scheduled, over-tired working moms have trouble striking the
delicate balance between parenting and maintaining a demanding career,
many find themselves unsure of where to turn, suffering in silence
rather than opening the proverbial can of worms. Finding ways to balance
work and family isn’t easy, but it isn’t altogether impossible, either.
Establish a Routine
Laying down the groundwork for a consistent and reliable family
routine is almost always a struggle in the beginning. Changing not only
your own habits, but also encouraging a change in each member of your
family’s lives, takes its toll in the beginning. However, when you are
able to establish a workable routine for your family, it can help make a
noticeable difference in the way your household runs, and even free up
more time for all of you to spend together.
Understand the Power of “Me” Time
When you feel as if you’re always running on just slightly less than
enough sleep, the idea of getting up even earlier or staying up even
later can be downright repellent. Carving out a few minutes of time for
yourself each day, even if it’s only 10 or 15 minutes, lets you recharge
your internal batteries and prepare for upcoming tasks without being
forced to attend to an unexpected crisis.
Encourage Independence
Helping your children learn to take charge of as much of their own
morning routine as reasonably possible not only frees up a bit of time
for you to attend to your own needs, but also encourages independence
and self-reliance in your kids at a relatively young age. While you
certainly don’t want to rush your child into completing tasks he’s not
quite developmentally ready for, you can squelch the urge to be a
helicopter parent while simultaneously allowing yourself a bit of space.
The Caregiver Conundrum
If you don’t have a caregiver that you absolutely trust, there’s a
good chance that you’re going to struggle with the tasks before you each
day as your mind wanders back to the kids. Finding the perfect nanny or
care center can be an overwhelming and time-consuming task, but it’s
one that pays off in spades when you’re able to confidently and
competently manage the demands of your daily life without worrying about
your kids’ welfare.
Schedule Religiously
It may feel a bit silly to schedule out something as small as a 10
minute coffee break, but do it anyway. Maintaining a detailed schedule
allows you to break your day down at a glance, figuring out how much you
still have to do and where you need to be before you’re able to settle
in at home for some family time. Don’t underestimate the power of the
smartphone planner; mobile devices today can manage almost every aspect
of your professional and personal life, usually down to the minute.
Kick Guilt to the Curb
Feeling remorse about the fact that your children are in the care of
others is natural and normal, but it’s also a feeling you should squash
whenever it rears its ugly head. Remind yourself of all the
opportunities that your children have because of the income you bring in
and how much you’re able to provide, and make a promise to clear out an
entire day to spend quality time with them. In order for those promises
to spend time with your children to be effective at warding off that
guilt, however, you’ll have to keep them. When the weekend rolls around
or you’re able to take an impromptu vacation day, spend every waking
minute of it having fun with your kids. Don’t let the demands of work
pull at you for a full 24 hours, so that you can return with fresh eyes
and a clear head, free of nagging guilt and regret.
Don’t Be Afraid to Say “No.”
When you’re accustomed to taking on more than you can handle and
managing every aspect of your professional life as well as running a
household, it’s understandable to feel as if no one is quite capable of
handling things in a manner that lives up to your standards. Reminding
yourself that it’s okay to say “no” and okay to let someone else take
the reins for a while may take a bit of conditioning and lots of effort,
but the ability to delegate tasks and entrust them to other people will
relieve some of your stress.
Submitted by http://www.nationalnannies.com
Our mission is to share resources that introduce families to products and services to help strengthen, support, and challenge children academically and bring the family unit closer together. SFC Publishing brings not only children on an adventure into the World of Ink; you’ll also find parents, teachers, authors, illustrators, schools, grandparents, publishers, editors, libraries, and readers around the globe logging on to our Families Matter blog.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Book Review: Not Even the SKY is the LIMIT!
“The stories I love doing the most are the ones that empower
those who may not otherwise have a voice—especially those who live in poverty
or who are disabled.”
Publisher: Halo Publishing, Int.
ISBN: 978-1-61244-199-3 (hard cover)
$14.95
About the Book:
Not Even The SKY Is
The LIMIT, is a book showcasing the abilities of children and adults with
Down Syndrome. The book is the result of the author’s own beautiful journey to
find out what life with her daughter would be like. Turn the pages and you’ll
see that people with Down Syndrome are able to enjoy doing everything everyone
else does. In fact, as you see here, not even the sky is the limit!
Not Even The SKY Is
The LIMIT, is inspired by the authors daughter Gianna, who has Down
Syndrome. The book is also meant for adults, who will clearly see by turning
the pages that there are no limits to what those living with disabilities can
do.
Overall Thoughts:
This isn't your typical picture book with a story, main character and whimsy style of writing. Zarrella instead shows young readers that no matter who you are or where you come from, you can do anything if you can dream. With vivid photos of children to adults with Down Syndrome this message is handed to all who flip the pages of this book.
For those looking for a colorful concept book to help teach basic reading skills to kids or just to open early conversations with their young readers, you won't be disappointed with this book. Kids will learn sports to art. You can even use the colorful backgrounds to teach colors as well as show young children they can do anything.
A portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to
organizations that improve the lives of people who live with Down Syndrome.
You can find out more about Denise Zarrella, her book and
World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/nouc27m
Sunday, October 20, 2013
10 Tips for Helping Kids Be Independent
Raising independent children is hard work, but it’s one of the most
rewarding things you can do, for them and for you! Children who are able
to solve their own problems and do things for themselves are happier
and more relaxed about the world around them. They are less stressed
about how everything is going to get done because they are in control of
the situation. It takes time to teach kids how to be independent, so be
patient with the process and expect a few messes along the way!
Submitted by http://www.4nannies.com
- Set clear boundaries – Let children know what their boundaries are and what is expected of them. There should be no surprises in what they are allowed to do on their own and when they should ask for help. If there are questions, kids should talk to the grown-up in charge and discuss the situation with them.
- Create structure and routine that encourages independence – Set kids up to be able to help themselves as much as possible. Put cups on lower shelves, keep drinks on the lowest shelf in the fridge, have children sort and put away their own laundry, let them pick out their own clothes and dress themselves in the mornings and create a snack shelf in the fridge with healthy options. The more they can do for themselves, the more that a sense of independence will be created for them.
- Teach problem solving skills – If children have a problem, teach them the skills they need to solve it. A common problem children have is fighting among siblings. Instead of always stepping in, give them the option of resolving the conflict with each other on their own. Role-playing is a great way to introduce these skills without having all the emotion of a real conflict in the way.
- Show empathy – It’s important for kids to know you care while they are figuring out how to solve a situation. Tell them that you care about what happens to them, but that you’d also like for them to be the one who figures out the solution. You won’t allow them to get physically hurt, but they do need to find a solution that they think will work.
- Let them fail – It sounds harsh, but allow for mistakes. The best consequences are the ones that occur naturally. For example, forgetting your homework at home will mean you will suffer a consequence at school. It’s a learning experience, but one that is sure to help your child remember their homework next time! Let them spill the milk when trying to pour it into their glass, then show them how to clean it up and try again!
- Let them do it themselves – Have children be responsible for their own belongings on a trip. They can pack a small backpack of toys and books to bring on a trip, be responsible for carrying it through the airport and onto the plane and make sure that all of their belongings get back into the backpack for the trip home.
- Give choices – Let children think for themselves and give them reasonable choices about their day. If they need to be dressed up that day, allow them to choose the blue or the grey shirt. Have them help you decide which snacks to prepare, what project to work on, what homework they’d like to do first and other choices throughout the day.
- Let them speak for themselves – When you are at a restaurant have your child order their own food or if you’re at a medical appointment have them speak to the receptionist, nurse and doctor. This gives them the opportunity to learn how to interact with people outside of their social groups and in professional settings.
- Interject, but don’t intervene – When children are in the middle of figuring out a problem, but are struggling a bit, don’t solve the problem for them. It’s okay to offer suggestions and ideas if they are truly stuck, but it’s important that they use the thought process to get themselves out of the situation. Your children will probably surprise you by coming up with solutions that you may have not even thought of!
- Practice how to practice – Practicing is a life-long skill that we all use on a daily basis. If your child takes up a musical instrument, but halfway through the year decides they no longer want to play it, use the experience as a practicing experience. They need to finish their commitment and should consider it practice for life. Make sure to explain that to them.
Submitted by http://www.4nannies.com
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Interview with Author S. Jenny Boyer
Ms. Boyer is a retired nurse, an Infection
Control Practitioner, whose world changed dramatically when she let the words
swirling inside her escape to paper. Her story of her beloved cat, how he came
to live with her later in his life and the lessons she learned from him,
changed her life for the better.
Tell us about your
current book. Give a short summary.
The book is about the life of a wonderful tabby cat whose
zest for living helped him meet and overcome the challenges he faced. T
appeared I am sure by divine guidance, in my yard somewhere in the second half
of his 20+ years. As I wrote of our time together, I was amazed at all the life
lessons he reinforced for others and me. These lessons alone became one of the
reasons that I felt compelled to finish and then publish his story. Daily T reminded me that the most important of life's lesson are
very simple. It is we who complicate things, and miss out on obvious blessings.
Things like baking in the sun, sipping water from a leaf cup, or a stroll
through the woods can enrich a day that might otherwise be taken for granted.
The following are some of the lessons T
reinforced in my life:
SPECIALT’S SHARED LESSONS
LOVING IS
USUALLY NOT PLANNED –
IT JUST HAPPENS.
BELIEVE GOD IS
IN CHARGE –
LET HIM WORK.
AVOIDANCE CAN
SOMETIMES BE
AS SWEET AS VICTORY.
IT IS UNLIKELY
THAT A PERSON OR AN ANIMAL
CAN BE LOVED BY
TOO MANY PEOPLE.
PETS, LIKE PEOPLE,
SHOULD NOT BE
TAKEN FOR
GRANTED.
COMPANIONSHIP IS
PART OF
LIFE'S SUSTENANCE.
Can you tell us about
your publisher and how the process worked in getting published?
Without a doubt, my late start in writing influenced my
decision to self publish. I wanted to experience holding in my hands the words I
felt I had been led to write. HALO Publishing International was recommended by
a friend. I felt a smaller publisher would be able to give me more personal
guidance since this was my first experience publishing a book. I interviewed
with the CEO of HALO, Lisa Umina, and compared their information packet to
several others found on the internet. Her enthusiasm and the name of the
company helped determine my decision. The author has to do a lot of the
finishing work herself, but Lisa and her staff were always there when I had
questions.
How did you get the
idea for this book?
SpecialT was the
favorite of the many pets I had had over the years. I loved all of our pets,
but T played my heart like a fined tuned
instrument, each note simple and pure. I needed to write his song to me, thus
his story. For years, I had kept notes about different things I thought I would
like to write about. The majority ended up being about SpecialT.
What is a typical
writing day like for you?
Each day is different. I am retired so I can be very
flexible. I always start about 4-5 AM, when the house is quiet after my husband
leaves for work. The writing can extend anywhere from 2-8 hours depending on my
progress.
What do you enjoy
most about writing?
Being productive, putting words together to tell my story at
a time many people are just beginning to wake up. Obviously, I am a morning
person, and as soon as my eyes open, I am ready to go.
What is the most
difficult part of writing?
Believing in myself. For months, I did not tell anyone I was
writing a book. Finally, I started reading bits and pieces to my family and
they were very encouraging.
How has publishing a
book changed your life?
My previous career was in the medical field. For 40 years, I
was a nurse. Today I am meeting so many people from different walks of life
that I would never have come in contact with without publishing the book.
If your book is based
on true events, how has that affected those around you or why made you choose
to use historical events?
Most are amazed at the depth of my feelings for SpecialT, and that I even had the inclination to write them down.
What are your plans
now?
I plan to spend the next several months marketing this book.
I will then publish a collection of 14 short stories about little creatures and
the lessons they can teach us.
What is your best tip
for aspiring authors?
Don't be afraid of your own words. Write them down. Not
everyone will like them, but that is OK.
Is there anything
else you would like to share with our readership? (Here you can share about
characters, historical facts, setting or whatever else you would like our
readers to know about your book.)
The story about SpecialT has especially touched cat lovers.
Many have expressed to me how their cats also taught them lessons, or
reinforced good principles of living, just by being themselves. There is also
the story within the story of T's life, before
he came to me, that reveals God had a plan for this cat's life.
The book is written for individual or family reading.
Do you have a
website? If so, please give the URL. If not, where can readers go online to
learn more about your book(s) and to order?
Readers can find me on Facebook, and the book is available on
line on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and from HALO Publishing International. I can
be contacted by email sjennyboyer@gmail.com to arrange for a signed copy.
The World of Ink Network is
touring debut author Jenny Boyer’s riveting inspirational memoir, SpecialT in October and November 2013.
The author's desire is to inspire others to appreciate how
God uses animals, sometimes very wise and wonderful ones like SpecialT, to enrich our lives if we only open our hearts and minds to the
lessons they can teach us, just by being themselves.
You can find out more about Jenny Boyer, her book and World
of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/myydudk
Labels:
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books for adult readers,
cats,
Christianity,
halo publishing,
inspirational,
Nine Lives,
Nine Names,
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World of ink network
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*Stories for Children Publishing, LLC. (SFC) and its divisions do not receive any compensation for product reviews beyond a sample and/or limited access to a paid website. SFC donates all books sent for review to a charitable organization. SFC may do a contest or giveaway of samples we receive.
