7 things I learned about being a Mom

A common thread throughout my moms groups is the complaint that the new moms either don't feel like themselves, or they are not the mom they thought they would be.

As a new mom, it is common to feel overwhelmed, frumpy and tired. To not get anything done and not get any sleep.

 They are wondering how these supposedly "super moms" do it. The moms that are dressed in heels and make up, nails done and make up almost professionally applied. Their houses are spotless and they always have time to play with their kids.

I have been doing this mom thing for 20 odd years and have seen a few things and learned a few things. I now bequeath you with some of my most valuable lessons...

Kakamega

Kakamega is a great app from Itunes. It features fun and energetic songs that your children will enjoy listening to. Set to symphony music, the lyrics are both catchy and educational.  The composer, Shirley Choi has produced children's music that parents will appreciate as well. Set in the rainforest, this musical tells the story of people and creatures, and life in the rainforest. It teaches children about the importance of the rainforest and the need to protect it. Definitely an app to download if you are interested in teaching your children about the environment and our role in preserving it. Or if you are just tired of Dora!

Get the app here: Itunes

Look! Your chest is bigger than mine when you do that!

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, we get it, you're a big strong man. Now stop your stupid looking chest puffing and treat the woman you pledged your life to with respect!


This last week, I have spoken to several people about bullying and outright abuse that has been happening in relationships around me. It makes me sad, and angry, and frustrated.


Sad that these women (I am not letting women that bully their husbands off the hook here, they just all happen to be women that I know) believe they deserve to be treated this way. Angry that the men that are supposed to be taking care of them are failing so miserably and frustrated because I remember believing in that misconception and I know that right now, none of them are at a point of strength that they are ready to do something about it.


So I decided to write this post to those women in my life that are being bullied and lied to by the one person that should be swimming through shark infested waters to bring them an ice cold Pepsi.


Here are some of the lies I hear you believing, and the truth you should see behind them.

Funny Bunny

A little pre-Easter humor:

When my older kids were little, we had a bunny rabbit. One of those cute lop eared ones with the draggy ears. His name was Leo the Lop and he would play with my oldest  son (ehem well my son thought he was playing... Leo really liked my son and "hugged" him often). He was litter box trained so we just let him run around the house like a cat. He didn't like the lino though and would just stay on the carpet.

My second oldest son was in playschool at the time and I decided that bringing the bunny in for show and tell just before Easter was a great idea! Leo would walk on a leash, so I took him in the car the block and a half to the playschool, with the leash tied around the back of the seat.

Leo was a hit! The kids loved him, he hopped around the circle giving all the kids bunny wiggly nose kisses and my second son was the most popular kid in school that day!

At the end of the day, I took Leo out to the car and tied him back onto the front seat, then went in to get my son and help the teacher a bit. 2 minutes later, my oldest son asked if he could get the keys to the car so he could put his backpack in the car. He came back down and was helping tidy up.

When we got back to the car, I discovered that my keys were now locked inside the car, next to Leo. PERFECT! (Now animal activists calm down, it was a mild day, not hot enough to cook my rabbit nor cold enough to freeze him) It took AMA 30 minutes to come to unlock the door.

As the mechanic was jimmying my passenger side door, he burst into laughter and stepped back to let us all see the most amazing thing you can imagine! My Leo, yes my horney bunny had hopped across the seat leaving ..... Not little pellets like you would expect.... No.... He had laid a Cadbury Cream Egg!

Heehee well actually I had bought a cream egg and left it on the seat so I could eat it later and he happened to be sitting on it.

Cadadoodle Reads- Birthmarked

The Book for February is Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien 

"IN THE ENCLAVE, YOUR SCARS SET YOU APART, and the newly born will change the future.

Sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone and her mother faithfully deliver their quota of three infants every month. But when Gaia’s mother is brutally taken away by the very people she serves, Gaia must question whether the Enclave deserves such loyalty. A stunning adventure brought to life by a memorable heroine, this dystopian debut will have readers racing all the way to the dramatic finish."

 

Buy it:

Amazon link

Kobo Link

Kindle link 

Join Cadadoodle Reads on Facebook

Why I Will raise my daughter to be a princess

I have waited 20 years to have a daughter. My first 3 children are boys. I never wanted a boy. I love my boys, but they over cooked and came out all boyish.  I always wanted to have a girl to dress all pretty and play tea parties and dance and sing with. I dreamed of calling her princess and making her into the girlyest girly girl you could imagine!

You can imagine my dismay as I FINALLY get my daughter to find out that it is uncool, shunned and generally looked down on to make your daughters think they are princesses. Things like "unhealthy body image" and "unrealistic  expectations" are phrases that are thrown around.

I don't buy in. Let me tell you why I WILL raise my daughter to think she is a princess.

Got Milk?

I was not reimbursed for this post. The opinions here are my own and are not affiliated with the product supplier/manufacturer.

This Mommy Moment has been brought to you by Mint Kitkat. Graciously supplied to me by my awesome husband that loves to share his treats with me! MMMM!

Ok back to work!

Got MILK?? I mean lots of milk?!? So much that it is constantly pouring out of you?

I am sorry, I really don't want to belittle the struggles that hundreds of women have to produce enough breast milk for their babies. My heart goes out to those Moms that try hard and are not able to continue.  I am an avid Breast feeder but I am not one to point fingers. I support all methods of feeding babies. 

It wasn't me! I swear!

There is a phenomenon in my house. I am sure you have a similar one.

We have a "not me/ I don't know" ghost.

 This ghost may go around leaving fruit snack wrappers under the couch, and boogers on the wall... (??? WHY? Why don't you just eat them like normal ghosts???)  He also refuses to flush the toilet or put the paper on the roll. He leaves socks stuffed in the book case (Which is a BOOK case not a STUFF case!!) I even once found that he had stuck gum to the wall ABOVE the trash can! WAITWHAT? Why can't you just open the lid and put it INSIDE the trash can? And who the freak keeps giving him gum in the first place??

The most baffling thing our "Not me/I don't know" ghost does is...

Modern Mama

Modern Mama was founded by Connie Peters to help get Moms out of the house and connect with other moms.  She knew being a new mom can be very isolating and wanted to offer all Moms whether married or single, first time moms or seasoned veterans, a chance to meet other Moms and get that illusive "me time". They have great local events in Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. They even offer a nanny service at the events to make it easier for moms to attend and still be close to their infants.

Cadadoodle is proud to have the St. Albert Location as one of our family members. Timmie Wanechko, the director of the St. Albert Modern Mama, has some great plans for the up coming year including polishing up the membership program. She is a yoga and fitness instructor, nutritionist, health and wellness blogger (at SassyWellness.ca) as well as a mom.

Check out Modern Mama's website at http://modernmama.com/st-albert/

Keep watching for more on this fantastic company!

Sleep? What is that?

Ok the last Mommy Brian reducer for the month is......


Get more sleep!


How? I know I know, baby doesn't sleep well, mommies don't sleep well, but there are some things you can do to help sleep better, when baby gives you the chance.


1. Exercise. Both the kind at the gym and the uhmm other kind. We all know we feel great after we work out. The endorphins that are released while exercising not only make you feel happier but reduce your stress level and help you achieve a deeper sleep.
2. Eat right. We already discussed drinking your water and taking supplements but also reducing caffeine (even eliminating it after 2pm) can have a positive affect on your sleep. Eating a healthy diet helps the body get rid of toxins and in turn reduce your stress levels.
3. GO TO BED!!! Going to bed at a decent hour instead of sitting up uh ... Writing... Blog posts until midnight.....can obviously increase the amount of sleep your body gets. DUH!
4. Turn off the Screens. Scientists have discovered that the brain registers the light spectrum coming off your computer monitors, tvs, cell phones ect. The same way it sees the sun. This artificially prevents the release of melatonin when it is supposed to be released. Melatonin is the hormone that helps you get restorative sleep.


I hope my Mommy brain segment has been helpful to someone out there. Now go get some SLEEP!

Sisters Before Misters

Life without my best friends would be so dull!

I have 2 of the coolest, funniest best friends in the world. No seriously. They are without a doubt the  funniest 2 people in the universe.

They have gotten me through so much and taught me to just laugh at life cause letting it get you down is just a waste of an evening.

When you get the 3 of us together for an evening, you never know what will happen. You could even end up convincing a waiter to

Just Say NO!

Just don't do it....... Smoke that is. Simple right?

Apparently not. I can't say much myself cause I never have. I don't have a high horse I am riding, I just never felt the need.

I am not alone. In 2012 56% of Canadians, over the age of 15, had never smoked. Of the 44% of Canadians that have smoked only 16% were still smokers.  Although the percentage of smokers has decreased from 25% in 1999, Health Canada still considers this a major health concern.

This week is National Non-smoking week.  The theme this year is "Truth in Advertising". Non-smoking advocate groups say that the warnings and designs on cigarette packages are not deterring enough.
"If tobacco companies were truthful in their advertising, their packaging would be in the shape of a coffin," said Bob Walsh, executive director, Canadian Council for Tobacco Control. "It's no secret that cigarettes are the most dangerous product on the market - when used as directed, they have a fifty per cent kill rate. Yet the tobacco industry continues to use branding and product packaging to attract youth and to make their deadly products appear safe."
From <The Canadian Cancer Society>


National Non-Smoking Week aims to:
    • educate Canadians about the dangers of smoking
    • prevent people who do not smoke from beginning to smoke and becoming addicted to tobacco
    • help people quit smoking
    • promote the right of individuals to breathe air unpolluted by tobacco smoke
    • denormalize the tobacco industry, tobacco industry marketing practices, tobacco products, and tobacco use
    • assist in the attainment of a smoke-free society in Canada
   
   
If you or someone you know wants to quit smoking,  There is a smokers helpline at 1-877-513-5333 or go to www.smokershelpline.ca

If you would like to support the National Non-smoking week, donations can be made by going to Canadian Council for Tobacco Control

Get out your thinking cap!

The mommy brain reducer for this week is exercise, brain exercise, that is.

Something I have been doing to increase my memory is playing Lumosity. Any games that make you think and use your brain can help increase your memory and help with the foggyness. So get out your Nintendo DS or cell phone, or even the local paper and get to work on those puzzles!

Other suggestions to work the muscle between your ears: Join a book club and join in the discussions (Cadadoodle Read's is a GREAT choice for a book club ;-), take a class at the local community college, learn a new hobby, take a first aid class, or even take a parenting class at the public health clinic.

How do you work your brain?

To each, their own.

“If we do not adequately discipline our children, society will discipline them in a way we may not like.”

-David O. Mckay

As parents, we have been given these precious little people, we love them, we feed them and cuddle them. With these blessings, comes great responsibility. We are now responsible for caring for and providing for these tiny humans. It can be overwhelming at times, but we are also responsible for teaching these little ones how to behave, to be responsible contributing adults.

There are so many different parenting techniques out there, many parents are confused by what is appropriate and what will "damage" their kids.
I have my own parenting philosophy, it works for me and my family. Others may not do it the same way and that is ok. To each their own. All the different methods can be successful, but the common thread in most of the recommendations is that you correct behavior. Call it discipline or correction or guiding or whatever, if you do not do it, someday, someone will.  It might be the school, their peers or (heaven forbid) a judge. And it won't be nicey nice.

January is Postpartum Awareness Month

In 2011 the mayor of Edmonton Alberta, Stephen Mandel declared January Postpartum Depression Month. This was the first city in Canada to declare an official  period of awareness for Postpartum Depression. The awareness has now grown across Western Canada.




If you suffer from this, you may feel alone but in reality, you are not. Postpartum depression affects approximately 15-30% of Moms in the first few years after giving birth. This number could be higher

Fatten Up! Mommy Brain Monday

So how many of you out there drank your water this week? Do you feel better?

I drank as much as I could and I have to say I feel much better. Definitely the fog is lifting.

This weeks tip is a bit more expensive but worth it for more than your brain fog.

Get your Omegas!

 Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids are important for your brain to function properly. They are found in high concentrations in the brain. They contribute to memory and performance. Deficiency in infants during pregnancy can cause vision and nerve problems. A few of the symptoms of omega-3 deficiency include

Kids and Family and Friends oh My!

This might surprise some of you more relaxed people out there but being  OCD about your house is a stressful thing.

I feel anxiety on an hourly basis.

See for me, my OCD lies not only in the need to have my house "show home ready" as my husband calls it but I also NEED to follow my routines. If my routine gets interrupted, I get very anxious. A stress level of about 5-6 out of 10.  If it has already been interrupted that day, then more like an 8 or 9.

My problem is

Get Wet! Mommy Brain Monday

During the Christmas holidays, I was very sick, had a bad cold. I was walking around in such a fog, more than I normally am. I decided enough was enough and started doing research. Apparently, in spite of the lack of comments confirming I am not alone, I am NOT alone.

I figured since I am not alone, I would give my readers a tip a week, to help with the memory loss and general fogginess many Moms experience after giving birth. The results were surprisingly sparse. I could find little about the condition. Beyond the effect of lack of sleep, there was no other explanations.  I did however find a few interesting facts, ones that could apply.

The first tip is the easiest to follow and the cheapest, that is the only reason it is number one.

Mommy Brain reducer #1:

WATER! WATER! AND MORE WATER!

Mothers (especially breastfeeding mothers) can be prone to dehydration for several reasons. Mine would be that I drink a lot of Pepsi to keep myself awake during the day. Some Moms just get busy with other things and forget to drink water. Nursing Mothers need extra water, to help with milk supply and obviously the hydration of her infant.

This is what Sarah DeWitt Ince, eHow Contributor, had to say about water:

" Just like the rest of your body, your brain also needs good hydration. Water is the transportation system for nutrients because it carries vitamins to the cells where they are needed most. In addition, water also removes waste, which can contribute to bring fog. " Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_5666233_rid-brain-fog.html#ixzz2pgnjGK90"


Ways to get more water:
• Drink when you snack, or eat. Each time you eat something, drink some water.
• Eat your water. Find foods that have a higher water content like juicy fruits and vegetables.
• Add flavor. My favorite is to add a cut up cucumber or blueberries to my water. Really you can add any fruit or veggie if you like it, or mix it up with strawberries and kiwi.

Being a Mentor- Spirtual Thought Sunday

"Children learn through gentle direction and persuasive teaching. They search for models to imitate, knowledge to acquire, things to do, and teachers to please."

-Thomas S. Monson

 As I was rocking Cadadoodle back to sleep the other night, I was pondering what kind of person she will grow up to be. I can already see her precious personality emerging. She is a very happy baby. She has a smile for everyone. She is sociable and interactive.

I hope to teach her to be kind and empathetic to others. To serve and love her peers and respect her elders and lead those younger than her. I hope she never looses her zest for life. I intend to foster her curiosity and encourage her to learn as much as possible. 

I suppose I will have to improve myself if I am to mentor such an incredible little girl!

New Year's resolutions... crump style

I hate making new year's resolutions.

 In fact, for the last few years, I haven't made any.

Don't get me wrong, I have goals, lots of them. I just found that I had the same stupid resolutions every stinking year and I ALWAYS failed, EPIC fail! So I decided one year that new year's resolutions were just to much pressure and I never succeeded anyways, so why bother. Instead, I set reasonable goals throughout the year and forgot about the "loose 150 lbs in 6 months" goals.

Something happened when I did that. I stopped beating myself up because I couldn't stick to a diet and what kind of moron thinks it is OK to cheat on a diet and have to binge the rest of the day cause after midnight, I couldn't eat again for 24 hours... Say what the ...?

 Nope. I was no longer