We're moms. We work all day, bring home the bacon, and fry it up in a pan. Oh, and while we're at it, we're raising young children, along with our spouses/partners. As any working mom knows, we often battle the big "G." Guilt creeps up on us when we least expect it. Join us in our ongoing struggle to resist the guilt and embrace the journey.
You know the saying about keeping your friends close, your enemies closer? I guess that's why I noticed "Mommy Guilt" popping up more than usual recently.
A few examples for your perusal:
The New York Times examined the implications of guilt for the mothers of Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton/Nicky Hilton, after their daughters' latest exploits. (The verdict: Kinda guilty)
CNN says most moms feel guilty, but we shouldn't. It's bad for our kids (and for us). A clinical psychologist (male, by the way) told CNN: "Any guilt that you carry from home to work or work to home will interfere in your performance in that role and in your satisfaction with that role. So you're really cheating yourself." (The verdict: Guilty, guilty, guilty!)
Even the News Journal of Wilmington, Delaware ("Hi. I'm in Delaware.") got in on the mommy guilt action. Their survey of 50 Wilmington moms showed a 90% guilt rate. Working, staying at home, doesn't matter. I did enjoy the comments and stories from some of the locals. It's impressive to see a local paper give that kind of coverage to the inner struggles of moms today. (The verdict: Guilty, but who isn't?)
And then there's Rush Limbaugh. I'll let this big fat idiot speak for himself: "This is such old news: women trying to have it all, and being guilty about everything. This is a derivative of our good friends the NAGs, the feminists. Try to have it all, and every woman's got 'mommy guilt.' Every woman has this. It's nothing new! It's been going on since birth was first recorded in human civilization." What I want to know is, are the NAGs related to WMAGs? Maybe we should get together. (The verdict: Not guilty by reason of stupidity)
So that's the latest intel on our old enemy, mommy guilt. I think it's got a pretty good foothold, but we're making a little progress every day. Fight the good fight, working moms! You can do it!
It's a busy week here, which means I haven't had time to find a recipe for Tasty Tuesday! It also means I have no groceries and no time to cook. I'll probably pick my daughter up from daycare, grab some take out, and take her to the park for a picnic. I'm going to try and find a way to slip some veggies in there, so I don't have to feel too guilty. But there's a distinct chance she'll be enjoying McDonald's chicken nuggets for supper. Healthy, right?
Yeah.
Which got me thinking: What sorts of foods do you give your kids when you're short on time with a nearly bare pantry? I swear by those little Chef Boyardee individual pasta bowls. I also am a big fan of microwaved hot dogs. (What parent isn't?) I've found that broccoli steams up nicely when placed in a covered microwave-safe bowl with a few tablespoons of water, so - again - I can relieve the guilt that comes from serving my child crap. But some nights, honestly, I try not to think about it too much. Overall, my daughter has a pretty healthy diet. A few french fries aren't going to hurt her.
So share, WMAGs. What do you eat when there's nothing to eat and no time to cook it even if you had food in the house?
I'm sitting at O'Hare Airport waiting for my plane to start boarding. Why must airports charge for wifi? LAME. It should be a public service for putting up with all the crap, like long security lines, last-minute cancellations, and zero legroom.
Another random travel-related question I've been wondering about: Why do cab drivers always talk on their mobiles in foreign languages for most (if not all) of the time you're in their cab? Who are they talking to? What could they possibly have to discuss all that time? It just seems to be universal with all cab rides. I find it annoying.
Anywho ... Elizabeth Edwards was fantastic. I would totally vote for her for president. She's much warmer and sweeter than Hillary, but also smart and tough as hell.
She told the BlogHer crowd that she came to speak to us because "The Internet, and particularly the blogosphere, is the new town square." With all of us gathered 'round the square, she talked about her personal involvement in online communities. From the early days of listservs and message boards, she participated in groups based on her life experiences--cancer, death of a child, infertility (talk about going to hell and back!)
"Part of the magic of the medium," she said, is the ability to connect with others who share your interest--regardless of background. But while she's been active in talking with other folks online, she never maintained her own blog. "Having a blog is like having a child you have to feed three times a day," she said.
Just when she started diving into political issues, with health care as numero uno for women, I had to split for the airport.
Reflecting on the conference, I think the best part was meeting all the bloggers I've read, admired, and talked with online. Putting faces to names and URLs was a truly priceless experience. Seeing their babies, discussing bloggy and political issues, all over glasses of wine or snacks ... I'm really glad I went.
Today at BlogHer, I'm learning lots about how to make some decent dough as a blogger. Plus, I'm discovering ways to effect change in my community, country, and the world! Cool.
In a couple of hours, I'll hear Elizabeth Edwards--mother, blogger, wife of presidential candidate John Edwards--deliver the keynote address. Can't wait!
In the meantime, check out my quickie video blog that I recorded at the AOL booth. I want one in my house! More to come later tonight/tomorrow ...
A few thoughts and observations from my first day of my first BlogHer conference:
Damn, there's a lot of women (including mommy) bloggers here. Around 800. I think I've met at least 400 already!
The W Hotel I'm staying at is super-swank. Way nicer than my usual hotel fare.
I feel like I'm jamming about 50 platonic blind dates into one weekend. I've met some of my favoritebloggersface-to-face, and it's so cool in a weird Internet-y way.
It's nice to just be on my own for a while. I haven't been out of town for more than a day since Cassie was born. I miss her like crazy, but I also like doing my own thing, kickin' it old-school Susan.
There are a lot of PR and marketing people who want to get in this blog--and blogs like it. I've snagged lots of freebies to share with Tela, Cara, and Sara.
I have enough Friday Finds stored up for many weeks to come!
Chicago: What a cool town. I've missed it since my grad school days.
OK, one blissful night of uninterrupted sleep in a soft, cushy hotel bed awaits. I must heed the call.
- Need a nanny? A babysitter? Someone to watch the dog? Find a caregiver in your area at Care.com. Searching and viewing profiles are part of a free "basic" subscription. To contact the providers and get background checks on them, you'll have to pony up some cash: $25 for one month, $45 for three months, or $120 for 12 months. Of course, there's always Craig's List ...
- Kids say the darndest things. The new Pear Soup website collects and publishes cute/funny real-kid quotes captured by their parents. Here's a good one: "Dad, did you have any friends of your own before you married Mom? You did? Well, are they all dead?"--Logan, age 4. These Pear Soup folks oughta team up with Maya's Mom for their terrific Kidisms feature (check out the widget on this page to see some).
- You, too, can be on ABC News. They want moms like you to ask questions you want answered by the 2008 presidential candidates. Post your video to the ABC website, and your question could be asked of the candidates during next month's Iowa debates. Here's how you do it: Record a 15-45 second clip and email it to icaught@abcnews.go.com or upload it to the ABC News website. It's that easy! Tela's Finds
- If you like shopping as much as me, you might really love Kaboodle. It's sort of like del.icio.us, but all about shopping. You can peruse other people's lists, create bookmarks, discover new stores--trust me, it's cool. Even the Wall Street Journal thinks so.
- This site isn't new, but I realized I haven't shared it, and you might not know about it. It's Makeupalley.com. I use it for the reviews--find out which makeup is worth the cashola, and which products are not. But they also have message board, and a lot of people swap barely used makeup product (I haven't ever done that--I'm too scared contracting some horrible eye or lip disease.)
I was all set to head for Chicago tonight to join women bloggers from all over at BlogHer. My bags were packed, I was ready to go. But just before leaving the office for the airport, I wisely checked on my flight. "CANCELLED?!" my coworkers heard me exclaim what I was reading on my computer screen.
Yeah, that's right. After my husband's airport debacle in New York last week, I am now experiencing my own streak of airplane bad luck: a cancellation due to God knows what. Weather, I suppose? My giddy anticipation of the conference instantly turned to sullen disappointment and a mild sense of rage at the current state of air travel. At least I don't have to spend the night at the airport.
My airline automatically rebooked me for a 6 a.m. flight tomorrow (thanks a lot!), so I'll have to make it through my first day at BlogHer with the help of serious caffeine. But I will be there, come hell, high water, or flight shenanigans. Wish me better luck tomorrow!
I recently had lunch with a former colleague of mine (a very intelligent, beautiful, all-around-great former colleague). She's a working mom with children in their pre-teen and teen years, and I look up to her. During our lunch conversation, we discussed the concepts of "passion" and "dedication" when it comes to our careers.
The conversation was very englightening to me, and I've been thinking about it ever since. Actually, every conversation we have is englightening--but this dicussion stuck with me. It made me really think. So I felt the need to share my thoughts on the whole passion versus dedication thing.
I'm dedicated to my job. Very dedicated. I want to do a good job. I won't settle for anything else. I hate the feeling I get if I make a stupid mistake or let a co-worker down. I'll work long hours if need be--not always with a smile on my face (who does?)--but I do it. Why? Because I want to do a good job. And I don't want to let anyone down.
But I'm not passionate about my job. Not anymore. Any passion for a "job" faded fast once I had O. Now I'm passionate about one thing, and one thing only--my son. Before I had O, my job was a big part of my life--I'd be the first one to raise my hand for new business pitches (even if it meant weekend work), I'd work late into the evening without a second thought, I'd work weekends if needed. Now, not so much. I'm passionate about spending that precious time with my son. Not my co-workers, my boss, or my computer. It doesn't mean I won't do these things if they are asked of me--I will--but I'm not going to be happy about it. I won't bitch and moan, but I won't thank anyone either.
This doesn't mean I'm not dedicated to my job, because I am. And I'm good at it. I shouldn't be penalized because my son comes first. I think anyone's family should come first--job second. I can't imagine anyone facing death's door and looking back at life wishing they logged more hours at the office. I sure as hell won't be, as long as I can help it.
Through the mommy blogosphere today, I came across a fellow blogger's heartbreaking story of losing her 5-year-old daughter. She accidentally drowned last week while swimming at the beach with her family.
What a horrible, incomprehensible tragedy. In the morning, little Hannah was prancing around in her fairy costume. That evening, she was gone. I can't even imagine the grief that RachD must be experiencing. She's been posting about it since the day it happened. And not surprisingly, she's received a huge outpouring of sympathy and support through comments from other bloggers and readers--most of them complete strangers.
I'm hardly able to think of what I would do if something like that happened to Cassie. I'm pretty sure the world would stop. But seeing RachD make an effort to go on (she also has another little girl, Lily) is admirable, and I hope blogging helps her hang in there. My warmest thoughts are with her.
Hello, folks! Today's Tasty Tuesday will be short and sweet!
Lately, my little one has become quite the helpful little lady. She wants to help clean the house, she wants to help wash the car, and she wants to help me cook. I've started letting her do small things like pour water and stir when we make lemonade from concentrate, or mix the cheese sauce into her mac and cheese. But she's getting old enough to do more, so I went looking for some fun and easy recipes she could make. I found the Easy Kids Recipes website, created by Clarissa, the "mom chef." I can't wait to try some of these dishes with my daughter - she'll love the Grilled Bullseye or the Chinese Chicken Wings. Take a look and see if you can't find a couple of recipes to whip up with *your* little one!
My husband and I have been married for five years, together for six. I vaguely remember the good old days when romance came easily--though it all seems like a faraway, foggy memory today.
In the beginning, our romance ignited so quickly, we fell in love in a matter of weeks. And it didn't fade with the years. We could go out to dinner any night of the week, take weekend trips at a moment's notice, stay in and cuddle by the fire ... whatever we wanted. We brought each other sweet little gifts or cards, just to say "I love you." Our focus was on making the other person happy, just because we wanted to.
After more than a year of being full-time working parents, our marriage--and the romantic spark that started the whole thing six years ago--has been challenged. Is there anything like a new baby to put a marriage to the test?
But I'm proud to say we've made it! We still love each other, probably more than ever. And despite the daily challenges of crazy work schedules, the constant needs of a toddler, and all the other stuff life asks of us, we manage to carve out a little time for each other.
So how do we do it? I'll share some things that work for us, and maybe they can help you, too.
1. We talk to each other each day. Not just ask who fed the cats or when our daughter's diaper was last changed. Really talk--about how our days went, how we're feeling, what's on our minds. Whether it's in bed or at the dinner table, a little conversation goes a long way.
2. We go on dates. Some people call them "date nights." Frankly, it doesn't have to be at night. It could be a Sunday afternoon or a Saturday morning--or even a whole weekend if you're really lucky. Whenever we can get some time for just the two of us, we take it. We've had friends or my folks watch her. As long as I know she's in good hands, I can relax and enjoy a little romantic time with my husband. No guilt!
3. We show our affection. I think it's easy for new moms to pour all their hugs, kisses, and cuddles on their babies. They're so darned sweet and innocent, you can't help yourself! But husbands need a little sugar, too. So when I wake up in the morning or get home from work, I don't just shower Cassie with love. I always give my husband a real hug and kiss--like I mean it. We often hold hands when driving or walking or just sitting in the backyard. There's no such thing as too much affection in our house!
4. Our bedroom is a romantic retreat. For a long time, it was a plain old room with white walls, hand-me-down furniture, and zero atmosphere. Blah. But shortly before Cassie was born, we wisely redecorated in a very romantically oriented style (Moroccan). Believe me, it makes all the difference.
5. Even with Cassie at home, we find time for "dates". No, it's not the same as a fancy dinner at a restaurant or a movie in the theatre. But after she goes to bed, we can enjoy a pizza, a glass of wine, and a Netflix together. It's still quality time, right?
6. When things get tough--with work, Cassie, or life stuff--we remind each other of our love. How amazing our little girl is, and that together we created her. How our little family is all that really matters. It really helps put everything in perspective.
Cross-posted from Work It, Mom! for the Speak Your Mind contest. Rate my article here or write your own. This week's prize is a six-month subscription to SitterCity.com.
This weekend, I am going on a retreat. Not a spiritual retreat or a retreat to relax at a spa, but a writing retreat. I will spend all weekend at a B&B with another writer friend, working on what has become a second job of sorts--my novels.
What started out as a diversion from my day gig as a newspaper reporter (back when that's how I made my living) has turned into a compulsion. At night, after I've worked a full day and my daughter is in bed, while other people enjoy their favorite TV shows or scrapbook or clean house, I get back on my computer and write fiction. This is no hobby. I'm driven--not just to tell stories, but to succeed. To get a book published. Because I've come too close already not to see this dream through. I landed a literary agent last year and got seen by a few publishing houses before deciding Agent and I weren't the right fit. Now, several new agents are considering my work. I've completed three books so far (one so bad it will never see the light of day, two I'm actually proud of), and I see them getting better each time. My latest project, well, let's just say I've got a good feeling about it.
Sometimes I think I must be crazy--a working mom who won't let herself rest, whose idea of a vacation is holing up with her laptop for 12 hours of uninterrupted novel-writing time. I could have a cleaner house. I could be in better shape. I could even probably have a better relationship with my husband (thank God he's so supportive and understanding) if I could just let this fiction writing thing go. But it's become a part of who I am. And it's the one thing I do that's for me alone. I love my job and get a great deal of satisfaction from doing it well. I love raising my daughter and am proud of how she's growing up. But within each of those things is an obligation to somebody else. With my books, it's just me writing for me. Me working my ass off for no other reason than because I want to. If I succeed, then I will have succeeded on my own, and that's a powerful feeling.
So what about you, fellow WMAGs? Do you have a "hobby" that has turned into a consuming passion? Any other novelists out there? How do you balance writing with work and family? I'd love to get some tips. And if you've got a success story, by all means, share!
--Need some new toys? Toys R Us is having a clearance blowout--both in-stores and online.
--It's Gymbucks spending time! My Gymbucks from Gymboree have been burning a hole in my pocket since I got them at the end of May. I can't wait to go spend them. Susan's Finds
-- Stock up early on Halloween costumes. I’m a procrastinator, so I never buy stuff early. But I might grab up a costume or two from BuyCostumes.com in preparation for future costume needs (including dress-up, of course). This blowout sale includes clearance items up to 90% off. Check out that Hershey’s Kiss! Too freakin’ cute. Use code clear46 to get free shipping on orders of $70 or more.
-- Oh England, don’t get your knickers in a knot. With TheSimpsons Movie due to open next Friday (yesssss), those wacky marketing folks are out in full force, turning 7-11s into Kwik-E-Marts and making mock chalk drawings of Homer in the English countryside. And man, are the English pissed about it. That just makes it funnier.
-- Let’s get ready to OnRamp! The latest entry in the working mom networking arena, Your OnRamp, is a place where women can network, talk about issues from business to lifestyle, and find flexible work opportunities. It’s decent, but Work It, Mom! and Maya’s Mom are still my top faves. Be sure to check out the Career Coach and the site’s blogs.
-- Guest Friday Find from my good friend Michelle: “I just started sponsoring a woman in a war-torn country through Women for Women International. (They have a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, which means every dollar works hard.) For $27 a month--what I might easily spend on shoes, dinner or Netflix--a woman in a third world country gets job training to help her get back on her feet and have a fighting chance to support her family. These are countries torn apart by war, and these women are often struggling to feed four or five children with little or no resources. This program puts them on the path to self-sufficiency. It gives them the chance to become working moms and support their families. I bet I won't even miss the $27--but it's going to make a drastic difference to someone in another part of the world.”
Thanks for the find, Michelle. I’m in!
Cara's Finds
--SimpsonizeMe.com. Speaking of The Simpsons Movie, I just tried to make a Simpson of myself. You need just the right photo for it to work. But once it does, you can order your Simpson character printed on a T-shirt, mug, apron, or more. Pretty cool!
-- Need something new to hang on the office wall? Check out The Rasterbator. It let's you upload an photo, select the dimensions you want, then you can print individual sheets that you tile together to make a huge image. It's like instant art.
Look, I'm on the national TV news! Well, at least, on ABC News Now, which is the network's 24-hour news channel for Web, mobile, and cable/satellite TV.
ABC News asked the ladies of WMAG to "Talk Back" about how we rate ourselves as parents. Being the dork that I am, I submitted a video of myself (thanks to Jay for recording it--he managed not to laugh at me out loud) blathering on about my parenting skills. You can watch it here.
I kinda wish I had spruced myself up a little, but it was my first video. Next time, I'm getting a stylist and wardrobe person!
My poor, poor hubby. He flew to New York City this morning for a PR event (for work). It was supposed to be a day trip. You know, like Gilligan's three-hour tour? And it also happened to be his first-ever time in NYC.
Well, the weather sucked. They didn't even feed him well at the PR event (I thought surely he'd get a nice spread). The cab driver wouldn't take his credit card. (I told him, "Don't worry about cash! They take credit." Nope.) Then his 8 p.m. flight got cancelled. Aw, crap.
He called to tell me just as I was getting Cassie ready for bed. So I'm holding her (bawling of course) wrapped in a towel, trying to find him a hotel room online, taking his increasingly frustrated calls, and feeling generally horrible after a super-stressful day at work myself.
There are no rooms available in any hotel in New York (I checked hundreds--literally!) So poor Jay is now sitting somewhere in LaGuardia Airport, waiting for morning--and hopefully a flight to Cincinnati--to come. I feel guilty going to sleep in my comfy bed! And totally powerless to help him.
Here's hoping his business trip karma brings a more positive travel experience next time. Please keep him in your thoughts, WMAGs!
Update: Jay finally arrived at the Cincinnati airport around 11 Thursday morning. He's on his way home to get a good day's sleep. Phew!
Real men do eat quiche. At least my man does. What's not to like about it? Quiche basically is scrambled eggs in a pie crust, dressed up with whatever yummy stuff you can find in your fridge. And pretty much, it's that easy to make, as long as you use ready-made frozen pie crusts. Whip up a quiche for dinner one night, then take the leftovers for lunch--I think it tastes even better the next day.
Once you've gotten the hang of making quiche, you can get creative about what you put in it. To get you started, I modified this basic recipe from the Food Network, with special thanks to Emeril Lagasse.
Quiche Lorraine
Ingredients:
1 frozen pie crust
6 ounces thick cut bacon, cut into narrow strips
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 1/4 cups half-and-half
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup grated Gruyere or Swiss
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Follow package instructions for pre-baking the pie crust.
Cook the bacon until crisp and the fat is rendered, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Discard the fat or reserve for another use.
Arrange the bacon evenly over the bottom of the crust.
Beat the eggs, yolks, and half and half. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk to combine. Pour into the prepared crust and bake until the custard is golden, puffed, and set yet still slightly wiggly in the center, 30 to 35 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving.
Fewer moms see full-time work outside the home as the ideal than 10 years ago, according to a new Pew Research Center study. While the numbers from the study were interesting (at least, to geeks like me), the lack of explanation for this mental shift bugged me.
So let's analyze it, WMAGers. Why do more moms now say they'd rather work part-time than full-time? Are we getting lazier? Less ambitious? Or just more honest on surveys?
My personal theory is that the Supermom ideal has been tarnished by reality. For years, many moms have been slogging away at the fulltime fast-track, while still spending quality time with their children and doing the bulk of chores and work at home. It's hard, and it sucks. They don't feel like anyone's getting their best effort--not their employer, not their family, and not themselves.
But staying at home isn't the ideal for many working moms, either. It's tough to balance the household budget on one income, and even tougher to get back into a career after a long hiatus. We don't want to completely remove ourselves from the professional lives we've built for so long.
Hence, 60 percent of today's working moms see part-time work as the perfect balance. Make some bucks, stay in the game, and still have a little more time for family and household stuff. Too bad only a fraction of us can actually swing it. But that's another story.
OK, there's my theory. What's yours? I'm all ears.
Update: I've seen lots of articles written about this study, but just today I caught a Q&A on BusinessWeek's Working Parents blog that gives a good overview of part-time work for moms.
-- Ah, Reege. If I'm home on a weekday morning I always tune into Live with Regis and Kelly. My favorite part of the show is the first :15 minutes when Regis and Kelly chat it up. Well, now I never have to miss it because they're posting the daily "host chats" online.
--Ann-0ther Sale. You'll have to thank my friend Jodi for this sale alert: Check out the reduced prices at Ann Taylor Loft. They'll take another 40% off the sale price at checkout.
Susan's Finds
-- For the hipster baby set. Via Maya's Mom, I saw this post from Mamanista about Sandbox Threads--an adorable store full of ironic, funny, and just plain cool tees and onesies for babies and toddlers. You can emblazon Jon Stewart, Wonder Woman, or even catchy slogans like "My Mama's for Obama" on your lil' cutie. Extra bonus: This is a small business started by a stay-at-home dad! I love it. Shown here is the logo I want to put on a shirt for Cassie. She could totally be a Princess and a President, but that's for her to figure out later.
-- New TV shows on USA. We're smack in the middle of hiatus season on the major networks, so if you're jonesin' for some new TV like I am, check out USA this weekend. New seasons of Monk and Psych start tonight at 9. Both are very funny, so if you haven't seen them, I highly recommend checking them out.
Then on Sunday, you can watch the season premieres of The 4400 and The Dead Zone starting at 9. Neither was as good last season as in previous seasons, but there's always a chance they've improved with age. And Anthony Michael Hall is way cuter than in his Breakfast Club Days. As an aside, Monk fans also may enjoy this Modern Mom interview with Traylor Howard, who plays Natalie, Monk's personal assistant.
-- Coming soon, a wee little laptop with a wee little price tag. Now that my hubby's all into computers for his job, I get to find out about the "next big thing" in techy stuff. Working moms on the go will be very interested in the August launch of this new Asus EEE PC 701 notebook. This tiny laptop can do all the basics most people would need for work, and it only will cost $250! Now just about anyone can afford a laptop, even if your employer won't buy one for you.
O will be a year soon, and that means I've started my own final countdown--to the day when I can finally stop pumping at work. (Can't imagine Europe ever thought their song would be used to illustrate something like this.) When O turns one, I can finally pack away my dreaded pump--guilt free. I will have done my duty as a nursing mommy and nursed him for a full year.
I'm can't wait to be done. Done with interrupting my work day twice a day every day to go sit in a depressing room for 15 minutes. Done with trying to shuffle formal meetings so I don't miss a pumping session. Done with making up excuses to slip out of informal meetings. (I never wanted to announce that I'm going to pump--for some reason I'm slightly embarassed. Is that weird? I don't know.) Done with cleaning all my pumping accessories every night. Done with lugging my pump to and from work.
Can you tell I'm ready to be "done"? I am. But part of me wonders if I might have some regret or remorse about stopping pumping. Most women I know stopped because their supply was drying up or because their children were no longer interested in nursing. Not the case with me--I can still get lots of milk when I pump and O still loves to nurse.
I know I don't have to completely stop nursing when I stop pumping. And I don't think I will stop nursing. Not just yet. Maybe I'll just nurse in the mornings, maybe just the evenings--maybe morning and evening. Who knows? I'm not exactly sure what will happen--with my nursing sessions, milk supply, or my feelings. Will I be unable to nurse at all when I stop pumping? Will I be sad on the weekends when I can't nurse during the day? And forget about me. How will O take it all?
Guess I'll find out soon enough... Maybe I won't pack away that pump completely guilt-free after all.
Every season has its staples--foods and dishes you eat repeatedly because they're easy or comforting or just plain delicious. During the summer, my family staples include fresh tomatoes, sweet corn, strawberries, quacamole and pesto. We love pesto in particular because it's so simple and so versatile. You can serve it on pasta, put it on pizza, mix it into a salad dressing, eat it on veggies for a snack--even make it into a yummy party dip (see my recipe in our Ultimate Blog Party post from March).
Each year, my husband and I plant basil in pots on our back patio. These plants give us enough pungent leaves to keep us in pesto all summer and still share with friends. We almost always have garlic, olive oil and grated parmesan cheese handy. All we have to purchase is a package of pine nuts, and we're ready to go. There's no science to making good pesto--here's all you need:
Ingredients:
Fresh basil leaves
Olive oil
Garlic cloves
Pine nuts
Grated parmesan cheese
Instructions:
Put a generous handful of basil leaves into a food processor or blender.
Add a couple of cloves of garlic, less if you prefer a milder flavor.
Toss in a small handful of pine nuts.
Dump in some parmesan cheese.
Add several glugs of olive oil - less for drier pesto and more if you want a more liquid consistency.
Blend until the mixture turns into a paste.
Taste often and add more ingredients until you get the flavor and consistency you like.
Toss with cold pasta and veggies for a salad, mix into a cream sauce for a delicious hot pasta dish, spread on bread, use as a pizza sauce, use your imagination! If you make too much, freeze some in an airtight container. Then, during the winter, you can enjoy a little taste of summer again!
After a week at home with the fam, I returned to my daily working life today. All I can say is "YIKES!"
It was a crazy Monday with back-to-back meetings, a tsunami of emails, papers and packages piled up on my desk, and team members trying to catch me up. I didn't even get my lunch hour to enjoy a bite or a quick workout. I had a meeting. Another one.
I missed Cassie a lot today, more than usual. I got so used to being with her during the days last week. She's such a fun, happy little companion. I enjoyed watching all of her nuances, from the moment she woke up till her end-of-the-day wind-down (or meltdown, as the case may be).
Now it's time to go home and get my two hours in (if I'm lucky) before she hits the sack. Back to the world of working momhood!
You may recall my post from December asking you to show support for the Family Medical Leave Act. The Labor Department wanted public comment on this important law that legally allows us WMAGs to take off work when we have babies (what a concept!)
According to this July 5 post on the On Balance blog, the DOL has heard your comments--more than 15,000 of them. Now it plans to ... drumroll, please ... do nothing about them. The department did issue a 181-page report, though. That and a nickel will get you a hot cup of jack squat.
I'll be keeping an eye out to see if anything ever comes of this report. Maybe it will help get the proposed Balancing Act and Healthy Families Act passed? Or at least give the next president something to work on. Just 563 days to go ... but who's counting?
-- One man's trash is another man's treasure. This week my husband and I have been pretending we're on a TV show called, "Pimp My Play Set." Our neighbor gave us their old wooden play set for FREE, and we're in the process of fixing it up. Sure, we had to spend some money on wood-stain and new swings, but we probably saved ourselves at least $600. If hitting up neighbors for their old stuff isn't your style, check out FreeCycle.org. Find FreeCycle Groups around the globe with people wanting to give away old items like furniture, toys, building materials, and more. Reduce, reuse, recycle!
-- What will they ruin next? Although the Transformers movie is doing well at the box office, I'm still skeptical. It's just one other piece of childhood nostalgia that's been thrown on the big screen to bring in the big bucks. The Best Week Ever lists other movies like this. Check out their "Top Ten Movies that Ruined Our Childhood Memories" list. And now, I just discovered another one: Jason Lee will star in the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie... WTF?!?
-- Lucky number 7. What's on your schedule for tomorrow? Make it good, because tomorrow ( 7/07/07 ) might be the luckiest day EVER. I don't really have anything going on, except maybe some shopping. Maybe I'll get lucky with some great deals.
- Live Earth rocks out tomorrow night. If you've been off your e-leash for the past few weeks, perhaps you haven't heard about this. Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series taking place on 7/7/07 that will bring together more than 100 music artists and 2 billion people to trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis. I'll be watching it on MSN. Sure, the star-studded lineup is impressive. But what floors me is the mass media attention that's finally being paid to the climate crisis. It's about time, people!
- I think I need this book: The Three-Martini Family Vacation by Christie Mellor. This new release from Chronicle Books offers "firm-but-gentle advice for anxious parents" (that's me!) "on the joys and pitfalls of venturing out with your kids in tow." We're headed for Seattle and Portland in September, with little Cassie, too. Yikes! I'll need all the advice I can get.
Like most women, I've always had an affinity for bags and shoes. When I was pregnant, I saw a woman with a humongous, ugly diaper bag, and I swore to myself that my diaper bag would be cute--not huge, not ugly, not dumpy, but CUTE. Superficial? Maybe, but if it makes me happy, it makes me happy.
Anyway, my first diaper bag purchase was from Target. It was cute. Simple, black, and could be mistaken for a purse--just as long as no one looked inside and spotted the diapers, baby clothes, bibs, spit rags, and other miscellenaous baby things. It was inexpensive, too. Actually, I should call it cheap, because it was--both in price and in quality. It barely lasted six months of regular use before the lining started pulling away from the bag and stitching started to fray around the outside. My beloved Target bag started to come apart at the seams--literally--about three months ago. I've been on the search for a replacement bag ever since.
When we got the offer to review Kipling bags, I was excited. Surely a brand such as Kipling would have something cute and functional--and who could beat FREE? But, as you read in my review, the bag didn't quite live up to expectations.
As luck would have it, a few days after I decided I could not carry the Kipling bag anymore on daily outings, Kate Spade sent me an email about her sample sale. Ah Kate, always looking out for me. I clicked away and starting looking for diaper bags--surely a bag designer as well known as Kate would make a functional, cute, quality diaper bag. I quickly found one for a reasonable price--considering it was Kate Spade after all--and placed my order.
Again, I'm sorely dissapointed. The design of the bag kinda sucks. Again, it's cute, but the way the bag opens blows. It's hard to get anything into the bag. I often scrape my hand on the zipper. Finding things? Even more difficult. I have to squeeze my hand in the bag (to avoid any nasty zipper cuts) and blindly root around to find things. The bag just doesn't open up big enough for me to actually LOOK for what I'm searching for. Kate Spade, you let me down. I was hoping with use, the bag opening would loosen up and I could open it more easily--so far not so good.
So, I'm off on another diaper bag hunt. Please assure me, WMAGers, I can find a cute and functional bag that doesn't require me spending more than $100. Any suggestions out there? I'm desperate!
Happy Fourth of July, everybody! Susan passed along this yummy idea and recipe from Hungry Jack. Check it out!
This Fourth of July, declare your independence and pledge to prepare pancakes! Flapjacks, hotcakes, griddlecakes, silver dollars--whatever you cal them, pancakes are an American tradition. Especially on holiday mornings when family, friends, neighbors and even whole towns join together for a pancake breakfast.
Pull our your griddle and give your breakfast some festive red, white and blue. Hungry Jack pancake mixes and syrup will help you make the perfect breakfast every time, so you can enjoy yourself and not be stuck in the kitchen. Here's a festive, firecracker recipe to try. It's easy enough for the kids to help, but the presentation will impress even your toughest critic.
1. HEAT skillet over medium-high heat or electric griddle to 375 F. Spray with no-stick spray.
2. COMBINE pancake mix and water in medium bowl stirring just until large lumps disappear. Spoon 1 teaspoon batter onto hot griddle, cooking 1 minute on each side or until golden brown. Make 24 mini-pancakes. Spray inside of star cookie cutter with no-stick spray. Place on hot skillet. Fill with 1 tablespoon batter cooking for 2-1/2 minutes. Carefully remove cookie cutter; it will be hot. Turn star pancake. Cook until golden brown. Make 4 stars.
3. MIX blueberries with 1 teaspoon maple flavored syrup in a small bowl. Repeat with strawberries in a separate bowl. Whisk cinnamon into whipped topping. Place into corner of a resealable bag. Cut off small corner from bag. Layer 3 mini-pancakes in base of each parfait glass, layer with 1/4 cup of a fruit and whipped cream. Repeat. Decorate each parfait as you desire. Serve immediately.
4. FIRECRACKER PARFAIT: Top off parfait with whipped topping and place a 2-inch piece of red string licorice in center.
Log onto www.hungryjack.com to share how your family "stacks up." Share a pancake breakfast tradition, story, or red, white and blue toppings idea and receive a spoon or spatula.
In honor of our nation's birthday, I'm taking the week off. Because one day just isn't enough.
Seriously, though, I really need a vacation -- from my problems. Hey, it worked for Bob Wiley! Why wouldn't it work for me?
So this week, my girl and I are pretending to be stay-at-homers. At least for a few days. The theory is, if I don't have to spend 10 hours each day at the office, I can do other stuff. You know, cleaning, organizing, playing, running errands. All that exciting vacation stuff.
Today kicked off my vacation right. We had a lazy morning. The weather is gorgeous. After hitting the Big Kmart to check for toys on clearance (nothin' good), we meandered through the park. This afternoon, Cassie's napping and I'm catching up on my to-do list. Tonight, we'll have a nice dinner with Daddy and make plans for the week.
Maybe I'll send my problems a postcard: Glad You're Not Here!
I’m happy to say I just had a wonderful family vacation in Longboat Key, Florida. The trip couldn’t have come at a better time. I was so ready for some time off that I was even looking forward to the 15-hour car drive. Doesn’t matter if I had to deal with a 2- and 4-year old in the backseat—I was going to enjoy every single second away.
Although our condo complex had free wireless internet, I left my laptop behind. Taking a real vacation meant breaking away from the “e-leash,” a term I discovered in this CNN article: “How to quit working on vacation.” If I had packed my computer, I knew I’d be too tempted check email.
So what did I do with all my free time? We spent most days by the pool or on the beach. We went on bike rides, went kayaking, and played tennis. Also, I read two books—that’s a record for me!
Having more than a weekend to recharge really made a difference. In fact, here’s an interesting quote from the article:
“According to the Families and Work Institute, it takes up to three days to relax when you go on vacation and longer vacations (seven days or more) are associated with better psychological outcomes than shorter vacations.”
So do something good for “psychological outcome” and take a full week vacation. Even if you can’t get away, take the time off at home. Just make sure you lock up that computer!
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