GCCN MOPS

Welcome to MomSense!

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:48:00 +0000

MomSense: Bold • Loving • Sensible – equips moms to embrace their mothering instincts and develop their own parenting style while navigating through the myriad of daily mom decisions. Most women wonder:

•How do I decide what to do when I really don’t know what to do?
•Should I trust my intuition?
•With so much available information, how do I discern what’s best?
•What are the most important family values?

Developing a mothering strategy is somewhat like playing a game — and this year’s theme is appropriately game related. Have fun being a mom! Playing games involves being bold and taking risks, loving those in the game with us and being sensible while figuring out what works and what doesn’t.

Just as in real-life, sometimes in games, unexpected, “chance” events occur, abruptly changing our paths. We must regroup and determine our next steps. Sometimes we follow the instructions of “experts.” Sometimes we follow the advice of trusted friends. Sometimes we decide our “house rules” work best for our family. Teaming together with other moms is a great strategy. Relying on a spouse or mentor can help us play more effectively. And, most of all, developing a strong God-Sense is essential for mothering. Growing as a mom through the analogy of game playing assures every mom gains confidence in her abilities as a mom.

Combining her mom intuition and her common sense helps a woman discover her own unique MomSense. (Mom Intuition + Common Sense = MomSense)

This year’s theme book, MomSense: A Common Sense Guide to Confident Mothering, delves further into the topic of finesse, one of the elements introduced in last year’s theme book. Finesse involves being the mom God intended you to be while intentionally loving your children and nurturing their growth. Topics addressed in the book include decision making, mom’s intuition and working through specific parenting dilemmas (“Mama Dramas”). MomSense reminds moms that they are the best mom for their kids and that they can develop contentment and confidence in their roles.

The spiritual foundation of the theme is from 2 Timothy 1:7. As you read the whole chapter, you see that Timothy had a strong mother and grandmother who nurtured his faith. Paul exhorts Timothy to use the gifts God has given him in a bold, loving and sensible way.

The Intentional Mom

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Fri, 06 May 2011 16:05:00 +0000

The Intentional Mom
written by Shaunti Feldhahn

As some of you know, I’m a busy analyst, author, and speaker – but much more importantly, I’m a wife to my husband, Jeff, and mom to two great kids ages 10 and 8. At least they are 10 and 8 for the moment. I feel like I’m going to wake up tomorrow and find two teenagers living in my house.

Many of you know exactly what I’m talking about. See if this also rings a bell: From the point when my kids were toddlers, I’ve had hundreds of women stop me in the grocery store or at my speaking events (since I often bring the kids with me) and say, “Oh, enjoy every moment of this phase while they are little: It goes so fast.”

It reminds me of something that happened when Jeff and I got married 16 years ago. What a day that was! After months of planning and dreaming and working long hours to get it all ready, the ceremony seemed to pass in a delightful blur and soon we were facing cheers from the crowd and being introduced as husband and wife. A few weeks later, Jeff mentioned seeing a particular couple who hadn’t been able to attend the reception, but was at the ceremony. I said, “Really? I don’t remember seeing them. But then, it all seemed to go so fast—I don’t remember much about the ceremony itself.”

Jeff smiled sideways. “I remember everything about the ceremony.”

I looked at him, surprised. He continued. “One of my groomsmen told me to enjoy every moment. He said it could either rush by quickly, or be soaked in. So I was purposeful about really enjoying every moment.”

Six years later, when our daughter was born, I started to hear echoes of those words from all the women who told me to enjoy the time because it goes so quickly. I found that every one of those women knew what they were talking about, with regard to the speed of time. So I figured that following their words of wisdom would be a good idea, too. So in these past 10 years I have soaked in every bit of delight that God wants to bring me in my kids. My awareness of every passing day is made all the more poignant by the fact that I’m a working, traveling, mom—and because there are times that I can’t bring them with me on the road, I know there are times when I am missing things. It makes me appreciate all the more the times that I do have and it gives me the desire to be extremely purposeful about enjoying them, instead of letting the days slip by and wondering where did the time go?

I’ve found it is so vital to be purposeful about our lives as moms, as wives (for those who are married), as workers (in whatever we do), and simply as women. Being purposeful and intentional doesn’t mean taking everything super-seriously, or reading every book on the shelf about parenting or marriage. But it does mean being aware of what will make us (and the people around us) thrive and live the abundant lives God desires for us. It does mean sometimes thinking about things we may not otherwise think about or realize in the busyness of life. It does mean being aware about what will ultimately bring glory to Him, and giving Him our lives to use as He wants. And thankfully, if we do that, He promises us grander adventures than we ever could have imagined.

This article originally appeared on MomLife Today, FamilyLife’s blog for moms.

August Retreat Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:37:00 +0000

Here are some pictures taken by Melissa Phillips at the MOPS Retreat on August 7th.

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 01:51:00 +0000

Normal day,

let me be aware of the treasure you are.

Let me learn from you,

love you,

bless you before you depart.

Let me not pass you by

in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

Let me hold you while I may,

for it may not always be so.

One day I shall dig my nails into the earth,

or bury my face in the pillow,

or stretch myself taut,

or raise my hands to the sky and want,

more than all the world, your return.

~Mary Jean Iron

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:57:00 +0000

Article from Columbus Parent Magazine (can find a paper copy at the library)

S plash Parks

Monday, July 26, 2010 06:00 AM
By Jane Hawes

Ballantrae Park
6350 Woerner Temple Rd., Dublin

Careful hunting for Ballantrae Park -- Google Maps will steer you off course. Once you find it -- at the northwest corner of Woerner Temple and Avery roads, south of Rte. 161 -- you'll enjoy this simple and beautiful splash park in the shadow of a giant mound with industrial-size bronze bunnies dancing on top of it (seriously).

Pros: It's completely handicapped accessible with 79 water jets shooting out of the flat, brushed-concrete splash pad and a rock wall of waterfalls. The lush green space is nice for picnics. Bathrooms (open dusk to dawn) are next to the parking lot -- a bit of hike but clean and well-ventilated.

Cons: There's no signage directing you to the parking lot from Woerner Temple Road. There are five small tables (with umbrellas) on the splash area's perimeter -- prime real estate with parents showing up in droves by 10 a.m. The rock wall has decent bone-breaking potential for unsupervised children, but the undulating water jets distract would-be mountaineers. There's no signal from the city's Wi-Fi service, but with little shade, you can't see a laptop screen anyway.

Village Green Park
47 Hall St., Powell

No problems finding this place next to Powell's village hall, and even better, it's within shouting distance of the Mean Bean Caffeine Lounge (22 S. Liberty St.) and Rita's Water Ice (50 S. Liberty St.).

Pros: Where do we start -- 11 full-size picnic tables, two water fountains with pet bowls, several large shade trees, free Wi-Fi service that works, nearby restrooms (open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.), a big Plaything, and a gadget-intensive splash area (shooting jets, spray tunnel, swiveling water gun and flipping buckets). The entire play area is surfaced with a bouncy rubberized mat. Added bonus: The train tracks 200 yards to the west. Long train + little kids = shrieks of delight.

Cons: We're digging deep to come up with something we didn't like about Village Green Park, but my son reported that with water flying in so many directions, it got in his eyes pretty easily and burned a little. Not enough to make him want to leave, but enough to make me wonder if goggles wouldn't make sense for a longer visit.

Any Strong-Willed Children?

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:07:00 +0000

How many of you who say you have at least one "strong-willed" child? I certainly do!

I have posted a few "Parenting Tips" from The National Center for Biblical Parenting on this blog before and I received another great one today that I thought I would pass along.

August 2, 2010
Strong-Willed Kids

Children who make decisions with intensity tend to be labeled “strong-willed.” At the end of the day, their parents feel as if they’ve been engaged in hand-to-hand combat—and that the child often wins at the parent’s expense! Most parents consider a strong will a negative personality trait because it often creates resistance and frustration in family life. Yet, in reality, it’s the strong-willed kids who are often better equipped to succeed, be creative, and face adversity.

Children with strong wills have the potential to become the next generation of leaders. They have their own ideas and plans. They know what they want. They’re persistent, confident, passionate, and determined to succeed at whatever they choose to do.

Leaders have an agenda, look for ways to incorporate others into their plans, and have a high need for control in life. Balanced with graciousness, leaders become a treasure because they make things happen, create organization out of chaos, and motivate people to action.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to raise a leader. These kids tend to have their own ways of doing things and like to tell other people (including their parents) what to do. A strong will keeps a child moving in a certain direction in spite of obstacles. Often these children need bigger barriers or tighter limits to teach them that those boundaries are firm.

Don’t be discouraged by the effort it takes to teach a strong-willed child which limits not to push. The strong-willed child accomplishes things in life, because the roadblocks that might hold others back are no match for this kid’s determination. Your job is to help him know the difference between obstacles to overcome and limits to live within.

A strong will can be an asset… as long as the heart is in the right place.

This parenting tip is from the book, Parenting is Heart Work by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

Welcome to Momology!

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 04:20:00 +0000

In 2010, MOPS invites you to join in the learning process as together we explore Momology: The Art and Science of Mothering.

Mothering is both art and science. It combines all of who we are to shape healthy, resilient kids. Mothering is so complex it requires both sides of our brain – not to mention our hands and feet, eyes and ears, mouth and (sniff, sniff) unfortunately, sometimes even our noses!

There's the scientific side of mothering where we develop a hypothesis based on certain principles, test that hypothesis in real-time, consider the results and decide what parts worked and what parts didn't. We keep refining our hypotheses until we find what works for us.

Intertwined with the scientific, mothering requires an artistry that shades with our personality, colors with our unique gifts, and blends past and current experiences.

MOPS International has identified four essential elements for successful outcomes with our kids.

Core is about knowing and growing ourselves. Understanding and working with our unique temperament, experiences, and emotions in a way that develops resilience. Research clearly shows that a mom with a strong, resilient core is more likely to raise a child with a strong, resilient core.

Finesse is about honing practical mothering skills—intentionally carrying out our daily responsibilities in ways that encourage growth and resilience in our kids.

Circle is about building relationships with neighbors, care-givers, extended family and, most importantly, with our husbands or for single moms, with a parenting partner.

Grandscape is about engaging with God and his unique purpose for our lives. Both secular and Christian research identifies faith in God as an essential element for successful mothering.

Through Momology, as we explore together, we'll be guided by an all-knowing, all-powerful, always-present God. Our theme verse for the year is:

Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139:10)

Anywhere we go, God sees, knows, and guides. So we can lead - and love - knowing God will get us through all the hard spots, all our decisions, all our roles, all our times we can't hold open our eyelids and the times we're bursting with joy. God's hand guides us as we guide our children. As we study Momology together to become better moms making a better world.

A great year on Planet Mom!

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Fri, 21 May 2010 02:23:00 +0000

Thank you to everyone who helped make our MOPS year on "Planet Mom" out of this world (I know, corny but I had to say it).

We wished our "graduates" well as they move out of the world of preschool and into the big world of elementary school. We will miss them but hope they came back to visit when they can.

Our graduates (left to right): Winnie, Lisa, Shelby and Julie.

Kiddie Kandids is Back!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Sat, 15 May 2010 13:50:00 +0000

Studios are Re-Opening!

"Kiddie Kandids is back and we can't wait to see your smile!"

"We're under new management of CPI Corp, an industry leader trusted by Moms for more than 60 years, with an innovative passion for capturing cherished childhood memories. Kiddie Kandids will be re-opening in a mall or Babies R Us store near you."

http://www.kiddiekandids.com/

Click HERE to find out when the studio in your area will be opening.

Free Movies at Star Cinemas in Grove City

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Thu, 06 May 2010 03:18:00 +0000

2010 Family Summer Morning Matinee Series

Enjoy your favorite movies on the big screen for FREE!!!
Every Wednesday and Thursday Morning at 10am. Doors open at 9am

Here is the list of movies and dates:

June 6 and 7 - Cloudy with the Chance of Meatballs PG

June 16 and 17 - Hotel for Dogs PG

June 23 and 24 - Curious George PG

June 30 and July 1 - Monsters vs, Aliens PG

July 7 and July 8 - Journey to the Center of the Earth PG

July 14 and 15 - Charlottes Web G

July 21 and 22 - Night at the Museum 2 PG

August 4 and 5 - Ice Age 3 PG

August 11 and 12 - Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 PG

August 18 and 19 - Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie G

Star Cinemas
2384 Stringtown Road
Grove City, OH 43123

Just minutes from I-71
Next to K-Mart

Showtime Line
614-539-8500

http://www.starcinemas-ohio.com/

Happy Hour at Starbucks is Coming Soon!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Wed, 05 May 2010 01:30:00 +0000

Between May 7 and May 16, enjoy a half-price Frappuccino® blended beverage at participating Starbucks in the afternoon – 3 to 5 p.m., to be exact.

Feel like getting a head start on happiness? You can create your own favorite Frappuccino® blended beverage right here, right now. Share it with your friends and invite them to meet you.

Click HERE for more details.

One per customer, U.S. & Canada stores only. Void where prohibited. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.

Recall of Some OTC Children's Medicine

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Tue, 04 May 2010 16:16:00 +0000

McNeil Consumer Healthcare and FDA are in the process of notifying healthcare professionals of a voluntary recall of certain over-the-counter (OTC) Children’s and Infants’ liquid products manufactured in the United States, including Tylenol Infants' Drops, Children's Tylenol suspensions, Children's Tylenol Plus suspensions. Motrin Infants' Drops, Childrens Motrin suspensions, Childrens Motrin Cold suspensions, Childrens Zyrtec Liquid in bottles, Chidlrens Benedryl Allergy Liquids in bottles. (Full list available here.) This is the second time in less than a year that McNeil has had to recall Tylenol products. Back in September of 2009, McNeil voluntarily recalled 21 of its children’s liquid Tylenol product, as an unused portion of one inactive ingredient did not meet all quality standards

According to the McNeil website, “McNeil Consumer Healthcare is initiating this voluntary recall because some of these products may not meet required quality standards. This recall is not being undertaken on the basis of adverse medical events…. Some of the products included in the recall may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified; others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles. While the potential for serious medical events is remote, the company advises consumers who have purchased these recalled products to discontinue use.”

These products were distributed in the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Dubai (UAE), Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, and Kuwait.

Meanwhile, McNeil Consumer Healthcare is conducting a comprehensive quality assessment across its manufacturing operations. They have identified corrective actions that will be implemented before new manufacturing is initiated.

Consumers can contact the company at 1-888-222-6036 and also at www.mcneilproductrecall.com.

Thank you, Thank you!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:59:00 +0000

I wanted to thank everyone who donated their unused bath and body products at our last MOPs meeting. I was able to put together a really nice basket full of useful items for each of the 3 women staying at Rachel's House.

Rachel's House "exists for previously incarcerated women to experience the love of God in a physically and emotionally safe environment, empowering them to establish healthy relationships with God, family and community". (click here to read more about the Rachel's House Ministry).

I delivered the gift baskets to the Lower Lights Ministries (they are a Compassionate Ministry Center of the Bellows Avenue Church of the Nazarene) office on Wednesday morning. Kristin Garrison, the program director for Rachel's House, was very grateful for the gifts.

These are the baskets I delivered on behalf of the Grove City Nazarene MOPs group.

The small sample bottles I put in this nice cosmetic bag for some additional supplies for the ministry.

Thanks again to everyone who donated!

1st Giveaway - WINNER!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:00:00 +0000

And the winner of the homemade dishmat is....................................

Stephanie Albert

Congratulations Stephanie! Email me and let me know the finished size you would like your dishmat and the colors that will match your kitchen!!!

1st Giveaway!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:20:00 +0000

Do any of you use plastic dishes? Maybe sippy cups, bottles, kids plates & bowls, tupperware {I call anything you store food in tupperware no matter what brand, I guess it's because I grew up in the 80's}.

Before I had kids the dishes were unloaded from the dishwasher to the cupboard where they belong. Ever since Caleb was born and we were washing his bottles through the dishwasher, I've had to lay a towel on the counter for the "plastic things" because they never come out dry. Then once they have air dried they get put away.

I came across this blog where she gives a great tutorial on how to make a cute dishmat {a bathmat for your dishes that don't come out of the dishwasher dry} for her counter. She used a bath towel or some sort of terry cloth for the bottom and then picked out 2 cotton fabric prints that match her kitchen.

I made one for my kitchen {although I cut it down from the size she made so it would fit better and looking at the pictures I think I could make it even a little smaller}.

Ta-Da {as my boys say when they finish something}

So now on to the GIVEAWAY......if you could use a dishmat like this in your kitchen please leave a "comment" on this blog posting. I will leave the comments open until Sunday night and then I will randomly select someone that has left a comment as the winner.

If you are select as the winner I will make you a dishmat. You will get to chose the finished size you would like for your dishmat and the colors for the fabrics so that it will match your kitchen!!

Pictures from April's Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 01:39:00 +0000

Here are the few pictures I took at our last meeting.

The Power of a Mother's Love

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:08:00 +0000

A mother's love needs to be given unconditionally to establish trust and a firm foundation of emotional intimacy in a child's life.

by Jill Savage

The back cover of Dr. Brenda Hunter's book The Power of Mother Love casts a vision for moms:

Mother love shapes cultures and individuals. While most mothers know that their love and emotional availability are vital to their children's well-being, many of us do not understand the profound and long-lasting impact we have in developing our young children's brains, teaching them first lessons of love, shaping their consciences … At a time when society urges women to seek their worth and personal fulfillment in things that take them away from their families and intimate bonds, Hunter invites women to come home — to their children, their best selves, their hearts.

You and I need to be willing to look inside our own experiences to identify any places we may still be affected by our relationship with our own mother. We can begin that journey by simply being willing to search our heart and better understand ourselves. Professional counseling may also be a valuable part of that process. Laura Ingalls Wilder said, "What is there in the attitude of your children toward yourself that you wish were different? Search your own heart and learn if your ways toward your own mother could be improved." This is important whether your mother is still living or not. You and I are deeply affected by our relationship with our mother and one of the most powerful gifts we can give to our children is our own emotional health. A first step you can take on this journey is reading The Mom I Want to Be by T. Suzanne Eller. This book is designed to help you rise above your past and give your kids a great future.

A child should never feel as if they need to earn a mother's love. This will leave a void in their heart all of their life. A mother's love needs to be given unconditionally to establish trust and a firm foundation of emotional intimacy in a child's life. If love is withheld, a child will look for it in a million other ways, sometimes throughout their lifetime unless they come to some sort of peace with their past. The emotional foundation we give our children at home is foundational to their life. We cannot underestimate the value of home and the power of mother love.

It's All About Influence
The profession of motherhood is all about influence. You and I have an incredible opportunity to influence the next generation by what we do as a mother every day. This is why intentionality is so important during the years that we raise our family. Be intentional about your own healing from life's hurts. Be intentional about taking care of yourself. Be intentional about investing in your marriage. Be intentional about parenting. Be intentional about homemaking. Intentionality increases influence, and influence is something God asks us to be intentional about. We cannot underestimate the power of mother love, the value of home and the significance of our intentional presence in the home.

Taken from: My Heart's at Home. Copyright © 2007 by Jill Savage. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

Recipe - "Eggs In Baskets"

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 22:32:00 +0000

Amy Wedig brought a delicious breakfast treat to our meeting today and she said several of you had asked for the recipe so we decided to post it on the blog to share with everyone.
(Unfortunately I didn't get to try any or take a picture)

Eggs in Baskets
Recipe courtesy Sunny Anderson, 2009

Serves: 6 servings.

Ingredients
•3 large russet potatoes, peeled
•1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
•Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
•Nonstick cooking spray
•6 slices prosciutto, about 2 1/2 ounces, chopped
•2 tablespoons maple syrup
•6 eggs
•3/4 cup shredded provolone

Directions
Special equipment: jumbo sized 6-cup muffin tin

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a food processor fitted with the grater attachment, push chunks of the potato through the chute to grate. Once all the potatoes are grated, put them into a piece of cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel and squeeze to remove the moisture. Add the potatoes to a large bowl, stir in the melted butter and season well with salt and pepper, to taste.

Spray the muffin tin lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Press the grated potatoes evenly into the muffin cups being sure the potatoes go up the sides and a thin layer and covers the bottom. Bake until the top edges turn light golden brown and the potatoes are cooked through, about 35 to 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl toss together the prosciutto with maple syrup and a few grinds of freshly ground black pepper. Set aside.

Remove the potatoes from the oven and gently crack an egg into each cup. Bake until the egg whites set but the yolk remains runny, about 6 to 8 minutes.

Remove from the oven and set the oven to broil. Top the eggs with grated cheese and put the maple prosciutto on another sheet tray. Broil both until cheese melts, and prosciutto crisps slightly, about 1 minute.

Top the eggs with crispy prosciutto and serve immediately.

Great for an 80 degree April Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:54:00 +0000

Doesn't this look delicious???

I hadn't tried the new McDonald's Frappe until today. When I saw the sign that said "enjoy a small Carmel or Mocha Frappe for only $1" I decided to take the leap.

I have to say that I don't buy coffee very often, but when I do I'm usually a Starbucks Frappuccino girl. I really didn't think I'd like the McDonald's version. I was wrong!!! It's definitely worth the $1 to try and I think I'll have to try a few more before I decided if it's worth the full price!

The promotion runs through April 18th!

Let me know if you again with my review!

Parenting Tip

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:46:00 +0000

What to Do When Kids Are Annoying

Dealing with annoying behavior is not like disciplining for defiance or teaching a child to follow instructions. When it comes to impulsivity, the child can't always make changes just by choosing something different. In many cases, kids don't realize that they're being annoying and they don't know what to do to be more appropriate.

Furthermore, these patterns often come from habits that have been practiced for a long time. These reasons are not excuses for inappropriate behavior but they're a further indication that the job will take concentrated effort from the child and the parents.

Part of the issue is immaturity; the child hasn't learned how to pick up on the social cues or restrain behavior as much as we'd like. But these children need more than just time to grow up. They need concentrated work to develop two character qualities: self-control and sensitivity. These qualities not only help children when they're young, but they become tools for success as children get older.

Here are some working definitions for sensitivity and self-control to get you started with your children in this area:

Self-control is the ability to control myself so that Mom and Dad don't have to.

Self-control means to think before I act.

Self-control is the ability to talk about problems instead of grabbing, pushing, or hitting.

Self-control means that I limit the noises I make when others are around.

Self-control means that I focus on one thing until it gets done, before I move to the next.

Sensitivity means that when I walk into a room I look and listen before I speak.

Sensitivity is thinking about how my actions are affecting other people.

Sensitivity means thinking about how I could help someone else.

Source: National Center for Biblical Parenting

This parenting tip comes from Chapter 7 in the book Good and Angry, Exchanging Frustration for Character In You and Your Kids by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN,BSN.

Taking Care of Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 01:22:00 +0000

We need to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of our family.
by Jill Savage

I sat on the Southwest Airlines airplane with Anne on a trip to visit a pen pal in California. As we were preparing to push away from the gate, the flight attendant gave emergency and safety information. "Should there be a change in pressure in the plane, an oxygen mask will drop down above your head. Please place the mask over your mouth and nose and breathe normally." She continued with, "If you are traveling with a small child, please put your mask on first and then help your child with their mask. Oh, and if you are traveling with two children … well … you'll just have to pick your favorite!" Everyone on the plane laughed at her attempt to put humor into an otherwise monotonous message.

I've thought about those instructions many times since that trip. Not the part about picking your favorite, but the part where she said, "If you are traveling with a small child, please put your mask on first and then help your child with their mask." She was imparting wisdom to parents who would otherwise rush to the aid of a child before taking care of themselves. The principle behind the instruction is this: The best thing for the child in the long run is to have a parent who can take care of them beyond the crisis that requires the air mask. In other words, we need to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of our family. I believe that is a message every mom needs to hear.

No one else can do a better job at self-care than you. You have to identify the challenges of your job and strategies you can do to manage those challenges. You also have to identify what best refuels you emotionally and physically to help you go the distance you need to as a mom. Here are some common challenges that drain moms and some strategies for managing those challenges.

Isolation
When I first became a mom I couldn't believe how isolated I felt. I longed for a connection with other moms. I wanted to know if my experiences were normal and I needed to be with other women who understood what my life was like.

My friend Julie invited me to be a part of her playgroup. I jumped at the chance and found the camaraderie I was looking for. These women were just like me! This was my first introduction to the concept of a moms group, something I've been committed to ever since. Moms groups, whether small, loosely organized play-groups or well-structured community or church groups, are vital to a mom and her need to be with other moms. Every mom needs a mothering community — a place where she finds encouragement in her role as a wife and a mother. A moms group is also a place a mom can be cared for. When my sister went on bed rest with her pregnancy, her moms group was part of a community of women who took care of her in that challenging season. Who mothers the mother? Other mothers.

If you don't have a moms group, find one or start one. If you are a mother of a preschooler, you might start by looking for a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group in your area. Go to www.mops.org, type in your zip code and you'll be given a list of groups near your home. If your kids are older or there isn't an established moms group in your area, you can start one of your own. You might want to pick up my book Creating the Moms Group You've Been Looking For at your local bookstore or at www.hearts-at-home.org to give you ideas and get you started in the right direction.

At the very least, start making an effort to spend time with other moms. Invite a mom and her kids over to play and visit. Ask a neighbor if she'd like to go out one night a week for pie and coffee. Be intentional about spending time with other women who understand what your life is like.

No Time Off
One of the biggest challenges of full-time motherhood is the fact that there's no lunch break, no vacation time and you don't get to leave the office at the end of the day. In time, I found that this left me feeling both trapped and depleted. It's the repetitive monotony of "mommy tasks" that leave us longing for "just a few hours to myself." Can Mom have some time off? Absolutely! What she has to do, though, is learn how to create it for herself.

Time off for me has looked different in different seasons of my mothering journey. What has been consistent has been my strategy to find it. I learned early on that no one was going to walk up to me and say, "Jill, I think you need a break." Instead, I had to learn to build breaks into my life, ask for them clearly and do whatever I could to make them happen.

When Anne and Evan were small, I attended an aerobics class three evenings a week. Asking Mark to cover the home front, I headed off for exercise, but even more than that I looked forward to the conversation each night. Most of the women enrolled in the class were moms, and our conversations before and after class were always encouraging.

When Erica was a baby, I longed to read the newspaper without interruption. That's when I asked Mark if he could give me 30 minutes each evening to read the newspaper in our bedroom. The time to myself was refueling. During that summer, I also asked Mark if one night of the week could be "Daddy night." He was agreeable to that, so after dinner each Thursday night, I would meet a friend for pie, shop or head to a park with a blanket and a book.

When Erica was a preschooler, a friend and I discovered that we could give each other days off. We chose Tuesday as our day — one Tuesday was my day off and the next Tuesday was her day off. Our kids loved the arrangement because once a week they were assured of a play day together. Sometimes I would use my day off to simply come home and sleep, other days I chose to go shopping or run errands, and almost every time I would do lunch with my husband.

When asked what she wanted for her birthday, my friend Julie told her husband she wanted him to get her a hotel room just for herself. He obliged. On her birthday she checked into a local hotel with scrapbooking supplies in tow. She enjoyed a night to herself, watched any movie she wanted on television and scrapbooked for hours. The next morning she woke up without the help of an alarm clock, had a leisurely morning and checked out at noon. She said it was one of the nicest birthday presents she ever received!

If you haven't had time for yourself, think about the activities that would refuel you. Once you've determined your strategy, do whatever you need to do to make it happen. It will almost always require the help of other people: a sitter, your spouse, your parents, a friend or a neighbor. The rewards are well worth the effort, however. You need it, and your family needs it too.

Very Little Sense of Accomplishment
Most homemaking tasks could be described as mundane and repetitive. It takes four hours to clean up a house and only four minutes for your kids to trash it. A load of laundry takes two hours to complete and a potty-training toddler can dirty half that load in a single day. Once a meal is finished and all the dishes are washed or tucked in the dishwasher, it's almost time to be thinking about the next meal. At night after everyone is in bed, a weary mother can wonder, "Did I accomplish anything today?"

By the world's standards, it might not seem as though we have accomplished much. However, the world's standards don't apply to the profession of motherhood. In this profession, the little things are the big things: snuggling an infant, playing peekaboo, changing diapers, nursing, giving a bottle, attending tea parties with dolls, driving trucks in the sandbox, playing catch in the backyard, having a snack on the porch, listening to the saga of a teenage breakup, picking up a sick child from school … the list goes on and on. These are the accomplishments of motherhood. They can't be checked off a list. They don't earn you a raise. They are rarely measurable. But they matter a lot.

You and I can't look for our sense of accomplishment on a daily basis. We have to look for it over the long haul … that's about 18 years or so. What I do today does matter, but it might not be noted or valued for a long time. A woman in the profession of mothering serves and cares for her family as an extension of her relationship with God: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these…you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). With that perspective, there are no menial tasks, there is much accomplishment and there is a higher sense of purpose. Understanding that perspective is the highest form of self-care there is.

Taken from: My Heart's at Home. Copyright © 2007 by Jill Savage. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

The Value of Stay-at-Home Moms

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:01:00 +0000

by Jill Savage

It was Rose Kennedy who said, "I looked on child rearing not only as a work of love and duty but as a profession that demanded the best that I could bring to it." Like Rose, I have found that indeed motherhood is a profession, and it certainly deserves the best I can bring to it.

What happens at home is central to a child's ability to function throughout his life. Home is where bonding takes place and a child learns to attach to relationships. When a child can attach, that means they learn to trust people. Learning to trust is essential for having healthy relationships throughout life.

Our adopted son, Kolya, lived in an orphanage for the first nine years of his life. While it appears that it was a good orphanage, as orphanages go, the reality is that group care is never the same as mothering care. Since Kolya became a part of our family, Mark and I have been intentional about helping him learn to trust. Because I couldn't snuggle him as a baby, I've worked to snuggle with him in other ways. Sometimes I rub his legs, arms, and back with lotion at bedtime, other times we snuggle on the couch watching TV. This child doesn't need quality time; he needs quantity time. He needs to know that we're there in the morning when he wakes up and there at night when he goes to bed. He needs to know we'll be there after school and at any sport or music event he participates in. Home is where he is learning to trust, to love, and to be loved.

Home is where a child learns who they are. Each of us is created uniquely by God. We have unique gifts, talents, and temperaments. Home is the place those are discovered and celebrated.

Home is where we learn whose we are. We're not designed to journey through life alone. God created us to have relationship with Him. The most effective place for us to learn that is not at church — it's at home!

Home serves as our base camp. It's where we rest our head every night. It's the place we find clean clothes and a warm meal. It's a place of protection from the world and all that it demands.

With all the diverse roles that home plays in our life, someone has to be on duty to stay true to the construction blueprint.

On a construction site, the site manager is an on-site leader. He or she is present every day to make sure plans are followed, jobs are completed, and people are doing what they need to do. The site manager and the general contractor regularly communicate in order to keep the construction plan on task and on time. They confer and strategize together, and then the manager oversees the on-site work.

There is so much diversity in what goes on at home that an on-site manager is desperately needed. Someone needs to have the time and energy to invest in each member of the family as well as manage all the different facets of home. That's the essence of the job description for Mom, the site manager.

Taken from: My Heart's at Home. Copyright © 2007 by Jill Savage. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

Easter Story Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:39:00 +0000

I came across this recipe last year. Unfortunately it was right after Easter. I've been looking forward to starting a tradition of making these cookies the night before Easter. I think it's a great addition to the Resurrection Eggs in teaching children what Jesus went through for us.

EASTER STORY COOKIES

These are to be made the evening before Easter Day (so on Easter Saturday evening!)

Ingredients:

1 c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Instructions:

Preheat Oven to 300 F. (Note: Do this first, don’t wait until you are half way done with the recipe!)

1) Place pecans in Ziploc bag and let your children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3.

2) Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.

Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.

3) Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.

Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11.

4) Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.

Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

5) So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 c. sugar.

Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us, He wants us to know that and He wants us to love Him as well.
Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16.

6)Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.

Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

7)Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.

Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.
Read Matthew 27:57-60.

8)Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.

Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.
Read Matthew 27:65-66.

IT'S TIME TO GO TO BED!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Sunday morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On Resurrection morning, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matthew 28:1-9.

THE LORD JESUS HAS RISEN!!! HE IS ALIVE!!

Free Samples!

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:53:00 +0000

Who doesn't like free samples???

The Walmart website has a section to request free samples of products. They change the products regularly so make sure you check back to request new samples.

http://instoresnow.walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples.aspx

Another option is to sign up to receive an email newsletter from freegrabber.com and it will tell you about when new samples are available.

http://www.freegrabber.com/

I want to thank April Litman for sending me this information to post on the Blog!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

The Conscience Needs Training

noreply@blogger.com (Cynthia) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:10:00 +0000

I received this email Parenting Tip from Biblical Parenting and thought I'd pass it along. I don't know about you but I'm willing to take any suggestions I can when it come to parenting. It's definitely not an easy job!!!

Parenting Tip
February 22, 2010

The Conscience Needs Training

In 1 Corinthians 4:4 Paul says, “My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t make me innocent.” The reality is that just because the conscience prompts a person, doesn’t mean that it’s right. Children need to be careful to obey God first in everything they do.

The conscience looks for convictions in order to prompt a person to do what’s right. Most children already have convictions, but many of those convictions are inappropriate or need some adjustment. For example, some children believe that if they're playing with a video game and Mom asks them to do something, they should be able to wait until they get to the next level to obey. Your daughter may believe that she has the right to hit her annoying brother. After all, he deserves it.

You have convictions and part of your God-given responsibility is to pass those convictions on to your child. One of the greatest ways to do that is by analyzing your family rules. Each rule, whether it’s written down or just understood, has a conviction behind it.

Spend some time evaluating the convictions behind your rules and then talking with your kids about them.

Children may be tempted to rebel against rules but sharing them as convictions makes them easier to accept. “Son, we don’t allow that kind of movie in our home. The reason is because we have a conviction that what goes into our minds affects our hearts. We’re Christians. That’s who we are and this movie isn’t consistent with the conviction we have. So, we have to say no. I’m sorry.”

As much as possible, tie your convictions to God’s Word. After all, you can’t let your conscience be your guide. It’s the scriptures that are our authority in life. The determining factor as to whether something is right or wrong rests on the authority of God’s Word.