Settle in and grab the tissues for this beautiful guest post, courtesy of my hubby for Father’s Day

Panic: A Father’s Perspective

My wife and I waited 12 years for our first child. 12 years of marriage. 12 years of patiently waiting for children. That’s 4,380 days. 105,120 hours. That’s a long time—to wait, to hope, to continue to keep the faith. Well, we just celebrated 15 years of marriage and now have two beauties—whiz-bang and sleepy—Faith and Hope.

But before I tell you any more, let me tell you something I feel quite silly about. Before the glow of being told about our second being on the way dimmed, I began to really worry—would there be enough love for two? It sounds like a stupid thought to parents of children—but perhaps not to you parents of a child.

I was in a bit of a state of panic. I just couldn’t shake the worry. So for nearly eight months I lived with the concern—sharing it with my wife, the trees, some friends—whomever and whatever. I was seeking emotional equilibrium and harmony, and some validation that what I was feeling would pass and that indeed there would be enough room in my heart for two.

But it didn’t. Then it did.

It did on May 13, 2013 at 10:05 pm—that’s when my second daughter was born. Lily Hope. In an instant—no, a microsecond—a heart once made for one child suddenly swelled to make room for two. Instantly, at the sight of our second baby, I understood that love grows. How it grows I can’t say. Instantly? Yes. Love is exponential. It soars. I can see now that a lot of love we control but some love blossoms big, wide, expansive. The love of a father is different, complex, interesting. It can be a ship at sea. It can be a ship in harbor—brooding, swelling, endless, or content and anchored.

In hindsight I can now see I was worried about the wrong thing. As the dad, I should have been worried about all the money we would spend to accommodate this new bundle of love—car seats, clothes (for you moms out there it’s opposite seasons for our two girls), and even a new bigger stroller. Fortunately, my wife got a great sale on a stroller from Sears—with room for … three? No—two it is, I am told.

Papa and his girls!

With Father’s Day coming up in a few days, I’ve been reflecting on what a wonderful gift family really is—even when it was just husband and wife, or husband, wife and child, or now our growing brood. And I wouldn’t change a step in this marvelous journey. For that, I thank my beautiful wife and my two children.

Thanks to Sears Baby’s Room for encouraging Dad to share this month! I’m so touched by what he shared! I’m going to have to step up Father’s Day this year I think! Perhaps I’ll find something in store during Sears Days!

When: June 13th – 23rd inclusive
Where: Sears Canada locations and online at sears.ca – including brands
in The Baby’s Room
How: Spend $50 on June 13-16 or June 21-23 and get $10 in Sears Bucks to
spend on your next purchase (between June 24-27). See in store for more
details!

Disclosure: I am part of the Sears The Baby’s Room Ambassador program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

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Yes, I am that type of woman.  The kind that didn’t take out her pearl earrings when I went to bed at night for fear I’d go into labour without them.  Who made sure that I had a pretty watch to keep track of contractions in the tub.  Who wanted to wear anything but a standard hospital gown for the delivery of my second daughter.  You see, labour is hard enough already.  And yes, even quite unglamorous in certain ways (although my husband did say I was never more beautiful than when I was pushing!)  I actively planned to preserve as much dignity as possible.

I am also the type of girl who dislikes hospitals.  I realize that once in labour, a woman really doesn’t care where she is, but in the lead up to the big event I still was looking for ways to make my stay a little more homey, cozy even.  I have a beautiful hospital bag that my mum bought when we were expecting Poppet.  I packed it with as many home comforts I could think of (right down to plush toilet paper), and then went on the hunt for an alternative to the standard hospital gown.

Is There an Alternative?

I ran across a local entrepreneur, Julie from Dressed to Deliver, who specializes in beautiful birthing gowns.   I was thrilled when she agreed to a review of the Plumeria gown for our big day!  The second I touched the fabric,  I knew this was something different.  I packed it carefully in my hospital bag, and looked forward to the day I’d be wearing it in labour.

Well, labour came and went, a little unexpectedly.  With Poppet, we planned on a home birth, and ended up with an unexpected hospital birth.  This time around, we planned on hospital from the start, and ended up with an unexpected home birth.  Needless to say, the hospital bag never made an appearance.  I was pretty bummed about not being able to wear my gown.  So, the first chance I got, I put it on, and have pretty much living in it ever since!

What I Love!

The features of the design are perfect.  There is a supported empire waist bodice.  Since I was wearing this after the birth, for visitors and comfort, I loved that I didn’t have to double up with a nursing bra in order to be presentable!

There are snap closures in the front and back of the gown.  If I had an epidural or spinal, I wouldn’t have had to change.  And after the birth it was easy for the midwives to do uterus checks and massage through the front snap opening.

Skin-to-skin contact for me is essential.  It allows me to bond with baby, share my body heat, and helps to establish my milk supply.  Dressed to Deliver gowns have button straps that allow for easy nursing and skin-to-skin.

And the best part?  Besides being completely practical, Dressed to Deliver gowns are gorgeous!  The materials are super soft, easy to wash (Hello!  A MUST for giving birth!), and extremely comfortable.  (I did mention that I’ve been living in mine, right?)  They come in 9 different patterns/styles, so there’s something for every mom-to-be.

Did You See the Ingenious Babe Wrap?

In addition to my gown, I purchased a Babe Wrap.  The Babe Wrap is a light-weight sweater that has loopholes that can slide up Mum’s arm to use as a nursing cover.  It’s perfect for the cool spring evenings, but I love that it doesn’t look like a standard nursing cover.  I will be able to wear it long after my children have weaned – it really isn’t just for nursing mums!  I love my black one so much that I’ve just ordered the lavender as well.  Truly a brilliant design!

We love it when our sponsors are products we already love!  I received a beautiful Dressed to Deliver gown for review.

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This pretty much sums up her personality to a tee!

We are SUPER excited to share the newest addition to the Pardon My Poppet team!  It seems a lifetime ago that we posted the news we were expecting again.  It felt as if this day would never come!  It always amazes me how slowly the time can pass as you wait for your due date to arrive (and pass you by), and yet, she’s been here over a week and it seems like she was just born yesterday.  Allow me to indulge just a little, and take full advantage of sharing our pics with you!

She Got Right to Work

Girls Love Their Papa

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No, this is not a confession for my boss.  In fact, I was on a call with a brand when this actual, true to life event occurred.  It is my first experience with having a non-napping toddler around while I work from home.

Here I am on the call.  Mid conversation.  We’re about to end the discussion.  Poppet is outside, enjoying the beautiful weather!  the sliding door opens.  It takes me a moment to register what I’m seeing.

Into the room comes my 2 1/2 year-old toddler.  Fully.  Unashamedly.  Naked.  Her clothes, boots, socks, and any accessories, discarded outside for all to see her in her naked glory!  To say our backyard is not private would be an understatement.  We have a half-fence, backing on the neighbourhood play-ground.  Who knows how long she was out there living the free life!

She walked through the living room, went up the stairs, found a diaper and some clothes, came downstairs, lay down, and proceeded to try to diaper herself – backwards!  When that did not work as planned, the naked Poppet disappeared through the sliding door once again, into the bliss of the backyard.  Me – I may never recover!

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As moms finish spring cleaning, it’s time to toss out winter routines and prepare for summer. Now is the time to transition beauty habits and clothes and to prepare your vehicle and home for the heat and sun of summer. Keep your summer green with sustainable products that are beneficial for your health and have little impact on the environment.

Beauty

Sweat, water, sun and insect bites are common beauty problems in the summer. Not to mention running after giggling children! Luckily, in the 21st century, cosmetics are at the height of their evolution and can take on next to any problem— if you’ve got the cash. What could be better than a top-of-the-line beauty weapon that works? One that’s free of synthetic and toxic chemicals.

Fend off pests with Fartmastetic’s Tansynella Organic Bugscreen ($17) or All Terrain Herbal Armor Spray Insect Repellent from REI ($9). In the summer, it’s important to find makeup that repels moisture without smearing or blocking your pores.

Tarte’s Aqualillies for Tarte Amazonian clay waterproof eye and cheek palette ($38) and clay waterproof eyeliner ($24) are equipped with an array of complimentary summer colors. Koh Gen Do’s aqua foundation is light and packed with SPF 15 ($62).

Protect lips with Burt’s Bees! Their lip-care products are the best. The heat can drag a look down fast in the summer. Freshen up your look and keep products like oil blotch papers, dry shampoo, sun screen, body wipes and essential hair oil on hand at all times.

Your Car

Justify a splurge on new beauty products by being a responsible car owner and getting your vehicle checked-up and ready for the heat. Kids can cause a lot of damage to a vehicle’s interior over time. A thorough, routine clean once or twice a year is a good idea. Give it a detailed clean, check and possibly change the tires, coolant, washer fluid and oil. Check with the dealership you got the car before taking it somewhere else. Some dealerships, like this Nissan dealership in Peoria, offer discounted (or sometimes free) routine maintenance and check-ups.

Green mechanics are becoming increasingly popular. A quick Google search in your area will pull up shops with sustainable practices. Be sure to check the shop’s accreditation and to research the organization that provides certifications to see what their standards are. These organizations are usually state or city affiliated.

Your Clothes and Accessories

Summer isn’t quite summer without flip-flops and a new swim suit. Luckily for moms, the increased popularity in environmentally friendly products has led to lower-priced and easy-to-find clothing options. Most people don’t think of Whole Foods as a place to by clothing and accessories, but the market sells casual basics like shoes, shirts, dresses and accessories made from organic materials in businesses with sustainable practices. H&M’s new Conscious Collection offers a greener option to their clothing. Although the line isn’t completely sustainable, it’s better than most. It is inexpensive compared to the prices of most fashionable eco lines. For eco swimwear, Prana is a sustainable company with many eco-friendly activewear options.

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There are definite differences between how men and women communicate.  Need convincing?  Here goes….

It used to be that a husband would call some friends to let them know a new baby had been born.  If the man of the house answered the phone and passed on the call to his wife it usually went something like this:

“Matt and Sarah had their baby”

“What did they have?”

“A girl.”

How much did she weigh?”

“Didn’t say.”

“What’s her name?”

“I think…..Mary?….Maria?…..Marilou?”

You see, men tend to not pay attention to the little “insignificant” details.  They are really good at getting the big picture.  This comes in handy for the family’s financial planning, but not so good for the new baby deets.

So went a recent text conversation in our house.  Since we’re now full term, we’ve been trying to work out who will watch Poppet when the new baby comes.  If it’s the middle of the night, we thought we’d use a college friend who lives around the corner from us.  Only problem, he hadn’t yet been asked.   My husband decided to text him the other night to take care of it.

“If the baby comes in the middle of the night, can you come by and watch Poppet?”

“Is it time????????????  Of course!”

Can you see where this is going?  If a lady was asking another lady it probably would have gone something like this, “Now that I’m full term, if we were to go into labour in the middle of the night, would we be able to call you and have you come and watch Poppet?”

Sure, it’s not nearly as efficient.  It is not as data efficient.  It also will not throw my girlfriend into a sleepless night of half sleep listening for the phone to ring.  You see, it’s really an issue specifically with the digital age.  If my husband had been sitting in the same room with our friend, the context would have indicated that, indeed, I was not currently in labour.  What do you think?  Is communicating in the digital age a challenge, or has it improved our conversations?

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Last year we teamed up with an awesome group of bloggers to bring our readers a giveaway for the special guys in our lives! This year we are right back with them again. The main organizer is none other than the author of the best book about blogs. Make sure to get your own copy now!

This year’s giveaway has 3 CASH PRIZES!  That’s right!  You get to pick your own prize!  The more you enter, the greater your odds of winning.  Make sure to follow the Pardon My Poppet links to qualify!

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Yummmmmmmmm!    Ooey, gooey, creamy wine sauce over cheese ravioli.  This is comfort food at it’s finest!

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As busy parents, gadgets and technology make our lives a whole lot easier. But often the last thing we want to do when we need a new laptop, kitchen gadget or other shiny new toy is wander around a shopping centre, endlessly asking the same questions of sales assistants or lining up for hours in the checkout queue.

So how do you balance being a bit of a tech-nerd and a busy parent at the same time? Shop online, of course! There are a whole host of good reasons to shop online already, not to mention the added luxury of being able to shop in your pyjamas between making the kids breakfast and cleaning up the house. But here are a few more good reasons for busy parents to treat themselves to a bit of ‘e-tail therapy’.

Closely Compare Products and Features

Shopping online allows you to quickly compare many different items in similar categories, without having to actually physically examine every single model in person. Apple online is particularly handy with its product comparison feature, allowing you to compare different models of iMacs, MacBooks, iPods and iPhones literally side by side on your screen.

Read Reviews as You Shop

More and more online retailers now have a built-in reviews systems, which allow you to see what other people are saying about an item before you even think about clicking “add to cart”. This minimises the need to go to 50 different reviews websites just to check out the general consensus on an item, then a separate site again to purchase said product – saving you even more time and hassle.

Cheaper Prices

One of the biggest reasons people shop online these days is to save money, but you don’t necessarily even have to browse a foreign online store to find a bargain. Check for local retailers in your home country that offer special online discounts, coupons and deals for their products, especially if you’re buying more than one item. Buying two iPad minis for your kids, for example? Often you can get discounts or free add-ons for accessories like headphones, chargers or protective cases. Keep an eye on what particular deals a retailer is offering by signing up to their email newsletter or regularly viewing their online catalogues.

Range of Payment Methods

With a number of online retailers now offering a whole range of different payment methods, including credit card, debit card or PayPal, organising your finances and budgeting for your new purchases is easier than ever. Some retailers even offer a pay as you go option, which allows you to use the technology while you pay it off in monthly or weekly installments (often with little or no interest). Perfect for that pricey new laptop your kids need for school (which you’ve just realised starts in a week!)

Cheap Delivery

Having your favourite gadgets delivered to your doorstep is getting more and more affordable, as more online stores offer discounted or even free delivery, often with no minimum spend (we like the new $2 delivery option offered by The Good Guys). Just be sure to check the refund policy, and whether you’ll have to foot the cost of return delivery if an item doesn’t quite suit your needs. Some stores even allow you to pay online and pickup in store, which is perfect if you want to ensure there are no defects or problems with an item before taking it home.

Get New Products Before Anyone Else

If you’re a rather hardcore tech fan and quite often find yourself lusting after the latest and greatest gadget, lining up outside the store on launch day is one way to get your hands on it. But savvy online shoppers can save themselves the hassle by pre-ordering their technology online months in advance, and having it shipped out to them as soon as it’s available. You’ll be happy at home playing with your new gadget while other shoppers are braving a long cold night in line, or battling with other manic shoppers when the shop doors open.

Perfect for Gift Shopping

Come Christmas time, birthdays, Easter holidays or any other important time of the year, the last thing you can imagine yourself doing is bundling up the kids and braving the shops – especially not with the extra throngs of crazy holiday shoppers running around looking for last minute gifts. Save yourself some sanity and shop online for gift gadgets instead. Some e-tailers even offer services like personalised messages, gift wrapping and other extras to save you even more time. If they ship internationally, you can even have a gift delivered straight to a friend or relative that doesn’t live in the same country or state as you. Easy!

How do you juggle your gadget shopping with being a busy parent? Does shopping for technology online help you save time and money when you have little ones that take up a lot of your energy?

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It’s good to see that some things never change and according to an article in US News, teaching kids about the value of money is still as important today as it was when we were kids. In the article, Neale Godfrey, author of Money Still Doesn’t Grow on Trees: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Financially Responsible Children, suggests that parents should begin with the concept that money must be earned. The author said, “kids need to know that they can’t just whine for a toy in a store and automatically get it.”

Most parents will notice that children simply don’t understand the concept of money until they’re a bit older. So is there an idea age to teach your kids about money?

According to Parents.com, even a two year old can observe the exchanging of cash for goods. While they won’t understand the different values of the coins and paper money, they will see that you take money out of your purse and give it to the shop keeper. However, because money is often put into little mouths, it’s best to wait until they’re a bit older to start the whole conversation.

According to Thisismoney.co.uk it’s important for kids to understand the cost of what they want from around the age of eight years old. Child psychologist Dr Elizabeth Kilbey’s advises parents “for children aged between eight and 11, it’s your role to help them realise the value of what they want. Instead of getting them the latest Xbox game, tell them to find out how much it costs.  Then you can sit with them to work out how they will afford it. Rather than the pressure being on you  to find the money, your child becomes responsible.”

While some parents might feel intimidated to teach their kids about money, here are some fun ways to introduce the complex concepts surrounding our monetary systems.

Role play

Before kids reach the age of understanding and appreciating the value of money, you can start the ball rolling by teaching them how to play shops. Set up little shop stands for your children and lay out items they can ‘sell’ to their friends or ‘customers’. It can be decorative items or some tins from the larder.

You could use real money but it might get lost, as children don’t yet realise that money doesn’t simply come from your purse, it comes from your hard work. So perhaps create your own play money by raiding the Monopoly box or cutting out some fake currency.

Kids will enjoy scanning goods on pretend check outs and the role play they have observed the adults carrying out like taking money out of their little bag and waiting for the change.

Computer games

If there’s one thing kids love it’s computer games. So why not use this tool to your advantage and seek out some websites that teach kids about money and how it can be saved and spent.

Banking sights will be a reliable resource but they will also be branded, so if you want a less brand-oriented approach, visit www.moneyandstuff or www.childrensmoneyworld.com .

Go shopping

By taking your kids on the weekly grocery shop, you can actively show them how you can shop to save money. Teach them about generic brands and expensive items and then show them how much it costs to feed a family and explain how mum and dad work to earn money to buy the food.

Taking your child to the local shops to spend a portion of their pocket money is a fun way to help them learn the abstract value of money. When they have saved the money and then go through the process of selecting an item to buy, the whole concept becomes a lot more concrete. They will learn about value for money and figuring out what they really want to spend their savings on.

Earning pocket money, how work means pay

By giving your child chores to do around the house, they will learn that money is earned not simply got. But sometimes setting the chores can be more work for the parents. So choose jobs that the kids can do and generally enjoy like setting the table, watering the garden, feeding pets and collecting mail. It’s a good way to kick off the concept of work as a positive aspect of life. Of course there will be jobs like tidying their bedroom that might not be great fun, but an important step in learning that earning is not always fun but reaps rewards.

Saving techniques

Moneycrashers.com suggests that using different pots or jars is a better way to teach your kids about savings than a plain old money box.

Set up two different jars for long term goals and short term goals. This will help your child understand the concept that saving up for more expensive items will take longer, and it will also teach them the pleasure of saving up for less expensive items and being able to enjoy the fruits of their savings.

Keep in mind that the point of saving is to see your money grow, so instead of something novelty, why not just use clear glass jars with labels to store savings. That way kids can literally see their savings accumulate.

When things start to get serious, consider opening an account for your child. You can choose from an array of interest earning accounts or a basic account that they can keep track of their savings online.

By associating the concept of work and money with positive experiences, you will encourage your children to develop a healthy and positive attitude towards money.

Featured images:

•  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://photodune.net/licenses/regular

A lifestyle journalist from London, Kitty Hastings has years of experience writing about home economics, parenting, fashion and travel and how to balance your budget both inside and outside the house. She recommends Eccount Money , a leader in the field of companies specialising in helping people with debt. Kitty’s articles appear in a wide range of publications both in print and online – and she loves nothing more than relaxing with a cup of tea and a great book and adores anything vintage.

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