The Momnificent™ Blog

Supermom Thought She Didn't Need The Momnificent! Life

2009-11-12T05:59:02-06:00

Every mom should read this book!!!! Speaking for myself, I tend to prefer to do it all. I know it will be done the way I want it and I don’t have to teach anyone how to do it. Then go behind them to do it my way anyway.

Anyone else like this?

A control must have it done right now mom. Yes, that’s me.

I put the weight of the world on my slender shoulders.

I started to read Lori Radun’s book a few weeks ago. Between being Supermom, having flu kids and such.

This book was made for me. I hate to admit this but at first I thought this book didn’t pertain to me and my life. I am a confident woman with the perfect husband, great kids and the house with the white picket fence. Okay, we don’t actually have a white picket fence but you get the drift.

Boy was I wrong about not needing this book. After chapter one I was hooked.

Read the whole review of The Momnificent Life on Supermom Reviews

Avoid the Holiday Stress this Year

2009-11-10T09:00:00-06:00

If you’re starting to feel the pressure of purchasing the perfect gifts while throwing the most amazing dinner or just how you are going to get your family packed and off to visit the relatives during the worst traffic or most congested airports, you are not alone. Life in my household is about to hit 100MPH and there’s no looking back (at least not until I finish the photo album sometime around March). As I brace myself for warp speed ahead, Life Coach Lori Radun of Momnificent gave Breezy Mama her tips for keeping chill during the time of Frosty and friends. Plus, comedian Valerie Peterson’s solutions.

Read 5 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress and enter to win an autographed copy of Valerie Peterson's Holiday Helper book.

Being a Mom Entrepreneur Brings out the Best and Worst

2009-11-09T04:56:30-06:00

I just got back from sunny Las Vegas - attending Ali Brown's SHINE event. Wow! It was a roller coaster of experiences and emotions, all designed to help women entrepreneurs grow their businesses. I laughed. I cried. I was inspired. I was discouraged. I was confused. I had amazing clarity. I had confidence. I shrunk back and failed to make myself visible. I met some wonderful women that had amazing positive energy. I even met a few whose energy I wasn't attracted to. Being a mom entrepreneur can bring up all our stuff - wonderful and yucky!

Being a mom does much the same thing. Motherhood happens to bring out the best and worst in us. It challenges us to rise up and face the challenges in front of us. Sometimes we want to meet life head on, and other times we don't. We all experience the same roller coaster of emotions that I went through this weekend, simply because we're human, and mostly because this is life.

I had an amazing opportunity to hear some beautiful and courageous women speak this weekend.

Ali Brown - Multi-millionaire dollar woman business owner
Barbara Corcoran - Brooklyn babe from ABC's Shark Tank
Marlee Matlin - Deaf Academy Award Winning Actress from Children of a Lesser God
Julie Clark - founder of the Baby Einstein Company
Anne McKevitt - Billion dollar business owner

And you know what? As successful as they all are, they are no different than us. They struggle, feel fear, overcome obstacles and face life everyday with challenges and opportunities. They were down to earth, willing to share their gifts, and inspire women to step up and be who they are capable of being.

What about you? How will you use your gifts and life challenges to step into your own personal power?

Here are some pictures from the SHINE event!

Just two wonderful women I met

My new friends and mom coaches from Canada, Australia, and United Kingdom.

Marlee Matlin - mother of 4 children!

Me with my book and 2010 SHINE business plan.

Ali Brown - amazing woman and business coach

The Entitlement Trap

2009-11-03T09:22:04-06:00

The other day my husband saw a kid about 8 or 9 years old with a cell phone. I was shocked, but I wasn't. This is a new generation of kids we are raising - a generation that feels entitled to the privileges in life. With all the techy gadgets available to young kids today and the "it's all about me" attitudes in schools, it's becoming more challenging for families to avoid the entitlement trap.

The entitlement trap, however, is not healthy for kids because when they get out into the real world on their own, they will be in for a rude awakening. Employers will expect them to work hard and serve the needs of the company. Keeping up with the Joneses costs money, and most young adults starting out don't have a lot of disposable income. Not to mention, a narcissistic approach to life doesn't normally fare well in relationships. So here are some ideas to practice at home to avoid falling into the entitlement trap with your children.

Make sure your children understand the difference between a "right" and a "privilege". A cell phone, a television in their room, an Xbox 360 are all privileges. These things are not given to children automatically, but are luxuries that are earned through responsible behavior and hard work. A child has the "right" to clothing (not designer clothing), food, a place to sleep, and love. These are all basic necessities that children need, and should be entitled to. Children sometimes confuse "rights" and "privileges", and it's our job as parents to educate them.
Help your children develop a strong work ethic. I am thankful my mother made me do chores, and my father put me to work at age 14 because today I am a hard worker. Get your children involved in chores from an early age. Make sure they understand that helping out around the house is expected of them because they belong to the family. Stress the value of doing a good job in school, and giving their best in whatever they do. No hard work and responsibility - no privileges. When they are legally able to work, encourage them to find a job. Pass on some financial responsibility to them so they learn to depend on themselves and not on you. You love your kids, but you don't want them living with you forever. (smiles)
Develop a balanced character in your child - one that is able to take care of himself but also cares about the needs of others. It is okay if a child feels the frustration of not always getting her way. Being a part of a family, or being in relationship with each other requires each person to give and take. Help your child develop empathy so she can be sensitive to other people's feelings. Get your children involved in community service of some kind so they can experience the fulfillment that comes from meeting other people's needs. Make sure your children know you have needs too as a mom, and it is okay for you to take care of you.

The coolest kids in the world are the ones that are respectful and care about other people, have gratitude for the simplicities in life, and take pride in working hard and giving their best to life. These kids have avoided the entitlement trap.

Momnificent! Weekly Tips and Quotes

2009-11-01T08:00:00-06:00

Every week I give you a daily tip and quote on Facebook and Twitter. In case you missed them, or you are not following me on Facebook or Twitter, here they are:

Momnificent! Tips of the Day

10/26 – Surround yourself with positive people. Their energy is contagious!

10/27 - In what area do your children need to be more independent? Let go and allow healthy struggle.

10/28 - Do you have a vision for your life 1 yr., 3 yrs. or 5 yrs. from today? Write down your vision and begin creating it.

10/29 – Do you think in terms of absolutes? Right vs. Wrong? Good vs. Bad? All or Nothing? Train your mind to see the grey.

10/30 – Spend some one on one time with each of your children this weekend. Make them feel special.

Quotes from The Momnificent! Life

10/26 - "Differences in parenting styles and philosophies are normal - learn from one another and always strive to be the best parent you can."

10/27 - "Balance in our lives enables us to make choices that are right for us - for the right reasons".

10/28 - "It takes a disciplined mindset to make lasting change".

10/29 - "Sometimes, without even realizing it, we can get caught up in habits that have a big impact on our time".

10/30 - "Children learn from us how to treat themselves and others in the context of relationships".

Laughter is Contagious

2009-10-31T08:00:00-05:00

A very cool thing happened to my son Ian and me. I was sitting on his playroom floor, helping him make a Lego house, while also browsing through the Simple Truths Holiday Gifts catalog. I actually love their books and movies, and normally buy my private coaching clients one of their books every year. As I turned the pages, I ran across a book called "Laughter is an Instant Vacation". The sales caption read "You Need 12 Laughs a Day to Stay Healthy". Wanting to be healthy, I looked at my son and belted out a make believe laugh and said "That's one!". To be sure I met my 12 laughs a day, I laughed again and said "That's 2!". By about the 3rd or 4th make believe laugh, the laughter became contagious. My son and I were suddenly feeding off each other's real laughter. The harder he laughed, the funnier it was to me, and the harder I laughed. We were laughing so hard at absolutely nothing, except each other, that we had tears in our eyes. Today, we are definitely healthy because we laughed more than 12 times!

Here is the Laughter is an Instant Vacation movie for you to enjoy!

Now, this baby knows how to be healthy! Make sure you laugh today!

How Do We Teach Children to be Respectful?

2009-10-30T17:02:43-05:00

The short answer is "model it". One of the values that we emphasize in Tae Kwon Do is "respect". We're not just learning that children should respect adults, but that everyone should be respectful to all people. When we walk into the dojang, we bow, shake hands and say "How are you sir?" to our master and to all fellow Tae Kwon Do family members.

Many of the parents that sign their children up for Tae Kwon Do are wanting their children to learn the value of respect. Sometimes I look around and I see a mixture of kids - some kids that are very respectful and follow all the rules, and others that push the limits and treat others with disrespect.

The other night I watched an older child making ugly faces and throat slashing gestures to my son while he wasn't looking. Now my son is by no means perfect, and he too can act disrespectfully sometimes, but I began to wonder if there was some magical formula for teaching kids respect.

Unfortunately, it's a fairly deep issue and largely stems from how we treat our children. According to Pam Leo from Connection Parenting, she says "children imitate parents, family members, friends, caregivers, teachers and television". Yikes! That's a lot of models our children see. So, if we want our children to be more respectful, we must start with who they are imitating.

If this is true, and I believe it is, here are some quick tips you can use to begin making sure your children have positive models for respect:

Nix the attitude that we can misuse our authority with children because we are the parents.
Pay attention to the tone of voice you use when you speak to your children - is it respectful?
Watch how you speak to your spouse.
Refrain from belittling, demeaning, embarrassing or humilating your child.
Apologize to your child if you act disrespectfully.
Make sure your child is keeping company with respectful friends.
Watch the television shows your child is watching - how are the characters acting?
Choose the right caregivers for your children.
Take as many teaching moments as you can to talk to your child about respect.
Earn your child's respect - not demand it.

What do you do to help your children learn to be respectful?

Announcing the Winners of Zing Zang Zoom Circus Tickets

2009-10-26T14:24:37-05:00

Two lucky families are going to see the opening night of Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey's Zing Zang Zoom circus! A few weeks ago, Momnificent! ran a contest to give away four circus tickets to two lucky families in the Chicagoland area. The contest ended last night and the two lucky winners have been selected:

Lucky Mom #1 - Karen Cryder

Lucky Mom #2 - Lisa Sobecki

Karen and Lisa receive four free tickets to see the circus at either of the two opening nights. All other families can still receive the special discounted price of $11 each by using the code "MOM" when ordering tickets from Ticketmaster.

List of Circus Show Times and Locations

Lori Radun's The Momnificent! Life Among Best Books of 2009

2009-10-26T14:05:25-05:00

USA Book News Amplifies an Inspirational Voice

by Heather McCutcheon

 Lori Radun, beloved Mom Coach, inspirational speaker and now acclaimed author, is a prolific instrument of positive change. Her timeless and universal wisdom has been brought to the attention of women across the country thanks to the USA Book News’ 6^th Annual National “Best Books” Awards (NBBA). Radun’s first book, The Momnificent! Life — Healthy and Balanced Living for Busy Moms, has been named an Award-Winning Finalist in the parenting category by the premiere online magazine and review Web site for mainstream and independent publishing houses. The recognition stands to benefit families from coast to coast as Radun’s important and purposeful work gains momentum.

To date Radun’s influence has been primarily limited to the Chicagoland area, where she’s become something of a guru for moms trying to balance parenting, work, relationships, money, spirituality and life’s daily challenges with practicality and grace. In these times of turbulent change, Radun’s message has been a Godsend for many. To anyone in her actual or virtual circle of influence, she’s a source of constant support and positive perspective.

Radun has applied her creativity and vision to reach all moms, regardless of their budget or readiness for change, so no one is excluded. Those seeking ongoing inspiration and advice can access Radun’s blog, Facebook or Twitter accounts, and free Momnificent! newsletter via her Web site, www.momnificent.com. For those wanting more customized guidance, group and individual coaching sessions are available on the phone or in person. Radun established Momnificent! University for moms seeking structure in their growth process, and in the final months of 2009, the launch of the Momnificent! Mom Club will bring women together to navigate their shared challenges in a supportive community of like-minded moms.

USABookNews.com announced the winners and finalists of NBBA on October 20, 2009. Over 500 winners and finalists were announced in over 140 categories covering print and audio books. Awards were presented for titles published in 2009 and late 2008 from a wide array of publishers throughout the United States.

Momnificent! Weekly Tips and Quotes

2009-10-25T08:50:28-05:00

Every week I give you a daily tip and quote on Facebook and Twitter. In case you missed them, or you are not following me on Facebook or Twitter, here they are:

Momnificent! Tips of the Day

10/19 – Go out of your way to be kind to people you don't know this week. Make it a goal to make people smile.

10/20 – Work at ceasing multi-tasking. Instead focus on one task at a time until it is completed.

10/21 - What are you doing to protect your health? Think sleep, healthy eating, exercise, flu shot, vitamins, etc.

10/22 – When your child's anger or frustration flares, be the one in control and remain calm.

10/23 - Worry does not solve problems. Replace worry with seeking solutions, taking action and having faith.

Quotes from The Momnificent! Life

10/19 - "Responding instead of reacting gives you the space in your mind to generate solutions, pick the best one, and stay calm and centered under pressure".

10/20 - "We must recognize and manage our internal conflicts so we can experience peace of mind".

10/21 - "Watch your emotional barometer and keep the storms from clouding your life".

10/22 - "But I would argue with anyone who tries to say motherhood is not a profession."

10/23 – “Identifying your gifts and talents enables you to answer the question, “What will you do or who will you be to make a difference in the lives of other people?”