tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620Tue, 21 May 2013 18:20:54 +0000Thoughts and Tips from One Mommy's Point of Viewhttp://www.mommyspointofview.com/noreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)Blogger342125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-1256912176009613694Tue, 21 May 2013 13:47:00 +00002013-05-21T09:47:21.164-04:00 A raging tornado ripped through the small town, Moore, in Oklahoma, and took the lives of too many people including both adults and children. As of this morning, 91 people have been killed by this twisting natural disaster, which also plowed right through an elementary school while it was in session.   My heart and prayers go out to the people of Moore for their losses and the families still http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/n_JpJK0jKPc/support-and-prayers-for-moore-oklahoma.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/n_JpJK0jKPc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/05/support-and-prayers-for-moore-oklahoma.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-6968465984010147148Mon, 20 May 2013 21:54:00 +00002013-05-20T17:54:29.213-04:00 A few years ago I learned of a disorder that I had never heard of called Marfan syndrome. A new colleague, at a job I was interviewing for at the time, mentioned to me that her daughter was sick with this disease. When I started the job a year later her daughter had since passed away due to complications of the disorder. As parents, we worry.  We worry a lot. That is what we do.   I can’thttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/tQsZzUZHdYE/marfan-syndrome-remembering-angelina.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/tQsZzUZHdYE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/05/marfan-syndrome-remembering-angelina.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-2620976370665130110Sun, 19 May 2013 13:49:00 +00002013-05-19T09:49:58.086-04:00 Today is now day eight of the longest ever fever that Sarah has had.  And, it's the taunting type looming between 99.4 to 101. Just when it goes down, it goes right back up.  She starts off low in the mornings and then the numbers climb throughout the day. So frustrating.   Being cooped up all day every day has been tough on all of us. Fortunately, Daniel and I both work from home so http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/h2kT_az-FUE/the-longest-fever.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/h2kT_az-FUE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/05/the-longest-fever.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-7606080909474718785Tue, 14 May 2013 16:43:00 +00002013-05-14T12:43:37.191-04:00 I was saddened to read today that Disney is looking to revise the image of Princess Merida from the Pixar animated film "Brave" to appear somewhat more voluptuous with more defined breasts, hips and curves. She doesn't look like a young girl anymore but instead a mature woman. Why the change? There was nothing wrong with Merida the way she was. I even loved that she was no nonsense and not http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/KIV85ubXWJU/help-to-prevent-brave-princess-merida.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/KIV85ubXWJU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/05/help-to-prevent-brave-princess-merida.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-4790373305780072708Mon, 13 May 2013 13:40:00 +00002013-05-13T09:40:43.934-04:00 With Sarah home sick this weekend with a low fever, she started to get cabin fever so I took her outdoors, just to the front of the house so she could get some fresh air and a cool breeze, away from anyone she could get sick, except me. As a result of being outdoors with her yesterday, with my allergies in overdrive this season, today I am really suffering. Unfortunately, my typical allergy http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/UVYYJmsybmU/mommy-suffering-allergies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/UVYYJmsybmU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/05/mommy-suffering-allergies.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-6002843609188012128Sun, 12 May 2013 02:52:00 +00002013-05-11T22:52:49.525-04:00 Photo credit:  my brother, Brian Wagner, on  his ride home from eveningMother's Day celebration  Being a mom is the greatest experience, and most challenging, of my life.  It has also been the most rewarding. Some people choose not to have children, and that is perfectly okay.  For me, it was without question something I wanted and needed to do.  I wanted so much to have a child who I could http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/bYol2z7C698/i-love-being-mom.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/bYol2z7C698" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/05/i-love-being-mom.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-6235549502259588857Sat, 11 May 2013 02:37:00 +00002013-05-10T22:37:57.439-04:00 Easy and fun arts and crafts project Last month Sarah and I went to the arts and crafts store Lakeshore and did an art project as part of their free weekend workshops. These free activities are a great way to expose kids to different mediums and ideas, and are a good excuse to do a fun activity that doesn't cost money. It is also a great way to find inspiration too for arts and crafts http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/0DXjzJ4EcH4/tissue-paper-wall-art.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/0DXjzJ4EcH4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/05/tissue-paper-wall-art.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-3056909161668872512Fri, 10 May 2013 02:23:00 +00002013-05-09T22:23:01.494-04:00Many of us think that it's better to get things done faster and; therefore, we often opt to just do a task ourselves to save on time and because our patience may be thin.  Sound familiar? We likely have experienced this in the workplace and also in our personal lives. When it comes to children it is indeed faster to help them do something but if we continue to do things for them, how will http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/m7sgZCu3hzA/teaching-kids-independence.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/m7sgZCu3hzA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/05/teaching-kids-independence.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-8160411696700891274Thu, 09 May 2013 05:04:00 +00002013-05-09T01:22:00.143-04:00  My heart stopped yesterday at 11:30 am when I got a phone call from my brother-in-law telling me that some of the schools in our area where my daughter goes to school were in lock down as a car with an empty gun holster with ammo was found on the back seat in plain sight. I got off the phone right away and called the director of Sarah's school to find out what was going on, and what http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/BOSOZCzIDDg/parent-fear-and-gun-control.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/BOSOZCzIDDg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/05/parent-fear-and-gun-control.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-8058357425886549476Wed, 08 May 2013 13:18:00 +00002013-05-08T09:18:48.661-04:00 Our very own Alex's Lemonade Stand run by Sarah Last month I decided to host a yard sale.  Anyone who has done one of these knows that it's a lot of work, and a commitment until the end.   Our yard sale was no exception. It was indeed work.   Daniel pretty much said every hour, "is it four o'clock yet?"  I called my sister, a yard sale veteran, several times saying that this was likely http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/LvR4ILZAANo/our-alexs-lemonade-stand.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/LvR4ILZAANo" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/05/our-alexs-lemonade-stand.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-3371965393807058033Tue, 07 May 2013 13:05:00 +00002013-05-07T09:05:20.693-04:00I am sure you are all done with my excuses on why I have not been writing here regularly.  Many, if not most of you, understand why because life does get in the way, that this is my "fun" thing to do when work and parenting aren't so crazy. Therefore, I am going to try an experiment. This week, I am going to try to blog everyday and step a bit away from the long and detailed posts and just http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/hXBA14R-wgo/writer-on-mission.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/hXBA14R-wgo" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/05/writer-on-mission.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-8520077043439861387Sun, 31 Mar 2013 14:27:00 +00002013-03-31T10:27:17.051-04:00 Sarah and I wanted to join in your Easter celebration by sharing this drawing she made and some specially made Haiku poetry to commemorate this important day for you and yours. A Happy Easter To all friends and family A time together Bunnies and egg hunts For all the kids to enjoy Tasty chocolate treats Jellybeans and treats A time for sweetness and joy Enjoy your Easter A sacrifice made http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/w2IraAaEklk/special-easter-treat.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/w2IraAaEklk" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/03/special-easter-treat.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-3780000935000165951Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:00:00 +00002013-02-28T16:53:16.923-05:00 Deborah Sittig, HPP Health Hero Being a parent is a tough job, as many of us know and experience first hand. We worry about our kids when they are little and as they get older, and even well into their adulthood. The reason: because being a parent never stops and that's what we do. We love our children to the point that it hurts. We want to protect them from harm’s way and to prevent them http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/aIxJASuRozA/deborah-sittig-mom-on-mission-for-hpp.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/aIxJASuRozA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/02/deborah-sittig-mom-on-mission-for-hpp.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-9066203706323471597Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:38:00 +00002013-02-14T09:38:13.586-05:00 I wanted to take this time to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day. Today is a day about love. It's not just about the relationships we are in with husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, fiances or partners. It is about the love that is all around us through friendships, family, pets, coaches, teachers and more. I know this all too well as there were many Valentine's Days past that I did http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/IrL-A3JiZ5U/celebrating-love.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/IrL-A3JiZ5U" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/02/celebrating-love.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-1997556805456088816Tue, 15 Jan 2013 03:17:00 +00002013-01-14T22:18:41.031-05:00Since my daughter was born, for the past five years, I primarily relied on Johnson's baby shampoo, which also doubles as soap, for bath time. I also used Target's version of the product to try to save some pennies especially in light of the news in August 2012 that Johnson's beloved tear-free shampoo was being recalled due to harsh chemicals in the products. Even more, these products sometimes http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/2xMifCPCBr0/way-to-go-suave-kids-3-in-1-bath-soap.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/2xMifCPCBr0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/01/way-to-go-suave-kids-3-in-1-bath-soap.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-8813113994571296598Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:48:00 +00002013-01-01T11:48:26.608-05:00Happy New Year to you and yours, and wishing you a peaceful, fun, happy and healthy new year that lies ahead.  In parent-speak, it's our "restart" to many new experiences and beginnings. Many thoughts ran through my head and on the screen on how I wanted to write this blog post today. I tried several different iterations until I got here. I decided that instead of listing out incredible http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/hLM339IY9-U/happy-new-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/hLM339IY9-U" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2013/01/happy-new-year.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-4231997624850864750Tue, 25 Dec 2012 14:40:00 +00002012-12-25T09:40:29.333-05:00To all of you who celebrate the Christmas holiday, here are some special poems to acknowledge this happy day for you and yours this festive season. Wishing you all love, peace, joy, happiness and good health. A Merry Christmas Filled with love, joy, happiness Time with family The trees are all lit With many a presents wrapped Smiles all around Happy Holidays Time with family and friends http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/tm6qCCGMLL8/merry-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/tm6qCCGMLL8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2012/12/merry-christmas.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-5088937494289149832Sat, 15 Dec 2012 15:09:00 +00002012-12-15T10:09:27.513-05:00On December 14 many of us hugged our children harder that we ever had, and likely more times than our children would allow, and with great emotion thankful to have them in our presence for just another day. Why? Because an unthinkable act of violence on young children and adults was taken, where words are incredibly difficult to express its magnitude and keeping our kids close was what was http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/50TnP05TivU/a-parents-worst-nightmare-tragedy-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/50TnP05TivU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2012/12/a-parents-worst-nightmare-tragedy-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-412465566281232449Sat, 15 Dec 2012 14:17:00 +00002012-12-15T09:17:21.707-05:00 Lit menorah at Philadelphia airport It has been a crazy couple of weeks with work and travel and I forgot to send a special holiday post out to you and yours around the Hanukkah holiday season. While traveling recently a smile was brought to my face when I saw at my home airport a lit menorah as a centerpiece. My apologies. Since tonight is the last night of the holiday, I feel I have some http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/XftyIKp-8iM/happy-hanukkah.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/XftyIKp-8iM" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2012/12/happy-hanukkah.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-7410152343274291542Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:09:00 +00002012-11-20T10:15:33.100-05:00 I have so much in my life to be thankful for. And, one good way to convey this is in the form of Haiku.  For this wordy mommy, I am taking a less is more approach (my husband's motto) to give my thanks to you and all those around me. Also, please enjoy a special turkey creation made by Sarah and her school mates.  Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you, my readers following mehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/S5ENNnlO55A/giving-thanks-haiku-style.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/S5ENNnlO55A" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2012/11/giving-thanks-haiku-style.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-5974453018279105643Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:38:00 +00002012-11-03T17:00:13.283-04:00Hurricane Sandy brought to the North East incredible devastation this past week. My heart goes out to each and every individual impacted by this tragedy including friends, family and strangers. Homes have been lost, power has been out, electricity has been non-functional, and ever more sad, many lives have been lost. Many of us have opened our homes to help others in need, gathered up http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/cXBxOESDiFA/how-to-help-post-hurricane-sandy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/cXBxOESDiFA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2012/11/how-to-help-post-hurricane-sandy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-8032288895818043649Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:14:00 +00002012-11-02T08:25:32.611-04:00For those of us that got on the Fifty Shades of Gray bandwagon, you know who you are.  There is nothing to be ashamed of.  It's okay to admit it.  I do.  It was a fast and easy (pun intended) series of reads that had us going. This week I was contacted by Role Mommy regarding a Blogger Book Club Campaign telling me of a book that is a parody of this summer read. My interest was piqued. The http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/p-2xNvPg2pM/my-wish-to-be-author.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/p-2xNvPg2pM" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2012/10/my-wish-to-be-author.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-176024500554499498Sun, 21 Oct 2012 13:06:00 +00002012-10-21T09:06:00.330-04:00Sarah has selective hearing and listening. Yesterday, while out with friends for a bike ride I realized that Sarah indeed is listening to what we say, including others, but she chooses not to act on what she is being told to do. So frustrating. It's not that she is not listening, it's that she is not behaving, and selectively choosing not to do what she is being asked to do. Again, so http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/Nmovc2vf3Bw/she-hears-me-but-chooses-to-misbehave.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/Nmovc2vf3Bw" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2012/10/she-hears-me-but-chooses-to-misbehave.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-8594327911361536150Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:21:00 +00002012-09-25T17:21:24.175-04:00 To all of you, my readers, who are Jewish and observe Yom Kippur, I want to take this moment to wish you a meaningful and easy fast. For this time of year, we are closest to G-d cleansing our souls, reflecting on life, remembering loved ones lost, and the millions of others who have perished in the Holocaust, including Jews and many others, to save us and provide us freedom. Now try explaininghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/V60at_rS2z0/yom-kippur-time-for-reflection.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/V60at_rS2z0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2012/09/yom-kippur-time-for-reflection.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869352170205026620.post-7177377632753611662Sun, 16 Sep 2012 13:59:00 +00002012-09-16T21:36:15.221-04:00To all of you who celebrate the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah -- L' Shanah Tovah.I wish you and your families a prosperous, happy, and healthy new year filled with renewal and forgiveness.The start of Rosh Hashanah is my favorite time of the year. It was this time nearly 15 years ago that I found a temple with amazing rabbi's and cantor's in New York City that opened me up to spiritual http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~3/kdYjzc0aq-U/happy-new-year-lshanah-tovah.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caren Begun)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/mommyspointofview/fHcZ/~4/kdYjzc0aq-U" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.mommyspointofview.com/2012/09/happy-new-year-lshanah-tovah.html