Moming Archives - Live Within Your Meaning

A Simple Way to Fight Stress

Keeping stress levels down in these modern lives of ours can be tricky. Technology has created a world where we’re expected to be within reach at all times. We’re always on the clock. The work culture in America also seems to discourage taking time off – so much so, that taking a vacation or a sick day can actually make you more stressed out.

In our personal lives, the standards of parenting sure seem a lot harsher than what I grew up with. As far as I remember, my childhood filled with hours upon hours of TV, sugary “juice” drinks and Kraft macaroni and cheese was a lot of fun. I survived.

My point is, there is so much pressure to give more and to be better, both at home and at work. When we internalize those external pressures, it’s easy to find yourself rundown by stress.

Miscarriage and Picking Up the Pieces

“It feels like a toddler has rampaged on the LEGO structure of our lives.”

That’s what I just texted my husband, trying to explain how utterly destroyed everything feels right now.

Losing a pregnancy is obviously devastating. Physically, mentally, and financially, living through a miscarriage can be incredibly challenging. It hurts in a lot of ways I didn’t see coming. How do we move forward?

Potty Time! Excellent?

Potty training is a long and challenging endeavor. My son is 28 months old, and I had the feeling there wasn’t ever going to be a perfect time to do this.

When I was given a couple days off work, I decided to commit. I canceled my fun weekend plans and chose to spend that time solely focused on the bodily eliminations of the tiny human who lives in my house.

Every parent who has been through potty training has strong opinions. I received a lot of unsolicited advice (my favorite). As with most things, different approaches work for different kids. Here’s what has worked and here is what hasn’t – by all means, take it or leave it.

Trying to Conceive: Five Reasons The Second Time is Worse

As I mentioned in my post, The Terrifying Prospect of Having Another Baby, my family is at a pivotal juncture. For so many reasons, trying to conceive for a second time has been a stick of emotional dynamite.

No doubt, dads experience some of this too, but honestly I’m writing this for my ladies out there. To the moms trying to conceive, I’m right here with you in crazy town. To anyone struggling with fertility issues, I can’t even begin to comprehend your strength.

Personally, it has been relatively easy for my to get pregnant in the past. I’m very lucky. That said, here are some reasons why even when it’s “easy,” it isn’t easy.

The Unglamorous Truth About Self-Care

What if taking care of yourself isn’t all bubble baths and meditation? Self-care is a very popular concept at the moment. Like mindfulness and healthy living, renewed interest in these topics doesn’t mean these ideas are particularly new.

Our desire to be happy and healthy is obvious. There’s always a new diet, face cream, or workout to try. The idea of self-care certainly appeals to me as a mother. I often feel like I don’t have any time for myself. This turns me into a cranky asshole, which makes me feel like a bad mom, which then turns me into a very sad sack.

Pedicures and date nights would be amazing, but moms don’t have much time to focus on ourselves. Childcare is expensive. Time is valuable. Maybe practical self-care looks more like being a good mother to yourself?

Experiments in Moderation

Does anyone out there do this well? Are there really people with an abundance of self-control? Are there people who can drink in moderation, eat in moderation, and even bitch in moderation? How do they do it? Aren’t these things life’s pleasures? They’re even more fun when you combine them all.

My lack of self-control is usually wine-centered. A glass or two at the end of the day sure hits the spot however, I’ve also seen the dark side of boozing far too many times in my life.

We want to to be genuine, we want to have integrity, and we want our behavior to line up with our beliefs. Maybe most of all, we want to feel in control of our own lives, to whatever extent that is possible.

Almost four months ago, I decided to try moderation for the first time. Here is what I learned…

Picky Toddler Problem Solving

As a child, I was an extremely picky eater. My sister was also very picky. I remember my mother often making three separate dinners: one for me, one for my sister, one for my dad. Sometimes she wouldn’t even eat any of the three diners that she prepared.

This is obviously bananas.

I also know from personal experience, as a kid and a mom, that forcing your child to clean their plate seems to just lead to more stress and power struggles.

How do we, as modern parents, fix the picky problem?

The Terrifying Prospect of Having Another Baby

Things are good lately. My son will be two in April and he has turned into such a little kid – baby no more! He is learning so quickly. You can usually find him engaged a stream of consciousness discourse about the things he cares about. For example, that burning question: “The moon where go?” That one comes up a lot.

So yeah, he’s really cute. He’s still very much a toddler. My son needs a lot of supervision, patience, and guidance, but it’s getting easier. He only poops couple times a day, he can communicate his needs, he has most of his teeth (thank god), and we get a really nice amount of sleep. Is it time to throw all that away and have another baby?

Holiday Hangover: Can We Really Change?

It’s late January, so it’s time to start thinking about New Years resolutions! Sorry I’m just getting to this now, but I’ve been in a stress-induced drinking binge for the last two months. It was my son’s second Christmas and now I’m starting to truly understand what the holidays are like for parents.

Why Can’t We Put Our Phones Down?

I’m a little shocked at the person I’ve become. When my husband first got a smart phone, I hated it. He was always sitting there, holding it in front of his face, doing so very little.

Continue reading Why Can’t We Put Our Phones Down?