Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Sue via e-mail:
Dear Christine, I have been out on an extended maternity leave (almost 8 years) and have found very little information on what it is like to rejoin the workforce after such a long break. Have you ever written a blog entry on this? Any suggestions on a voice of authority? I am not ready just yet, but the longer I am out the scarier the prospect becomes.Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Sue via e-mail:
Dear Christine, I have been out on an extended maternity leave (almost 8 years) and have found very little information on what it is like to rejoin the workforce after such a long break. Have you ever written a blog entry on this? Any suggestions on a voice of authority? I am not ready just yet, but the longer I am out the scarier the prospect becomes.
Hello friends! I hope you had a fantastic week while I was away. Other than dealing with a pesky head cold, I had a wonderful, reflective week off; I'm excited to be back sharing all sorts of useful and clever awesomeness with you, and I'm also feeling very happy about a new perspective I developed on parenting, work, and balance this past week. It only seems fitting to share these thoughts with you in my first post back. Enjoy!
Today, Heather recommends a fantastic ocean adventure for the whole family:
No visit to Cape Cod would be complete without some type of water excursion. And OceanQuest -- a non-profit marine education program out of Woods Hole -- was one of the highlights of our vacation. The 90-minute cruise is a hands-on, marine educational experience for kids and parents of all ages and truly has something for everyone. Passengers are introduced to the major disciplines within oceanography and are actively involved in manipulating equipment, collecting data, and discovering the wonder of ocean sciences.
Now, the second of two Dear Boston Mamas questions from Susan via e-mail:
Dear Christine, My mother-in-law is obsessed with feeding everyone, and apparently this includes the baby! She keeps pressuring me to use formula even though I keep telling her that I am breastfeeding. She will not relent and got to the point where she actually did bring me formula. It makes me feel incredibly unsupported with breastfeeding and I am going to lose my cool soon. She knows I go back to work soon and now asks every week what kind of formula we plan to use. This is just one item that I really do not want her to provide and she won't lay off. Any advice on how to handle a formula obsessed MIL?
Today I'll be fielding two Dear Boston Mamas questions -- from Susan via e-mail -- in separate posts:
Dear Christine, I am returning to work from maternity leave next month and I am really nervous about being able to handle everything when I get home at night. So I am trying to make a bunch of dinners to freeze and microwave when I get home for hubby and me. Seems like there is other stuff I could be doing now to make things easier for later. Do you have ideas on how to make the transition back to work easier?
Today, Carole Arsenault of Boston Baby Nurses shares some tips to help expecting moms cope with swelling during pregnancy:
Mild swelling due to the accumulation of fluids in the tissue is normal during the third trimester of pregnancy, especially in the heat of summer. You may notice that your shoes are feeling tighter and that your rings are starting to get uncomfortable. Fluid often accumulates in the hands and feet. So what can you do to alleviate some of this swelling?
Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Lela via e-mail:
Dear Christine, I am a first time mom and my son is now just about 9 months old. It's a great time because he's learning to be more observant and responsive. We love tickle time and baby talk but I think we are ready for the next step, developmentally. I would like to start engaging him in other ways that are still fun for both of us. Any ideas?
Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Victoria in Chicago via e-mail:
Dear Christine, I live in Chicago and I am planning my best friend's baby shower in the Boston area. She lives in Newburyport. Any suggestions for places in Boston or Newburyport?
Laurel's transition to kindergarten was rough. It took 2-3 months for her to get to a point where she happily jumped into line and marched into class with the other kids. Save the occasional social tussle, the next 5 or so months were blissfully easy. But the last few weeks have been a struggle of similar proportions to the kindergarten transition. Freak out drop offs. Sobbing in the evening in anticipation of school. Her teachers looking disgruntled. Her parents looking exhausted. It was helpful for me to revisit the advice I collected in the fall, and now I want to share advice I have amassed for coping with end of year transitions. I hope this is helpful for those of you whose kids are struggling as the school year winds to a close.
Today, parent educator Hetti Wohlgemuth of Alphabet Soup 4 Parents suggests that it's never too late to see BABIES:
I went to see BABIES last night, for the second time. Who would have thought that a movie about four babies' first year of life would continue to attract an audience? We went to see Sex and the City 2 a week ago at a small town theatre and only seven women and one man came to that showing; in contrast, last night 10 men and women opted for a not recently released, small budget movie that proceeds with no conflict, plot, or fast pace. The movie clearly has legs (other than the eight adorable and pudgy ones sported by the babies in the film), and while the movie's babies mesmerize, I also found some parenting take away points following two viewings.
Sometimes it's hard for me to believe we're already discussing social quandaries with Laurel in kindergarten. And I know it will only get more complicated as she approaches the teen years. If you need help figuring out how to communicate with your teen, consider this lead: Tomorrow at the Boston Health & Fitness Expo, medical staff from MGH and Newton-Wellesley Hospital will lead a session to offer parents of teens strategies on ways to support self-esteem and independence, and recognize and address signs of depression and substance abuse. Registration required.
At the Hynes Convention Center, Boston.
Today, April recommends the MFA for creative and educational birthday parties:
We love going to birthday parties. Esmé has a great time playing with her friends and we love talking to everyone. When Esmé turned 4, I knew that she would love a party--and that we'd love to give her one--but I've never really considered myself a birthday party person. Even though it sounds easy (kids + pizza + cake + goodie bags), I could see myself getting stressed out hosting a party and trying to keep 20 kids happy--and what good is that? I needed to find a little structure so I didn't have to worry, and everyone would have a good time.
Last year I wrote a post titled Nine Years, Nine Lessons, in which I shared nine lessons I learned during Jon and my nine years of marriage; those lessons still resonate a year later. Today is our tenth anniversary, which alternately feels like a huge amount of time and no time at all (despite milestones such as three stints of grad school, four moves, and a baby). I feel enormously grateful to have a supportive, thoughtful partner who continues to grow and evolve with me. Today, in honor of our ten years, instead of looking back on lessons, I am setting intentions for the future. I hope these intentions will resonate with you as you reflect on your relationships.
Today, parent educator Hetti Wohlgemuth of Alphabet Soup 4 Parents shares a review of food for thoughtful parenting. Read on for Hetti's review, as well as to learn how to be one of three winners to receive a copy of food for thoughtful parenting:
I've long been a proponent of gardening with kids, but that wasn't the only reason I adored the hands on, tchochke-free garden(ing) party my friend Nicola (of teddy bear tea party fame) assembled for her daughter's sixth birthday party. You will totally want to copy this awesome idea.
Today, Kate shares a couple of leads for kids who go bonkers for balloons:
We've never been one for big birthday celebrations in my family, and we've kept my daughter's parties similarly low key. For her most recent birthday (her 4th), I wanted to do something special that would neither break the bank nor cause too much fuss, and settled on the idea of hiring a balloon twister. I love balloon animals, and find the people who make them to be artists with nerves of steel, always moments away from having a creation pop in their hands (and in front of their young audiences).
When I'm hanging out with my mama friends, talk invariably turns to work -- whether it's current work, past work, or potential future work. And wherever you are on that spectrum, if you're in need of inspiration or some brainstorming help, consider investing a day exploring the options at the Detours&OnRamps forum next week (May 4) at Bentley. This event will focus on the topics of work/life balance, restarting a career, or making a career work for your family via speakers, practical breakout sessions, and networking opportunities.
Today, Kate shares a charming book series for girls:
When I was a young girl, my favorite gift to receive was one of the books in the Very Young series by photographer and writer Jill Krementz. Oversized and filled with gorgeous black and white photographs, each book follows a period in the life of a young girl -- all between 8 and 12 or so -- who excel in particular sports or hobbies: ballet, gymnastics, figure skating, horseback riding.