As expectant mamas, we assume that our babies will make their debuts when they are good and ready. So many women are thrown for a loop when the doctor announces it's time for the wee one to arrive via induction. Whether the procedure is scheduled because the infant is overdue or based on the amniotic fluid levels, there are a few things mothers should know about being induced. Here's what I learned after being induced twice.
Kids have an abundance of energy so when mom gets tuckered, she still has to keep her preschool and toddler charges entertained. Here are five lazy games that are perfect for playing when the children need to be occupied and a tired mama wants to sneak in a bit of rest and relaxation.
It's one thing to be a parent and another to play one on television. The boob tube is full of colorful characters we look to for comic relief and even parenting advice, but are the actors and actresses who portray our favorite onscreen moms and pops tending to their own offspring off screen? Take this quiz and test your knowledge!
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There's nothing better than breakfast in bed...except when you have to shake it from the sheets! With several lazy Sundays in our future – including Mother's Day (hint, hint) – we asked kiddie chef extraordinaire Catherine McCord, founder of Weelicious and mother of two, to whip up five crumb-less entrees that the whole family could eat in bed and leave lil clean up for mama! Check out Catherine's inventive options and be sure to start dropping hints about which you want on your special day!
When it comes to peanut butter sandwiches, my son isn't big on bread. He prefers the sweet treat served up on a peeled apple that has been cored and halved. I smear some of the creamy spread between and then top with the other half. A fiber and protein packed combo, it's a portable dish that is fit for any time of day. We recently tested the apple idea out on another kiddie staple — grilled cheese. Just take the fruit halves and top them with your kiddo's favorite sliced or shredded cheese and then pop them in a hot oven to melt the protein. Served open-faced or as a sandwich, this simple recipe is a savory winner.
A conversation between parent and child can be incredibly powerful. StoryCorps is a program that records exchanges so society can benefit from them. It's not hard to be moved by one such interview between 12-year-old Joshua Littman (who has Asperger's syndrome) and his mother, Sarah Littman. It was taped five years ago and garnered national attention, but as budget cuts threaten the organization's existence, the interview has be brought back into the spotlight.
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). No federal funding for CPB might mean the end of StoryCorps, which for me would be a deeply personal tragedy. StoryCorps is the national public broadcasting project that gives everyday Americans the chance to record a forty minute oral history interview with a loved one. A copy of each interview is archived at the Library of Congress so our great-great grandchildren can get to know us through our voice and story. CPB is StoryCorps’ primary funder.
Would you take part in this project? Who is the person you would choose and why?
Being predeceased by your child is incredibly painful for any parent, but an official said that loss is exacerbated if the mother and father have a sole offspring. This is the case for the families of the Chinese exchange students who died during the New Zealand earthquake last month. An Associated Press report said:
Chinese Embassy official Cheng Lei said Monday that Chinese quake victims had lost not just their only child, but also a future breadwinner.He said New Zealand should consider providing additional financial assistance to those families.
"You can expect how lonely, how desperate they are ... not only from losing loved ones, but losing almost entirely the major source of economic assistance after retirement," Cheng told Radio New Zealand.
What's your opinion?
It's a boy or it's a girl, but who should tell the new addition's siblings? If mom and dad are in the midst of all the new baby bliss and hospital (or home birth) hoopla, is it the job of an outside party — a grandparent or family friend — to inform the big brother or sister? Some parents are particular in how they want to debut the news and others just believe in letting the information spread. What's your opinion?
As parents we use products that make family life easier, safer, more fun — even more beautiful, but in the rigmarole of daily living, we don't often think about the people who created those items. We looked into a few of our favorite brands. Meet the mothers and fathers behind the bottle, the bedding, the baby food, the game, and the crib.
Strangers say a lot of idiotic things that can dull a pregnant woman's glow, but people also dish out odd advice. Alyssa Milano, 38, who is expecting her first baby, shared the latest tidbit she's been told. She said:
"It sounds kind of harsh but a friend of the family recently told me it's really hard to kill a baby. That made me feel much better!"
While a thought may be well intended, it can get messed up in the delivery.
It's impossible to give life and not feel that your own has been affected. Each mother has hopes and dreams — for herself and her children. Part of that list may be something she wishes to reclaim and other aspirations are born of responsibility, but there are lots of things every woman should consider. Here are 60 of them!
Photo courtesy of New Line
When a baby is born, parents dream of their tot's future. They envision the child talking, walking, graduating, getting married, and having offspring of their own. They assume their healthy kid will be able to reproduce, but that isn't the case for the mom and dad of a youngster fighting cancer. A recent report talked about the medical advancements that are being tested (and the lengths that doctors will go to) to preserve a prepubescent patient's fertility. It said:
With childhood cancer survival reaching 80 percent, there's a growing need to find ways to preserve these youngsters' fertility — and patients like Dylan are on the front edge of research that's banking testicular cells and ovarian tissue to try.
Lady Gaga wants breast milk ice cream to go by another name — one that isn't a play on hers. The performance artist who has campaigned causes with her attire, isn't a fan of the mother's milk ice cream being sold at a British ice cream parlor. Baby Gaga ice cream has stirred up headlines ever since the creamery's owner publicized the edible offering made from donated breast milk. While officials question the safety of unregulated human milk, Lady Gaga doesn't want the shop's owner profiting off of the empire and image the star has created. She's threatened to sue with a "cease and desist" letter. One report said:
The letter accuses the makers of "taking unfair advantage of, and riding on the coattails of" Lady Gaga's trademarks. As for the ice cream, the letter said it's "deliberately provocative and, to many people, nausea-inducing."
Ellen Pompeo may live in Tinseltown, but the mom of one — daughter Stella Ivery, 1, — hasn't allowed success or the bright lights of Hollywood to shake her sensibilities. The Grey's Anatomy star answered a few of my questions as she promotes Huggies campaign to diaper babies in need.
LilSugar: There’s a big debate about whether or not it’s possible for a woman to truly "have it all" — a career, a marriage, and children. What’s your opinion and how do you manage?
Ellen Pompeo: I do think it’s possible to have it all. However, I don't believe the definition of having it all means the same thing to everyone. Just because someone chooses not to have children doesn't mean they don't have it all. Just because a woman decides to be a stay at home mom doesn't mean she doesn't have it all. "Having it all" to me means being fulfilled and that should be determined by the individual not society. As far as managing goes. That's always a tricky question for me because I would seem a little out of touch if I didn't acknowledge the fact that I have a great job and am very lucky to be able to afford a little help. That being said I am a big fan of a strict schedule. Stella's mealtimes and sleep schedule happen at the same time every day and everything gets planned around that. Also a couple of days a week I set aside time to prep food. Veggies, brown rice...etc... so making meals takes less time and there are always things in the fridge ready to work with.
LS: On Grey’s Anatomy, Meredith and Derek are having a hard time getting (and remaining) pregnant. The storyline is reflective of what a lot of couples go through. How do you feel about your character having this struggle?
EP: The infertility issue certainly is a relevant one. One of the conversations I had with Shonda was about the fact that we have an opportunity here and what do we want to do with it? It’s very important to me to not ONLY portray the angst or desperation one would feel in a situation like this. I want Meredith's journey to be multifaceted and hopefully some sort of enlightenment happens along the way. What you end up seeing in the final cuts of the episodes is an entirely different story!
LS: Hollywood is experiencing another baby boom. With all the paparazzi and interest in famous families, is it difficult to raise Stella in such an environment?
EP: I don't think there's a baby boom. People have always had babies. The boom is the tabloid media’s obsession with famous people's children and pregnant actresses. It is predatory and creepy. I'm a big girl and I can deal with being stalked by paparazzi — it’s a very small price to pay for all the perks that come along with this life, but it’s unfortunate our society is obsessed with exploiting innocent children.
LS: Fill in the blank. You know you're a mother when?
EP: You know you’re a mother when you get excited about poop!
The Hollywood baby boom is well underway! While some stars choose to focus on their craft before starting a family, others opt to have their children sooner than later. Women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s are embarking on motherhood. Test your knowledge and see if you can guess the ages of these expectant celebrities.
Some parents talk, sing, and entertain their infants even though the babes don't answer back because they want to shower the tots with attention. Other moms and pops feel awkward having one-sided conversations with wee ones and hold off on excessive dialogue until the children attempt to chat. Which way did you choose to communicate?
Ex-patriot Johnny Depp is raising his family in France, but he applauds the way his The Tourist costar handles her fame and motherhood. At a press conference in Japan, he said:
"She is such a versatile, wonderful person who can portray anything. She is a down to earth, clever, funny, woman and shockingly great mother. She is very calm even if she's surrounded by paparazzi. I don't know what I would do. I could've been in prison by now!"
Angelina and her partner, Brad Pitt, have six children under the age of 9 — Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne.
Go green! St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching, so get lucky in the kitchen with your kids! The Irish holiday may conjure up memories of soda bread or corned beef, but hold the Guinness because we're using the green theme to get our lads and lasses to eat their veggies. Here are a few recipes that will kick off the celebration!
Your child may adore their dollhouse, but packing it up when the family is hitting the road or heading out to dinner isn't an option. Let your tots continue their playtime by investing in a lightweight, portable alternative that kiddos can tote themselves. Check out five of my favorite toys!
Nobody's perfect, but some mistakes can make a person look like a hypocrite. The former Gainesville, FL, chapter president of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) was pulled over for erratic driving and later taken into custody for being under the influence. The woman who admitted to having four beers worked for MADD in the '90s.
According to the report:
"Debra Oberlin, 48, was arrested after she had difficulty on a field sobriety test. She registered a .234 and .239 on breath alcohol tests. Florida's legal limit for driving is .08."
What's your opinion?
