LilSugar

Keeping Children of Working Moms Fit and Healthy

babysugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:00:05 -0700

Pack your bags working moms, we're going on a guilt trip. As if there's not enough blame to push on the working mother, a new report came out giving those of us in the work force another reason to feel self-conscience for bringing home some bacon. A British study found that children of working mums spent more time watching television and had poorer eating habits than their peers with stay-at-home moms. While that may be the case, there are ways to skirt that issue. For instance, when I found out my nanny was taking my daughter to the bakery every day for a cookie, I thanked her for the kind gesture and then kindly asked her to refrain from the tasty pastry stop unless it was for a special occasion. Where there's a will, there's a way, which means parents may have to put forth the extra effort to set up guidelines for the caretaker but it is by no means a given that a working mommy's child should be less fit and healthy than its counterparts.

Do you have certain restrictions outlined for your nanny?

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me: Stay-at-Home Mom

LilSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:00:10 -0700

I'm about to pop which means my maternity leave is likely just days away. While I've always been a working mother, I can't wait to gain stay-at-home mom status for a few months. I've done it twice before when my daughter and son were born and loved every minute - even those that were covered in spit-up. While spending so much quality time with my kids is the obvious perk, there are others that are often overlooked. Here's my list!

I get to drop off and pick up my kids from school and get more involved in their daily activities.
Impromptu trips to the park don't revolve around my work deadlines.
An 8 a.m. trip to the grocery store is less stressful than weekend ones.
Forget scheduling meetings or appointments, life is all about playdates!
Sweats and sneakers is a totally acceptable outfit.
My kids will get my undivided attention (well, it will be divided between the three of them!)

What is or was your favorite thing about being a stay-at-home mom? Join our The Mommy Club over in our LilSugar community and share your stories! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Tell Mommy: Does the Term "Housewife" Offend You?

LilSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:00:59 -0800

I've never been a full time stay-at-home mother (except for when I was on maternity leave), but I was raised by one and feel the sting every time I hear the term "housewife" used to describe a mom who opted out of the work force to focus on her children. The SAHM mamas I know aren't popping bonbons on the couch and watching soap operas or scrubbing the kitchen floor with a toothbrush and playing bridge, they are educating their offspring, shuttling carpools, catering school parties (when a lot of working parents can't make it), not to mention raising the next generation. This doesn't discount the fact that many working moms do some of the same things. But, it's 2009 and the term "housewife" seems a bit demeaning and outdated. What's your opinion?

Tell Mommy: What Was Your Toughest Postpartum Moment?

babysugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:05:58 -0800

An inspiration to many mothers who suffer from postpartum depression, superstar mama Brooke Shields continues to give hope to new moms through her raw and honest revelations. A spokesperson for the debilitating disease and depression, she recently spoke at the Hope for Depression Research Foundation in Manhattan where she recalled a harrowing moment in her life. She said:

I finally had a healthy beautiful baby girl and I couldn't look at her... I couldn't hold her and I couldn't sing to her and I couldn't smile at her... All I wanted to do was disappear and die... That was the week I almost did not resist driving my car straight into a wall on the side of the freeway... My baby was in the back seat and that even pissed me off because I thought she's even ruining this for me. I just wanted to drive into the wall and my friend stayed on the phone with me and made me safely get home.

It takes guts to talk about those dark moments but her story undoubtedly gives hope to many women who are having similar experiences. If you care to share, tell us what your toughest postpartum moment was.

Feeling overwhelmed by motherhood? Join our A Place to Vent group over in our LilSugar Community and share your plight with other moms who understand.

Tell Mommy: What Do Moms Do That Dads Don't Do?

LilSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:00:54 -0700

In Motherhood, which comes out today, Uma Thurman plays Eliza, a Manhattan stay-at-home mom of two who is planning her daughter's sixth birthday party while trying to finish a parenting magazine contest entry on the topic "What does motherhood mean to you?" Small potatoes, right? The film takes place in one day, examining Eliza's cluttered life - the early morning rush of getting the kids ready, the dog, the apartments (she and her husband have set up shop in a bohemian one bedroom and studio), inability to do it all despite the pressure to be perfect, and quest to make it all mean something.

The film, which BuzzSugar has a review of, was ripe with "been there" mommy moments, but it was a bittersweet quote from Eliza's daughter that brought a single sappy tear and smile to my face.

"Moms do everything, dads only do some things. It's different."

We all have our fair share of mom FAIL moments, and it takes effort to remain content with our choices and sacrifices, but sometimes it's the unintentional, unbiased recognition from a child that reminds us how wonderful motherhood is and how appreciated we are as mothers whether our children know how to verbalize it or not. So be honest and pat yourself on the back here: Is there something you do - or provide - as a mother that their father doesn't do?

View 5 Photos ›

Lil Links: Treats That Won't Trick the Diet

babysugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:30:39 -0700

Treats that won't trick mama's diet - Health
Naomi Watts struggles with the stroller - Celebrity Baby Blog
Creative sock crafts - Cookie
Scary bloody decorations - CafeMom
Portrait of a stay-at-home mom - ParentDish
Jude Law's rainy museum day - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Trunk-or-treat party style - Alpha Mom
Make baby's art stand out with these simple tips - Momologie
Tutorial video on how to breastfeed - Parenting

Authoritative Parents May Get a Ticket to the White House

babysugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:40:15 -0700

Those who rule with an authoritative hand may be laughing all the way to the White House one day. According to a new study, stricter parents who challenge their children to stay between the lines may be raising future leaders of the world. Professors Maria Rotundo and Bruce Avolio found that moms and dads who set boundaries often give their children the opportunity to test their limits while figuring out ways to get what they want without getting into much trouble. Proponents of harsher methods of discipline may be patting themselves on the back right now while others shake their heads in disbelief.

Does a study like this have you reconsidering your approach to setting boundaries in your home?

Mommy Dearest: Wants Boyfriend to Be at Baby's Birth

LilSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:36:22 -0700

Mommy Dearest,

I am due with my first child on Sept. 13 and am completely accepting of the fact that I likely overshoot this due date. My boyfriend has been supportive the entire pregnancy and very vocal about how he wishes to be in the delivery room, which I am happy to hear! Unfortunately his side of the family suffered the loss of grandmother recently. We will attend the memorial service this weekend, but the burial will take place the weekend after my due date.

The place is about six hours away, so I obviously cannot go if I have not given birth yet, but my boyfriend has made it clear that he will go whether the baby is here or not! I am terrified of being alone for the labor and delivery if he cannot make it back in time. My mother will be there for the delivery, but I have always looked at her being there as more of a secondary support person and am counting on my him to be there so we can experience it together. Since it is my first delivery, it may take a long time and he might make it back in time, but that is not a chance I want to take! Am I being selfish for wanting him to stay home from what would be the second memorial service for his grandmother? How do I approach this topic with him?

- Want Boyfriend There For Birth

To see the response from Mommy Dearest,read more.

Want Boyfriend There For Birth,

You are not selfish - you're a soon-to-be mom who wants to experience the birth of her child with the baby's father. It is completely understandable that you wish and rely on him to be present at the life-changing event. I would approach the topic by telling him how you feel and being supportive in regards to him losing his grandmother. You may also consider having other dads talk to him about their birth experiences and why they think it would be appropriate for him to stay home from the burial if it comes to that point. Good luck!

– Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on our new Community page.

Source: Flickr User salimfadhley

Does Motherhood Drive Women to Drink?

LilSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:28 -0700

Crayons, check. Puzzles, check. Chilled Pinot Grigio, check. Mamas may wish to hold onto pieces of their pre-baby lives with a cocktail here and there, but the phenomenon of the spiked playdate or daily "wine-o'clock" drink seems to be more common.

The stress – felt by both working and stay-at-home moms – to be the perfect parent has led to women confessing their mommy moments which often include a drink or two before the lil ones hit the hay. Forty-six percent of lilsugar readers recently admitted to driving their kids after casually drinking, while Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, author of Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay, told her fans that she was sobering up after realizing that she was drinking two, three or even more cocktails while home with her children. According to the New York Times, "better-educated women are more likely to drink than less-educated ones; so are women employed outside the home versus those who stay at home."

Do you think motherhood is driving women to drink, or are women just being more open about it than before?

The Next Food Network Star Keeps a Kid-Friendly Kitchen

LilSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:00:35 -0700

There are barely enough hours in the day for moms to get everything done so some cut corners in the kitchen. But, now that The Next Food Network Star, Melissa d'Arabian, a stay-at-home mother, will be cooking up quick, budget friendly recipes to inspire fellow busy women, we may see more parents tying on aprons. The 40-year-old Texas mama explained that her show, which will air next Sunday, focuses on feeding four people a meal for $10 or less. The competition's self-proclaimed dark horse who had no professional culinary experience, used tidbits about cooking for her daughters (like serving raw brussels sprouts so they have the crunch of an apple) to wow the judges in an unconventional way. Prior to winning, Melissa explained why she wanted to be The Next Food Network Star. She said:

I have four kids (aged four and under), but I think the fact that I'm not "supermom" makes me accessible. I want parents across America to breathe a sigh of relief when they see me on TV and to say to themselves, "if she can do it, then so can I."