Monday 30 September 2013
People Who are Bored on Maternity Leave Have not Tried any of These Social Groups
I had a year long vacation as far as I see it. I have two small children, very busy, very demanding and like the rest of you, very busy (did I say that already). As far as I was concerned, I had a darn good year off. It came as a great surprise to me when so many moms welcomed me back to work and said things like "you must be so happy to be back - wasn't Mat leave boring!". What was another one that made me look at them cock eyed, oh yea, "aren't you happy to have your life back, I mean kids 24/7 is sooo boring!", to which I generally responded, "sounds like you missed out!"
I have spoken with so many moms in this situation, none of them really embraced Maternity leave, or took full advantage of that year off to meet new people and learn new things. So I thought maybe a lot of people just don't have the right resources. Thus, I have taken it upon myself to compile a top 5 list of Nation wide resources for new moms, or even second or third time moms who maybe just didn't do it the first or second time around. It is never too late!
Momstown
My experience with momstown was very personal. I love this group. Their calendar is full of fun filled and educational stuff for kids from 0 to 6. I personally think it is designed to give moms a break and let them socialize while their kids socialise. But their mission statement really says it all: connecting real Canadian moms. One community at a time.Meetup.com
Meetup is the world's largest network of local groups. Meetup makes it easy for anyone to organize a local group or find one of the thousands already meeting up face-to-face. At Meetup you can join all sorts of groups, and locally! They don't even have to be "mom" related!
Meetup's mission is to revitalize local community and help people around the world self-organize. Meetup believes that people can change their personal world, or the whole world, by organizing themselves into groups that are powerful enough to make a difference.
Oakville moms
I know this is region specific, but I just wanted to give you ideas about looking into regional and local groups that may be in your community.
Oakville moms was established in 2006 and connects families from Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Mississauga and all over Ontario. The site features resources, contests, articles, free class listings, reviews, forum discussions, directory listings and so much more! Oakville Moms is known to introduce new companies into the community as well, so for those moms who take on a new venture while on maternity leave, this is a great resource for you too!
Local Libraries or Local Not for Profit Organizations
In my neighbourhood we have free programs every season catered to different age groups that are absolutely worth the time investment. Every one you meet there is in the same boat and the programs are more often than not run by ECE instructors. The library has morning readings and play groups, usually you can sign up at local community centres for free mom and baby classes, and finally there is always your local YMCA, which by the way rocks!
Facebook Groups
I have joined mom groups on Facebook, what a great way to get a community of people going. Using the newsfeed, moms are able to suggest times and places to meet and this normally becomes a regular routine! I would only join a group from referral though, because you just never know who may be messaging you, and you can never be too careful when it comes to online social groups.
Although all of these are not free (but pretty darn close to it), they are totally worth it to keep you in sanity check, also to keep you entertained, socialized and having fun. All that while raising your child and learning awesome parenting from a soon to be great circle of friends! Doesn't sound boring to me...does it sound boring to you?
Sunday 29 September 2013
Sugar Equals Meltdown in my House
I should have made the association earlier, I should have know better. But today, I narrowed it all down. I have a very good child. She rarely needs to be asked twice to do something and is quick to apologise when she finds out she has done something wrong. But after a visit to a local fair, and after consuming sugary foods that are totally out of the ordinary in our daily routine, she had a breakdown - meltdown is more like it.
After repeatedly asking her to do this or stop that, I defaulted to a time out which was followed by a loud and hard "NO!!". I was dumbfounded. This doesn't happen - often...
When does this typically happen? I quickly put two and two together, after making the association with several other occasions, like Easter, Christmas and birthday party meltdowns, these all followed copious amounts of sugar intake. How am I going to deal with this stuff going forward? Obviously I am not going to deprive my child of these fun events with delicious treats, and I cannot hover for the rest of her life, so I must control and educate as much as possible.
Since It starts with me, I did a bit of research on how to avoid those crazy meltdowns post sugar. I found out that it is not actually the sugar that causes them but the rise in insulin levels. I learnt that to offset that sugar crash you can follow the indulgences with something heartier like proteins (cheese, soy, beans, meat, nuts) and fiber (fruits, veggies, whole grains) which slow the rise and fall of the blood sugar levels.
I am making a conscious decision to educate myself further, read more books, participate in more forums, because seriously, these meltdowns really make it tough. Something I have already found and want to share is a chart of suggested fruit juice intake by pediatrician Barbara Frankowski, M.D.:
So, I personally, am not going to deprive my child of the occasional sugar indulgence, as long as it is occasional. I don't want a child dependent and needy of sugar, but I understand the want for sugar and the carvings that go along with it, because it happens to me! So, I have to do like my parents did for me and build the foundation and the education of how sugar is not good for us, the rest will be up to her.
After repeatedly asking her to do this or stop that, I defaulted to a time out which was followed by a loud and hard "NO!!". I was dumbfounded. This doesn't happen - often...When does this typically happen? I quickly put two and two together, after making the association with several other occasions, like Easter, Christmas and birthday party meltdowns, these all followed copious amounts of sugar intake. How am I going to deal with this stuff going forward? Obviously I am not going to deprive my child of these fun events with delicious treats, and I cannot hover for the rest of her life, so I must control and educate as much as possible.
Since It starts with me, I did a bit of research on how to avoid those crazy meltdowns post sugar. I found out that it is not actually the sugar that causes them but the rise in insulin levels. I learnt that to offset that sugar crash you can follow the indulgences with something heartier like proteins (cheese, soy, beans, meat, nuts) and fiber (fruits, veggies, whole grains) which slow the rise and fall of the blood sugar levels.
I am making a conscious decision to educate myself further, read more books, participate in more forums, because seriously, these meltdowns really make it tough. Something I have already found and want to share is a chart of suggested fruit juice intake by pediatrician Barbara Frankowski, M.D.:
* No fruit juice for babies under 6 months
* No more than 6 ounces a day for babies 6 months to 1 year
* No more than 6 ounces a day for kids 1 to 6
* No more than 12 ounces a day for kids over 6.
I even feel that these may be lenient, but for households that actively have juice int heir cupboards or it is a regular part of their families diet, it is a great chart for you.
Also, a great resource I always lean to when I am looking for a food that will satisfy that sugary craving but without all the nasty white stuff in it is www.joyoushealth.com . She has been a saviour in my house when we have been cleansing and/or looking for healthier alternatives. So, I personally, am not going to deprive my child of the occasional sugar indulgence, as long as it is occasional. I don't want a child dependent and needy of sugar, but I understand the want for sugar and the carvings that go along with it, because it happens to me! So, I have to do like my parents did for me and build the foundation and the education of how sugar is not good for us, the rest will be up to her.
Wednesday 25 September 2013
Changing Habits to Achieve Goals: the Entrepreneurial Point of View
One of the hardest things to accomplish is a goal. Why? Because humans are raised to follow a system. The kind of goal I am referring to is usually one that falls outside of that system. From the day we are born, we follow a structure or a routine. It feels natural for it to be like this, because that is just the way it has always been, which is why it makes new goals hard to achieve.
It wasn't until I was reading and studying social media that I stumbled upon an article that really struck home - it made total and complete sense to me, and maybe it will to you too. It talked about goals - hence my inspiration for what I am doing. I quickly forwarded the link to my husband and to my whole family in hopes of sparking some sort of reaction or "aha" moment from them...no response - except from my husband - who is like myself, entrepreneurial minded and does not fall under the routine umbrella. So I thought to myself, I wonder if this is a coincidence or if there is a tie in here with Entrepreneurship.
I starting talking about this blog post, spreading the word and found that the only instant reaction I was getting was from people who had a very entrepreneurial point of view. So, no coincidence that my husband reacted and many others from my inner circle did not. The more I read the article the more I realised that I was in fact just positioning it in a way and with a passion that would only register with the entrepreneurial minded. So I tried again. I spoke to friends who were looking at weight loss, and friends that were trying to save money and explained them this theory of changing habits to achieve goals. And it finally registered with them too.
Here is what the blogger said:
We must focus on our identity and change our identity by committing to daily achievable goals. For example, I decided I would start by writing three blogs a week and posting on my Facebook Page three times a day. So far, I am achieving my goals and super pumped to keep going! If I had set my goals differently, for instance "I am going to start blogging and leave my day job", I probably would have failed already, because those are long term and difficult goals.
I figure that within 2 weeks (because it takes two weeks to form a new habit) I will have changed my identity and confidently be able to say that I am a successful blogger and author/illustrator. Soon, I will have gotten into such a regular rhythm of writing and drawing that I will believe in myself without needing the reassurance of others (which I currently seek).
This is a personal experience. It is working. I am actively changing my identity, and you can change yours! All you have to do is set yourself up for success. Change your identity - how you perceive yourself - and make achievable daily goals to success. Let it be for weight loss, saving money, work out routines, keeping in touch with friends - whatever goals you set, make sure to change that identity first - and the rest will follow. If you see my blogs here in two weeks, you know it works - and if you don't, well - I have only failed myself!
Sunday 22 September 2013
The Title Says it All: This is a Blog About the Journey of a Mom
It is really hard to write your first post for a blog, so I will just use this as an introduction to me and my blog and what I want to accomplish here.
This is not a journal of my life by any means. In fact, I don't want to bore you with daily accounts of my life. Instead, I want to talk about real life experiences on a real time basis. But first, I want to introduce myself so you can fully understand who I am.
My name is Laura Page-Hamelin, and I am currently a mom of three; a boy and two girls. Although I never birthed the boy, I still love and treat him like my own, and in today's day and age, with so many split families and mixed families, I feel it is even more important to treat any child under the parental umbrella and under the same roof, as your own.
I work hard, I am first and most importantly a mom, and a wife. Secondarily, I work full time as social media marketer, and I am an author illustrator, with my most recent book "Susy the Soother Fairy" to be released in December of 2013.
My books are for children, and they are inspired by my children (and my dog). I love drawing and coming up with poetic story lines. But what I really like the most is keeping it simple. I still believe in hard copy books that you can touch and feel and throw around without breaking or worrying about cracking screens. I still believe in being able to pack a book full of bags for a road trip and colouring with crayons on paper. I don't think gone are the days of that yet. So my main material is designed for a visual and sensory experience with educational components. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge advocate of technology as well. In fact, some of my books will be available on tablets and the like, but I still need and want the tangible.
Here is what I want to accomplish with this blog. I want to provide my readers with valuable information around travelling with a family, work life balance, community involvement, social groups, great experiences and great products. I want to recount real life experiences to real people like you, and I want to do it in real time, during my journey as a mom so we can associate with one another, laugh with/at one another and share stories. I also want to welcome feedback and suggestions so that we can keep this blog interesting and keep it going!
Looking forward to chatting with you.
Laura Page-Hamelin
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