1. Eat before you leave. In many theme parks, you’re unable to bring in food and beverages. Makes sure that your family has a well-balanced meal to stay energized throughout the day.

2. Try to keep a stash. You know how your parents did it back in the day! Ladies, keep the big purse handy with small snacks for the kids while you’re on the go.

3. Find AC areas. Scope out locations that have fans and/or air conditioning. Being outside in the heat for a long time can slow little ones down and make them sick. Taking a 15 minute break in the AC can go a long way. Remember to have them drink LOTS of water.

4. Keep a travel-sized First-Aid kit with you. Unpredictable “boo-boo’s” happen. Mend scrapes and bruises on-site. However, if you have a serious accident, seek out the medical facility at the theme park.

5. Establish rules. Tell your children to stay close, don’t wander or talk to strangers. The last thing your child wants you to do is bring out your inner Madea. You know Madea doesn’t play, and neither should you!

6. Dress your family in bright-colored clothes. That way, you can always spot each other in a crowd of people. A mom has to keep tabs on her little ones. Make it easy!

Summertime and water play go hand and hand during the Summer months. Have a fun and safe summer with your children with these Water Play Safety Tips.

1. Keep Your Eyes Locked in at ALL TIMES. Stay focused on your precious little ones and save the good book for your personal beach or pool time. Don’t depend on anyone else to watch your children in the water no matter who the are. If you or one of your children need to take a bathroom break. Signal for everyone to get out of the pool.

2. Bright Colored Swimsuit- dress all your children in the same color bright color. Always remember the color of the swim suit to alert authorities in case they become lost, plus they will be easy to spot while you are watching them.

3. Life Jackets a Must for little ones especially while on a boat. Express this to your children so they will know the importance of wearing a life jacket. To send a strong message put one on yourself to reinforce the family rule.

4. Look for the GREEN flag at the beach. It is usually located by the lifeguard deck. The green flag let’s you know it is safe to swim.

5. Observe if there is a lifeguard on duty. Search locations that have one or more lifeguards. In case of an emergency, you have a trained professional on hand and necessary backup to easy your situation.

5. Always use a sun block on children. Protect and prevent sunburned skin. And don’t forget to reapply sunblock between water breaks.

6. Keep water on hand. Store bottles of water in a cooler to keep cold for your family to remain hydrated. The sun can be draining when directly exposed for a period of time.

7. Every 30 minutes or so, call everyone out the pool for a break. At this time you can access  your child as to whether or not they have had too much sun and are lethargic, need a snack or something to drink, taken in too much water, or just need to relax.

Summer vacations create lifelong memories for our kids. Traveling with children does, however, require extra precautions, especially when it comes to ensuring that your child is safe in their car seat. So we compiled the top ten car seat mistakes parents make — we want you to be smiling and happy in all your vacation photos!

Top 10 Car Seat Mistakes

Incorrect positioning. Infants should always be rear-facing and in the back seat – no exceptions. Their tiny bones can better absorb the force of a crash in that position, and their heads are less likely to flop forward and cause major spinal injuries.

Incorrect installation. Correctly installing a car seat is trickier than just following the instructions. In fact, it’s estimated that 85 percent of car seats aren’t as secure or safe as they should be. It’s an easy, free fix: Have your car seat professionally installed or checked at a local police station or highway patrol unit.

Turning the seat around too early. Car seats should be rear-facing for as long as possible – definitely until the baby is 20 pounds. After that, try not to swing them around until they reach the maximum length and weight limit, usually closer to the 2-year mark.

Bundling them in thick padding. Using an additional car seat cushion or a bulky coat (which could also cause overheating!) prevents the baby from being as tightly fit as possible.

The seat is too loose. There should be less than an inch of movement when you rock the car seat back and forth. If you’re having a hard time, use your knee to hold it as firmly as possible to the back seat, and then tighten the straps. Once you’re done, go and have it professionally checked because it’s probably still not tight enough.

The baby isn’t strapped in correctly. It’s not as simple as just clicking the buckle. Make sure the harness straps are thread through the slot that’s at or below the baby’s shoulders for maximum security and that there’s no slack whatsoever. You shouldn’t be able to pinch the strap when it’s tightened to your baby.

The retainer clip isn’t positioned correctly. The retainer should be centered across your baby’s chest at armpit level.

The wrong anchor is used. Check that your car has a LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system, which means you can attach the car seat to metal rings behind the rear seat cushion for a tighter fit. Most cars made after 2003 are equipped with a LATCH system, but some only have the anchors for the window seat. The car seat is safest in the middle, so use the seat belt if there aren’t center anchors.

Source: Babble.com

Working from home brings with it a lot of freedom – the freedom to make decisions, to set hours and to determine your own workplace culture. Yet the home-based office has its share of challenges. Space is limited. It’s hard to stay organized when the lines blur between home and work.

Wireless technology has made it possible to work in any room of the house, which is great — but it can also be part of the problem. Just because you can work anywhere doesn’t mean you should. The key to setting up a successful home office is to designate a specific location and clearly define the boundaries of your work space.

10 Ways to Gain an Hour in Each Day

Ask yourself the following questions to help you decide where to locate your office, based on your individual needs, family patterns and personal preferences.

• Full or part time? Home offices used full time require more work and storage space whereas part-time ones can usually afford to be smaller and tucked away (beneath a stairwell, perhaps).

• Compact or spacious? How much space you need also depends on the type of work you do and your preferred style of working. For example, a writer who does all his/her work by computer and phone requires less space than an artist or craftsperson who needs and wants to have much elbow room to spread things out.

• Remote or central? If noise and activity will disturb your concentration, select the quietest, most private location in the house – the basement or a guest room upstairs, perhaps. But if you can block out such distractions, or thrive on them because they make you feel stimulated and connected, select a more public location – a breakfast nook near the dining room, perhaps.

• Multi-use? If the space will be used for a dual purpose — e.g., home office by day, guest room by night — be sure to store papers and supplies in file drawers or containers for quick cleanup when others come in to use it. When sharing your home office with other family members, find a way to separate your files, records and supplies, with designated drawers, cabinets and shelves for your work only.

Once you determine where you are going to work, select the best furniture and technology you can find to create an inviting and comfortable environment.

• Desk: Pick a desk that suits your work style – if you like to spread out, a minimum of 59 inches wide, 33 inches deep will ensure sufficient work surface.

• Chair: Invest in a GREAT chair for health and comfort – my favorite is the Freedom Chair by Humanscale. We’ve had them in our office for years – and I can sit at the desk for hours without any fatigue at all.

• File storage. Even if you do most of your work on the computer, you likely need at least one or two drawers for filing printouts, originals, signed contracts, warranties and other information you prefer to keep on paper. Choose between filing cabinets, portable file boxes or rolling filing carts based on your particular space, style and quantity of paper.
Select the best furniture and technology you can find to create an inviting and comfortable environment.

• Lighting. Whether natural or electrical, be sure you have enough to work in without causing eye strain. Halogen lamps are excellent for increasing brightness in the room with indirect light.

• Technology. Take advantage of technology that’s fast and sleek to create an efficient little work space. Set up wireless Internet and printing to reduce cord clutter. Wireless printers allow you to park the printer elsewhere to save desk space. Check out a super-cool printer-fax-scanner with unique time-saving features specifically for the home-office user — along with a series of video tutorials by me on effectively working from home!

Share with us: Where do you work in your home? What type of work do you do in your office? How do you keep the boundaries between work and home clear? What other office organizing tips would you like me to share?

Source: wowowow.com byJulie Morgenstern

Feeling stress about juggling work and the kids? As moms we are nurtures and we want everyone to be happy. At times it can be tough when we try to satisfy family, co-workers, and clients. It’s an unending cycle for working moms to master most of the time on our own. Get helpful tips now from our friends at sheknows.com and start balancing your life.

SHARE THE LOAD
More often these days, dads are stepping in to take on parenting duties. A recent study by the Families and Work Institute found that fathers spend an hour more a day with their kids than dads did 25 years ago. Dad’s participation can come in especially handy when the kids get sick or when you just cannot make that parent-teacher conference. So when it comes to parenting, do not hesitate to share the load of responsibilities with your husband.

MAKE YOUR SCHEDULE FLEXIBLE
If you are feeling super stressed, ask your employer about rearranging your schedule so that you work four days instead of five, or have every other Friday off. This may incur a pay cut, but it might be worth it to strike that delicate balance between your career and kids. But if a flexible schedule is not feasible, try to pick one evening or weekend day when you can focus solely on your family. That means turn off the laptop, leave your cell at home and hit the playground. In addition to being a stellar mom, this play time away from the job will recharge your batteries, and you can return to work fresh and less stressed.

FIND PERSPECTIVE
If you are at work right now, you are probably wishing you were at home. But guess what? You may not be that much more satisfied if you stayed at home fulltime. According to Dr. Leon Hoffman, director of the Pacella Parent Child Center, many working mothers wish they were home with their children, and while at home, wish they were back at work. Bottom line? Being a mom is a tough job, no matter how you slice it. But if you gain perspective on your situation and are confident about why you are working (or staying at home – whatever the case may be), you can get through even the toughest days with less guilt.

STRESS LESS FOR THE KIDS
Here is some good news for working moms. Research shows that children who go to daycare are not destined for delinquency. A study measuring the development of more than 6,000 children found that those with moms who work outside the home experience no permanent damage because of the maternal absence. And according to Ellen Galinsky, president of the Families and Work Institute, more kids prefer to have their parents be less stressed out and tired than actually with them 24/7.

As strange as it may seem, things get even more difficult for a working mom after the second and third baby arrive. By that time, the romance of being a modern “superwoman” wears off and reality sets in.

Mom is exhausted. Dad isn’t getting a good night’s sleep. And older kids feel neglected.

Dads who want to be equal partners too often fall short because there are certain things they simply cannot do for you — like breastfeeding, sleeping, or even taking a shower.

The new mother starts to question herself and whether it is all worth it. And too often, the money just doesn’t add up.

Too often, childcare, taxes and commuting expenses often negate a large chunk of a young mom’s salary. At the end of each year, many stretched mommys will do what I did throughout my late 20s and ask why I worked so hard just for the glory of feeling guilty.

Was the paltry profit of an entry level job drained by childcare expenses really worth
missing out on so many cute moments?

And what is worth being so completely exhausted at the end of the week that you feel like you can’t give your all to your children, your husband and your boss?

The weekends only add to a destructive mental spiral of “self-second-guessing,” trying to run after toddlers and please a husband who just needs a moment of quiet, but doesn’t feel like he can ask for it.

Tension builds. You just can’t come up for air in a sea of worry and “to-do” lists that all revolve around fixing up a strained household in time to rush back to work on Monday morning.

It wasn’t supposed to feel like this? Was it?

On so little sleep, the day-to-day race of trying to manage each hour and everyone’s needs robs you of your ability to visualize your long-term goals in life.

You soon forget to ask what you want to do.

You soon forget to ask who you want to be.

You stop remembering all the effort your parents put into your childhood so you would grow up to realize your own great potential.

My best friend and I speak of this often. Over the past three decades, she and I have often been mistaken for sisters. We finish each other’s sentences, wear the same hairstyle and laugh at all the same stupid jokes. We look and sound alike. If I had a sister, it would be her.

But we have made very different choices in our lives.

She juggles a five year old and two stepchildren. She has an MBA from BU and worked for ten years at a Fortune 500 company, but quit at a time in her life when the balancing act was simply too much for her family. She could quit.

His salary was sufficient. And juggling the logistics and cost of childcare just didn’t make sense. It seemed financially and logistically stupid to stay at work. And on paper, it was.

Five years later, she wishes she had pushed through. While she is blessed with an amazing husband and children and a beautiful home on the water, she feels unfulfilled and regrets that she did not stick with her career. It is a decision that impacts her relationships and her view of herself. She hates that she is completely dependent on her husband for everything. It is a concept that is not that attractive to him either. He also feels helpless that he cannot fill that void. While it was hard for them juggling the baby, the kids, and the jobs, maybe today would be better for her if she had stayed at work.

And here’s the key. She feels she was being told by society that women could have it all. She thought she could just “jump back in” later.

That, like many women I know, has turned out to be completely unrealistic. More importantly, it is a bad strategic choice.

We often talk about our very different paths because while she marvels at my ability to balance horrifically challenging job schedules, I marvel at her ability to remember my birthday and to write thank you notes.

After the second kid, it seems like a woman has to pick her poison. Suffer now, or take “a few years off” and pay later. Women need to know that “taking a few years off” can often lead to a permanent condition of dependence and loss of identity.

I want to make a realistic, BS-free argument for suffering now and “pushing through.”

There are women who have no choice but to keep on keeping on at work for financial reasons.
There are also women who have the choice to “take a few years off” until the craziness dies down.

I am speaking to both of you.

For the record, I went back too early both times. The second time I paid a terrible price, a story I tell in my upcoming book, All Things at Once.

I realize that of all people, I am no expert on parenting or marriage. My story can inspire just as many women to dial back for fear of making similar mistakes.

Still, I want to put it out there because the conversation for women with newborn babies and careers is for right now, not later.

I suffered from a mild case of postpartum depression after my second child and the physical challenge of maintaining an overnight shift at CBS, a marriage, and two in diapers made the symptoms worse and everyone in the house paid the price.

But I am still glad I did it.

Today, my girls are 11 and 13 and while the household is still chaotic, it is nothing compared to those years after giving birth. My body and mind were out of whack and recovering. The needs of babies and toddlers were constant and drained the life out my sense of self and my family’s relationship with each other.

But it’s not forever.

Just as those adorable “mommy-moments” go away, so too does the over-exhaustion, the instinctive need to be in charge of your baby’s every move, and the guilt.

What you are left with is you.

And by the time they are in school and beyond, what are you?

That question can damage your relationship with your life partner and your children just as much.

You also may need practical options as a family or on your own.

If you are haunted by decisions made in the throws of breastfeeding, weight gain and night terrors, you may actually be left with a bigger challenge; how to jumpstart your sense of self.

I have friends who struggle with this question and because of that, also struggle to maintain their relationships. Yes, I am talking about being mentally and physically interesting to the one you love, your life partner.

This may sound harsh, but when you step out of the career track, those attributes get harder to maintain. It is a risk you take and it is worth talking about openly.

Don’t just assume that you will be the same cute, interesting girl who entered the work force and marriage ten years and three kids ago. That is the reality that many of my peers are coping with and it is not pretty.

It is also impractical to assume that your husband will always take care of you. It is just as foolhardy to think he will find your total dependence on him to be an attractive characteristic.

But there is some good news to report as I open myself up to another round of beatings on Twitter.

The attitudes of men seem to have really evolved on this issue. Over the past couple of years, four male friends and colleagues of mine have asked my advice regarding their wives and their apprehension toward returning to work in the months after the second or third child. Wondering how and why I did it. Looking for the right words to bring home.

And they have all expressed something completely new and different about how they feel. Each of them wanted their wives to go back, worried about exactly what I have expressed in this blog.

They also worried about finances because this economy poses risks that make them feel vulnerable. They need their wives to help secure the family’s future.

But they also felt a worry their partners would regret the choice personally. I know two of them were encouraging their spouses to stick it out for her sense of self, and ultimately for the sake of the relationship. These guys were not thinking of the short term. They’d rather NOT have someone there to make dinner and get the dry-cleaning and change diapers and to make their lives run smoothly. They’d rather have a partner, with her sense of self in tact in the long run. Wow.. refreshing!

But ultimately it is a woman’s dilemma. None of the options are easy. My contribution to the conversation is this. Strategically, women may want to “push through the pain.” Get the kids out of diapers and into school before pulling the trigger on any decision, IF they have the luxury of choice.

Mika Brzezinski is the Co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe. For more go to www.morningmika.com

Source: The Huffington Post

This makes me remember out first trip back home to Connecticut in October of 2006. He was walking and would touch and feel EVERYTHING. One Sunday we were involved in a benefit walk, (gotta do a little good in the neighborhood that brought you up) I was overjoyed because it was at my favorite park as a kid; Edgerton Park in New Haven, CT. This park did not have a swing set, slide or monkey bars. The fun was in the beauty. Its surrounded by a turn of the century (19th that is) elegant eight-foot stone wall complete with a greenhouse and Mansion. The walking paths are peppered around the enormous oak trees that remind you of the classic childhood story Hansel and Gretal.  There is even a bridge that is now nestled behind an overgrown forest. We use to walk across it when I was younger, but you can’t now. My all time fave, one huge hill I use to run up and down all day long as my parents watched sitting on a picnic blanket observing the view. (and their daughter getting so tired she would knock out in the back of the car and stay sleep most of the afternoon…I get it now!)

Walking into Edgerton Park with my son felt nostalgic. The first think he did was look at the colorful leaves on the ground and started throwing them all over. My mom and I looked in delight. It was his first Fall.

We may not have an Edgerton Park here in Florida but their is so much to do with our little ones during this season of visual change. Pull out the stroller and discover the world around you.

• Run a few errands and let your little one help you if they are old enough.  Pick up Thanksgiving decorations and the fixings for your holiday fest. Start a tradition they will long love. Plus, they love sitting in the car and looking out the window. Fall is the perfect time to gaze.

• Collect leaves. Rake a pile of leaves and have fun running and jumping into them for a while with your child. It will give you and your child a boost! After play time, collect your favorites and pull out the construction paper and let your little one create a collage. Also, teach them the different colors in each leaf…they will never know they are learning!

• Introduce the neighborhood. Take a stroll in your neighborhood and talk about the trees, colors, and buildings that make up your community. This will give your little one a sense of their surroundings. And you will get some much needed exercise.

• Go window shopping at the mall. Let baby and you be dazzled by the hustle and bustle of the lighting and people moving about as they shop. Take in the energy of the holidays. Moms, give yourself some Me Time and stop for a few minutes at the coffee shop. Latte anyone?

• Go to story time at a local book store. You baby/toddler/child will love it. Also pick up a few books on the season of fall and Thanksgiving to enjoy at home  on your front porch or patio during a warm morning paired with hot chocolate.

What are your Autumn Adventures?

Spa Day: What Working Divas doesn’t enjoy a day of pampering? (We do) Find a local spa that is budget friendly. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to ask for a group discount when you book your services. When picking your treatments, keep it simple and select a pedicure and a massage or facial. Therefore, everyone has a little escape before the chatter fest begins.

Sister Stay-cation:Everyone has a living room. So, why not make good use of it with your girls. For one thing, it’s free and has a cozy couch. Plus, there are no time limits, you know you and the girls can get to talking. Create a relaxing atmosphere by adding some throw pillows and some 80’s music on your stereo…opps…ipod. Pick out a signature cocktail or wine and have it chilled before hand. Do you have a sister friend that can cook? Start to organize the evening by emailing everyone to select the date and the dish they would like to bring. (if they can) Create a theme…movie night, music night, book club night, the creativity is endless. You’ll all have an evening to remember just like the ladies of “Waiting to Exhale.” And by all means…if your friends have a little too many cocktails, pull out the blankets. Have fun ladies!!

Sister Brunch: Try a nice restaurant in your area with a great atmosphere. There is nothing like great decor and wonderful customer service to make your event sizzle. To prepare, get a copy of the menu before hand to ensure everyone finds something on the menu they will enjoy. There is nothing like arriving at an event and you can’t find anything on the menu you like. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to know the cost before hand. Keep it light and fun.

Little Ones Play-date: In case there is a sister-friend that is unable get a baby sister, include the kids. Now this is not your traditional sister-friend get together, but it is a way everyone can take part in some sisterly fun. Find a local park that is in a convenient location. Create different activities for you and the kids. Read stories, have a kid’s theater, play kick-ball, hopscotch, jump rope, or double-dutch with your children and re-live your childhood. You will have a blast…trust us.

We be Clubbin’: Let your hair down and meet at a trendy night club and party the night-a-way with good music, good drinks and great friends. Let the DJ know you are having a girls-night-out and have him play a song all of you love and dance like a rock star! Tip: “Just Fine” by Mary J. Blige or “Let the Beat Hit’em by Lisa Lisa.

The Ultimate: A Sister-friends Getaway. If getting away isn’t an option. Research hotels in your area to indulge in three days of total bliss. Don’t plan much. The focus of this get together is relaxation and rejuvenation. Enjoy each other’s company by the pool, take in the spa or other hotel activities. Your goal: Fun with the girls and being recharged for your upcoming work week.

Karen Vaughn is the founder of the Working Divas Blog. A lifestyle blog that is geared towards work/life balance for women.  She is an awarding winning Radio Personality who is currently the evening host on Star 99.7 in Charleston and has worked in Miami, Indianapolis, Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Follow Karen On Twitter @ www.twitter.com/karenvaughn

The 2009 American Baby Best of the Year Award Winners:

1. Boppy

2. Johnson’s Bath Washes

3. Desitin

4. Fisher-Price Cradle and Swing

5. Johnson’s Baby Lotions

6. Boudreaux’s Butt Paste

7. Baby Orajel

8. Dr. Brown’s Bottles

9. Huggies Wipes

10. Infants’ Mylicon

11. A+D ointment

12. Bumbo Seat

13. Playtex Diaper Genie II

14. Fisher-Price Bouncer Seat

15. Fisher-Price Jumperoo