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Mom’s Groups

Published
by
amy
on November 11, 2008
in Uncategorized
. Closed

My daughter was almost 5 months old when I finally reached out to meet some other new moms in my area. I had a little postpartum depression and well, wasn’t feeling my best to go out and make some new friends. In my case I decided to meet people through Stroller Strides, the fitness program designed for moms to do with their babies in tow. For me, it was great, I was able to slowly and comfortably meet some people and get some exercise as well. My husband and my mom and my friends (who unfortunately lived too far for a walk and meet for a quick coffee) all encouraged me to get out of the house. After doing it, I wished I had earlier. What evolved from Stroller Strides was a sort mom’s group and playgroup made up of those of us who had babies within a few months of each other. It was an easy natural formation for us and today my daughter is almost 3 and I am still friends with the same group of women and our kids get together to play once a week.

After the experience that I had, I find it very important to encourage other expectant and new mothers to get out there and meet some other moms. Becoming a mother is a big adjustment and well, misery loves company. Just kidding!! Really, reaching out is a healthy, positive way to help make your way as a mom. Decades ago, families lived much closer, sometimes in the same neighborhoods making it easier to find help, advice, a sympathetic ear, but now many people live quite far from their relatives. Moms groups can provide that much needed support and connection.

Want to join a mom’s group? Look at your local coffee shops, libraries, toy store and baby stores. Moms groups often post on bulletin boards at these locations to reach out to moms. Look online, many well-organized groups will have a website for groups in your state. Some are very casual and free, some are organized and facilitated by a knowledgible leader/s with and will have some fees, but are still generally affordable.

Want to start a mom’s group? Reach out, post a sign at any place moms will show up. Talk to other new and expecting moms- I know that is not for everyone, but you might be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to meet a new mother. Once you have a group, find a meeting place, your home, rotate homes, a coffee shop, etc- decide what you’re comfortable with. Some groups will be easy to start and others might need some structure to help get the ball rolling with topics and discussions.

Join a stroller fitness group like Stroller Strides. There are branches reaching in many cities and towns across the country. If your not sure about being in an organized group or starting one yourself, it will be another avenue to meeting other moms.
Any way you decide to meet other moms, it can be a helpful and fruitful experience. It will offer you support and possibly some little friends for your little ones.

Some states asking baby companies to avoid BPA

Published
by
amy
on October 21, 2008
in Uncategorized
. 3 Comments

Errrrrrr! Really! I was really mad. When the FDA recently declared BPA safe I was so mad and disappointed I didn’t even write about it as you probably noticed. I felt duped, or that they would say ok actually we are going to, that was a mistake. And when they released their findings that BPA was safe last month I thought it was unconscionable enough that they released info on how to avoid it. Ummm, its safe but you shouldn’t use it. As the Washington Post states “The (FDA) report stands in contrast to more than 100 studies performed by government scientists and university laboratories that have found health concerns associated with bisphenol A (BPA).”

The good news, some states are now taking action contrary to the FDA’s findings. They are going to baby product companies to ask them to avoid putting BPAs in their products. In addition, thankfully, many manufacturers have responded to the public’s desire to have BPA-free products for their babies, kids and even themselves. I find it amazing that the manufacturers and retailers like WalMart and Toys R’ Us are beating the government to the punch. (and I rarely have good things to say about big box stores, but here’s one place they are getting it right) Wasn’t it enough that it has been banned in kid’s products in Canada? When the FDA held off its ban on BPAs everyone should have said, “hmmm, what did the Canadian government get to see that these guys didn’t?” or were the lobbyist’s influence as usual too much to resist? Whatever the reason they deemed it safe, I think it better that we avoid it.

Yikes-BPA in your plastic bottles
BPA update…
BPA Primer from GreenMommy.com

To School or not to School…




Published
by
amy
on October 14, 2008
in Uncategorized
. 2 Comments

After a lot of deliberation we had decided not to to send my daughter to preschool this year. Mostly based on lack openings and affordability of the 2 year old toddler programs in our area, we decided to wait another year. But one week before most schools began, I was talking to an acquaintance who told me about a very affordable school she was going to send her twin boys to. It was a little further away than any of the others we had looked into, but I decided to check it out. After the tour, and liking what I saw and heard, I decided we should enroll her and give it a shot. The director of the school alleviated any fears I might have about her not liking it by saying she could stop at anytime, and if she wanted- start back up again when she was ready.

The program is two days a week, Thursdays and Fridays for 2.5 hours each day. The first day the parents stayed, half in the class room and half at an orientation. The second day, the parents dropped their kids off at the classroom and headed off to have coffee in another room. I have to say that both days we left the house, she seemed pretty excited, but once we got there she didn’t want to get out of the car telling me it looked like they had enough kids already. After some coaxing she came out and we went inside. But after those first two days, there haven’t been any problems getting out of the car. In fact, we go in, hang up her jacket and lunch box, hit the bathroom for a last visit before they start their day and she excitedly bounces down the hall to her classroom. She says hi to her friends as they come in- sometimes even forgets to say good-bye to me.

I know, I am a stay at home mom, and I grappled with her going off so young while I had decided to stay home to be with her. But part of the reason I did, was because I saw it as a way for her to gain independence from me. We are together all the time, and she relies on me for everything, which is fine with me but I can’t do it forever and I feel like this makes the process less painless- probably for both of us. I feel so good when I pick her up and she has a big smile on her face eager to show me her newest art project. In the car ride home she tells me about her friends, and what happened at recess. I have to do a little prodding about what book they read, if she was a good listener and helper, but she seems to feel really good about each day there. For us it ended up the right decision, and I’ll keep her there as long as she enjoys it.

Safer Deodorants for you Mamas, et al

Published
by
amy
on September 30, 2008
in Uncategorized, healthy ideas and safe products
. 2 Comments

So I am back on my what seems to be on a never ending search to find an all natural deodorant that really works. Back in college (more than 10 years ago, and I’ll leave it at that) I heard a few reports about talc/aluminum, the number one ingredient in deodorant being tied to cancers, alzheimer’s and many other sad health affects. One report highlighted ties to breast cancer, think about where you put your deodorant and you put it on generally right after showering when you pores are open and most vulnerable to absorption. So I stopped using regular brands that contained aluminum and switched to all natural deodorants. Well, I smelled. No really, I spent a lot of money testing all sorts of brands, including Tom’s of Maine, Kiss My Face, Dr. Hauschka, Nature’s Gate, etc. And they didn’t work. Some had really nice light natural fragrances, but by mid-day trekking around campus, left me smelly. I have to point out that I am not an unusually sweaty person, but I work out (and in those days ran) and just couldn’t find one that worked. So I gave up after a couple of years of earnest effort and went back to wearing Secret.

Fast forward, when my daughter was born I almost entirely stopped wearing deodorant while I nursed her for the first year, I was more worried about some getting on her than I was about myself. But in the last 6 months or so I decided to give my search another chance. I figured with all the time that has passed surely someone has found the winning combination of ingredients that can match what aluminum does. So I went to Whole Foods where they have the best selection in my area, and asked lots of questions of what was new and worked well. First one I tried was a beeswax based formula and it worked ok, but it was yellow and anything it touched was stained yellow. That was no good, then I tried Tom’s of Maine Long Lasting Roll-On, I just felt like it never dried. The last one I am on is from Nature de France, le Stick, it has a nice light scent and works ok, I feel like if its an especially active day, reapplication is a must. I was going to try a rock crystal but was advised by a friend that they work pretty well but stings like crazy on a post shave application. For now I am using what I have but will probably try something else again. But I am going to try to stick with the safer all natural varieties. Do you have one you have tried and works? I’d love to hear about it and might even give it a try.

Back to School Time- Eco & Healthly Top 10




Published
by
amy
on August 26, 2008
in Uncategorized, healthy ideas, reading and safe products
. 2 Comments

After being in school for so long, it’s hard to shake the feeling I get at the end of every summer. School’s impending start: the cooler nights, back to school adverts, back to school deals and sales. I remember the dread of summer’s end, excitement for a new year, seeing my friends everyday, what to wear? what will my teachers be like? But I have a 2 1/2 year old, and although we looked into and applied to the few 2 yr old programs in our area, she isn’t going to school this year. Between the lottery system for placement slots and the other expensive options, she’s home with me. In lieu of attending school this fall, I am going to do some quasi-home schooling. My loose plan is to spend two days a week focusing on something, like nature, math, reading etc. and build it into our day through constructive play.

Nonetheless, school is on her radar and she’s interested. She sees school buses, and loves them (what’s not to love about a huge yellow vehicle filled with kids). She knows the neighborhood kids go to school and misses them while they are there. We live near a high school and she sees kids with backpacks, so she had to have one. And our wonderful mother’s helper, Zoe, even bought her back to school supplies for her backpack and they pretend to play school together and line up the dining room chairs like rows of seats on a bus. I have to say, as excited as I am for her eventually to go off to school, I also fret the day as I squeeze her extra hard when she role plays with me and bids me goodbye as she boards her pretend bus.

I know many kids are about to have that first day of school. So I’ve been hitting some of my favorite blogs to see what they are saying. I am picking my top 10 best Back to School articles with healthy, green ideas for your preparations and reading pleasure. Good luck on the first day of school!

1. Healthy Breakfast Ideas from Green and Clean Mom with great ideas to give your kids a good start to their school day
2. 12 Fabulously informative articles on Back to School in Great Green Style from The Daily Green
3. Back to school: Are we ready? Are we non-toxic? from The Environmental Working Group
4. Eco and Budget Friendly Back to School from Healthy Child, Healthy World
5. Safer Lunchbox picks and reviews from Safe Mama
6. Information and idea packed Eco-Friendly School Days from Nature Moms
7. Back to School Eco Style from EcoFabulous
8. Fabkins cute re-useable napkins giveaway for your kido’s lunchbox at Green Mom Finds
9. The Green Office’s school kits for eco kids of every age
10. Back to School 2008 shopping guide from the always fun and trendy Cool Mom Picks

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