MilwaukeeMoms

Junie B Jones Rocks the House!

Marianne Szymanski — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:35:58 GMT

On Saturday, my family went to the matinee First Stage performance of Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business. Whether you are familiar with the children's book series or not, this is a performane for anyone with a child who loves to laugh. The actors were outstanding and Junie B. herself was entertaining without even trying. The storyline revolves around kindergartner, Junie B. and her antics with her school mates and the expectations of becoming a big sister to a new baby brother. We liked the simple yet detailed set design, music and singing and the dancing was fun to watch.There is a little "toilet' humor, literallly. Not inappropriate but funny. Actually, really funny. If you are seated stage left or center, you'll even get a glimpse. Overall, we gave it 8 thumbs up (there are 4 of us).

My daughter has been involved in First Stage acting classes and I can tell you firsthand, the program emphasizes confidence building and the appreciation for drama, dancing and the spoken word.

For more information on Junie B. Jones, classes or other performances, visit firststage.org or call 414-267-2961.

My son and muscle spasms...

Shelley Walcott — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:21:00 GMT

My 10-month-old son took his very first little step yesterday. He's not quite walking yet, but I can hardly wait until he does.

At 25 pounds, he is so heavy to carry around... he actually cause me a health scare!

I kept feeling this weird little sensation on the right side of my chest. In the upper *** area.

Hypochondriac that I am, the first thing that I thought was... 'Oh no, a blocked artery!'

I ran to the doctor... gave her some inflated description of my symptoms. She hooked me up to an electrocardiogram. All was normal.

"But it feels weird!" I wailed. So she sent me off to a cardiologist.

The cardiologist ran some tests, all of which came back normal.

Long story short... he told me my problem sounded like muscle spasms.

"Do you lift weights?" he asked.

"No," I said. "The only thing I carry around is my son."

And then it hit me. And I felt really dumb.

I am so out of shape... my muscles are so lax... that carrying around my 10-month-old in my right arm caused me to strain a chest muscle.

So health scare over... thank God!

But it just may be time to get to the gym...

TOY TIPS in Pregnancy Magazine

Marianne Szymanski — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:45:00 GMT

Toy Tips will have a bi-monthly toy review in Pregnancy Magazine. See our pick in the upcoming May Issue or visit pregnancy360.com. Tell us about your best baby toy, it may just be the next one we choose. Of course, all toys are tested through the Toy Tips review process and final toy report cards are published!

Thanks, but no thanks, Countess

Karen Waldkirch — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:09:57 GMT

A couple of weeks ago on The Real Housewives of New York City, LuAnn de Lesseps, a.k.a. The Countess, visited a Boys & Girls Club to meet with and mentor a group of “Smart Girls.” After watching this segment of the show, I immediately wanted to quote Bethenny and shout: “Oh no you di-in’t!”

I give The Countess credit for “giving back” to the community, although when giving back requires that you reach your destination in a chauffeured town car, perhaps your perspective is a bit askew.

The session started with the girls and LuAnn writing down what they like best about themselves. Rather than LuAnn further reinforcing the girls’ self-esteem, she merely reinforced her own by telling the girls that she’s likeable, funny and organized. Nothing terrible there.

Where it quickly went downhill was when LuAnn quizzed the girls on the importance of being a Countess, which was met with blank stares and such disinterest, I almost heard crickets chirping.

And then, the “piece de resistance,” as The Countess would say, was when the girls talked about what they wanted to do when they grew up. One girl, who was tall and somewhat heavyset (as my mother would say), said she wanted to be a model. Thankfully, LuAnn agreed that she had a pretty face. But then, as a throw-away aside to the co-mentor, she said “Losing weight is the easy part.” Wow, Countess, thanks for crushing that girl’s dreams. The girl never mentioned her weight but LuAnn just had to point out her flaws in a session aimed at building up. Funny, how it ended with her tearing someone down.

The scene ended with her playing basketball with the girls and feeling like the girls just couldn’t get enough of her time with them. I think that if these are truly the “smart girls,” they had more than enough Countess for one day.

Watch yourself and tell me if I'm wrong:

Spring Break

Victoria Sanchez — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:19:36 GMT

Not heading out of town for Spring Break? Me neither. I’m going to try not to be resentful of my family and friends who are fortunate enough to be heading to warmer and sunnier parts this Spring Break. Instead, I’m going to give this “staycation” notion a try.

In thinking about what to do next week, I’ve realized that there are plenty of options to keep the family occupied. The Brewers are in town—we’ll take in a game. I love day trips to Chicago—there’s another day covered. I’m treating myself to a little “me” time by attending a gardening workshop and the first gathering of a new book club at the Bay View Library (more on that another time). Most of those things cost money, though. Since this is a staycation, I need to explore some not-so-costly options as well.

There are some wonderful, free Spring Break options available at the Milwaukee Public Library. We’ll be taking advantage of those as well. Preschoolers can enjoy a story time at their neighborhood library. Every afternoon Central Library is hosting a program. Options include: Game Day, Picasso Faces (art activities inspired by Picasso), and Book Jacket Bingo. Feel like taking in a movie? Check out Mill Road, Atkinson, and Martin Luther King. Have a teen at home? Encourage them to participate in the gaming program at the Capitol Library. There are plenty of boredom busters available!

While I may not come home with a great tan and sand in my ears, I think we’ve got the makings for a pretty great Spring Break right here at home.

How do you plan to spend Spring Break?

For a complete list of Spring Break @ the Milwaukee Public Library visit www.mpl.org

What's Your Excuse?

Molly Moua — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:32:00 GMT

When you buy a new car, you know you need auto insurance. When you purchase a new home, you know you need home insurance. But when you have a new baby do you instantly think about the need for life insurance? Typically, no - although our lives and families are the most valuable things to us. So, why do we put off buying life insurance? There are plenty of excuses we use, but NOT planning for the inevitable can ultimately cause hardship for the loved ones who survive us.

Here are a few common "excuses" I come across. They sound reasonable to most, but that's because most of us only know part of the story.

1) I have life insurance at work

Boy, if I had a nickel every time I heard this one...! Buying into a group life insurance can be economical, the premiums are fairly low and sometimes completely paid by the company. But like your medical or dental benefits, group life insurance is tied to your employment in the company. So, if you leave your job you also loose the group life insurance coverage. The US Department of Labor says people between the ages of 18 - 38 change jobs an average of 10 times. Even if you were able to stay with the same company for many years, very few of us will work all our lives. And trying to buy life insurance when you're older can cost you more.

Another thing to consider is the amount of life insurance you get. Does the death benefit/amount in a group life insurance adequately cover your personal financial needs or final burial expenses? You don't want to be under-insured on life insurance, so it's always best to talk with an agent who can help you assess how much coverage is enough. Don't let financial burdens way down your family.

2) I'm still young and healthy, I don't need it yet

Try selling life insurance to a 22 year old male who'd rather spend his weekly paycheck on music and fast food. Very tough, but still very necessary. The ideal time to buy life insurance was on your last birthday. Why? Because your age is a big factor in your rates, so the sooner you can lock into your young adult hood, the better. Plus as we age we are prone to develop medical conditions that may impact our eligibility and rates. According to the American Heart Association website, ‘almost two-thirds of Americans currently use medicines: 49 percent use prescription drugs and 30 percent use nonprescription medications'. Most of us will be dependent on some form of medication to prolong our lives, cure an illness or suppress a disease. It's a harsh statistic to accept, but a real part of our life. Trying to purchase life insurance after a medical condition can be difficult, better to be proactive before any potential issues arise.

Another reality is - we don't know when our number is up. We can go at any time, at any age. Life insurance is not just for the old, middle-aged or young - it's for everyone.

3) It costs too much

"Auto insurance - $30 per month, home insurance - $50 per month, life insurance - priceless!" I've seen first hand how NOT having life insurance can hurt a family. Plan now, to leave a financial income for your surviving dependents and provide them peace of mind - there's no value that can be placed on that.

Life insurance costs will vary and so do the rates and plans, you may be surprised at how inexpensive coverage can be. The best way to find out is to get an actual quote, then make a decision.

So, if you currently don't have life insurance - what's your excuse? What's it going to take to get you to step away from your computer monitor and call an agent for more details? Don't wait, don't procrastinate - it can be costing you more every year you put it off and could hit your family even more, when you're gone.

Allergy Freak Out

Roxanne Suson — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:15:42 GMT

Life-threatening illnesses aside, I can think of no other childhood ailment that causes more motherly distress than allergies. For the last few weeks, my daughter has been breaking out into hives. We don't know why, and it is really stressing me out. At first, we thought it was something she ate because the hives were all over, even behind her ears! I racked my brain, trying to think of what it could be, but she hasn't eaten anything new. She is not big on change when it comes to food.

We haven't changed lotions or soaps. She has eczema, so we only use unscented products formulated for sensitive skin. I only use Dreft detergent for her clothes.

The break outs have occurred at different times and on different days of the week. There is no pattern, no common denominator that is readily apparent to me. The not knowing is what is driving me up the wall.

My daughter is a trooper though. She takes her antihistamine with little complaint, but I think my freaking out is stressing her out. As I checked her hives for the umpteenth time the other day, she said, "Mom, this is getting annoying."

I've talked with other moms. Of course it didn't help my stress level when I found out from one mom that her daughter was diagnosed with "chronic hives" of unknown origin. Great.

We have an upcoming appointment with an allergist. I'm hoping we'll be able to nail it down.

I try and reassure myself that I am doing all that I can do, but I still worry.

I can't help it. I just want to figure it out and make it better. That's what moms do.

Going to bed angry

Karen Waldkirch — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:25:49 GMT

I know that they say that you’re not supposed to go to bed angry, but last night I did. He let me down and I kinda think he knows it. Seriously, how was I supposed to know things were going to go late?!

Wait. Did you think I was mad at my husband? No! I’m mad at my DVR! Last night was American Idol’s Top 8 Tuesday night performance. And thanks to an extra judge and a major “lil” beatdown, the show ran 9 minutes over! That’s fine, if you’re watching the show in real time, but like millions of Americans, I’m a time-shifter. In fact, even if I’m home, I wait 20 minutes before viewing my favorite shows.

But the powers that be at American Idol decided to improvise and let the show run over last night which means that those of us watching it recorded, missed Adam Lambert’s performance. Fortunately, I was able to watch it here online, but it’s totally too late for voting. I’m not a huge Adam Lambert fan (I think his performances are often over-the-top) but I think he should have gotten a fair shake. And he didn’t. I predict the judges will definitely use a save if he’s at the bottom due to the timing snafu.

As far as the other performances, they were pretty good, despite being given a rather uninspired theme for the evening (song from the year of their birth.) In my opinion, the bottom two were Lil Rounds and Scott MacIntyre. Lil was absolutely crushed by the judges, but I think for good reason. Nevertheless, I think the problem is that she just doesn’t understand their criticism, therefore, she’s not able to make the necessary changes. Scott is an amazing person but a limited performer. I don’t think his voice compares to the other guys in the Top 8. But nobody wants to say that out loud because of his visual impairment. I think he’s an inspirational story but I wouldn’t buy his CD.

The other contestants were all quite good, although I agree with Simon that Allison has a personality problem. She’s an old soul that doesn’t connect with the demographic from the show. That may prove her downfall, voting-wise, but I predict that the girl will have a record contract moments after leaving the stage. (Did you hear Kara’s comment in that regard? Remember, Kara has a publishing company and could make it happen.)

Quick final thoughts – Let’s stop putting anyone (Kris) in the mosh pit in front of the stage. It’s awkward in so many ways. Danny and Anoop are safe for now, but need a good change-up next week. I personally like Matt without the piano as a crutch.

What did you think?

I Thought We Were Done with The "N" Word....

Rochelle Fritsch — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:45:00 GMT

I’m going out on a limb here…in fact, I don’t even know if I’ll even post this article or not, but here goes.

I was just outside getting a breath of fresh air when some kids came down from one of the neighboring businesses in my building. Actually, they were about 24 or 25, which to me seems like a kid. Anyway, they were talking about the previous night’s exploits, etc. and while doing so – well, one guy anyway, kept laughing and talking while.....dropping the “N” bomb.

Yeah, he saw me sitting there. And, no, that didn’t stop the guy from using it. Maybe it’s because he – and his friends were black too. So, I guess in their eyes, that made it okay. How disappointing. Like my being black was kind of like a license to use the “N” word -- it was just a twist I’d never counted on.

So then I’m feeling like I’m in one of those hidden camera shows that spy on people to see what they’d do in certain situations. About two or three times, I started to say something, but I didn’t. I wanted to tell him to stop and think about it: that if a white person were using the same word around him, he’d probably be ready to fight. Or file a lawsuit. Or get someone fired. Honestly, I’m kind of kicking myself about it now, because I’ve been in situations where I’ve heard a white person saying that word, and I had no problem calling them out about it.

What was my problem here?

I just went back to my office thinking of how disappointed our forebears – black and white -- who fought to keep the “N” word from defining black people as something other than human, would be to hear that that ugly word is still around stirring up the same stuff it used to stir up since people started using it in the first place.

This is one of those cathartic posts, because there aren’t any cut and dried answers. We just have to put the “N” word down. EVERYBODY. Once, and for all.

Mom Confessions

Niki Cairns — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:32:58 GMT

Disclaimer: I am not a huge fan of Oprah Winfrey. However, I could not miss yesterday’s episode. The entire premise involved confessions from real moms about what it’s really like to be a mom. Some were funny, some were a tad sad, and many times I thought “Yep, that was me too.” The most common thread was that moms never knew how hard it would be, how many sacrifices we’d make, and just how much our life would change after having children. Watching this, I decided to list my confessions.

I think it’s fair to start from the beginning. I never thought I’d have children. It never seemed to be the right time, never thought we’d have enough money, didn’t really want to give up all of that quality “me” time. But then, of course, I got pregnant with Audrey. Suddenly I was forced into mommy mode. There were days I loved it, and days I wondered what in the heck I was thinking bringing a child into this world.

You know how some mom’s say “You’ll forget the pain right after you give birth, otherwise everyone would have just one child.”? I never forgot the pain. I guess that’s because I had an epidural that went hay-wire. Those 1 in whatever chances? I was the “1”. I went numb on one side of my body, had the epidural reinserted and then went numb waist up. By the time they had tried a third time, I had a gaping hole in my spinal column, and because we were too close to push-time, I gave birth naturally. That was SO not in my birth plan!

Breastfeeding and I did not get along. Audrey had trouble latching on which meant that the breastfeeding dominatrix (excuse me, I mean lactation consultant) was sent to “help” me. I’ve never felt more violated. I was sore, my head hurt like nothing else (good ol’ epidural headache), I was tired, and I was feeling guilty because I was not good at breastfeeding. I tried for three weeks to get the hang of it, but when I went took Audrey to the Pediatrician when she was 22 days old (I will never forget that day), and had a small nervous break-down, she assured me that all would be just fine if we switched to formula. I felt guilty about that incredible weight being lifted off my shoulder.

Audrey had colic, but I’m pretty sure I cried more than her during that period. My husband had to come home from work on more than one occasion, and my mother had to come up to give me a mental health break frequently as well.

I felt guilty wanting to get back to work just to give me some of my life back. Then I felt guilty being at work and sending Audrey to daycare. I felt guilty when she was sick and I had to take time off because I just knew they were angry at me for having a sick child. Finally I couldn’t take it anymore (and neither could my employer) and I started to stay home when Audrey was 10 months.

The first two months were hell. I didn’t know what to do with her. I couldn’t figure out how the daycare could manage feedings, changings, art projects, and naps while I couldn’t even figure out how to clean the kitchen AND take a shower in one day.

I rocked Audrey to sleep for her nap (and only her nap) until she was 3 years old. It was our special time and really the only time she’d snuggle up with me and let me rock her. It was a bit selfish too because I really wanted that 2-hour break that naps brought. I’d hear parents tell me that they’d never rock their child to sleep and I’d think “well then you’re missing out.” Judge me, and I'll judge right back I let her have a pacifier to sleep with until just after her third birthday. I’m still getting over it, and she acts as if the thing never existed.

I let her watch tv. Sometimes the show is educational, sometimes it’s for entertainment purposes only, and sometimes, I just really need to get something done. I buy as much as I can organic and natural (especially milk…can’t have all those growth hormones) thinking it will have a positive effect on her health. But I’m pretty sure McDonald’s French Fries and her most coveted food of all, Lucky Charms, negate all that nutrition.

I let her quit dance when she cried the entire class even though I swore I wouldn’t raise a quitter. I let her jump on the couches even though I used to get so angry when people wouldn’t even use a coaster. She’s gone outside without a coat on because I decided to pick my battles and I figured she’d discover rather quickly that she was freezing. She bumped her head once when we were at our neighbor’s and I said “Are you bleeding? No, than you’re fine. Go play.” I got looks from another mommy from that one, but then I realized she probably wasn’t perfect either.

In my heart, I know that I am doing the best that I can. So many of my confessions have had little, if any, impact on the overall well-being of my child. She’s happy, smart, and incredibly respectful and polite. Somewhere along the way, I must have done something right.

Scare tactics

Jeanne Wieland — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:03:00 GMT

Around the dinner table last night, our 13-year-old daughter told us about a program on Internet safety she'd attended at school.

It was led by a teacher who gave them the basics, and then a police officer who filled in the specifics. I'm sure whatever the teacher said is in my daughter's head somewhere, but she had lots of details about the police officer's portion of the talk.

"He said there was a 15-year-old girl who thought she was talking to another kid online but it turned out to be a 52-year-old man," my daughter recounted. "After she told on him, the man told her that he was going to track her down and kill her."

She then went on to say that the man was caught and brought to justice, currently serving 26 years in prison for whatever went on.

My husband and I were stuck on "track her down and kill her." We don't doubt that the predator said that or that it's important for kids to hear it. Still, it was jarring.

At this age, it's especially vital for kids to learn how they can become victims online. And if telling them that it might get them killed is the best way to make a case, then I guess I'm all for it.

You teach your kids about "stranger danger" starting at the younger ages, but moving it online gives it a new twist. Take the potential pool of strangers (AKA just about the whole world) and throw in this twist -- some of these people you don't know at all also are pretending to be someone that they're not.

And kids just reaching the point of realizing that there might be people in the world with less-than-honorable intentions now have to figure out what might be a multi-layered strategy to lure them in and trick them. Sad, but true.

The police officer's words might have been a little raw, but it seems they did the job. I hope many, many more kids hear them.

Man vs. Dog

Heather Dorsey — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:51:00 GMT

I've been kicking around some stuff in my head lately and decided that it might be helpful to write down a few thoughts. Mainly, I'm trying to decide if it would be better to find someone new to date, or get a puppy.

2009 has been quite a ride for me so far. My boyfriend and I broke up in January. Then my dad had a medical emergency; he's still recovering but doing well. Next I break my wrist. And, finally, my computer crashes three times in two weeks when I'm in the middle of a big research product at work, for my new job that I started right before Christmas. For whatever reason, I've taken most of these challenges in stride and have been grateful that I've just been able to focus on myself, my children, my family and my new job.

But then, like always, I start thinking that there is something more for me--something greener on the other side of the fence. Something that could make life a little more fun for me and the kids. What I can't for the life of me figure out, is if that something has two legs, or four paws. So, in the interest of figuring it out, I thought I'd make a list of the pros and cons. For those of you who have someone special in your life, of either the four-pawed or two-legged variety, please let me know if I am forgetting anything so I can make sure and make the best decision.

In my mind, the pros of getting a puppy include: unconditional love, entertainment, a walking buddy. They are loyal, protective, cute, funny, the kids would enjoy one, they don't leave the toilet seat up, if they nudge you in bed you can just scratch behind their ears and they will go back to sleep, they are not babies when they are sick. The cons include: dirty paws, being awaken at 5:06 in the morning (I know this to be a fact because we dog-sat over the weekend), chewed shoes, plants dug up, needing to pick up the dog litter in the yard, vet costs, kennel costs, dog hair that needs to be vacuumed or swept up constantly.

The pros of a new guy can be awfully similar (except many do leave the toilet seat up and they act a little differently in bed), but it's a little trickier. With dogs, if you do enough research, you can pretty much figure out the basic temperament that you are going to get. For example there are breeds that are more social, or more protective or working dogs. With guys this can be a little more challenging to figure out. What you think is a working guy could actually turn out to be a more laid back, docile guy. Or, you could get a guy who is overly-social or too protective. The thing is, though, it's hard to know from the get-go. Just like a puppy does not usually start to really settle down and settle in for about a year, you don't really know a guy's true colors until about the same amount of time has passed.

Pros of the right guy, for me, though, would probably include: entertaining, smart, cute, funny, loyal, they shovel (or snow blow), they cook (might as well shoot high), they like to travel, they mow the lawn, they are hard-working, they remove their muddy shoes at the door. (And thanks to Jeanne, for reminding me--they can remove mice from mouse traps!) The cons include: they can be time-consuming, they want you to cook for them, do their laundry, they are not always content to let you sleep when you are tired, they may not agree that you need another pair of black shoes, a new leather couch in the family room, or a girl's weekend in New York.

I know that I've only touched the surface of this topic. So if you have anything to add to get me off the fence one way or another, I'd appreciate it. The kids and I recently dog-sat for a Teddy Bear dog named Mindy. She was cute as all get out. Miranda loved her. Mindy loved me and shadowed me for two days. Apparently it's typical for this kind of dog to latch on to one person and I reminded her most of her mother, I'm sure. It was definitely fun to have a dog in the house again. But I wasn't too crazy about the orange puke stain I found on the dining room carpet after she left.

How we spiced up our weekend

Rebecca Christman — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:37:24 GMT

It’s been one week and I’m proud that I’ve adhered to my new fitness routine, and as minimal as it is — it’s better than nothing.

18-month-old Anika has her own ideas of how I should spend my time. And “Exercise for Mom” is not on her agenda.

But on Sunday afternoon, Anika was completely entranced by a puzzle, so I took advantage of the opportunity and did some sit-ups.

I did ten reps before noticing the potential situation developing in my kitchen. Anika opened the refrigerator and in her hands was a bottle of hot sauce with a flaming skull on it. She ran to me, jumped on my stomach and touched the bottle to my cheek.

I splashed water on my burning skin and grabbed the bottle away from her. But before I was able to get the bottle, she had opened it up and spilled it all over the kitchen floor.

After I wiped up the spill in record time, I saw it — a huge fingerful of hot sauce heading directly into her mouth. I tried to stop it, but she was too quick.

I waited for the reaction.

No tears, no crying, but instant puking all over my shirt and her dress. Cough, cough repeat. Cough, cough, repeat.

I tried to get her to drink milk, knowing it could tame the burn. I cut up a banana, but Anika didn’t want anything near her mouth.

I didn’t know whether to call the ER or Poison Control, but I was not looking forward to explaining this to anyone. I was ready to dial Poison Control when it stopped. She cuddled up next to me and we sat there for a half hour.

Eventually, she got her energy back and returned to her favorite puzzle.

I sat right next to her and played with the puzzle, too. I did not go back to sit-ups or any other exercise promise I made to myself for the day. I did not pass go, I did not collect $200.

By dinner, the trauma wore off and Anika was back to her hearty appetite. Me? Well, I'm still trying to recover.

We all know what those days are like, so in case you missed my last post, read below for some contest info …

If you ever have those days when you feel your life has turned upside down, know you are not alone. In this month’s metroparent, there are two pages that have been turned completely upside down. Send us a picture of you or your kids reading metroparent upside down and I’ll send a few winners some tickets to Betty Brinn's Children Museum! Send your pics to me at rchristman@metroparentmagazine.com.

Milwaukee Mom Winner Wieghs In on Challenge So Far

Catherine Andersen — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:20:00 GMT

Sunday was our second group meeting, and I am pleased that Jennifer Pelot Rysewyk, one of the Milwaukee Moms’ winners, has agreed to give you an update on her experience so far. – Read on! Coach C.

When I entered and won entrance into the SLAM BAM Challenge, I had no idea what I was in for. I certainly had no idea that I’d be waking up at 5 am, gagging down a protein shake, and getting myself to boot camp on time every weekday morning.

These past 3 weeks have been intense, to say the least. I went from eating whatever I wanted, and calling going up two flights of stairs to my office my “daily exercise”, to working out harder than I have since high school and eating an extremely healthy diet. After just 3 weeks, I am still struggling because I know just how far I have yet to go to reach my goals, and it really scares me. But I’m also enjoying being able to see accomplishment and success in every day.

Each day the healthy eating gets a little easier, I am a little bit stronger, the intensity of it all scares me a little less, and I find I'm becoming a happier person than I’ve been in years. It’s so much more than I dreamed could happen in just 3 weeks. I can’t wait to see what happens after 3 months!

The Scout Store

Marianne Szymanski — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:33:00 GMT

If you read my blog on Scouting for Food, you know I love being a Tiger Cub leader. This week, my son and I visited the Boy Scout Museum. Did you know we even had one in Milwaukee? I didn't and it's fabulous. Once of the biggest Scout museums in the country, the exhibits include collections of old Cub and Boy Scout uniforms (for boys and leaders), scout handbooks over the years, patches, badges and a general history of scouting. This is a great place to go with dad, granddad and any scout or non-scout to learn about the history of boy scouting. The scout store is in the same building and it was worth the hour visit. If you have a little cub scout or plan to sign your son up for scouting, I recommend a visit! Here's the link... http://www.milwaukeeboyscouts.org/site/c.huLSJ6MUKxH/b.1171367/k.BEDE/Home.htm

Reality check

Karen Waldkirch — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:59:44 GMT

One of the reasons I enjoy watching reality TV shows is because I like to think about how I would do in place of some of the contestants.

For example, it’s pretty typical to hear me say things like this while watching television:

“Well that was dumb. Everyone knows you shouldn’t call yourself the leader. Dude, you are SO voted off.”

“Just jump. Sure it’s scary, but you’ll be done WAY faster than the teams that are building the shutters.”

“Oh, why did she choose THAT song?! Everybody knows that’s an untouchable classic. Plus, she was kinda pitchy, dawg.”

See, the funny thing about me saying this about Survivor, The Amazing Race or American Idol is that, in reality, I would be THE WORST REALITY SHOW CONTESTANT EVER. I am fully aware of the fact that I would annoy any other contestants and repel viewers like no other. Why? First of all, I have zero artistic talent. Secondly, because I’m CRANKY. Thirdly, I’ve never been described as low-key. Fourth, I don’t like to eat icky and/or live things, which, as we all know, is key to success. (Except on American Idol. But hmm…maybe that would be a fun twist!)

Nevertheless, that’s half the fun of watching these shows – sitting comfortably on my couch, telling far less lazy people what they’re doing wrong.

Hey dawg, pass the popcorn please.

The Unreal "Real Housewives"

Karen Waldkirch — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:56:00 GMT

I’m a huge fan of the reality TV show The Real Housewives of New York City. It airs on Bravo TV on Tuesday nights at 9pm. I’m not telling you this because I’m endorsing or promoting this show. I'm not. For me, it’s truly just a guilty pleasure. In fact, the only time I watch it is when I’m folding laundry, which I think is incredibly ironic. I’m doing something “housewife-ish” while watching a show about women who are most definitely NOT housewives.

But there’s something about Jill, LuAnn, Alex, Bethenny, Ramona and Kelly that I find darkly fascinating. First let me clear one thing up: I don’t like most of these women. I cannot think of a time in my life when I could be their friend. We have absolutely ZERO in common. Still, I’m obsessed with watching them.

I watch The Real Housewives because, ironically, they’re NOT real housewives. (In fact, two of them aren’t even married.) They are most definitely NOT housewives, at least not the ones that I know. My housewife friends and I don’t spend $8,000 on a single shopping trip unless it involves a car, college tuition or a giant sectional couch. When we take our kids to camp, it’s in the back seat of our minivan, not in a private jet. I’ve never scolded someone for not calling me “Countess.” And I can’t think of the last time that I “summered” anywhere, let alone The Hamptons.

I think that’s why The Real Housewives is entertaining – because it’s a departure from everyday life. Imagine a reality show about my life. Yeah, YAWN, right?! Imagine watching me fold laundry or make a feeble attempt at cooking dinner or try to dig ANY information out of my high school daughter. My friends and I do this every day. Like so many others, we’d love to see our lives on steroids!

OK, so let’s dish a little about TRHONYC: Did you hear that LuAnn is separated from The Count?! Could it be that she looks at him differently ever since Ramona called him old? Do you like Kelly? I didn’t care for her negative attitude at Jill’s volunteer meeting but I also thought that Bethenny was VERY harsh. And is it possible for Ramona to ever make a tactful comment? I hope not – it’s so fun to watch! Why do I like Alex and Simon so much? Is it because, compared to the other Housewives, they live in a pretty crappy house but spend oodles of money on clothes? Yeah, that’s it.

So, who’s your favorite Unreal Real Housewife?

Just the Facts, Ma’am

Victoria Sanchez — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:21:33 GMT

Sergeant Joe Friday from the old television show “Dragnet” is remembered for his oft repeated saying, “Just the facts, ma’am”. There is an entire group of readers for whom this phrase applies. Most adult readers have a preferred genre. I’m a fiction gal. Adults sometimes think that children want only storybooks. Storybooks are easier and perhaps more fun for adults to read to children.

Truth is, however, many children prefer non-fiction. I call these kids the “just the facts ma’am kids”. Often, but not always, boys are the readers that seek facts. They want to know about the natural world, science, and tangible information. You know these kids when you meet them. They can rattle off the names of the entire dinosaur kingdom without blinking an eye. They can tell you all you ever wanted to know about how gadgets work.

These kids may, in fact, be on to something. More and more, educators are encouraging children—young and old to read non-fiction. The information gained from reading non-fiction helps children build background knowledge that is necessary for the reading students eventually encounter in science, social studies, and other subjects. And, exposure to non-fiction helps to create life-long learners by fueling and encouraging children’s natural curiosity.

So, don’t be afraid to seek out a new section at the library the next time you’re selecting a book. You just might learn something!

Ask your librarian to recommend great non-fiction titles or visit www.mpl.org and check out Kid Zone.

Stop the "R" Word

Linda Mulholland — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:09:04 GMT

Sometimes we don't mean what we say. We have all said something hurtful without thinking and possibly hurt a friend's feelings in the process. Even President Obama said something he didn't mean. It just slipped out - comparing his inept bowling to a Special Olympics moment was a moment that I am sure he would like to forget. My son, who still thinks the president is a good guy - can't believe that a president could say such a thing. Andrew has started talking about all of the things that he and his friends with disabilities CAN do to try to offset the president's gaffe. Not a bad plan. This is a good learning moment for everyone. At the end of the day there was a lot of chatter for Special Olympics and people with disabilities. From a PR standpoint what was bad for Obama was great for special needs. Never have I seen so much press for special needs. The point is that the slip-up was too easy and words do hurt, even if it wasn't meant as a diss on people with intellectual disabilities. As an educated society, we should match our language with our growing acceptance and tolerance of physical and/or intellectual differences. Now is the time to continue the conversation that President Obama inadvertantly started a few weeks ago. Let's make it a pact to watch what we say and show respect for people with differences. That is why I support the Special Olympics cause to stop the use of the "R" word. It is another example of a meaningless hurtful word. Join Special Olympics Chairman, Tim Shriver and 34,090 people and sign the petition to stop the "R" word. It is time to show RESPECT - that is a better "R" word, I think.

Mothers & More Seasoned Moms Group

Nancy Donahue — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:59:45 GMT

I had a fantastic seasoned moms group last week and I am so excited. First of all I should say what a seasoned mom is. It's basically a smaller group of women in Mothers & More with school-aged kids. Some have teenagers and young kids, some have babies, and an older child, and I have two elementary aged kids. We get together and share our experiences, and sometimes it's a set topic like "How to handle bullies.", and sometimes it's all about the mom.

Right now I joined a group of seasoned moms that get together every two weeks to go through a book by Cheryl Richardson called "Life Makeovers". I like the way the book is set up. You read a chapter every week, and you have homework from the book. Week 10 was "Stop Juggling and Start Living". Our take action challenge was to consider all the "balls" you are juggling in life and pick one to "drop". Then look at how it impacts your life. In other words, it 's a way to drop an activity that is not a priority, but sucks time from the activities you really want to focus on. The book gives us permission to "Drop the ball" on an activity that is keeping us from focusing on our family or ourselves. Life won't end if I don't volunteer for every field trip at school, or every art class.

This week is "Check under the Hood" week. In previous chapters we have identified our goals. Now we need to check under the hood and find out what kind of person we need to be to accomplish that goal. She breaks it down into 4 steps:

1.Identify someone doing what you want to do successfully: For me this is a person juggling a career and family.

2. List 3 qualities that contribute to that person success: I am thinking of: 1.organization, 2. supportive husband, 3. a calm cool and collected personality.

3. Pick one of those qualities that you need to develop. Well, I think I need organization, and calmness....

4. Look for practical ways to develop this quality. I need to develop the systems to handle the kids schedule as well as my own, with back-ups in case of emergencies.

This week's homework is a tough one for me. As a stay-at-home mom of 8 years it's difficult to imagine what systems need to be in place to handle all the kids school work, play dates, and extracurricular activities, as well as a career. I am concerned that I will fail my family if I go back to work. I think it's mostly the fear of the unknown though, and perhaps if I worked on organizing how this would work day to day, I might ease my mind.

Well, time to get organized!

Nancy Donahue