BABYOURSELF Magazine - Back to School 2013

babyourself BACK TO SCHOOL 2013

sanity for sleepless mommies

Orlando

pampering for preggos



Jana

Allsbrook

babyourself ’s exclusive follow-up interview



ORLANDO’S

TOP

PEDIATRICIANS did yours make the list?

School vaccinations:

?

Back to School 2013

Shots or Flumist

by

Subscribe online at www.babyourself.com

B T nursery

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babyourself back to school 2013

CONTENTS

FEATURED NURSERY Robot themed collection

18

The Back-to-School Issue

Special Features 8 – XL106.7’s Jana – Follow up interview with this busy mom and DJ 12 – Fashion – Back to school with style and character 14 – Orlando’s best pediatricians – Who made the list?

15 – Picking the perfect pediatrician – Tips to make your decision easier 18 – Featured nursery – Robot nursery to grow with Wesley

17

For the Preggos & Mommies FRUITY SALSA Perfect for your Labor Day cookout or a PTO meeting

17 – Food – Fruity salsa 22 – Reality Chic – Usually the puppy comes BEFORE kids

Expert Advice 16 – Ask the Pediatrician – Flu shots for children

20 – Move of the Month – Back to fitness

8

ON THE COVER

12

We first caught up with Jana, radio host at XL106.7 FM, in January 2011 as she was preparing for the birth of her daughter. Now, almost two and a half years later, life hasn’t slowed down for this busy mom and DJ. Whether she’s entertaining XL106.7 listeners with celebrity gossip or inviting you into her busy life – one listen and you’ll think of Jana as your new best friend.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK.COM/BABYOURSELF

16

BACK TO SCHOOL FASHION Fashion with character

FLU SHOTS Who should receive the flu shot, and when?

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @babyourself

Time for family.

Time for baby.

Now it’s time for you!

Just two 20 minute workouts twice a week can get you back to the woman that you once were.

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babyourself LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Which momma are you?

As summer comes to an end and we prepare to send our children back to school, it occurs to me that there are three camps of mommas. The first camp are moms who become incredibly emotional about the thought of sending their little ones off into this next phase of growing up, and purchase not 4 but 5 boxes of Kleenex – 4 for the classroom supply list and 1 to keep for their own personal use.

The second camp of moms have a countdown of the days ‘til school starts! These moms look forward to the peace and quiet of an eight-hour day when the kitchen stays clean and the doorbell stays quiet. These moms do a happy jig in the car as their little one enters the school doors, but also look forward to their return at the end of the day.

The third camp of mommas are the homeschool mommas that, in my opinion, deserve a special place in heaven for possessing a certain quality of patience that I can’t even comprehend! I have no idea how they juggle teaching, cleaning and parenting all at the same time.

This back to school issue was written by all camps of mommas. I belong to the second camp of mommas. While I love my children to pieces, I look forward to that time of year when they head back to school. I am definitely more available for some of my favorite parts of my job when the kids are in school – like visiting a photoshoot for an upcoming feature! This past month I had the awesome chance to visit the photoshoot of Jana, XL106.7’s mid-day radio host. We reconnected after two and a half years (we featured Jana’s pregnancy back in February 2011!). I am blown away that Jana is about to choose a preschool for Allsbrook! You can find her follow-up interview on page 8.

As Jana is experiencing, when it comes to choosing a preschool for your child, there are SO many directions you can go. With choices ranging from a private or religious school, a public school or homeschool, the choice ultimately comes down to which fits best with your family’s priorities and with your child’s personality and needs.

babyourself Volume 4, Issue 4 ~

Back to School 2013

www.babyourself.com www.facebook.com/babyourself www.twitter.com/babyourself

EDITOR IN CHIEF kristi corley

MANAGING EDITOR elisabeth myrick

CREATIVE DIRECTOR elisabeth nixon

EDITORS jennifer hatcher elisabeth myrick

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS greg gordon, m.d. jennifer hatcher vickie myers elisabeth myrick jackie vega orlando mom’s guide

PHOTOGRAPHY elisabeth nixon photography

WEB AND DESIGN andy corley

As you send your little one to preschool or the big kids back to school, it’s a great opportunity for you to get back to fitness! On page 20, our fitness guru Jackie (who is in camp 1 AND camp 2!) shares some awesome tips to encourage you to put fitness on the family calendar!

Picking a pediatrician is another choice that parents must face. And if you’re anything like me, it may be a choice you have to revisit a number of times – if you move to a new part of town or decide your family health needs have changed. We’ve put together an “Orlando’s Best Pediatricians” list on page 14 (written by a camp 2 momma), and some questions to ask yourself about choosing a new pediatrician on page 15, (also written by camp 2 mommas!) If you’re curious about the flu shot and whether it’s the right time to give it to your little one, Dr. Gordon gives you great info on page 16. (Dr. Gordon, father of EIGHT – well, his wife is a momma of camps 1, 2, and 3! She takes the prize!)

So, which momma are you? Will you tearfully send your child to the bus stop or do a happy dance when the first school bell rings? Whichever you are, I hope you are encouraged by this issue.

To advertise in

babyourself

(both magazine and online)

advertise@babyourself.com

Kristi Corley

editor in chief kristi@babyourself.com

6

babyourself.com • Back to School 2013

SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE @ babyourself.com



Jana

We first caught up with Jana, radio host at XL106.7 FM in January 2011 as she was preparing for the birth of her daughter.

Now, almost two and a half years later, life hasn’t slowed down for this busy mom and DJ. Whether she’s entertaining XL106.7 listeners with celebrity gossip or inviting you into her busy life – one listen and you’ll think of Jana as your new best friend.

Allsbrook A babyourself interview

Photography by Elisabeth Nixon Photography Hair & Makeup by Salon 510

July 2013

BY: We last connected with you when you were still pregnant.

Bring us up to speed on life!

Jana: Speed is the right word. Everything is so GO, GO, GO!

Allsbrook is two and a half now... and fast! We just moved into a new home and now we are all about settling in. Work is going well and I've even added on a few more shows and stations across the country.

BY: Tell us about your typical day as a working mom.

Jana: Busy, indeed. I thought I was busy before baby, but now

January 2011

it’s at a whole new level. I usually get a few minutes of quiet time before my daughter wakes up and try to spend that time catching up on work, emails, and house work. Then it’s all about getting my daughter up, fed, clothed, and off to my Mom's. I head into the studio and put in a full day of numerous shows, meetings, and office work. Then, home to cook dinner, play, and rest for a few minutes before we all head to bed. It's non-stop!

BY: What were some of your "must haves" for Allsbrook's child care?

Jana: I am beyond blessed. My mother watches AJ during the

day. We are just now starting the process of looking for some day care/preschool options. In my mind I want the ability to monitor what is happening from a remote location. I'm leaning toward the preschool at our church.

BY: How do you find balance between working and spending time with Allsbrook and Andy?

Jana: I don’t think working moms ever really find a balance.

When you are at work you want to be with your family. When you are with your family, work creeps in. Just recently I have had to learn to say NO. I can't add anything else to my plate; it's not fair to my family or me.

BY: What was the thing you most feared about becoming a mom? Was it really as bad as you imagined?

Jana: I wondered if I

would know what to do.

And guess what... you don't, some of the time.

But it’s okay, I have a great network of Mommy friends and family that I can talk with. I just try and figure it out as we are going along. When in doubt, ASK! BY: What is your favorite thing about being a mom?

Jana: It's a level of love

that can't be explained. She is my most favorite part of my every day. Now that she is talking, and showing her little personality... it just gets better each day.

BY: What toddler item can you not live without?

Jana: Right now for us... it's her swim lessons.

She just graduated from ISR Swim training and it's been incredible. Our new home has a pool and she is convinced she is a fish. We have to pull her out of the pool when she gets tired. Brynn, her instructor, gave her such a great foundation of water safety. I can't wait to continue working with her and teaching her all I can about swimming. It's a great family activity for us all. FUN TIME! Other than that, her iPod Touch is loaded with games, puzzles, and fun activities to keep her busy during long car rides or when she needs some quiet time.

BY: What were you not expecting?

Jana: The exhaustion. The early months... brutal. But even once things start to level out with sleeping and routines, I never feel rested.

If I wake up early or in the middle of the night my brain clicks into over-drive thinking of all the things that need to be done. It's like I can't sit still. There is ALWAYS something to do.

BY: How was potty training?

Jana: Well, we are still in the midst of this now.

It's going well and I've even lost a few pounds!

I didn't realize that when that sweet little lady needs to go, or heads for the bathroom... I must drop whatever I'm doing and beat her there.

It's been comical at times. But I'd rather jump across the house in one leap than deal with diapers! She's been a real champ with it all.

BY: After having kids, it's so easy for moms to feel frumpy. What is the one thing you do to help yourself feel beautiful each day?

Jana: I struggle with this all the time. But I've just had to let it go. I look how I look. I try to eat, sleep, and take care of myself the best that I can. When I have a big event or filming coming up, I always go for cut and color. It always makes me feel better about my appearance.

And when you feel better, you look better!

BY: Now that you've made it through the first years, what is your number one piece of advice for new moms?

Jana: Don't hover. Your child needs the opportunity to become themselves. Sometimes that means a stumble, a fall, or getting frustrated when they can't figure something out. If you jump in and do everything for them, it won't help them learn. Try and relax and enjoy each moment... it is gone SO FAST. y

b

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babyourself.com • Back to School 2013

The

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babyourself FASHION

I’ve always had a dream to inspire women, young and old.

Two years ago that dream came true when I launched i am mermaid LLC, a wave of trendy t-shirts and accessories full of inspiration. I’m humbled to know that i am mermaid has made a huge impact on the lives of women and girls who are inspired each day through the motivating and encouraging messages on our products, starting with our motto, “there are a million fish in the sea, but me, i am mermaid.” If we can get our young ones to grasp this truth early, to know there is nobody else like her – well, this is the game-changer. ~ Haley Hunt Castille

Back to School in

&

Style Character! with

Once upon a time, a little girl was being called “Dumbo” at school. Little did she know that this teasing would one day become an inspiration for one of her T-shirt designs.

With all of the sports I ever attempted to play and the endless piano recitals and theatre camps I performed in, my mom was the best coach I ever had. Of course, cheering from the stands and showering one’s child with bouquets of flowers is what all great mommies do, but it wasn’t these moments of adoration that prepared me to take on the game of Life. My mom’s best coaching moments came during that pre-game preparation. They came in the things she did for me before the game even began.

The beginning of each school year starts a new journey, and all the new faces and the terrifying, unfamiliar territory takes big courage to face. When I was in kindergarten, I was bullied and called names. Many times the teacher wasn’t there to stop it. In those moments, the words from my life-coach, my mommy, played like a broken record and helped me conqueror my fears, even at age five. She had prepared me for the best times and the inevitably tough times.

Now it’s your turn, Coach Mom! You’ve got the opportunity to help your children triumph by instilling values from the very beginning of their lives. Don’t underestimate the power of your simple car-ride talks or bedtime chats, because these are the game-changer moments.

This is when the preparation takes place.

Build that confidence in your child by letting her know just how unique, awesome and special she is.

All things i am mermaid available online at: http://iammermaid.wix.com www.facebook.com/iammermaid

babyourself.com • Back to School 2013 photos courtesy Landon Hendrick & Kim Maye

13

Orlando’s best pediatricians

by Orlando Moms Guide

1

#

Knowing just how important our kids’ healthcare is to us, we recently asked our readers to name Orlando’s Best Pediatrician. Using the data provided, we compiled this list with hopes that it might help you find just the provider you are looking for to care for your kiddo’s health.

The top 10 most voted for doctors are listed by rank, followed by all other nominees listed in alphabetical order.

Brooke Britton

1. Britton, Brooke (Pediatric Associates of Orlando 32803) 2. Middleton, Michael (Middleton Pediatrics 32803) 3. Gordon, Greg (Pediatric Associates of Orlando 32803) 4. Coffman, Greg (Pediatric Associates of Orlando 32803) 5. Franz, Cornelia (The Franz Center 32806) 6. Kayaleah, Lauri (Personal Pediatrics 32819) 7. DiDea, Mark (Pediatric Associates of Orlando 32803) 8. Chong, Robert (Lake Mary Pediatrics 32746) 9. Trout, Pamela (Interlachen Pediatrics 32751) 10. Lacy, Thomas (TLC Pediatrics 32817) Alber, Thomas (Lake Mary Pediatrics 32746) Belsare, Devyani (Orange Pediatrics 32714) Burns, Andrea (Pediatric Associates 32701) Carr, David (Pediatrics Plus 32806) Casler, Alix (Physician Associates) Cobian, Larissa (RDV Sportsplex Pediatrics) Craven, Nicole (The Franz Center 32806) Elias, Sally (TLC Pediatrics 32817) Emmert, Melanie (Interlachen Pediatrics 32751) Fields, Angela (All About Kids Pediatrics 32819) Gagliano, Nicole (Physician Associates 32750) Gans, Barbara (Pediatric Associates of Orlando 32803) Holson, Brenda (Interlachen Pediatrics 32751) Landis, Miles (Lake Mary Pediatrics 32746) Lim, Iris (Pediatric Associates of Orlando 32803) Madden, Mitchell (Physician Associates 32746) Mandani, Sadiq (Oviedo Children’s Center 32765) Miller, Maria (Oviedo Pediatrics 32751) Morales, Sandra (Physician Associates 32828) Nielsen, Annette (Tree House Pediatrics 32832) Reguero, Lillian (Perinatal Center PA 32806) Ryan, Susan (Pediatric Associates of Orlando 32803) Summers, Andy (Baldwin Park Pediatrics 32814) Ward, Julie (Interlachen Pediatrics 32751)

2

#

Michael Middleton

3

#

Greg Gordon

The Orlando Mom's Guide has been a reliable resource since 2008. A Facebook-based tool, the Mom's Guide is written by a local mom of four, and exists to take some of the guesswork out of raising children by providing unbiased reviews of local businesses, timely information about family-friendly events, and helpful encouragement for hard-working moms like you.

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/orlandomomsguide

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babyourself.com • Back to School 2013

Picking the Perfect Pediatrician

by Elisabeth Myrick and Elisabeth Nixon

Choosing a pediatrician can be a daunting task – whether you are pregnant or a momma of four. This is the person who will (hopefully) answer your sometimes crazy questions, calm your fears when your kiddos are sick and help guide the health of your child for years to come.

Whew! It’s a bit nerve-racking just to think about! But never fear – we’re here with our top tips for picking the perfect pediatrician!

1 Think local

Clicking with a team of doctors is one thing. Driving across town with a crying, sick child (because their office is located in Winter Park and you live in Apopka) is another. There are great pediatrician offices located all over Central Florida, so make sure you find one that is close to home.

“sick” 2 Designated waiting room

It may not seem like a big deal until you are sitting in the waiting room for a well-child check-up and a toddler oozing green snot coughs all over your 6-month-old.

3

Training matters

Visit the practice’s web site and read up on where the doctors went to school and where they did their training. If they don’t readily disclose that information, that’s a red flag.

4 Practice size

Are you okay with seeing a different doctor when your little one gets sick? If not, try and find a smaller practice – but remember that can lead to longer wait times.

Also, make sure you are okay with a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant treating your child as many large practices employ them to ease the workload (Bonus: many times these healthcare providers can spend more time answering questions!).

5

Specialized Staff

Related to the practice size, finding a pediatrician’s office that offers lactation consultants or other specialized health care providers can be a huge help if you run into any issues.

doctor C?

for every age

Questions to Ask Yourself: • Does the practice accept your insurance?

• Is the waiting room clean and kidfriendly?

• Is the office staff patient, friendly and helpful?

• What is the usual wait time for a sick visit and a wellness visit?

• How does the office handle afterhours questions or emergencies?

• Do they have weekend and/or evening hours?

• Is the nursing staff positive and good with children? (They give the shots!)

doctor D?

• Does the doctor seem to actually like children?

doctor B?

• Does the doctor welcome your questions and take time to answer them thoroughly?

doctor A? doctor E?

• Does the doctor support any specific parenting philosophies that you may have? (vaccinations, extended breastfeeding, etc.)

• Do you know and like the other doctors or providers on staff, if applicable?

• How does your child respond to the doctor and other providers in the office?

The bottom line? If you ever feel uncomfortable with those caring for your child, do not hesitate to find a new doctor. Sometimes a pediatrician who is wonderful with older kids isn’t so great at helping calm a new mom’s worries. Trust your judgment and you will find the right doctor for your family! y

b

Flu Shots for Children

By Dr. Gregory Gordon

Dr. Gregory Gordon grew up in Gainesville, Florida. He attended the University of Florida for both his undergraduate and medical degrees.

After he completed his pediatric residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, he joined Pediatric Associates of Orlando. Dr. Gordon is the proud father of eight children. He is the Vice President of “The Gift of Swimming” (a local charity that provides swim lessons to Orlando’s needy children). In early 2010, encouraged by his patients, he started gregorygordonmd.com to share his pediatric and parenting experience.

As children head back to school, we pediatricians make our preparations for the on-coming “sick” season. Part of these preparations include “flu” vaccines. Last year in Orlando there were predominately two circulating stains: an influenza A strain and an influenza B strain. I even saw one poor 11-year-old who contracted influenza A in November and then influenza B in December!

Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months and up. Two doses separated by at least one month are recommended for children less than 9-years-old who have not previously been vaccinated.

Each spring, the World Health Organization determines what influenza strains to include in the next season’s flu vaccines. This work is much like a weather forecast -- it is based on extensive scientific research, but it comes down to an educated guess. The effectiveness of the vaccine depends on the match between the vaccine and the flu strains in environment. During flu seasons when the experts guess wrong or a new strain of influenza arises (like swine flu a few years ago), we see large outbreaks of influenza. When the experts correctly pick the “right” strains we typically see little influenza in the community. It is important to note that flu vaccines do protect against “nonvaccine” influenza strains, but not as well as against those that are present in the vaccine.

There are two types of influenza (flu) vaccines available for children the standard flu shot and the nasal Flumist. Both the Flumist and flu shots are approved for breast feeding women.

The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine and approved for children 6 months and up. It is safe for children with asthma, pregnant women and close contacts of immunosuppressed individuals. Side effects

include soreness, local reaction, and low grade fever. Children younger than age three get a lesser “half-dose.”

Flumist is a painless, liquid nasal spray. It is approved for people ages 2 to 49. Flumist is not recommended for individuals who are immunosuppressed, are pregnant or those diagnosed with asthma or heart disease. The Flumist is a live attenuated vaccine and individuals who have had the vaccine should not be around people who are immunosuppressed for at least seven days. Side effects include runny nose, wheezing, headache, vomiting, sore throat and fever. Recent evidence shows that Flumist provides superior flu protection verses the flu shot.

Traditionally, both the Flumist and flu shots protect again the same three influenza strains (two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain).

The 2013-14 flu shots will protect against three influenza strains. All 2013-14 doses of Flumist and a minority of flu shots will protect against all four influenza strains.

My recommendation for the 2013-14 flu season -get a Flumist if you are able. The Flumist is clearly the better vaccine. Additionally, it is less painful, provides protection against more influenza strains and protects better and for a longer duration.

PHOTOS COURTESY ELISABETH NIXON PHOTOGRAPHY

Fruity Salsa Summer is coming to a close, but in Florida it’s still time for cookouts and dinners on the grill.

You can toss together this month’s recipe for your Labor Day cookout, or bring it with you to a covered dish PTO meeting. Enjoy!

by Vickie Myers

Fruity Salsa 1 large mango, diced 1 peach, diced ¼ cup fresh, finely diced pineapple 6 Tablespoons finely diced onion 4 Tablespoons chopped cilantro 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar Pinch of salt ½ small lemon squeezed Mix together all ingredients. Serve with chips or bagel crisps. Also works well on grilled fish or chicken.

babyourself.com • Back to School 2013

17

babyourself FEATURED NURSERY

Wesley

by Elisabeth Myrick

Wesley’s nursery was designed to grow

with him in style and to be different from a typical boy nursery.

Robots were the perfect fit, but after discovering the Baby Bot bedding collection was only available in stores, it proved to be more difficult than Meghan anticipated. She quickly found the artwork for Wesley’s walls on Etsy and Amazon and scored big with an outlet sale from ThirtyOne with the robot themed storage baskets. Her mom and sister joined in the bedding search by stalking the local baby superstores. In the end it was worth all their effort and many trips to town – even with Wesley’s two-year-old sister in tow!

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babyourself.com • Back to School 2013

Wesley’s family portrait caught our attention as we interviewed his mom.

Photo taken by Sandy Kruger at Real Life Photography.

PHOTOS COURTESY ELISABE TH NIXON PHOTOGR APHY

1 3

2 6

4 5

7 1 via Amazon.

2 Framed Robots wall art: Purchased from DorkyPrints Etsy shop and framed.

Robot wall art: Purchased from PosterRevolution via Amazon and mounted to foam board to keep baby safe on the changing table.

3 OBEY 4 Robot coin bank: Purchased at Target. (And was used for baby shower decoration before Wesley’s arrival!)

Robot themed baskets and bins: Playful Robots collection from Thirty-One. The large bins hold Wesley’s 5 clothes in various sizes and can be used as toy boxes later.

6 Name decal wall art: Purchased from thestickerhut Etsy shop. bedding: Made by Lolli Living and available online or from Babies ‘R’ Us. The pillow on the glider is 7 Robot also a part of this collection.

Robot Mug Shot wall art: Caught Again – Eric Joyner Art Print Poster. Purchased from PosterRevolution

babyourself.com • Back to School 2013

19

babyourself MOVE OF THE MONTH

fitness !

Back-to-School!

by Jackie Vega

e th

i

a rb

g Summer time is perfect for vacations, family picnics, play dates and lounge time by the pool.

All this relaxing can easily translate to over-indulging in all things “fun,” while our dedicated routine workouts (you know, the ones intended to truly burn fat and enhance muscle tone) and clean eating are thrown to the wayside!

Well listen up, because the alarm clock is ringing and it’s back-to-

school time! Schedules quickly become crammed with homework, soccer practice, PTO meetings and dance class. And before you know it, you find yourself thinking about what to cook for a hassle-free dinner, trying to pack everyone’s lunches, all while the baby is crying to be changed. How could you possibly begin to think about how a workout routine will fit back into your schedule?

You can get back on track now that the kids are heading back to school!

Here are some great ideas to ward off the “I-do-not-have-time” thought process and take control once more: • Commit to a goal and make it reasonable and attainable. Maybe there is a

fall reunion coming up, a concert…those are great ways for setting a specific date of reaching your goal and making the fitness routine a habit.

• Get that goal in writing by utilizing the family calendar. Everyone in the family will see what you are doing, and they will know that you mean business! (Think about it…we have to get to the school open house, after-work meetings, evening sports events – and all that already goes on the family calendar; so why not put your exercise appointment on the calendar as well!)

yo

ur

ba

• Pack your food. Running errands all day? This will keep you out of the fast food lane. Remember your water, too!

• You CAN do it. Some people say 21 days to make a

habit, others say 40 days. Either way, don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day of exercise. Get right on that horse again and keep pressing forward.

• Find a support system. This can be as simple as

physically showing your family where you have plotted your workout appointments, and sharing your fitness goals. Your family will help you stay on track! Or, you can find a group of other moms on the same path who also need the support. You can exchange texts, emails, or use the same fitness application that allows to share your progress.

So make your plan!

You are worth it!

Jackie Vega is a registered dietitian and ACE certified personal trainer at Your Personal Wellness. She is married with two children, ages five and seven, and her busy family and entrepreneurial life has drawn her specialties towards pre/postnatal, children and families, and mentoring mommy's and mommies-tobe toward fit pregnancies and achieving that pre-baby physique! You can follow her advice on Twitter (FitFab2bRD) and read her blog at www.fitandfabulousmommas.blogspot.com.

g

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babyourself.com • Back to School 2013

21

REALITY

a real mom with real kids & a really noisy home

hc ic

By Jennifer Hatcher

Usually the puppy comes BEFORE kids . . .

I’m not sure what I was thinking.

All of my children can finally, FINALLY, shower independently, choose their own clothes and dress themselves, tie their own shoes. They can clean their rooms, take out the trash and clean their bathroom. They can entertain themselves with board games and video games and Legos and skateboards and random things they combine to build forts in the backyard. They can read entire books on their own. Each of them can work a microwave. They can do their own laundry.

They can even make a pot of coffee, pour some in my favorite mug, and deliver it to me in my bedroom!

I no longer have to hide scissors. My electrical outlets aren’t plugged up with those clear plastic things that prevent kids from shocking themselves silly. I can light a candle and leave the room for a minute or two. We are beyond the baby-proofing stage. Finally, I have been reaping the benefits of all those exhausting years of very hands-on parenting.

So what did I do that I’m pretty sure indicates I have lost my ever-lovin’ mind?

I agreed to a puppy! A puppy! Which is practically a very hairy baby, only much smellier and with teeth!

But this puppy seems to think 6:00 a.m. or 6:30 a.m. is a good time to wake up. Even on a Saturday! And after he does his business in the yard, he wants to play. He’s jumping and barking and wanting to chase tennis balls – tennis balls that he expects me to throw.

Before I’ve had coffee.

After 15 years of parenting, I can’t fake being a morning person for my kids; I certainly can’t muster up some morning person joojoo for a dog! No matter how cute his ears are when they perk up.

Seriously, what was I thinking? I can’t leave my flip flops by the front door or the puppy will chew on them. My laptop cord? I can’t let it hang from the table or he’ll eat it for a snack. Nothing is safe around his razor sharp puppy teeth! Baby-proofing was nothing compared to puppy-proofing!

Do you know that puppies don’t come potty-trained? Or housebroken. Or whatever you call it with pets. After a couple years of not worrying about anyone else’s bodily functions, suddenly I’ve been thinking far too much about poop and pee.

I thought my little hoarder sons liked to scavenge the trash and pull out things I had thrown away (such as a broken paddle ball paddle I have thrown away at least seven times!). But they’ve got nothing on this puppy. He can nonchalantly sniff his way over near the trash can, looking all innocent and cute; then, BAM! he’s yanked something out of the garbage and darts off like a furry bolt of lightning.

For years I was in a constant state of sleep deprivation. But in the past few years, my body has come to expect several hours of uninterrupted sleep. My children can all sleep in until at least 7:00 a.m. or 7:30 a.m.

At midnight the other night, he abruptly started yelping. I hurried in to his crate.

As I entered the room,

Our friends saw this tiny baby dog wandering on their street. He didn’t have a collar, and nobody had reported him missing at any of the local shelters or to the police. My daughters were convinced this was a sign.

God had practically dropped this puppy out of the sky right into our neighborhood. How could I possibly say no?

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And when they wake up, they can pour themselves a bowl of cereal or play Xbox in the basement, far away from my bedroom and my sweet slumber.

babyourself.com • Back to School 2013

I smelled the problem before I even turned on the light. Evidently the trash he had consumed earlier that day didn’t sit well on his teeny puppy tummy. So he had thrown up all over his crate. Yeah, just what I wanted to do at midnight – clean up doggie puke.

Have I mentioned that all my children can aim their stomach-virus-ridden bodies toward a toilet or bucket now? My days of cleaning up vomit were behind me.

I was this close to thoroughly enjoying the fruits of my parenting labor. If it weren’t for the computer passwords (we’ve got the computers locked down like Fort Knox!), my children would barely need me at all!

But now, we have the puppy. And two pairs of ruined flip flops. And some special spray cleaner that eliminates the smell of dog urine from carpets. And baby gates. We had to buy baby gates again. And just so you know, stepping over a baby gate without tripping or knocking it down is a skill that gets rusty if you don’t use it.

What was I thinking? I’m not at all sure. I’m just saying it’s a good thing the puppy is so adorably cute, what with those perky ears and all.

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