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LifestyleLife is a juggling act: mom, wife, employee, friend... if only we could balance it all. The lifestye section is designed to help with some tips through monthly profile stories on veteran moms, advice on finance, faith, adoption, parenting and school choice.
Education
Part 1: What Love Is Not...by Katie Newingham Love is a word widely used in our culture. We love ice cream, dogs, nail polish, but do we love each other? Twenty-six photos of my friends’ families hang on the front of my fridge; the exact number of families represented in the Sandy Hook Elementary School Massacre. As I peer at the pictures, I reflect on the fact that these chil...
Enjoying Your Baby's First Holiday Seasonby Colleen Langenfeld Having a new baby in the home at the holidays is always exciting. Here's a parenting tip that will help you and your baby truly enjoy this special time of year. * See everything through the eyes of a child. Honestly, that's the secret to the holiday sea...read more › 
Unhappy Toyland - More Toys, Less Happinessby Courtney A. Buxton A Work in Progress Many young mothers share a common moment of plastic toy panic. It comes when you are invited over to a friend’s house, and you realize that her child has ten...read more › 
Fighting First Day Jittersby Cathy O’Hara Harrison I don’t know who was more excited about the first day of school, me or my daughter. Hand in hand, we walked up the steps to her new school, her backpack bursting with new crayons, folders, pencils. Her face beaming with pride as she entered the classroom to meet her ...read more › 
Back to School, Back to Youby Lynn Ely The start of a new school year brings all sorts of exciting, fresh experiences for your children: new teachers, new friends and all sorts of new opportunities to learn and grow. This year, why not allow yourself a similar revitalization and make “Back to School Time,” “B...read more › 
Potty Training – Get Ready, Get Set, Go!By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of The No-Cry Potty Training Solution Get Ready If your child is near or has passed his first birthday, you can begin incorporating pre-potty training ideas into his life. They are simple things that will lay the groundwork for potty training ...read more › 
Motherhood in Liberia: A Journey You Don’t Have to Travel Aloneby Erica K. Faulkner In much of Africa, when you marry or become a mother, you become a woman. When I gave birth to my son Judah last November, my mother sweetly reminded me. “Sweetie, you are a woman now,” she said grinning proudly, her eyes piercing mine, her ...read more › 
La Colombiana in an American Worldby Gloria Grimsley My mother is from Colombia; my father is from Kentucky and I, I’m a New Yorker. At least that’s how I see myself. Just like New York, I’m a melting pot of cultures. My mother traveled to the United States after graduating fifth in her class at the University of Bogota w...read more › 
Domestic Violence and the Courage to Leaveby Angela May Trina Pearson is a proud mother of four girls, who just graduated from a local college this December and is preparing to pursue her master’s degree. She has a job, a car, and a place to call home. But just seven years ago, she had nothing—no clothes, no job, no home, no mo...read more › 
Finding Your Calling, Fulfilling Your Heartby Courtney A. Buxton A Work in Progress It all started when I met Susan in a crowded church nursery. We were both there to help during a holiday weekend when the usual college girls were home on break. The room was overflowing...read more › 
The Diaper Debacle: Comparing brands, price and qualityby Katie Newingham Finding the right brand of diapers can be a challenge for new parents. We think they’re all the same until our first blow out occurs, or it’s 4 a.m. and we’re changing our newborns soaking wet clothes for the third time. Then we’re willing to try anything and spen...read more › 
Going Back to School: The Big Let Goby Courtney A. Buxton A Work in Progress I went to Target on July 4th, and they were stocking the shelves with Back to School items. I nearly died. I was not ready for Back ...read more ›
New Mom Survival KitBeing a first-time parent is exciting and scary at the same time. There are so many decisions to make in that first week: to nurse or not to nurse, pacifier or no pacifier, cry it out or sooth. Here is a list of go to items that will help new moms get through that first week. ...read more › 
Second Time Around, Our Birth StoryBy Katie Newingham Natural labor may be over-rated for some, but for me it was an adventure that started weeks before the delivery day. My first child was born via a planned induction complete with a full dose of pitocin, breaking of my water bag, an epidural to relieve painful contractions, and 12 hours o...read more › 
5 Tips About Summer Camp Sexual Abuseby Jackie Humans, Ph.D Every summer approximately 10 million children will pack up their clothes, bedding and favorite pillows and head off to summer camp. Most will return home with wonderful memories of new friends and fun filled days. Some will return home with devastating memories that will last a li...read more › 
De-Clutter My LifeCathy O’Hara Harrison Laundry, dishes, bills, toys, shoes, books, cable news, loud commercials, screaming children, cell phones, computers. Oh My! The endless supply of clutter that litters our lives and minds surrounds us everyday. If we&rsqu...read more › 
The Petroleum Spill & My New Year’s Resolutionby Katie Newingham, Photograph: Erin Sage Photography, Boone Hall Plantation It was the third day into my husband’s trip to Houston. I was nearing the end of my first trimester with my second child and still dealing with intense nausea. On top of that ...read more › 
Top Toys for Toddlersby Katie Newingham The holiday season can be stressful, especially when you are a new mom and want to buy gifts that are meaningful, educational, long-lasting and fun! In these tough economic times, it's even more important for families to research products before buying. No ...read more › 
How to Avoid Holiday Meltdowns by Jessica Shields Flowers The holidays are a hectic time of year. Parents scurry around town buying gifts, prepping the house for guests and are in a constant state of hurry. Once the kids are on Christmas break, everyday routines fly out the window. There isn't baseball practice or ballet class, no appo...read more › 
Capitalism. Materialism. Absurdism.by Cathy O'Hara Harrison There’s a lot of “isms” floating around during the holidays, and as American playwright George Seaton pointed out, “One of the worst is commercialism.” Is it just me, or do you find it a bit disconcerting when it’s not even Hal...read more › 
Top Toys for 2-Year-Oldsby Katie Newingham Let's face it, most parents splurge a little more for a child's second Christmas. Ride on toys are hugely popular, as well as play areas like kitchens, train tables and mini playgrounds. Here are Newby Mom's picks for your 2-year-old! ...read more › 
Top Toys for 3-Year-Oldsby Katie Newingham Parents who splurge on the second Christmas may want to build upon their big splurge for the third. Think small purchases that will make last year's purchase more educational and more fun. Maybe you bought a a basic train set last year.&nbs...read more › 
An Attitude of Gratitudeby Lynn Ely With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, families are reminded to pause and give thanks for all of the wonderful joys and blessings in their lives. Although it is completely normal for a mother’s feelings to fluctuate from heartfelt appreciation to “I’m not really feeling the love...read more ›
Be Present, Be ThankfulStop. Just stop for a moment and be still. Take a break from all the noise that surrounds you. The noise of getting breakfast ready, getting kids dressed and hurrying out the door so you’re not late for school or work. Just stop. Breathe. And be present. Now take in all that surrounds you, what the...read more › 
Creative Costumes on a BudgetHomemade Super Heros 1. Buy plain white t's - boys/mens undershirts are cheap and easy - and shiny rayon costume fabric in several bright colors. 2. Draw a star on cardboard and traced it on the yellow fabric and cut out. 3. Cut out block letters in other colors for on top of the s...read more › 
3 Must Have Items for Mom & BabyBaby Elephant Ears - ($21.95) This infant support cushion gives adequate support on long trips in the car-seat or short strolls through your neighborhood. With a baby who cried all the time, mom Alisha Overby needed a solution. She went to see a chiropractor who mentioned proper neck support...read more › 
Patient? Or Crazy? by Angie Mizzell My son, Dillon, wants to be Scooby Doo—again— for Halloween. You have no idea how happy this makes me. Here’s why: Last year, I completely forgot to get him a costume, and he was dead set on being Sc...read more › 
Creativity Takes Courageby Cathy Harrison Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook. When your baby is placed in your arms the realization hits you that this bundle is YOURS forever. Sure, you might turn to your own parents for advice, but let’s face it, the responsibility of parenting falls directly on your shoulders ...read more › 
A Mom-Friendly Recipe for Taming Your To-Do’s by Lynn Ely When you think about creative ways for getting your family organized, what picture comes to mind? You may envision a tidy room or space where everything is in its place, neatly sorted and stored in easily identifiable bins...read more › 
Silly, Seussy, Slacker Momby Angie Mizzell My oldest son just started 4-year-old kindergarten. That means I have to get up and get my act together five days a week. And so far, so good. I’ve only forgotten his back pack once. But this time last year, I was really struggling. I had a new baby and the preschool routine was throwing me o...read more › 
Focusing on the Family this Fallby Lynn Ely For most families, spending quality time together is one of their most valued priorities. Yet, with everyone’s busy schedules taking family members in all different directions on a daily basis, it often seems one of the most difficult priority items to accomplish. If sp...read more › 
Mom's Tips, Going Back to Workby Angela May Talk about multitasking on a whole new level. As I tap away at my laptop here in my home office, I’m strapped to a noisy breast pump machine, responding to work emails and taking calls for an upcoming assignment all during my baby’s afternoon nap. Welcome to week two of my retu...read more › 
8 Steps to Successful BreastfeedingThe first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action recommends taking these eight action steps to ensure you and your child have a successful breastfeeding experience. 1. Check to see what your birthing hospital's policy is on breastfeeding and make su...read more › 
Benefits of Early Childhood Educationby Katie Newingham Being a new parent means a series of “firsts”: first tooth, first step, first day of school. From infant to toddler the time flies by so fast we don’t even have the chance to research where and when our child fits best in a school setting. Yet the years before a...read more › 
5 Questions to Ask Your Child's Teacherby Stephanie Vozza The start of a new school year can be overwhelming. Sure, there are new folders, new lockers and new shoes. But one of the most exciting changes is a new teacher. Parents can start the year off on the right foot by getting to know the new teacher. Here are five questions you...read more › 
Kid Story: A Child's Life through HistoryBy Mary Middleton: Author - Go Local Charleston: The Parent's Guide for Children's Activities in Charleston, SC As the summer days get warmer, searching for an indoor activity is necessary. This week we spent the morning at the Charleston Museum, America's Oldest M...read more › 
Having Trouble Being Present? Just Breathe.by Lynn Ely Early on in my motherhood experience with my first daughter, someone told me that moms, especially new moms, actually forget to breathe. They said, because new moms are under-rested and overwhelmed, we breathe very shallowly from our diaphragms, rather than de...read more › 
Unique Gifts for New MomsBy Heather Murphy Stumped for an unusual, sincere and useful gift for a mother-to-be? Check out this list for some fresh ideas that go beyond the baby registry. Even second and third time moms will thank you profusely. Laundry Between spitting up and diaper leaks...read more › |
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