Tag: mother

No matter what stage of motherhood you are in, you have probably wished at some point that someone had been around to tell you all the things you had to learn the hard way.

You've probably read quite a few parenting books, which can be helpful, but no book covers all the bases. What advice do you wish someone had shared with you once you became a mother?

Most of the lessons I have learned have been through trial and error and I certainly wish that someone had told me the best places to nurse in my local mall, for example, or what the real story is with vaccinations—almost like cliff notes for parenting.

Nearly 30% of children in the United States live in blended families. If you are an other mother of teenagers, also known as a stepmother, your job as a parent can feel exhausting and hopeless. Your teenager may compare you to their biological mother, create conflict between you and their father, and say, "You’re not my real mom, you can’t tell me what to do!" Step-parenting a teenager is like asking you to swim laps without arms or put out a fire with just a spoonful of water. Whether your teenager’s biological mother is gracious or completely awful, your spouse is supportive or distant, and your teen is a nightmare or an embarrassment, there is hope!

Being a mom can be the hardest job in the world. As a mother, you wear many hats and tackle many responsibilities that are not always seen by the naked eye; and these can often leave you overwhelmed and numb to outside stimuli. Bottling this up can not only leave you hurting, but will do a disservice to friends, family and even your marriage.

If you’re tired and immune to emotions, your children will be especially affected by your lack of enthusiasm. Taking care of yourself is imperative. "Me" time is not a luxury that detracts from your parenting station; "me" time is a very necessary, therapeutic regrouping that will return you to your parenting station in peak condition.

For the most part, mothers across the globe have just one day dedicated solely to their hard work: Mother’s Day. I have to tell you I am not big on these one-day wonders. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the focused attention, but I think we should give honor to mothers every day. We should also honor ourselves by creating and maintaining a balanced life, the real meaning of why we celebrate special days like Father’s Day and Mother’s Day in general.

I have an overbearing/martyr-type mother-in-law. Both my husband and I realize this and know that we need to set boundaries, but are very unsure how to go about it. My husband is a recovering alcoholic and feels his mother is a trigger for his drinking. He wants to stop all communication with her, but I think it's best to talk with her and set boundaries. Neither of us wants the confrontation, but know it is vital to our relationship/sanity. Please help!

Dealing with difficult in-laws can be an overwhelming challenge whether dealing with an overbearing mother-in-law who believes her opinions are superior to yours or a martyr who tries to make you feel guilty whenever your needs conflict with hers.

Dear Mr. Dad: Help! I’m a new mom and I’m bored out of my mind. Everyone says how much fun it is to have a baby, but sometimes I can’t think of anything to do with her. Do you have any suggestions?

Although simple things like pots and pans or trips to the grocery store have lost some of their charm for you, keep in mind that just about everything in the world is new to your child. This means that there is literally no limit to the number of fun—and educational—things you can do with your baby.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching—along with all the romance, roses and chocolate traditionally part of the day's celebration. But here’s the thing... why should Valentine’s Day be reserved for romance alone? Why don't we celebrate love itself?

A Canadian resident, Karri Carberry, 19, was introduced to a band called "Three Days Grace" by her Dad a number of years ago, a passion they happily shared. So when the band was scheduled to play in Edmonton, Alberta, she immediately got tickets and invited her Dad to come with. There was just one hiccup; her Dad is deaf. This, however, did not deter either of them. Karri interpreted the lyrics in sign language for her Dad, so he too could enjoy the concert. When other members of the audience—at first annoyed by Karri’s signing ("What is that girl up to?!")—realized what she was doing, they were astounded, and ended up entranced by her interaction with her Dad.