And the winner is.....

Sorry this is a little late guys. I've been bouting an awful case of walking pneumonia that is trying desperately to turn into full blown regular pneumonia. Add 2 sick kids to my mix and obviously my internet free time has been seriously depleted. But alas I want to be sure that one of you has a very merry "Mother Load" style Christmas so without further ado...

The winner of a fabulous Outback Steakhouse gift card is....

*drum roll*

Sherri H. from Tennessee! Who wrote in with her fabulous holiday tradition of wrapping the door and having the children tear through it on Christmas morning. How very "game day"! I love this idea and am now wishing I had a little doorway to our family room to do it to. I don't think this would bode well on the stairs.... hmmmm....

Well Sherri, congratulations. All you have to do now is email me your address so I can mail you your yummy gift card.

In the event that Sherri from Tennessee does not respond we will have a runner-up for the gift card. And that person is....

Michelle F. who wrote in about her family tradition of exchanging ornaments. (I need your address as well if I don't hear from Sherri).

Congratulations you guys!

And have a VERY MERRY JUICY STEAK FILLED CHRISTMAS!!!!

(Winners were chosen by random drawing)

Christmas Contest Entry #16

We always have our traditional tree with a hodge-podge of ornaments that we use for Santa.

But we also have a special tree that we do our family presents under.

The tree itself (evergreen) represents that he lives, forever, and with his birth and crucifixion we could not live forever with him.

It is decorated in small candles (battery powered) to remind us that Jesus is the light of the world, and also to remind us that it was the only lighting in the humble stable where this king was born.

Little wooden angels to represent the angel that came and spoke to the shepherds and told them to "Fear not for Christ is born" and the many angels who sang his praises in the skies that holy night.

Small wrapped boxes to signify that His life is a gift to us, and everyday we serve Him and live His commandments is our gift to Him.

Holly which symbolizes his whole life - white flowers for His purity and lack of sin, red berries for the blood He shed, prickly leaves for His crown of thorns, and the bitter bark for His suffering on the cross.

And finally a star on top to remind us of the star that led everyone to him that night, and to remind us to live by his will so we can always find our way to him as well.

We do family gifts under this tree to remind us that through him our family will be strong and happy and live together forever in Heaven with him.

Emily K.

Christmas Contest Entry #15

On Christmas Day my sisters and I always snuggle up and sing along to "The Sound of Music".

Jennifer B.

Christmas Contest Entry #14

We are a military family, so we take our 4-year-old, Frankie, shopping for gifts for a kid who doesn't have so many toys; he wraps them and then we bring them to the Marines' toy drive.

Lara T. WA

Christmas Contest Entry #13

We take wrapping paper and wrap up the doorway into our living room. On Christmas, the kids line up and on the count of three, run through the paper.

Sherri H. TN

Christmas Contest Entry #12

My mom used to leave a small wrapped present next to our beds. We loved waking up and believing that Santa had snuck into our rooms. Now my two little boys seem to love it too.

Jennifer M.

Christmas Contest Entry #11

The highlight of our Christmas Eve is an elaborate treasure hunt, ending when the kids discover a chest full of candies, cookies, stickers, and a present for each of them.

We do the same for New Years except the chest is full of glittering hats and noise makers. Then we count down to a sparkling cider New Years toast - at 8 pm

Erin B. NC

Christmas Contest Entry #10

On Christmas Eve our whole extended family gets together and we have the children dress up and recreate the nativity scene as Grandpa reads the story of the birth of Christ from Luke in the Bible. I love it because not only do the children get to play a role in this wonderful history, but they also get to learn and see first hand what happened that sacred night.

After this we always have cookies and hot chocolate and sing carols.

Ellen R.

Christmas Contest Entry #9

Each Christmas Eve our family remembers our loved ones who have passed away. Their pictures are placed on the mantel, surrounded by evergreen, the symbol of eternal life. Then we all sit and reminisce together, sharing laughter and tears. Someone always share's a letter they've written to the person now in heaven.

I know some people think this is a morbid tradition, but it isn't really. It helps us to feel that the people we miss are still a part of our family celebration. Otherwise we'd be pretending we didn't long for them to be with us, when we really do. This way our sorrow is acknowledged- and it becomes a part of our joy.

When you think about it, what better time than Christmas to affirm our belief that death is not the end? After all, the birth of Christ is what brought us eternal life.

Donna M.

Christmas Contest Entry #8

We started something probably 10 years ago in my extended family that we exchange names and get them something that is expecially meaningful to them. We call it Gift from the Heart. Sometimes it's funny or sentimental, either way it's nice to know that someone was thinking especially of you and got you something that they thought would be special.

I have three sisters and the week leading up to Christmas we get together to make Christmas cookies. My mom makes the dough, the kids roll and use cookie cutters to cut them out and put them on the cookie sheet. By this time things start getting silly. Yes now even as adults we start to get silly. We start to cut out the funniest things possible whether they are abnormally large cookies, dough that broke post cutting our that still makes it to the over, some additions to the cut outs, or a lump last piece of dough turned cookie. My mom makes drip frosting to decorate them with. Over the years we have made things such as: an angel with a rack, tiny Tim, Michael Jackson, Kwanzaa cookie, Trogdor, a stiletto Santa boot, and many many more. No matter how tasteful our intentions are the cookies always end up ugly. By the end the black is smeared across many, a layer an inch deep coats a few, and the last few are just dipped in frosting. We have tons of fun giggling over our creations and our and aunts, uncles, and grandparents humor us by still eating the hideous ones.

Brooke A.

Christmas Contest Entry #7

We write letters to Jesus or family menbers and stick them in the tree

Tiffany L.

Christmas Contest Entry #6

Every year since I was little my family has exchanged handmade ornaments to each other instead of gifts. Now that all of us are married with children, my parents make an ornament for each person in each family (adults and kids), and the rest of us make one ornament per family. I love it because every year I get 5 new ornaments for my tree. We usually get the date on there somehow so we can always remember what year we got which. This is our first Christmas with our new baby girl, and we will be teaching her this tradition as well. This year my husband is working on making little wooden angels for everyone and I am hand painting each one.

Stacey S.

Christmas Contest Entry #5

In my efforts to teach my children about the true meaning of Christmas, and put Christ as the focus in our home, we make him part of our family. We hang a stocking for the Christ Child too, along with all of our stockings. And throughout the days and weeks preceeding Christmas, we give gifts to the Christ child. Gifts of ourself. We write a letter to him of what we can do to serve our neighbors, teach his gospel, live his example. We write prayers of improving our testimony, our parenting, our relationships with our loved ones and with him. And it helps strengthen the spirit in our home to remember what the season is about: His gift for us, of himself. And in return, our gift of ourselves to others. When the season is over, we put the letters in a special box that looks like a present box, but inside is a picture of Jesus Christ, because that is the true gift of this season. And the next year as we begin putting up decorations, we have a special family devotional where we read the letters from the previous year to see how we did throughout the year. One of my favorite Christmas songs is "Little Drummer Boy" where he gives a gift of himself to the christ child, and we begin with this song every year as we put up our decorations and enjoy the blessings we have in our family.

April M.

Christmas Contest Entry #4

My husband and I exchange an ornament every year. Usually something with an inside joke of a meaning or something that reminds us of each other. And since we've had our son, we include him in the tradition as well. My husband and I ecxchange on Christmas Eve and this year we gave our son his when we decorated. That way we add all kinds of neat ornaments every year.

Michelle F.

Christmas Contest Entry #3

Christmas Eve before everyone goes to bed we leave the cookies and milk out for Santa and place the baby Jesus in the manger. We always did this in my family - waited to put Jesus in the manger until Christmas Eve - and I think it really helps us bring the focus back to why we celebrate Christmas. After kids are in bed we turn on Christmas music, get out the hot coco, eggnog, sparkling something and set up the Christmas surprises. Santa always brings each child something big that is not wrapped and most of the wrapped gifts are from mom and dad. It's so much fun hanging out with the adults and getting things all set up. This year we will be putting together a big boy bed and a rocking car for the kids. We have many pictures of the guys trying to put together toys late into the night!
Christmas morning we wait until everyone is up and then we all climb into mom and dad's bed and open stockings. After stockings are done dad has to go downstairs to get some coffee... he LOUDLY oos and ahhs over the goodies Santa brought. The kids have to stay at the top of the stairs until dad is ready with the video camera and of course his coffee. Then everyone else gets to come downstairs and of course get that picture on the stairs before they run down to see what Santa brought.
After the Santa gifts we go around one at a time picking a present and opening it. We open all the gifts this way, ones from relatives, mom and dad, anyone spending Christmas with us.
We have blueberry french toast every year for breakfast and then the rest of the morning is spent relaxing (and playing with toys). We have a big dinner with turkey and all the fixings and then we do a birthday cake (for baby Jesus of course).

Melissa P.

Christmas Contest Entry #2

Well the girls and I created some new holiday traditions! Every year, usually the day after Thanksgiving, but this year it was a little later, we decorate our tree. We have a small tree but a lot of ornaments, so we hang up what we can on the little 4 ft tree and the rest we hang up all over the house! On curtain rods, on the mantle, even put some hanging from the table the tree is on. It's fun to figure out where to put them! We sing Christmas carols, then after we're done, we watch a movie. Usually "Miracle on 34th street", the old black and white.

Another tradition we have is Christmas card night. I print out labels, buy stamps, then we sign cards and write notes to soldiers, missionaries, and relatives far away. It's fun because we talk and laugh and it makes the job not so overwhelming for me. It's my favorite Christmas chore now!

Michelle S.

Christmas Contest Entry #1

Christmas Eve:
First we start off with a light dinner, and then we all help out making the dessert. This dessert comes from generations past (Chocolate Roll). While that is in the oven cooking we sit around the tree sing christmas songs, read the story of Luke, and enjoy each others company. Once the roll is finished we eat and open a present. The present is the special part of the evening. We are given each a gift from my in-laws, this gift represents something you have done well or accomplished in the past year. Ex.: One year my husband stuck to school even though it was really frustrating and difficult. He was given lots of things sticky (gum, post it notes, glue etc.) These gifts sometimes are really nice and sometimes are given with a little bit of humor. The letter that is written with each of these is also very sentimental in that it expresses their love and support for you and what you have done. Once everyone has gone around to open their gift we clean up, and have family prayer. My mom started something one year and oh how I love the gift of giving. If we know of a needy family at church, work, in our community etc. We find out sizes and wants and we buy them gifts. Late Christmas Eve night we do the drop, ring, and run method. I have always wanted to be a fly on the wall when they open the gifts just to see the smiles. But the thrill and love of sneaky gift giving is great!! Then we get some sleep!!


Christmas morning:
Once everyone wakes up we go in search of our stockings. They are hidden by Mom and Dad and then once found we gather to open our gifts. This is really nice to allow parents time to sleep in a little or get breakfast ready. We open up the gifts, enjoy some breakfast and open presents from Santa. After a nice lunch we open mom and dad gifts and play to our hearts content. We end with others gifts, some dinner and a restful nights sleep.

Thanks for letting us share!!

Kim R.

Tis The Season

It's that time of year!

I have had 3 people in the last week ask me about our Christmas traditions. Some are our own, some my parents did with us growing up, some are fabulous ideas I learned from other people.

It got me thinking though, how fun would it be to find out about everyone's holiday customs.

Whether you have no kids, little kids, older kids, empty nesters or live alone...

share them with us.

Email me your wonderful traditions and I will choose (at random) one lucky writer to win a fabulous gift card to...

**drum roll**

Not this one...

That's right, THIS ONE!! (YUMM!!)

Salivating yet??

Ok, email me those traditions

itsthemotherload@gmail.com

I'll post them here then announce the winner on Dec 24th!

And a Happy Christmas it WILL be!!

Deadline for entries is Dec 23rd.

One entry per email address please.

Now, for my family's Christmas traditions.

First, decorating the tree is a family event. We turn on Christmas music and we hand out the decorations, one at a time, to the kids and let them hang them where they wish (parents filling in spaces as needed). Each year a we rotate between which child gets to hang the star on the tree when the decorating is complete, they love that.

For Christmas Eve, we have a yummy dinner of appetizer type food... crackers, meats, cheeses, dips, fruits, veggie platters, sweet and sour meatballs, yummy *virgin champagne, not to mention tons of homemade cookies, divinity, fudge...etc.

After the grazing is done, we let the kids open one present (their holiday pajamas), which they put on right away. Then we read "The Littlest Angel" by Charles Tazwell, then the birth of Christ from the book of Luke in the Bible, then kneel down in a circle and say family prayer together. After that we read/recite/yell (hence why we do it after we've said family prayer) all together

" 'Twas The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clark Moore

Then we all pile in the car and drive around the neighborhood looking at all the fancy shmancy decorations and lights on the houses, while blasting Christmas music.

In the morning, after everyone is finally awake (mostly by insistence instead of by their own will) we all gather in Mom and Dad's bedroom. We say family prayer together, then run down stairs (daddy of course got up before everyone and turned on the lights and mommy put the **monkey bread on timer the night before to be done exactly 1 hour later).

We then all get our stockings and empty them, seeing what goodies Santa left for us. Then when that's over, Daddy hands out, one at a time, the presents from Santa under the tree. This part I really like. My Dad did it with us growing up. Not only do you get the excitement of your own presents, but you get the excitement of seeing what your brothers and sisters and parents got, and the looks on their faces. Instead of everyone tearing into them and not being able to see anything under the flurry of wrapping paper, tape and curly ribbon.

After Santa presents, we do gifts from Mom and Dad (their one BIG present for that year...like I'm going to let Santa get credit for Guitar Hero)!

Then we eat breakfast together, play all day mostly in our pj's, have a yummy fancy dinner that night, then open gifts from extended family, then dessert, then pass out in bed.

That's our fabulous family tradition. What's yours?

*Virgin Champagne

1 part white grape juice

1 part apple juice

1 part Ginger Ale

= Yumm!

** -My recipe is a little different from this one. Ok...VERY different, but you get the idea. If you would like my scrumptious

make-the-night-before-then-next-time-you-see-it-EAT monkey bread,

or caramel pecan rolls as I call them, then just ask, I'm happy to share. So easy, and so yummy!

Seasoned Blues

I suffer from seasonal depression. It's not bad, I just get a little down and don't want to go anywhere or see anyone. I have 3 kids, all school age, and I play with them when they get home or they go over to friends houses, but we don't go out and don't invite anyone over. Recently a friend asked me why she never see's us out anymore so I told her about it. She basically told me that I needed to get over it because my kids are suffering. My children are VERY happy and well behaved. They don't seem to really notice that we aren't "out" because we still have fun at home. Am I wrong for not thinking that this is a big issue?

Blue in BC

Trick for Treats

One of the Moms at the bus stop today was complaining about all the leftover candy they still have from Halloween 2 weeks ago, and how all her favorites were gone, but she only lets her kids have one a day so it will be September of 2011 before this batch is finished.

YIKES!

So I shared with her our little Halloween trick that we do every year and she raved over the idea, so I thought I'd share it with the masses.

After our children are all done trick-or-treating and it's time to call it night, hit a quick bath, spend some quality time with a toothbrush and floss and lay their sweet little matted heads into bed, we dump out all of their candy. We then go through it and put everything we don't like, have too much of, or plainly will never eat and put it back in our "trick-or-treaters bowl". We then put it outside on a chair in front of our front door, thus blocking it from little knockers and doorbell ringers, with a sign that says "Help Yourself". Inevitably by the time the hubby and I are ready to trot off to bed, the candy is gone and we have spent the rest of our Halloween night peaceably without any knocking or doorbell ringing to make our little ones think they may be missing something down below.

Happy sugar highs to all!

~Cara

Oh Baby!

I have one child, a 15 month old little girl. My pregnancy was AWFUL! I was sick the entire time, everything swelled up and hurt, she was 2 weeks over due and my 22 hour labor was exhausting, full of complications and all around terrible. My husband wants 4 kids, and I used to as well, but the idea of doing that again makes me cringe. I really have no idea what to do. I'm so scared that my next pregnancy will be just as bad or even worse. I want more kids and my husband says it will be better but I'm so scared to take a chance.

Aubrey A. Springfield, UT

Sleep Sense

Hiya Parents, I asked my neighbor to write this up for The Mother Load. I saw how desperate she was and how this sleep website drastically helped her and her baby and wanted to make sure that we got it here for all to read and share. Thanks ~Cara

We have had problem after problem with sleep issues. My son is now 6 1/2 months and from the minute we brought him home from the hospital we've had trouble with him sleeping. He wouldn't sleep unless you held him, he wouldn't sleep more than an hour and a half at night, then wouldn't nap more than 20 minutes at a time EVER.... the list goes on and on. We figured by three months (my Dr. said 3 months is the magic number... ha!) we would be a little more under control. Nope. Then we hit four months.... five month... six months... It all seemed to get worse and worse. I was a complete mess - total exhaustion from being up 6 or 7 times a night. A friend recommended a website for me to check out: http://www.sleepsense.net I was told there was a lot of free information on there and even a free sleep survey. I read all about her and how she has "given" sleep back to exhausted parents with children of all ages. Apparently she is a sleep specialist and charges people $350 an hour for consults. I kept reading down the page about what was involved in her program: a book, a sleep tracker, a workbook, online videos, a monthly phone call to her. I just knew this was going to cost hundreds of dollars. When I got to the bottom of the page and saw it was $47 for her program and was money back guaranteed, I clicked "buy" without hesitation.
I'd like to say we are now sleeping almost through the night, he is putting himself to sleep, eating better, happier... and so am I. It's been two weeks and (almost) painlessly we have gotten our little non-sleeper to sleep!
I know this site is about parents supporting each other and offering advice... well I would like to say I've read several books and talked to TONS of parents about what to do to get my son to sleep better.... and Dana solved my problems with one 198 page book. I probably sound like an advertisement, but if you've had a baby (or toddler) who doesn't sleep, you know how desperate you can get. I hope this information helps someone else out there like it helped us. I am a different mommy than I was two weeks ago! :)

Melissa P. Wesley Chapel, NC

Differ or Defer

I have a friend who doesn't parent exactly the way I do and I disagree with some of the things she says to her son and some of the things she lets him do. Recently she has been "parenting" my child when I'm around her. I don't want to cause issues between us, so do I say something or just let it go?

~Anonymous

Princess of the Throne

My 3 year old completely potty trained about 4 months ago, even at night. She's great about it. But refuses to go potty in public, or in any potty she doesn't know. She held it the other day for almost 3 hours until we made it home. I'm worried that she'll get a bladder infection or something, I know it can't be good for her. Not to mention that it's harder to plan outings. Any ideas on how I can get her to be a little more comfy with this?

Aimee K. Chula Vista, CA

Insticts

What do I do if a close family member wants to take my son for the weekend and "give me a break," but I completely disagree with the way she is around him? It also makes me nervous because some of her lifestyle choices don't go with the way I parent my child. I'm also a little uncomfortable with him in her house and driving with her. Nothing really big, but I just don't feel comfortable with him at her house and with some of the people she associates with. Is this something I need to get over or am I right to be overprotective in this situation? A break would be nice, but I know I'd be worried the entire time that he was okay.

Stacey P. Newark NJ

Silver Lining

I aplogize for being MIA for the past couple weeks. But I would like to share with you my experience.

In May of 2008 my husband and I decided it was time to add another little one to our family. We went to the doctor and had my IUD removed. It immediately threw my hormones completely for a loop. My cycles never regulated on their own, it was like just one continuous cycle for 8 months. I was going through a sort of depression. Not a sad depression, but more like things that mattered once to me no longer did. I was kind of out of sync with the rest of the world.

Finally my doctors started to take me seriously and after 5 or so different forms of birth control and medicines I was finally feeling like me again. 9 months after that my period was a couple days late, which it never is. I took a test and there was a faint line. I didn't actually believe it was true. It was so faint, I didn't want to get my hopes up. I looked it up online and found that there were other moms that had this happen too but it was because it was just too early in the pregnancy and there weren't enough hormones yet to get that dark blue "definitely" line. So I waited a couple days and took another one (different brand) and got the same result. So I waited a couple more days, same result. I was so anxious! I wanted to know for sure. I was exploding inside, I wanted to be excited but didn't want to get my hopes up just in case. So I called the doctor and they had me come in the next day.

I did all the little tests and then finally the doctor came in and told me what I wanted to hear... "You're definitely pregnant". For one second I was so excited, finally after almost 2 years we were going to have a baby. Then the doctor shattered everything and told me that he was pretty sure I was miscarrying. I was in complete disbelief. I thought either he was going to tell me I was pregnant, or he was going to say that I wasn't. Miscarriage never crossed my mind.

Then he proceeded to explain to me what a miscarriage was. In the middle of a very scientific explanation filled with an abundance of intelligent and impersonal medical terms I informed him that this wasn't my first miscarriage. Then after an extremely uncomfortable amount of time where he sat fumbling through my file to find that information on his own and I sat crying and dying just a touch inside, he said "well at least you don't have trouble getting pregnant." Really? After almost 2 years of trying? Really? So I asked him that, and he said that it looks like I have a short cycle which means I ovulate on the 10th day instead of the 14th day which means I haven't had "good exposure" and "we can't count those months". W-O-W! That made me feel better...in no way at all. So basically all the heartache I would feel when I got my period every month for the past year and a half was my own fault because I wasn't doing it right!? I just went home and cried.

The next day my blood work came back and the triage nurse said that my "hormone levels were too low" for how far along I would be to "sustain a pregnancy". That night I started bleeding. I took 2 Tylenol PMs to help me just sleep through it. At 11:00 pm the, what I would call with my experience, contractions woke me up. It was so excruciating like labor, coming in waves, and I almost had my husband take me to the hospital. After about 2 hours I was able to relax a little and sleep on and off the rest of the night piggy backing Tylenol and ibuprofen. In the morning it was still very painful and making me nauseous so I called my doctors office. The triage nurse called me back and told me that it was "just like a bad period" and to put a "heating pad on it". I burst into tears and told her that "we've been trying to have this baby for a long time and I finally get pregnant and now I'm losing it and you're telling me it's like a bad period?" Then I asked her if this advice was coming from her or a doctor? She said from the doctor. So I asked her which one...one I didn't see. Then, as I'm still crying, I ask her if it was a man or a woman and if they've ever gone through this or if she had, and if they did they wouldn't be telling me that it's just like a "bad period". Then I told her that knowing this is happening hurts me enough and I shouldn't have to feel the physical pain of it too. So she told me to take an ibuprofen and put a heating pad on it. At this point I just hung up.

After 2 days of cramping and a vow to never step foot in that doctors office again I called my primary care physician to see if I could finish up the final blood work with him. He personally called me right back and the first thing he asked after telling me he was so sorry I was going through this was if I needed anything for the pain or nausea. I burst into tears again (which I don't do often, not much of a cryer) and told him about my experience with my OBGYN. Then I told him that I was fine, now the cramping was like a bad period, but I would be okay. He then went around his office and asked the nurses what OBGYNs they go to or have heard are good and gave me a list of names and phone numbers of new offices to try.

He had me come in a couple days later and called me again the next day to personally give me the results that everything looked the way it should. Thank heavens there are still doctors out there that genuinely care for their patients well being, and treat them as a person, instead of just symptoms.

Double Trouble

My twins usually get along wonderfully. But lately the bigger of the two has become a bit of a bully. She bites her sister, she pushes her down and takes her food. It's frustrating because I know they love each other, and these moments are not every moment. They only happen every few days, but I don't know how to make it stop! I want this problem resolved before my new baby is born in December. HELP!

Christa R. Monroe,NC

Honey Don't Suckle

My baby nurses like he and I are in a wrestling match and I think he’s winning. He is five months old and my third. He is always happy and smiling, not very spitty, a good sleeper yet a violent nurser. He seems to latch on well, but then he usually tucks his chin in, arches his back, uses both hands to push away as hard as he can while still holding on for dear life. His feet are usually kicking wildly. He tends to gulp and pop on and off. I have tried singing to him, softly rubbing him, and rocking him. I have tried holding his hands and feet so he can’t push away or pinch or hit. I have never seen the likes of it and don’t know what to do. He is getting plenty to eat (at four months he was almost 17 lbs), although he does seem to be worse on one side more than the other. He is such a beautiful, happy baby, I have no idea why nursing makes him writhe so much.

Teri T. Holly Springs, NC

Night Up

We have 6 children fairly close in age. They are all married now, some with children of their own. When they were younger and especially thru the teen years it was always a challenge to find one-on-one time. So we started nights up. Each child got an extra hour after the rest went to bed. We spent this time playing games, talking, working on projects, or just watching a favorite show on TV. We would have a special treat . It was all their choice. It gave us talking time. I think gave them a sense of being special. This is key in big families. The kids knew it was a privilage not a right. They each looked forward to their night.

-David A. RTP, NC

"Two" Much

I have 11 month old twin girls that will not get off the boob. I have tried everything possible, expensive bottles, starving them so that they would take the bottle, sippy cups..everything! They also wont leave my bed, their cots are in my room only because they still wake 2 to 3 times a night for the breast, but will not sleep in them. Does anyone have any advice or ideas on what i can do for either one of my issues? Thanks so much.

Sela O. Sydney, Australia

Eczema Blues

Any tricks for baby eczema? My baby is 4 months old and we just found out that the "rash" he's had for a couple days is actually eczema. Does it go away on it's own or is this really something he's going to deal with forever?

- Melissa B. Wesley Chapel, NC

Party Pooper

My two year old is potty trained but still needs a diaper for nap and bed time. These times are also when his body poops and now he has decided it's super fun to take his poop OUT of his diaper and rub it all over things... I'm afraid to make a big deal out of it because he might want to do it more, but EWWWWE! Help!

- Mel P. NC

Mother of Necessity

Thorstein Veblen coined the phrase "Invention is the Mother of necessity". Well I've invented this because I'm a Mother who sees the necessity.

Anyone with kids has experienced "The Mother Load". Raising children is a 24/7 guessing game. There is no book on how to raise "your" child with detailed answers to all the many questions you may have along the way. We may find help from books, articles, family, or other parents, but let's face it...no Parent ever wants to admit that they don't know what is best for their own precious child. We all know that you don't pop out a baby and magically know in detail everything you are ever supposed to do or teach them...or that babies don’t just "pop out”. There are many topics that some may think of as "common Mommy sense" that may be completely foreign to other Parents. And most importantly, we all know that there are some questions that need asking to someone you will never have to look in the eye again.

I have 4 "Necessity" reasons as to why I've created this.

#1 After the birth of my son, it would have been just peachy if someone had explained to me that when I change his diaper I need to make sure that his "little me" was pointing down. Took about a week and an obscene amount of newborn Swaddlers and countless middle of the night sheet changes on my bed before we figured that one out on our own. I mean, I don't have one of those, how was I supposed to know? And now that I think about it I don't remember my husbands eyes actually being open for any of those middle-of-the night episodes

#2 My sweet neighbor has a very difficult baby. Since birth he has not been a good sleeper, he cries a lot, spits up constantly and is just all around an unhappy baby, albeit super cute. She's been to countless doctors and holistic healers alike but to sum things up, they all think that he will grow out of it. I've tried to help and support her the best I can through this, but it breaks my heart to see the stress and desperation taking it's toll on her and her family. I know she is not the only one who has gone through this. I know it.

#3 Some of my Mommy friends are very critical and judgemental toward some of the decisions and techniques of other Mommy's. To the point that if I do need advice or help, I wouldn't go to them. What works for some families doesn't work for others. It doesn't mean it's "wrong". It would be nice to have a network of Mom's to support and uplift each other and maybe say "Hey, this worked for us." or "My child went through that too." or "I've never been there but my thoughts are with you". No sideways glances and back-biting.

#4 It would've been super great if someone would've warned me ahead of time about the first bowel movement after child birth. That was...um...unexpected, to say the least. I'm still wondering where the "other baby" went since it was worse than labor and I got a cute baby out of that...I'm just sayin'. And seeing as how most Mom's don't sit around their play dates and talk about their latest BM, I have a feeling I'm not the only one that was caught by surprise with this. Definitely something every Mom-to-be should be warned of.

I know that every parent has experienced something the hard way that they wish someone had mentioned to them first. It only takes a second. Please share them!

This isn't just for new Parents, or Parents with little children. This is for everyone everywhere who has ever been around a child. Wether they be planning a family, first time parents, cultered parents of teenagers, Aunts and Uncles, or seasoned Grandparents.There are Parents out there that have figured out a way to do something that may help others in the same situation. Some may be having a hard time with a specific phase their child is going through and may just need to know that they are not alone or that it's a normal milestone. But how do we get them together? How do we get the word out? This is where the "Necessity" part comes in. I’ve started this blog as a Parent help, reference, support, and network. This is not an advice column. The advice and help you receive is from parents all over the world just like you. Email me your questions, situation, and concerns. I will post them on the site and as people respond, you can read through their comments and suggestions and pick what you think would work best for you and your family. This blog also gives you the opportunity to share the knowledge you’ve gained through your experiences that can help countless others out there. If you have discovered a technique or system that works for your family please share it. Someone out there may be in need of your help right now.

If you have ideas or suggestions for me on how to make this site easier to use or just all around fabulous please feel free to pass them along. This site is designed for parents and by parents.

By helping and supporting each other we can help mold these precious children into amazing, strong and confident adults!

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