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