INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (437,2,'2011-10-29 16:19:24','2011-10-29 20:19:24','My mother is an amazing woman.  She:\r\n\r\n- was the youngest of 11 children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_426\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Charles and Ruth, before he left for WWII\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-426 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth1940s\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"334\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- lost her father at age 9.\r\n\r\n- married at age 15.\r\n\r\n- sent her husband off to World War II at the age of 20.\r\n\r\n- gave birth to seven children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_432\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"112\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in 1950s -finished high school after having her first 2 children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-432 \" title=\"YallComeCover_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"87\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n- was a pastor’s wife for many years.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_427\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Andrew, Charles and Ruth in 1980\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-427\" title=\"AndrewDaddyMama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- began picking up college classes in 1963, when I was in junior high.\r\n\r\n- finished college 22 years later in 1985.\r\n\r\n- lost her husband, my father, at age 62.\r\n\r\n- was asked by his last congregation, a small retirement pastorate, if she would finish out that year as their pastor.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_428\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"178\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in the 1970s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-428 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth70\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70-223x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- pursued a seminary degree, finishing in 3 years, while continuing to serve as pastor of that church.\r\n\r\n- served as a pastor, full-time for 3 years, before mandatory retirement.\r\n\r\n- then served as a pastor, part-time, for another 10 years.\r\n\r\n- in 2005, at age 82, began recounting her memories in a <a title=\"Ruthlace_blog\" href=\"http://www.ruthlace.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">weblog, Ruthlace.</a>\r\n\r\n- by 2011, at age 88, has written over 300 blog entries, which are read by hundreds of people around the world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_429\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Beth, Debi, Mother, Carol, Joan and Terrell, at a Rome Area Writers booksigning for Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-429\" title=\"RAWMother\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother-300x220.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"220\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_430\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections from Georgia&#39;s Rome, published in 2008, can be ordered through Mother&#39;s blog.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-430\" title=\"RRRcover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe has recently finished <a title=\"Chronicles_of_Ruth\" href=\"http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-chronicles-of-ruth/18173382?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1\" target=\"_blank\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Chronicles of Ruth, Blogging Through My 80s</span></em>,</a> a compilation of some of her blog posts.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_431\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"This book, just published in 2011, is available through lulu.com or from her website, Ruthlace.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-431\" title=\"ChroniclesRuth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe photo on the cover was taken of Mother, and her daughters, my sisters, Janice and Joan, to send to her husband Charles, a marine, during World War II.\r\n\r\nM<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-433 alignleft\" title=\"LifeWing\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>other has also published <a title=\"Life_with_Wings\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Life-Wings-Ruth-Baird-Shaw/dp/0557467594/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1319915281&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Life With Wings</span>, </a>available on Amazon.com, another book of poetry, sermons, and recipes.\r\n\r\nAnd she is working to complete another book,<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em> 52 Sundays</em></span>, a collection of some of her best sermons, from her years as a preacher/pastor.','My Mother is AMAZING!','','inherit','open','open','','422-revision-4','','','2011-10-29 16:19:24','2011-10-29 20:19:24','',422,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/29/422-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(438,2,'2011-10-30 07:47:19','2011-10-30 11:47:19','[caption id=\"attachment_426\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"167\" caption=\"Charles and Ruth, before he left for WWII\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-426 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth1940s\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"167\" height=\"267\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy mother is an amazing woman.  She:\n\n- was the youngest of 11 children.\n\n- lost her father at age 9.\n\n- married at age 15 1/2 (We have a family story about the 1/2.)\n\n- sent her husband off to World War II at the age of 20.\n\n- finished high school after having her first 2 children.\n\n- gave birth to seven children.\n\n- was a pastor’s wife for many years.\n\n- began taking college classes in 1963, when I was in junior high.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_432\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"112\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in 1950s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-432 \" title=\"YallComeCover_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"87\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n-graduated from college 22 years later in 1985.\n\n- lost her husband, my father, at age 62.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_427\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Andrew, Charles and Ruth in 1980\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-427 \" title=\"AndrewDaddyMama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"158\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n- was asked by his last congregation, a small retirement pastorate, if she would finish out that year as their pastor.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_428\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"142\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in the 1970s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-428 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth70\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70-223x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"142\" height=\"192\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n- pursued a seminary degree, finishing in 3 years, while continuing to serve as pastor of that church.\n\n- served as a pastor, full-time for 3 years, before mandatory retirement.\n\n- then served as a pastor, part-time, for another 10 years.\n\n- in 2005, at age 82, began recounting her memories in a <a title=\"Ruthlace_blog\" href=\"http://www.ruthlace.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">weblog, Ruthlace</a>, which has won numerous awards, including being ranked in the ton ten \"Best Diarist\" in the annual <em>Weblog Awards</em> each year since 2006\n\n- by 2011, at age 88, has written over 300 blog entries, which have been read by thousands of people around the world.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_429\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Beth, Debi, Mother, Carol, Joan and Terrell, at a Rome Area Writers booksigning for Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-429\" title=\"RAWMother\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother-300x220.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"220\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_430\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections from Georgia&#39;s Rome, published in 2008, can be ordered through Mother&#39;s blog.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-430\" title=\"RRRcover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nShe has recently finished <a title=\"Chronicles_of_Ruth\" href=\"http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-chronicles-of-ruth/18173382?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1\" target=\"_blank\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Chronicles of Ruth, Blogging Through My 80s</span></em>,</a> a compilation of some of her blog posts.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_431\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"This book, just published in 2011, is available through lulu.com or from her website, Ruthlace.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-431\" title=\"ChroniclesRuth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe photo on the cover was taken of Mother, and her daughters, my sisters, Janice and Joan, to send to her husband Charles, a marine, during World War II.\n\nM<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-433 alignleft\" title=\"LifeWing\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>other has also published <a title=\"Life_with_Wings\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Life-Wings-Ruth-Baird-Shaw/dp/0557467594/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1319915281&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Life With Wings</span>, </a>available on Amazon.com, another book of poetry, sermons, and recipes.\n\nAnd she is working to complete another book,<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em> 52 Sundays</em></span>, a collection of some of her best sermons, from her years as a preacher/pastor.','My Mother is AMAZING!','','inherit','open','open','','422-autosave','','','2011-10-30 07:47:19','2011-10-30 11:47:19','',422,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/29/422-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(439,2,'2011-10-29 16:24:44','2011-10-29 20:24:44','My mother is an amazing woman.  She:\r\n\r\n- was the youngest of 11 children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_426\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Charles and Ruth, before he left for WWII\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-426 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth1940s\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"334\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- lost her father at age 9.\r\n\r\n- married at age 15.\r\n\r\n- sent her husband off to World War II at the age of 20.\r\n\r\n- gave birth to seven children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_432\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"112\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in 1950s -finished high school after having her first 2 children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-432 \" title=\"YallComeCover_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"87\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n- was a pastor’s wife for many years.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_427\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Andrew, Charles and Ruth in 1980\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-427\" title=\"AndrewDaddyMama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- began picking up college classes in 1963, when I was in junior high.\r\n\r\n- finished college 22 years later in 1985.\r\n\r\n- lost her husband, my father, at age 62.\r\n\r\n- was asked by his last congregation, a small retirement pastorate, if she would finish out that year as their pastor.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_428\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"178\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in the 1970s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-428 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth70\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70-223x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- pursued a seminary degree, finishing in 3 years, while continuing to serve as pastor of that church.\r\n\r\n- served as a pastor, full-time for 3 years, before mandatory retirement.\r\n\r\n- then served as a pastor, part-time, for another 10 years.\r\n\r\n- in 2005, at age 82, began recounting her memories in a <a title=\"Ruthlace_blog\" href=\"http://www.ruthlace.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">weblog, Ruthlace.</a>\r\n\r\n- by 2011, at age 88, has written over 300 blog entries, which are read by hundreds of people around the world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_429\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Beth, Debi, Mother, Carol, Joan and Terrell, at a Rome Area Writers booksigning for Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-429\" title=\"RAWMother\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother-300x220.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"220\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_430\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections from Georgia&#39;s Rome, published in 2008, can be ordered through Mother&#39;s blog.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-430\" title=\"RRRcover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe has recently finished <a title=\"Chronicles_of_Ruth\" href=\"http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-chronicles-of-ruth/18173382?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1\" target=\"_blank\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Chronicles of Ruth, Blogging Through My 80s</span></em>,</a> a compilation of some of her blog posts.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_431\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"This book, just published in 2011, is available through lulu.com or from her website, Ruthlace.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-431\" title=\"ChroniclesRuth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe photo on the cover was taken of Mother, and her daughters, my sisters, Janice and Joan, to send to her husband Charles, a marine, during World War II.\r\n\r\nM<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-433 alignleft\" title=\"LifeWing\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>other has also published <a title=\"Life_with_Wings\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Life-Wings-Ruth-Baird-Shaw/dp/0557467594/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1319915281&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Life With Wings</span>, </a>available on Amazon.com, another book of poetry, sermons, and recipes.\r\n\r\nAnd she is working to complete another book,<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em> 52 Sundays</em></span>, a collection of some of her best sermons, from her years as a preacher/pastor.','My Mother is AMAZING!','','inherit','open','open','','422-revision-5','','','2011-10-29 16:24:44','2011-10-29 20:24:44','',422,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/29/422-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(443,2,'2011-10-29 18:59:12','2011-10-29 22:59:12','[caption id=\"attachment_426\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"167\" caption=\"Charles and Ruth, before he left for WWII\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-426 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth1940s\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"167\" height=\"267\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy mother is an amazing woman.  She:\r\n\r\n- was the youngest of 11 children.\r\n\r\n- lost her father at age 9.\r\n\r\n- married at age 15 1/2 (We have a family story about the 1/2.)\r\n\r\n- sent her husband off to World War II at the age of 20.\r\n\r\n- gave birth to seven children.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n- was a pastor’s wife for many years.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_432\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"112\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in 1950s -finished high school after having her first 2 children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-432 \" title=\"YallComeCover_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"87\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- began taking college classes in 1963, when I was in junior high.\r\n\r\n- finished college 22 years later in 1985.\r\n\r\n- lost her husband, my father, at age 62.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_427\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Andrew, Charles and Ruth in 1980\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-427 \" title=\"AndrewDaddyMama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"158\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n- was asked by his last congregation, a small retirement pastorate, if she would finish out that year as their pastor.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_428\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"178\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in the 1970s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-428 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth70\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70-223x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- pursued a seminary degree, finishing in 3 years, while continuing to serve as pastor of that church.\r\n\r\n- served as a pastor, full-time for 3 years, before mandatory retirement.\r\n\r\n- then served as a pastor, part-time, for another 10 years.\r\n\r\n- in 2005, at age 82, began recounting her memories in a <a title=\"Ruthlace_blog\" href=\"http://www.ruthlace.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">weblog, Ruthlace.</a>\r\n\r\n- by 2011, at age 88, has written over 300 blog entries, which are read by hundreds of people around the world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_429\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Beth, Debi, Mother, Carol, Joan and Terrell, at a Rome Area Writers booksigning for Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-429\" title=\"RAWMother\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother-300x220.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"220\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_430\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections from Georgia&#39;s Rome, published in 2008, can be ordered through Mother&#39;s blog.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-430\" title=\"RRRcover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe has recently finished <a title=\"Chronicles_of_Ruth\" href=\"http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-chronicles-of-ruth/18173382?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1\" target=\"_blank\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Chronicles of Ruth, Blogging Through My 80s</span></em>,</a> a compilation of some of her blog posts.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_431\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"This book, just published in 2011, is available through lulu.com or from her website, Ruthlace.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-431\" title=\"ChroniclesRuth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe photo on the cover was taken of Mother, and her daughters, my sisters, Janice and Joan, to send to her husband Charles, a marine, during World War II.\r\n\r\nM<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-433 alignleft\" title=\"LifeWing\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>other has also published <a title=\"Life_with_Wings\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Life-Wings-Ruth-Baird-Shaw/dp/0557467594/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1319915281&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Life With Wings</span>, </a>available on Amazon.com, another book of poetry, sermons, and recipes.\r\n\r\nAnd she is working to complete another book,<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em> 52 Sundays</em></span>, a collection of some of her best sermons, from her years as a preacher/pastor.','My Mother is AMAZING!','','inherit','open','open','','422-revision-9','','','2011-10-29 18:59:12','2011-10-29 22:59:12','',422,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/29/422-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(441,2,'2011-10-29 18:50:10','2011-10-29 22:50:10','<p>My mother is an amazing woman.  She:</p>\r\n<p>- was the youngest of 11 children.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_426\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Charles and Ruth, before he left for WWII\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-426 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth1940s\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"334\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>- lost her father at age 9.</p>\r\n<p>- married at age 15 1/2 (We have a family story about the 1/2.)</p>\r\n<p>- sent her husband off to World War II at the age of 20.</p>\r\n<p>- gave birth to seven children.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_432\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"112\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in 1950s -finished high school after having her first 2 children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-432 \" title=\"YallComeCover_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"87\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>- was a pastor’s wife for many years.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_427\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Andrew, Charles and Ruth in 1980\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-427\" title=\"AndrewDaddyMama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>- began taking college classes in 1963, when I was in junior high.</p>\r\n<p>- finished college 22 years later in 1985.</p>\r\n<p>- lost her husband, my father, at age 62.</p>\r\n<p>- was asked by his last congregation, a small retirement pastorate, if she would finish out that year as their pastor.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_428\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"178\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in the 1970s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-428 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth70\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70-223x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>- pursued a seminary degree, finishing in 3 years, while continuing to serve as pastor of that church.</p>\r\n<p>- served as a pastor, full-time for 3 years, before mandatory retirement.</p>\r\n<p>- then served as a pastor, part-time, for another 10 years.</p>\r\n<p>- in 2005, at age 82, began recounting her memories in a <a title=\"Ruthlace_blog\" href=\"http://www.ruthlace.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">weblog, Ruthlace.</a></p>\r\n<p>- by 2011, at age 88, has written over 300 blog entries, which are read by hundreds of people around the world.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_429\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Beth, Debi, Mother, Carol, Joan and Terrell, at a Rome Area Writers booksigning for Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-429\" title=\"RAWMother\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother-300x220.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"220\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_430\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections from Georgia&#39;s Rome, published in 2008, can be ordered through Mother&#39;s blog.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-430\" title=\"RRRcover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>She has recently finished <a title=\"Chronicles_of_Ruth\" href=\"http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-chronicles-of-ruth/18173382?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1\" target=\"_blank\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Chronicles of Ruth, Blogging Through My 80s</span></em>,</a> a compilation of some of her blog posts.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_431\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"This book, just published in 2011, is available through lulu.com or from her website, Ruthlace.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-431\" title=\"ChroniclesRuth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>The photo on the cover was taken of Mother, and her daughters, my sisters, Janice and Joan, to send to her husband Charles, a marine, during World War II.</p>\r\n<p>M<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-433 alignleft\" title=\"LifeWing\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>other has also published <a title=\"Life_with_Wings\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Life-Wings-Ruth-Baird-Shaw/dp/0557467594/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1319915281&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Life With Wings</span>, </a>available on Amazon.com, another book of poetry, sermons, and recipes.</p>\r\n<p>And she is working to complete another book,<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em> 52 Sundays</em></span>, a collection of some of her best sermons, from her years as a preacher/pastor.</p>\r\n','My Mother is AMAZING!','','inherit','open','open','','422-revision-7','','','2011-10-29 18:50:10','2011-10-29 22:50:10','',422,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/29/422-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(440,2,'2011-10-29 18:42:42','2011-10-29 22:42:42','My mother is an amazing woman.  She:\r\n\r\n- was the youngest of 11 children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_426\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Charles and Ruth, before he left for WWII\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-426 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth1940s\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"334\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- lost her father at age 9.\r\n\r\n- married at age 15 1/2 (We have a family story about the 1/2.)\r\n\r\n- sent her husband off to World War II at the age of 20.\r\n\r\n- gave birth to seven children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_432\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"112\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in 1950s -finished high school after having her first 2 children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-432 \" title=\"YallComeCover_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"87\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n- was a pastor’s wife for many years.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_427\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Andrew, Charles and Ruth in 1980\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-427\" title=\"AndrewDaddyMama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- began taking college classes in 1963, when I was in junior high.\r\n\r\n- finished college 22 years later in 1985.\r\n\r\n- lost her husband, my father, at age 62.\r\n\r\n- was asked by his last congregation, a small retirement pastorate, if she would finish out that year as their pastor.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_428\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"178\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in the 1970s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-428 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth70\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70-223x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- pursued a seminary degree, finishing in 3 years, while continuing to serve as pastor of that church.\r\n\r\n- served as a pastor, full-time for 3 years, before mandatory retirement.\r\n\r\n- then served as a pastor, part-time, for another 10 years.\r\n\r\n- in 2005, at age 82, began recounting her memories in a <a title=\"Ruthlace_blog\" href=\"http://www.ruthlace.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">weblog, Ruthlace.</a>\r\n\r\n- by 2011, at age 88, has written over 300 blog entries, which are read by hundreds of people around the world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_429\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Beth, Debi, Mother, Carol, Joan and Terrell, at a Rome Area Writers booksigning for Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-429\" title=\"RAWMother\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother-300x220.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"220\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_430\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections from Georgia&#39;s Rome, published in 2008, can be ordered through Mother&#39;s blog.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-430\" title=\"RRRcover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe has recently finished <a title=\"Chronicles_of_Ruth\" href=\"http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-chronicles-of-ruth/18173382?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1\" target=\"_blank\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Chronicles of Ruth, Blogging Through My 80s</span></em>,</a> a compilation of some of her blog posts.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_431\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"This book, just published in 2011, is available through lulu.com or from her website, Ruthlace.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-431\" title=\"ChroniclesRuth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe photo on the cover was taken of Mother, and her daughters, my sisters, Janice and Joan, to send to her husband Charles, a marine, during World War II.\r\n\r\nM<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-433 alignleft\" title=\"LifeWing\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>other has also published <a title=\"Life_with_Wings\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Life-Wings-Ruth-Baird-Shaw/dp/0557467594/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1319915281&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Life With Wings</span>, </a>available on Amazon.com, another book of poetry, sermons, and recipes.\r\n\r\nAnd she is working to complete another book,<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em> 52 Sundays</em></span>, a collection of some of her best sermons, from her years as a preacher/pastor.','My Mother is AMAZING!','','inherit','open','open','','422-revision-6','','','2011-10-29 18:42:42','2011-10-29 22:42:42','',422,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/29/422-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(444,2,'2011-10-29 19:02:44','2011-10-29 23:02:44','[caption id=\"attachment_426\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"167\" caption=\"Charles and Ruth, before he left for WWII\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-426 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth1940s\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"167\" height=\"267\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy mother is an amazing woman.  She:\r\n\r\n- was the youngest of 11 children.\r\n\r\n- lost her father at age 9.\r\n\r\n- married at age 15 1/2 (We have a family story about the 1/2.)\r\n\r\n- sent her husband off to World War II at the age of 20.\r\n\r\n- gave birth to seven children.\r\n\r\n- was a pastor’s wife for many years.\r\n\r\n- began taking college classes in 1963, when I was in junior high.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_432\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"112\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in 1950s -finished high school after having her first 2 children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-432 \" title=\"YallComeCover_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"87\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- finished college 22 years later in 1985.\r\n\r\n- lost her husband, my father, at age 62.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_427\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Andrew, Charles and Ruth in 1980\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-427 \" title=\"AndrewDaddyMama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"158\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n- was asked by his last congregation, a small retirement pastorate, if she would finish out that year as their pastor.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_428\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"142\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in the 1970s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-428 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth70\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70-223x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"142\" height=\"192\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- pursued a seminary degree, finishing in 3 years, while continuing to serve as pastor of that church.\r\n\r\n- served as a pastor, full-time for 3 years, before mandatory retirement.\r\n\r\n- then served as a pastor, part-time, for another 10 years.\r\n\r\n- in 2005, at age 82, began recounting her memories in a <a title=\"Ruthlace_blog\" href=\"http://www.ruthlace.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">weblog, Ruthlace.</a>\r\n\r\n- by 2011, at age 88, has written over 300 blog entries, which are read by hundreds of people around the world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_429\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Beth, Debi, Mother, Carol, Joan and Terrell, at a Rome Area Writers booksigning for Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-429\" title=\"RAWMother\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother-300x220.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"220\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_430\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections from Georgia&#39;s Rome, published in 2008, can be ordered through Mother&#39;s blog.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-430\" title=\"RRRcover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe has recently finished <a title=\"Chronicles_of_Ruth\" href=\"http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-chronicles-of-ruth/18173382?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1\" target=\"_blank\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Chronicles of Ruth, Blogging Through My 80s</span></em>,</a> a compilation of some of her blog posts.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_431\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"This book, just published in 2011, is available through lulu.com or from her website, Ruthlace.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-431\" title=\"ChroniclesRuth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe photo on the cover was taken of Mother, and her daughters, my sisters, Janice and Joan, to send to her husband Charles, a marine, during World War II.\r\n\r\nM<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-433 alignleft\" title=\"LifeWing\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>other has also published <a title=\"Life_with_Wings\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Life-Wings-Ruth-Baird-Shaw/dp/0557467594/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1319915281&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Life With Wings</span>, </a>available on Amazon.com, another book of poetry, sermons, and recipes.\r\n\r\nAnd she is working to complete another book,<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em> 52 Sundays</em></span>, a collection of some of her best sermons, from her years as a preacher/pastor.','My Mother is AMAZING!','','inherit','open','open','','422-revision-10','','','2011-10-29 19:02:44','2011-10-29 23:02:44','',422,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/29/422-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(442,2,'2011-10-29 18:58:12','2011-10-29 22:58:12','My mother is an amazing woman.  She:\r\n\r\n- was the youngest of 11 children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_426\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"167\" caption=\"Charles and Ruth, before he left for WWII\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-426 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth1940s\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"167\" height=\"267\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- lost her father at age 9.\r\n\r\n- married at age 15 1/2 (We have a family story about the 1/2.)\r\n\r\n- sent her husband off to World War II at the age of 20.\r\n\r\n- gave birth to seven children.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n- was a pastor’s wife for many years.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_432\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"112\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in 1950s -finished high school after having her first 2 children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-432 \" title=\"YallComeCover_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"87\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- began taking college classes in 1963, when I was in junior high.\r\n\r\n- finished college 22 years later in 1985.\r\n\r\n- lost her husband, my father, at age 62.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_427\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Andrew, Charles and Ruth in 1980\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-427 \" title=\"AndrewDaddyMama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"158\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n- was asked by his last congregation, a small retirement pastorate, if she would finish out that year as their pastor.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_428\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"178\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in the 1970s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-428 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth70\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70-223x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- pursued a seminary degree, finishing in 3 years, while continuing to serve as pastor of that church.\r\n\r\n- served as a pastor, full-time for 3 years, before mandatory retirement.\r\n\r\n- then served as a pastor, part-time, for another 10 years.\r\n\r\n- in 2005, at age 82, began recounting her memories in a <a title=\"Ruthlace_blog\" href=\"http://www.ruthlace.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">weblog, Ruthlace.</a>\r\n\r\n- by 2011, at age 88, has written over 300 blog entries, which are read by hundreds of people around the world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_429\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Beth, Debi, Mother, Carol, Joan and Terrell, at a Rome Area Writers booksigning for Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-429\" title=\"RAWMother\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother-300x220.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"220\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_430\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections from Georgia&#39;s Rome, published in 2008, can be ordered through Mother&#39;s blog.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-430\" title=\"RRRcover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe has recently finished <a title=\"Chronicles_of_Ruth\" href=\"http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-chronicles-of-ruth/18173382?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1\" target=\"_blank\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Chronicles of Ruth, Blogging Through My 80s</span></em>,</a> a compilation of some of her blog posts.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_431\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"This book, just published in 2011, is available through lulu.com or from her website, Ruthlace.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-431\" title=\"ChroniclesRuth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe photo on the cover was taken of Mother, and her daughters, my sisters, Janice and Joan, to send to her husband Charles, a marine, during World War II.\r\n\r\nM<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-433 alignleft\" title=\"LifeWing\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>other has also published <a title=\"Life_with_Wings\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Life-Wings-Ruth-Baird-Shaw/dp/0557467594/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1319915281&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Life With Wings</span>, </a>available on Amazon.com, another book of poetry, sermons, and recipes.\r\n\r\nAnd she is working to complete another book,<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em> 52 Sundays</em></span>, a collection of some of her best sermons, from her years as a preacher/pastor.','My Mother is AMAZING!','','inherit','open','open','','422-revision-8','','','2011-10-29 18:58:12','2011-10-29 22:58:12','',422,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/29/422-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(445,2,'2011-10-29 19:10:14','2011-10-29 23:10:14','[caption id=\"attachment_426\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"167\" caption=\"Charles and Ruth, before he left for WWII\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-426 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth1940s\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth1940s.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"167\" height=\"267\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy mother is an amazing woman.  She:\r\n\r\n- was the youngest of 11 children.\r\n\r\n- lost her father at age 9.\r\n\r\n- married at age 15 1/2 (We have a family story about the 1/2.)\r\n\r\n- sent her husband off to World War II at the age of 20.\r\n\r\n- finished high school after having her first 2 children.\r\n\r\n- gave birth to seven children.\r\n\r\n- was a pastor’s wife for many years.\r\n\r\n- began taking college classes in 1963, when I was in junior high.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_432\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"112\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in 1950s \"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-432 \" title=\"YallComeCover_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/YallComeCover_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"87\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n-graduated from college 22 years later in 1985.\r\n\r\n- lost her husband, my father, at age 62.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_427\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Andrew, Charles and Ruth in 1980\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-427 \" title=\"AndrewDaddyMama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AndrewDaddyMama-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"158\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n- was asked by his last congregation, a small retirement pastorate, if she would finish out that year as their pastor.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_428\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"142\" caption=\"Ruth and Charles in the 1970s\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-428 \" title=\"Charles&amp;Ruth70\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CharlesRuth70-223x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"142\" height=\"192\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n- pursued a seminary degree, finishing in 3 years, while continuing to serve as pastor of that church.\r\n\r\n- served as a pastor, full-time for 3 years, before mandatory retirement.\r\n\r\n- then served as a pastor, part-time, for another 10 years.\r\n\r\n- in 2005, at age 82, began recounting her memories in a <a title=\"Ruthlace_blog\" href=\"http://www.ruthlace.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">weblog, Ruthlace.</a>\r\n\r\n- by 2011, at age 88, has written over 300 blog entries, which are read by hundreds of people around the world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_429\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Beth, Debi, Mother, Carol, Joan and Terrell, at a Rome Area Writers booksigning for Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-429\" title=\"RAWMother\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RAWMother-300x220.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"220\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_430\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Recipes, Rhymes and Reflections from Georgia&#39;s Rome, published in 2008, can be ordered through Mother&#39;s blog.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-430\" title=\"RRRcover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RRRcover-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe has recently finished <a title=\"Chronicles_of_Ruth\" href=\"http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-chronicles-of-ruth/18173382?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1\" target=\"_blank\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Chronicles of Ruth, Blogging Through My 80s</span></em>,</a> a compilation of some of her blog posts.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_431\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"215\" caption=\"This book, just published in 2011, is available through lulu.com or from her website, Ruthlace.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-431\" title=\"ChroniclesRuth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ChroniclesRuth-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe photo on the cover was taken of Mother, and her daughters, my sisters, Janice and Joan, to send to her husband Charles, a marine, during World War II.\r\n\r\nM<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-433 alignleft\" title=\"LifeWing\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LifeWing.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>other has also published <a title=\"Life_with_Wings\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Life-Wings-Ruth-Baird-Shaw/dp/0557467594/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1319915281&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Life With Wings</span>, </a>available on Amazon.com, another book of poetry, sermons, and recipes.\r\n\r\nAnd she is working to complete another book,<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em> 52 Sundays</em></span>, a collection of some of her best sermons, from her years as a preacher/pastor.','My Mother is AMAZING!','','inherit','open','open','','422-revision-11','','','2011-10-29 19:10:14','2011-10-29 23:10:14','',422,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/29/422-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(447,2,'2011-11-01 22:01:05','2011-11-02 02:01:05','I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to self-soothe themselves to sleep. And second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.\n\nAndrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.\n\nI breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.\n\nSo, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.\n\nFollowing the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep. He didn’t. He cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.\n\nThe next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”\n\nThe next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.\n\nHmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was a no-brainer.\n\nAnd so I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.\n\nEven today, many years since I’ve had a baby to sing to, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.\n\nMy grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to me and to each other.\n\nAnd, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (different family gatherings, for different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.\n\nLast year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following some recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night.\n\n“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed. So I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those moments with my children are. A week or so later, she came back to me. “You have changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-revision','','','2011-11-01 22:01:05','2011-11-02 02:01:05','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/01/446-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(448,2,'2011-11-01 22:14:55','2011-11-02 02:14:55','','AndrewNewborn','Andrew as a newborn','inherit','open','open','','andrewnewborn','','','2011-11-01 22:14:55','2011-11-02 02:14:55','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(449,2,'2011-11-01 22:16:14','2011-11-02 02:16:14','','DaddyRockingBenj','My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep.  Daddy also sang to my children.','inherit','open','open','','daddyrockingbenj','','','2011-11-01 22:16:14','2011-11-02 02:16:14','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(450,2,'2011-11-01 22:18:40','2011-11-02 02:18:40','','LisetteBornAM','The day Lisette was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.','inherit','open','open','','lisettebornam','','','2011-11-01 22:18:40','2011-11-02 02:18:40','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(451,2,'2011-11-01 22:22:58','2011-11-02 02:22:58','I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to self-soothe themselves to sleep. And second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-448\" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAndrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.\n\nI breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.\n\nSo, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.\n\nFollowing the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep. He didn’t. He cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_449\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep. Daddy also sang to my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-449 \" title=\"DaddyRockingBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”\n\nThe next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.\n\nHmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was easy.\n\nAnd so I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_450\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-450\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nEven today, many years since I’ve had a baby to sing to, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.\n\nMy grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to me and to each other.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (different family gatherings, for different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"At Emily and Matthew&#39;s wedding in 2007.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-166\" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nLast year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following some recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night.\n\n“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed.\n\nSo I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those moments with my children are.\n\nA week or so later, she came back to me. “You have changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-revision-2','','','2011-11-01 22:22:58','2011-11-02 02:22:58','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/01/446-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(452,2,'2011-11-01 22:23:38','2011-11-02 02:23:38','I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to self-soothe themselves to sleep. And second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-448\" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAndrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.\r\n\r\nI breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.\r\n\r\nSo, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.\r\n\r\nFollowing the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep. He didn’t. He cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_449\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep. Daddy also sang to my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-449 \" title=\"DaddyRockingBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”\r\n\r\nThe next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was easy.\r\n\r\nAnd so I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_450\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-450\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEven today, many years since I’ve had a baby to sing to, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.\r\n\r\nMy grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to me and to each other.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (different family gatherings, for different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"At Emily and Matthew&#39;s wedding in 2007. Lisette, Jonathan, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-166\" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLast year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following some recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night.\r\n\r\n“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed.\r\n\r\nSo I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those moments with my children are.\r\n\r\nA week or so later, she came back to me. “You have changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-revision-3','','','2011-11-01 22:23:38','2011-11-02 02:23:38','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/01/446-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(453,2,'2011-11-01 22:33:09','2011-11-02 02:33:09','','LisetteNewbornFeatured','Debi, Lisette on the day she was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.','inherit','open','open','','lisettenewbornfeatured','','','2011-11-01 22:33:09','2011-11-02 02:33:09','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteNewbornFeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(454,2,'2011-11-01 22:32:08','2011-11-02 02:32:08','I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to self-soothe themselves to sleep. Second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-448\" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAndrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.\n\nI breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.\n\nSo, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.\n\nFollowing the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep. He didn’t. He cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_449\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep. Daddy also sang to my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-449 \" title=\"DaddyRockingBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”\n\nThe next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.\n\nHmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was easy.\n\nSo I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_450\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-450\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nEven today, many years since I’ve had a baby to put to sleep, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.\n\nMy grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to their parents and to each other.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (at different family gatherings, since they come from different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"At Emily and Matthew&#39;s wedding in 2007. Lisette, Jonathan, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-166\" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nLast year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following a recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night. And this had gone on for several months, with little progress.\n\n“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed.\n\nSo I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those moments with my children are.\n\nA week or so later, she came back to me. “You have changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-revision-4','','','2011-11-01 22:32:08','2011-11-02 02:32:08','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/01/446-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(455,2,'2011-11-01 22:33:37','2011-11-02 02:33:37','I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to self-soothe themselves to sleep. Second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-448\" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAndrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.\r\n\r\nI breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.\r\n\r\nSo, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.\r\n\r\nFollowing the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep. He didn’t. He cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_449\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep. Daddy also sang to my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-449 \" title=\"DaddyRockingBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”\r\n\r\nThe next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was easy.\r\n\r\nSo I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_450\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-450\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEven today, many years since I’ve had a baby to put to sleep, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.\r\n\r\nMy grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to their parents and to each other.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (at different family gatherings, since they come from different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"At Emily and Matthew&#39;s wedding in 2007. Lisette, Jonathan, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-166\" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLast year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following a recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night. And this had gone on for several months, with little progress.\r\n\r\n“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed.\r\n\r\nSo I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those moments with my children are.\r\n\r\nA week or so later, she came back to me. “You have changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-revision-5','','','2011-11-01 22:33:37','2011-11-02 02:33:37','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/01/446-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(463,2,'2011-11-02 10:55:47','2011-11-02 14:55:47','I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to \"self-soothe\" themselves to sleep. Second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-448\" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAndrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.\r\n\r\nI breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.\r\n\r\nSo, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.\r\n\r\nFollowing the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHe didn’t.\r\n\r\nHe cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_449\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep. Daddy also sang to my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-449 \" title=\"DaddyRockingBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”\r\n\r\nThe next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was easy.\r\n\r\nSo I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"391\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEven today, many years since I’ve had a baby to put to sleep, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.\r\n\r\nMy grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to their parents and to each other.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (at different family gatherings, since they come from different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"700\" caption=\"Lisette, Jonathan, Benjamin, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-166 \" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"202\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLast year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following a recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night. And this had gone on for several months, with little progress.\r\n\r\n“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed.\r\n\r\nSo I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those moments with my children are.\r\n\r\nA week or so later, she came back to me. “Your advice has changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-revision-11','','','2011-11-02 10:55:47','2011-11-02 14:55:47','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/02/446-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(456,2,'2011-11-01 22:35:25','2011-11-02 02:35:25','I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to self-soothe themselves to sleep. Second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-448\" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAndrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.\r\n\r\nI breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.\r\n\r\nSo, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.\r\n\r\nFollowing the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHe didn’t.\r\n\r\nHe cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_449\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep. Daddy also sang to my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-449 \" title=\"DaddyRockingBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”\r\n\r\nThe next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was easy.\r\n\r\nSo I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_450\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-450\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEven today, many years since I’ve had a baby to put to sleep, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.\r\n\r\nMy grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to their parents and to each other.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (at different family gatherings, since they come from different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"At Emily and Matthew&#39;s wedding in 2007. Lisette, Jonathan, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-166\" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLast year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following a recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night. And this had gone on for several months, with little progress.\r\n\r\n“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed.\r\n\r\nSo I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those moments with my children are.\r\n\r\nA week or so later, she came back to me. “You have changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-revision-6','','','2011-11-01 22:35:25','2011-11-02 02:35:25','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/01/446-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(457,2,'2011-11-01 22:44:46','2011-11-02 02:44:46','','LisetteBornAM','The day Lisette was born. That\'s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.','inherit','open','open','','lisettebornam-2','','','2011-11-01 22:44:46','2011-11-02 02:44:46','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(458,2,'2011-12-18 23:13:00','2011-12-19 04:13:00','I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to \"self-soothe\" themselves to sleep. Second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-448\" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAndrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.\n\nI breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.\n\nSo, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.\n\nFollowing the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep.\n\nHe didn’t.\n\nHe cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_449\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep. Daddy also sang to my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-449 \" title=\"DaddyRockingBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”\n\nThe next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.\n\nHmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was easy.\n\nSo I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"391\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nEven today, many years since I’ve had a baby to put to sleep, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.\n\nMy grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to their parents and to each other.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_549\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JonAndrewGrad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-549 \" title=\"JonAndrewGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JonAndrewGrad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"284\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (at different family gatherings, since they come from different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"700\" caption=\"Lisette, Jonathan, Benjamin, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-166 \" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"202\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nLast year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following a recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night. And this had gone on for several months, with little progress.\n\n“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed.\n\nSo I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those motherhood moments are.\n\nA week or so later, she came back to me. “Your advice has changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-autosave','','','2011-12-18 23:13:00','2011-12-19 04:13:00','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/01/446-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(549,2,'2011-11-05 19:43:54','2011-11-05 23:43:54','','JonAndrewGrad','Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University','inherit','open','open','','jonandrewgrad','','','2011-11-05 19:43:54','2011-11-05 23:43:54','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JonAndrewGrad.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(550,2,'2011-11-05 19:31:25','2011-11-05 23:31:25','I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to \"self-soothe\" themselves to sleep. Second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-448\" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAndrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.\r\n\r\nI breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.\r\n\r\nSo, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.\r\n\r\nFollowing the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHe didn’t.\r\n\r\nHe cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_449\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep. Daddy also sang to my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-449 \" title=\"DaddyRockingBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”\r\n\r\nThe next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was easy.\r\n\r\nSo I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"391\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEven today, many years since I’ve had a baby to put to sleep, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.\r\n\r\nMy grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to their parents and to each other.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"512\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"147\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (at different family gatherings, since they come from different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"700\" caption=\"Lisette, Jonathan, Benjamin, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-166 \" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"202\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLast year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following a recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night. And this had gone on for several months, with little progress.\r\n\r\n“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed.\r\n\r\nSo I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those motherhood moments are.\r\n\r\nA week or so later, she came back to me. “Your advice has changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-revision-13','','','2011-11-05 19:31:25','2011-11-05 23:31:25','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/446-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(459,2,'2011-11-01 22:39:39','2011-11-02 02:39:39','I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to \"self-soothe\" themselves to sleep. Second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-448\" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAndrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.\r\n\r\nI breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.\r\n\r\nSo, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.\r\n\r\nFollowing the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHe didn’t.\r\n\r\nHe cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_449\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep. Daddy also sang to my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-449 \" title=\"DaddyRockingBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”\r\n\r\nThe next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was easy.\r\n\r\nSo I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_450\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-450\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEven today, many years since I’ve had a baby to put to sleep, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.\r\n\r\nMy grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to their parents and to each other.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (at different family gatherings, since they come from different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"At Emily and Matthew&#39;s wedding in 2007. Lisette, Jonathan, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-166\" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLast year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following a recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night. And this had gone on for several months, with little progress.\r\n\r\n“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed.\r\n\r\nSo I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those moments with my children are.\r\n\r\nA week or so later, she came back to me. “You have changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-revision-7','','','2011-11-01 22:39:39','2011-11-02 02:39:39','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/01/446-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(460,2,'2011-11-01 22:46:57','2011-11-02 02:46:57','I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to \"self-soothe\" themselves to sleep. Second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-448\" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAndrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.\r\n\r\nI breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.\r\n\r\nSo, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.\r\n\r\nFollowing the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHe didn’t.\r\n\r\nHe cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_449\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep. Daddy also sang to my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-449 \" title=\"DaddyRockingBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”\r\n\r\nThe next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was easy.\r\n\r\nSo I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"391\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEven today, many years since I’ve had a baby to put to sleep, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.\r\n\r\nMy grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to their parents and to each other.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (at different family gatherings, since they come from different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"At Emily and Matthew&#39;s wedding in 2007. Lisette, Jonathan, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-166\" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLast year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following a recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night. And this had gone on for several months, with little progress.\r\n\r\n“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed.\r\n\r\nSo I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those moments with my children are.\r\n\r\nA week or so later, she came back to me. “You have changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-revision-8','','','2011-11-01 22:46:57','2011-11-02 02:46:57','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/01/446-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(462,2,'2011-11-01 22:50:44','2011-11-02 02:50:44','I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to \"self-soothe\" themselves to sleep. Second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-448\" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAndrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.\r\n\r\nI breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.\r\n\r\nSo, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.\r\n\r\nFollowing the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHe didn’t.\r\n\r\nHe cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_449\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep. Daddy also sang to my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-449 \" title=\"DaddyRockingBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”\r\n\r\nThe next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was easy.\r\n\r\nSo I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"391\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEven today, many years since I’ve had a baby to put to sleep, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.\r\n\r\nMy grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to their parents and to each other.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (at different family gatherings, since they come from different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"At Emily and Matthew&#39;s wedding in 2007. Lisette, Jonathan, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-166\" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLast year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following a recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night. And this had gone on for several months, with little progress.\r\n\r\n“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed.\r\n\r\nSo I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those moments with my children are.\r\n\r\nA week or so later, she came back to me. “Your advice has changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-revision-10','','','2011-11-01 22:50:44','2011-11-02 02:50:44','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/01/446-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(461,2,'2011-11-01 22:48:14','2011-11-02 02:48:14','<p>I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to \"self-soothe\" themselves to sleep. Second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-448\" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>Andrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.</p>\r\n<p>I breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.</p>\r\n<p>So, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.</p>\r\n<p>Following the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep.</p>\r\n<p>He didn’t.</p>\r\n<p>He cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_449\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep. Daddy also sang to my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-449 \" title=\"DaddyRockingBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>The next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”</p>\r\n<p>The next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.</p>\r\n<p>Hmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was easy.</p>\r\n<p>So I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"391\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>Even today, many years since I’ve had a baby to put to sleep, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.</p>\r\n<p>My grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to their parents and to each other.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>And, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (at different family gatherings, since they come from different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"At Emily and Matthew&#39;s wedding in 2007. Lisette, Jonathan, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-166\" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>Last year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following a recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night. And this had gone on for several months, with little progress.</p>\r\n<p>“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed.</p>\r\n<p>So I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those moments with my children are.</p>\r\n<p>A week or so later, she came back to me. “You have changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”</p>\r\n','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-revision-9','','','2011-11-01 22:48:14','2011-11-02 02:48:14','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/01/446-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(464,2,'2011-11-02 20:16:59','2011-11-03 00:16:59','The temperatures here in Georgia have really dropped, making it great weather for hot soups. One of my favorite, easy-to-make soups is this one:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_465\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ingredients for Hashbrown Potato Soup\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-465\" title=\"PotatoSoupIngredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients-300x278.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHashbrown Potato Soup\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_466\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sauteing the onion and garlic\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-466\" title=\"SauteOnion\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"186\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n1 small onion, diced\r\n\r\n1 tablespoon minced garlic\r\n\r\n2 tablespoons butter\r\n\r\nSaute onion and garlic in butter, in large saucepan.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAdd 2 cups of water and 1 32 ounce package frozen homestyle hashbrowns - the kind that are cut in small cubes. Let that simmer until the potatoes are cooked through.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-467\" title=\"AddPotatoes\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSalt and pepper to taste.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_468\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"We like LOTS of fresh ground pepper in this soup.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-468\" title=\"Pepper\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOptional: chopped ham, bacon pieces, chopped polish sausage. Add the meat at the same time you add the water and the hashbrowns.\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\"><dl id=\"attachment_470\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 310px;\"><dt><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped.jpg\"><img title=\"SausageChopped\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" /></a></dt><dd>Meat is optional in this soup, except at my house. My man likes meat in his soups. Tonight we had some polish sausage on hand.</dd></dl></div>\r\nPour in 1 12 ounce can evaporated milk. And cook until the soup is hot.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_469\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Of course, you may use cream, rather than evaporated milk\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-469\" title=\"MilkAdded\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded-300x226.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOptional items to add, at the table: sour cream, grated cheese\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_471\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"Served with sour cream, cheddar cheese, grapes and bread\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-471 \" title=\"SoupDone\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"464\" /></a>[/caption]','Hashbrown Potato Soup','','publish','open','open','','hashbrown-potato-soup','','','2011-11-02 22:23:58','2011-11-03 02:23:58','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=464',0,'post','',0),(465,2,'2011-11-02 20:03:02','2011-11-03 00:03:02','','PotatoSoupIngredients','Ingredients for Hashbrown Potato Soup','inherit','open','open','','potatosoupingredients','','','2011-11-02 20:03:02','2011-11-03 00:03:02','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(466,2,'2011-11-02 20:04:15','2011-11-03 00:04:15','','SauteOnion','Sauteing the onion and garlic','inherit','open','open','','sauteonion','','','2011-11-02 20:04:15','2011-11-03 00:04:15','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(467,2,'2011-11-02 20:05:20','2011-11-03 00:05:20','','AddPotatoes','','inherit','open','open','','addpotatoes','','','2011-11-02 20:05:20','2011-11-03 00:05:20','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(468,2,'2011-11-02 20:05:56','2011-11-03 00:05:56','','Pepper','We like LOTS of fresh ground pepper in this soup.','inherit','open','open','','pepper','','','2011-11-02 20:05:56','2011-11-03 00:05:56','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(469,2,'2011-11-02 20:07:00','2011-11-03 00:07:00','','MilkAdded','Of course, you may use cream, rather than evaporated milk','inherit','open','open','','milkadded','','','2011-11-02 20:07:00','2011-11-03 00:07:00','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(470,2,'2011-11-02 20:07:53','2011-11-03 00:07:53','','SausageChopped','Meat is optional in this soup, except at my house. My man likes meat in his soups. Tonight we had some polish sausage on hand.','inherit','open','open','','sausagechopped','','','2011-11-02 20:07:53','2011-11-03 00:07:53','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(471,2,'2011-11-02 20:09:13','2011-11-03 00:09:13','','SoupDone','Potato soup served with sour cream, cheddar cheese, grapes and bread','inherit','open','open','','soupdone','','','2011-11-02 20:09:13','2011-11-03 00:09:13','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(472,2,'2011-11-02 20:02:11','2011-11-03 00:02:11','The temperatures here in Georgia have really dropped, making it great weather for hot soups. One of my favorite, easy-to-make soups is this one:\n\nHashbrown Potato Soup\n\n1 small onion, diced\n\n1 tablespoon minced garlic\n\n2 tablespoons butter\n\nSaute onion and garlic in butter, in large saucepan.\n\n1 32 ounce package frozen homestyle hashbrown - the kind that are in small cubes salt and pepper to taste 1 12 ounce can evaporated milk Optional: chopped ham, bacon pieces, chopped polish sausage Optional items to add, at the table: sour cream, grated cheese','Hashbrown Potato Soup','','inherit','open','open','','464-revision','','','2011-11-02 20:02:11','2011-11-03 00:02:11','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/02/464-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(473,2,'2011-11-02 20:15:00','2011-11-03 00:15:00','','soupfeatured','','inherit','open','open','','soupfeatured','','','2011-11-02 20:15:00','2011-11-03 00:15:00','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/soupfeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(474,2,'2011-11-02 20:13:12','2011-11-03 00:13:12','The temperatures here in Georgia have really dropped, making it great weather for hot soups. One of my favorite, easy-to-make soups is this one:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_465\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ingredients for Hashbrown Potato Soup\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-465\" title=\"PotatoSoupIngredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients-300x278.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nHashbrown Potato Soup\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_466\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sauteing the onion and garlic\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-466\" title=\"SauteOnion\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"186\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n1 small onion, diced\n\n1 tablespoon minced garlic\n\n2 tablespoons butter\n\nSaute onion and garlic in butter, in large saucepan.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n1 32 ounce package frozen homestyle hashbrown - the kind that are in small cubes\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-467\" title=\"AddPotatoes\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nsalt and pepper to taste\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_468\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"We like LOTS of fresh ground pepper in this soup.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-468\" title=\"Pepper\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n1 12 ounce can evaporated milk\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_469\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Of course, you may use cream, rather than evaporated milk\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-469\" title=\"MilkAdded\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded-300x226.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOptional: chopped ham, bacon pieces, chopped polish sausage\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_470\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Meat is optional in this soup, except at my house. My man likes meat in his soups. Tonight we had some polish sausage on hand.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-470\" title=\"SausageChopped\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOptional items to add, at the table: sour cream, grated cheese\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_471\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"Served with sour cream, cheddar cheese, grapes and bread\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-471 \" title=\"SoupDone\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"464\" /></a>[/caption]','Hashbrown Potato Soup','','inherit','open','open','','464-revision-2','','','2011-11-02 20:13:12','2011-11-03 00:13:12','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/02/464-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(475,2,'2011-11-02 20:16:59','2011-11-03 00:16:59','The temperatures here in Georgia have really dropped, making it great weather for hot soups. One of my favorite, easy-to-make soups is this one:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_465\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ingredients for Hashbrown Potato Soup\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-465\" title=\"PotatoSoupIngredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients-300x278.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHashbrown Potato Soup\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_466\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sauteing the onion and garlic\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-466\" title=\"SauteOnion\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"186\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n1 small onion, diced\r\n\r\n1 tablespoon minced garlic\r\n\r\n2 tablespoons butter\r\n\r\nSaute onion and garlic in butter, in large saucepan.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n1 32 ounce package frozen homestyle hashbrown - the kind that are in small cubes\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-467\" title=\"AddPotatoes\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nsalt and pepper to taste\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_468\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"We like LOTS of fresh ground pepper in this soup.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-468\" title=\"Pepper\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n1 12 ounce can evaporated milk\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_469\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Of course, you may use cream, rather than evaporated milk\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-469\" title=\"MilkAdded\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded-300x226.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOptional: chopped ham, bacon pieces, chopped polish sausage\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_470\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Meat is optional in this soup, except at my house. My man likes meat in his soups. Tonight we had some polish sausage on hand.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-470\" title=\"SausageChopped\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOptional items to add, at the table: sour cream, grated cheese\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_471\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"Served with sour cream, cheddar cheese, grapes and bread\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-471 \" title=\"SoupDone\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"464\" /></a>[/caption]','Hashbrown Potato Soup','','inherit','open','open','','464-revision-3','','','2011-11-02 20:16:59','2011-11-03 00:16:59','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/02/464-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(476,2,'2011-11-02 20:19:16','2011-11-03 00:19:16','The temperatures here in Georgia have really dropped, making it great weather for hot soups. One of my favorite, easy-to-make soups is this one:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_465\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ingredients for Hashbrown Potato Soup\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-465\" title=\"PotatoSoupIngredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients-300x278.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHashbrown Potato Soup\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_466\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sauteing the onion and garlic\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-466\" title=\"SauteOnion\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"186\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n1 small onion, diced\r\n\r\n1 tablespoon minced garlic\r\n\r\n2 tablespoons butter\r\n\r\nSaute onion and garlic in butter, in large saucepan.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n1 32 ounce package frozen homestyle hashbrown - the kind that are in small cubes\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-467\" title=\"AddPotatoes\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nsalt and pepper to taste\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_468\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"We like LOTS of fresh ground pepper in this soup.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-468\" title=\"Pepper\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n1 12 ounce can evaporated milk\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_469\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Of course, you may use cream, rather than evaporated milk\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-469\" title=\"MilkAdded\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded-300x226.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOptional: chopped ham, bacon pieces, chopped polish sausage\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_470\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Meat is optional in this soup, except at my house. My man likes meat in his soups. Tonight we had some polish sausage on hand.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-470\" title=\"SausageChopped\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOptional items to add, at the table: sour cream, grated cheese\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_471\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"Served with sour cream, cheddar cheese, grapes and bread\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-471 \" title=\"SoupDone\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"464\" /></a>[/caption]','Hashbrown Potato Soup','','inherit','open','open','','464-revision-4','','','2011-11-02 20:19:16','2011-11-03 00:19:16','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/02/464-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(477,2,'2011-11-02 22:23:37','2011-11-03 02:23:37','The temperatures here in Georgia have really dropped, making it great weather for hot soups. One of my favorite, easy-to-make soups is this one:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_465\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ingredients for Hashbrown Potato Soup\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-465\" title=\"PotatoSoupIngredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients-300x278.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nHashbrown Potato Soup\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_466\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sauteing the onion and garlic\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-466\" title=\"SauteOnion\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"186\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n1 small onion, diced\n\n1 tablespoon minced garlic\n\n2 tablespoons butter\n\nSaute onion and garlic in butter, in large saucepan.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAdd 2 cups of water and 1 32 ounce package frozen homestyle hashbrowns - the kind that are cut in small cubes. Let that simmer until the potatoes are cooked through.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-467\" title=\"AddPotatoes\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nSalt and pepper to taste.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_468\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"We like LOTS of fresh ground pepper in this soup.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-468\" title=\"Pepper\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOptional: chopped ham, bacon pieces, chopped polish sausage. Add the meat at the same time you add the water and the hashbrowns.\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\"><dl id=\"attachment_470\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 310px;\"><dt><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped.jpg\"><img title=\"SausageChopped\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" /></a></dt><dd>Meat is optional in this soup, except at my house. My man likes meat in his soups. Tonight we had some polish sausage on hand.</dd></dl></div>\nPour in 1 12 ounce can evaporated milk. And cook until the soup is hot.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_469\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Of course, you may use cream, rather than evaporated milk\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-469\" title=\"MilkAdded\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded-300x226.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOptional items to add, at the table: sour cream, grated cheese\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_471\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"Served with sour cream, cheddar cheese, grapes and bread\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-471 \" title=\"SoupDone\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"464\" /></a>[/caption]','Hashbrown Potato Soup','','inherit','open','open','','464-autosave','','','2011-11-02 22:23:37','2011-11-03 02:23:37','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/02/464-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(478,2,'2011-11-02 22:12:33','2011-11-03 02:12:33','The temperatures here in Georgia have really dropped, making it great weather for hot soups. One of my favorite, easy-to-make soups is this one:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_465\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ingredients for Hashbrown Potato Soup\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-465\" title=\"PotatoSoupIngredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients-300x278.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHashbrown Potato Soup\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_466\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sauteing the onion and garlic\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-466\" title=\"SauteOnion\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"186\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n1 small onion, diced\r\n\r\n1 tablespoon minced garlic\r\n\r\n2 tablespoons butter\r\n\r\nSaute onion and garlic in butter, in large saucepan.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAdd 2 cups of water and 1 32 ounce package frozen homestyle hashbrowns - the kind that are in small cubes\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-467\" title=\"AddPotatoes\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nsalt and pepper to taste\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_468\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"We like LOTS of fresh ground pepper in this soup.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-468\" title=\"Pepper\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n1 12 ounce can evaporated milk\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_469\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Of course, you may use cream, rather than evaporated milk\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-469\" title=\"MilkAdded\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded-300x226.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOptional: chopped ham, bacon pieces, chopped polish sausage\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_470\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Meat is optional in this soup, except at my house. My man likes meat in his soups. Tonight we had some polish sausage on hand.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-470\" title=\"SausageChopped\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOptional items to add, at the table: sour cream, grated cheese\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_471\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"Served with sour cream, cheddar cheese, grapes and bread\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-471 \" title=\"SoupDone\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"464\" /></a>[/caption]','Hashbrown Potato Soup','','inherit','open','open','','464-revision-5','','','2011-11-02 22:12:33','2011-11-03 02:12:33','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/02/464-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(479,2,'2011-11-02 22:19:29','2011-11-03 02:19:29','The temperatures here in Georgia have really dropped, making it great weather for hot soups. One of my favorite, easy-to-make soups is this one:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_465\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ingredients for Hashbrown Potato Soup\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-465\" title=\"PotatoSoupIngredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients-300x278.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHashbrown Potato Soup\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_466\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sauteing the onion and garlic\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-466\" title=\"SauteOnion\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"186\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n1 small onion, diced\r\n\r\n1 tablespoon minced garlic\r\n\r\n2 tablespoons butter\r\n\r\nSaute onion and garlic in butter, in large saucepan.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAdd 2 cups of water and 1 32 ounce package frozen homestyle hashbrowns - the kind that are in small cube. Let that simmer until the potatoes are cooked through.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-467\" title=\"AddPotatoes\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSalt and pepper to taste.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_468\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"We like LOTS of fresh ground pepper in this soup.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-468\" title=\"Pepper\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOptional: chopped ham, bacon pieces, chopped polish sausage. Add the meat at the same time you add the water and the hashbrowns.\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\"><dl id=\"attachment_470\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 310px;\"><dt><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped.jpg\"><img title=\"SausageChopped\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" /></a></dt><dd>Meat is optional in this soup, except at my house. My man likes meat in his soups. Tonight we had some polish sausage on hand.</dd></dl></div>\r\nPour in 1 12 ounce can evaporated milk. And cook until the soup is hot.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_469\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Of course, you may use cream, rather than evaporated milk \"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-469\" title=\"MilkAdded\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded-300x226.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOptional items to add, at the table: sour cream, grated cheese\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_471\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"Served with sour cream, cheddar cheese, grapes and bread\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-471 \" title=\"SoupDone\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"464\" /></a>[/caption]','Hashbrown Potato Soup','','inherit','open','open','','464-revision-6','','','2011-11-02 22:19:29','2011-11-03 02:19:29','',464,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/02/464-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(480,2,'2011-11-03 13:22:30','2011-11-03 17:22:30','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\r\n\r\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\r\n\r\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488 \" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_300\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"193\" caption=\"Andrew licking the beaters, while cookies were in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-300 \" title=\"Andrew_beaters_featured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured-276x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"210\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21 \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\r\n\r\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\r\n\r\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\r\n	<li>lack of control</li>\r\n	<li>high expectations</li>\r\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\r\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\r\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\r\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\r\n\r\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\r\n\r\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\r\n\r\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\r\n\r\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">All mothers feel motherhood stress.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">So I wrote a book on the subject.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_10\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"314\" caption=\"The hardback version was published by Word Publishing, the paperback by Zondervan.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd another book.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And another book.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, written with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently the president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\r\n\r\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.\r\n\r\nSo, if you are a mom with young children, also shocked by the stress of motherhood, or a dad, wondering why your wife is so stressed-out, please check back here occasionally for information and support, that we hope will help you deal with motherhood stress, and find encouragement in the ultimate helping profession.    - <a title=\"Meet Debi\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/sample-page/\" target=\"_blank\">Deborah Shaw Lewis</a>','Welcome','','publish','open','open','','welcome-to-motherhood-stress','','','2011-11-03 20:26:20','2011-11-04 00:26:20','',2,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?page_id=480',0,'page','',0),(481,2,'2011-11-03 11:41:15','2011-11-03 15:41:15','Welcome to Motherhood Stress.com. . . . Why motherhood stress, when I LOVE being a mother, find great joy in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\n\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be a vacation - like relaxing on a beach in the Babham','','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision','','','2011-11-03 11:41:15','2011-11-03 15:41:15','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(482,2,'2011-11-03 11:58:19','2011-11-03 15:58:19','Welcome to Motherhood Stress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great joy in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\n\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be a vacation - like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\n\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.  And the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" with my children.\n\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\n\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\n\nYet my reality included other things which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I never imagined yelling at my children in frustration.  I never pictured myself walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\n\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\n\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\n<ul>\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\n	<li>lack of control</li>\n	<li>high expectations</li>\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\n	<li>lo</li>\n</ul>','','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-2','','','2011-11-03 11:58:19','2011-11-03 15:58:19','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(483,2,'2011-11-03 12:18:02','2011-11-03 16:18:02','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great joy in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\n\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\n\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.  And the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\n\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\n\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\n\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\n\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\n\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\n<ul>\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\n	<li>lack of control</li>\n	<li>high expectations</li>\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\n</ul>\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\n\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\n\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\n\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\n\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers, poor mothers, new mothers, grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\n\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\n\nSo I wrote a book on the subject.\n\nAnd another book.\n\nAnd another book.\n\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\n\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand mother hood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-3','','','2011-11-03 12:18:02','2011-11-03 16:18:02','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(484,2,'2011-11-03 12:20:17','2011-11-03 16:20:17','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great joy in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\n\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\n\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.  And the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\n\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\n\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\n\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\n\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\n\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\n<ul>\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\n	<li>lack of control</li>\n	<li>high expectations</li>\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\n</ul>\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\n\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\n\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\n\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\n\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers, poor mothers, new mothers, grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\n\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\n\nSo I wrote a book on the subject.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>\n\nAnd another book.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\nAnd another book.\n\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\n\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-4','','','2011-11-03 12:20:17','2011-11-03 16:20:17','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(485,2,'2011-11-03 12:20:21','2011-11-03 16:20:21','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great joy in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\r\n\r\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\r\n\r\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.  And the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\r\n\r\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\r\n\r\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\r\n\r\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\r\n\r\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\r\n\r\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\r\n	<li>lack of control</li>\r\n	<li>high expectations</li>\r\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\r\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\r\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\r\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\r\n\r\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\r\n\r\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\r\n\r\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\r\n\r\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers, poor mothers, new mothers, grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\r\n\r\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\r\n\r\nSo I wrote a book on the subject.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>\r\n\r\nAnd another book.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nAnd another book.\r\n\r\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\r\n\r\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-5','','','2011-11-03 12:20:21','2011-11-03 16:20:21','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(486,2,'2011-11-03 12:47:05','2011-11-03 16:47:05','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\n\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\n\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.  And the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_300\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"276\" caption=\"Andrew licking the beaters, while  cookies were in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-300\" title=\"Andrew_beaters_featured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured-276x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\n\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21 \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\n\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\n\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\n<ul>\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\n	<li>lack of control</li>\n	<li>high expectations</li>\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\n</ul>\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\n\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\n\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\n\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\n\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers, poor mothers, new mothers, grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\n\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\n\nSo I wrote a book on the subject.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>\n\nAnd another book.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>And another book.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\n\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-6','','','2011-11-03 12:47:05','2011-11-03 16:47:05','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(487,2,'2011-11-03 12:48:41','2011-11-03 16:48:41','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\n\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\n\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.  And the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_300\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"276\" caption=\"Andrew licking the beaters, while cookies were in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-300\" title=\"Andrew_beaters_featured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured-276x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\n\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21 \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\n\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\n\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\n<ul>\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\n	<li>lack of control</li>\n	<li>high expectations</li>\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\n</ul>\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\n\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\n\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\n\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\n\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers, poor mothers, new mothers, grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\n\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\n\nSo I wrote a book on the subject.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>\n\nAnd another book.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>And another book.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\n\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-7','','','2011-11-03 12:48:41','2011-11-03 16:48:41','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(488,2,'2011-11-03 13:01:12','2011-11-03 17:01:12','','MatthewBaking','Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies','inherit','open','open','','matthewbaking','','','2011-11-03 13:01:12','2011-11-03 17:01:12','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(489,2,'2011-11-03 13:03:06','2011-11-03 17:03:06','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\n\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\n\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies And the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to &quot;stay home&quot; to raise my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488 \" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_300\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"276\" caption=\"Andrew licking the beaters, while cookies were in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-300\" title=\"Andrew_beaters_featured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured-276x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\n\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21 \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\n\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\n\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\n<ul>\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\n	<li>lack of control</li>\n	<li>high expectations</li>\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\n</ul>\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\n\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\n\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\n\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\n\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers, poor mothers, new mothers, grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\n\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\n\nSo I wrote a book on the subject.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>\n\nAnd another book.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>And another book.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\n\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-8','','','2011-11-03 13:03:06','2011-11-03 17:03:06','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(490,2,'2011-11-03 13:04:50','2011-11-03 17:04:50','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\n\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\n\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488 \" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_300\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"276\" caption=\"Andrew licking the beaters, while cookies were in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-300\" title=\"Andrew_beaters_featured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured-276x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\n\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21 \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\n\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\n\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\n<ul>\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\n	<li>lack of control</li>\n	<li>high expectations</li>\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\n</ul>\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\n\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\n\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\n\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\n\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers, poor mothers, new mothers, grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\n\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\n\nSo I wrote a book on the subject.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>\n\nAnd another book.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>And another book.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\n\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-9','','','2011-11-03 13:04:50','2011-11-03 17:04:50','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(491,2,'2011-11-03 13:11:46','2011-11-03 17:11:46','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\n\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\n\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488 \" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_300\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"193\" caption=\"Andrew licking the beaters, while cookies were in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-300 \" title=\"Andrew_beaters_featured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured-276x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"210\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21 \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\n\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\n\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\n<ul>\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\n	<li>lack of control</li>\n	<li>high expectations</li>\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\n</ul>\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\n\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\n\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\n\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\n\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\n\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_10\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"314\" caption=\"The hardback version was published by Word Publishing, the paperback by Zondervan.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">So I wrote a book on the subject.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">And another book.And another book.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a></p>\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\n\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-10','','','2011-11-03 13:11:46','2011-11-03 17:11:46','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(492,2,'2011-11-03 13:13:34','2011-11-03 17:13:34','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\r\n\r\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\r\n\r\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488 \" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_300\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"193\" caption=\"Andrew licking the beaters, while cookies were in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-300 \" title=\"Andrew_beaters_featured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured-276x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"210\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21 \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\r\n\r\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\r\n\r\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\r\n	<li>lack of control</li>\r\n	<li>high expectations</li>\r\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\r\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\r\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\r\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\r\n\r\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\r\n\r\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\r\n\r\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\r\n\r\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\r\n\r\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_10\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"314\" caption=\"The hardback version was published by Word Publishing, the paperback by Zondervan.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">So I wrote a book on the subject.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, written with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently the president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">And another book.And another book.</p>\r\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\r\n\r\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-11','','','2011-11-03 13:13:34','2011-11-03 17:13:34','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(493,2,'2011-11-03 13:13:54','2011-11-03 17:13:54','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\r\n\r\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\r\n\r\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488 \" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_300\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"193\" caption=\"Andrew licking the beaters, while cookies were in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-300 \" title=\"Andrew_beaters_featured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured-276x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"210\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21 \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\r\n\r\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\r\n\r\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\r\n	<li>lack of control</li>\r\n	<li>high expectations</li>\r\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\r\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\r\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\r\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\r\n\r\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\r\n\r\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\r\n\r\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\r\n\r\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\r\n\r\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_10\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"314\" caption=\"The hardback version was published by Word Publishing, the paperback by Zondervan.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">So I wrote a book on the subject.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, written with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently the president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">And another book.And another book.</p>\r\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\r\n\r\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-12','','','2011-11-03 13:13:54','2011-11-03 17:13:54','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(494,2,'2011-11-03 13:14:04','2011-11-03 17:14:04','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\r\n\r\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\r\n\r\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488 \" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_300\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"193\" caption=\"Andrew licking the beaters, while cookies were in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-300 \" title=\"Andrew_beaters_featured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured-276x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"210\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21 \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\r\n\r\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\r\n\r\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\r\n	<li>lack of control</li>\r\n	<li>high expectations</li>\r\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\r\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\r\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\r\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\r\n\r\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\r\n\r\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\r\n\r\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\r\n\r\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\r\n\r\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_10\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"314\" caption=\"The hardback version was published by Word Publishing, the paperback by Zondervan.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">So I wrote a book on the subject.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, written with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently the president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">And another book.And another book.</p>\r\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\r\n\r\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-13','','','2011-11-03 13:14:04','2011-11-03 17:14:04','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(495,2,'2011-11-03 13:19:51','2011-11-03 17:19:51','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\n\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\n\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488 \" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_300\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"193\" caption=\"Andrew licking the beaters, while cookies were in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-300 \" title=\"Andrew_beaters_featured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured-276x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"210\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21 \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\n\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\n\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\n<ul>\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\n	<li>lack of control</li>\n	<li>high expectations</li>\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\n</ul>\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\n\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\n\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\n\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\n\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">All mothers feel motherhood stress.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">So I wrote a book on the subject.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_10\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"314\" caption=\"The hardback version was published by Word Publishing, the paperback by Zondervan.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd another book.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And another book.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, written with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently the president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\n\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-14','','','2011-11-03 13:19:51','2011-11-03 17:19:51','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(496,2,'2011-11-03 13:22:30','2011-11-03 17:22:30',' ','','','publish','open','open','','496','','','2011-11-05 12:15:10','2011-11-05 16:15:10','',2,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/496/',12,'nav_menu_item','',0),(497,2,'2011-11-03 13:22:30','2011-11-03 17:22:30','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\r\n\r\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\r\n\r\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488 \" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_300\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"193\" caption=\"Andrew licking the beaters, while cookies were in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-300 \" title=\"Andrew_beaters_featured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured-276x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"210\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21 \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\r\n\r\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\r\n\r\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\r\n	<li>lack of control</li>\r\n	<li>high expectations</li>\r\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\r\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\r\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\r\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\r\n\r\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\r\n\r\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\r\n\r\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\r\n\r\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">All mothers feel motherhood stress.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">So I wrote a book on the subject.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_10\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"314\" caption=\"The hardback version was published by Word Publishing, the paperback by Zondervan.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd another book.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And another book.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, written with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently the president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\r\n\r\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-15','','','2011-11-03 13:22:30','2011-11-03 17:22:30','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(498,2,'2011-11-03 13:52:12','2011-11-03 17:52:12','Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-258\" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe stress came as a shock.\r\n\r\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\r\n\r\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488\" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_209\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"195\" caption=\"Andrew, age 4, licking the beaters, while the cookies are in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-e1319130982226.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-209\" title=\"Andrew lickingbeaters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games. I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality. From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins. To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_45\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan both graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-e1317701202375.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-45\" title=\"Andrew and Jonathan graduate from Asbury University\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks.\r\n\r\nI did not envision <strong><em>ever</em></strong> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\r\n\r\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester. After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\" The list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\r\n	<li>lack of control</li>\r\n	<li>high expectations</li>\r\n	<li> ideals vs. reality</li>\r\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\r\n	<li> low status and low pay</li>\r\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\r\n\r\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store. We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes. The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again. Back in the house for that. Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in. But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\r\n\r\nBack into the house to change a diaper. Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short. Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly noon. I knew better than to take two hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house. Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\r\n\r\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\r\n\r\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\r\n\r\nSo I wrote a book on the subject.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_63\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Published in 1989 in hardback by Word Publishing. The paperback was published by Zondervan Publishing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd another book.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd another book.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, co-authored with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\"\r\n\r\nIt is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\r\n\r\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.\r\n\r\nSo, if you are a mom with young children, also shocked by the stress of motherhood, or a dad, wondering why your wife is so stressed-out, please check back here occasionally for information and support, that we hope will help you deal with motherhood stress, and find encouragement in the ultimate helping profession.    - <a title=\"Meet Debi\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/sample-page/\" target=\"_blank\">Deborah Shaw Lewis</a>','Why Motherhood Stress, Not Joy?','','publish','open','open','','why-motherhood-stress-not-joy','','\nhttp://motherhoodstress.com/sample-page/','2011-11-05 22:27:12','2011-11-06 02:27:12','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=498',0,'post','',3),(499,2,'2011-11-03 13:51:00','2011-11-03 17:51:00','Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-258\" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe stress came as a shock.\n\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\n\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488\" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_209\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"195\" caption=\"Andrew, age 4, licking the beaters, while the cookies are in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-e1319130982226.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-209\" title=\"Andrew lickingbeaters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games. I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality. From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins. To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_45\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan both graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-e1317701202375.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-45\" title=\"Andrew and Jonathan graduate from Asbury University\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks.\n\nI did not envision <strong><em>ever</em></strong> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\n\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester. After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\" The list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\n<ul>\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\n	<li>lack of control</li>\n	<li>high expectations</li>\n	<li> ideals vs. reality</li>\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\n	<li> low status and low pay</li>\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\n</ul>\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\n\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store. We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes. The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again. Back in the house for that. Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in. But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\n\nBack into the house to change a diaper. Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short. Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly noon. I knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house. Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\n\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\n\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\n\nSo I wrote a book on the subject.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_63\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Published in 1989 in hardback by Word Publishing. The paperback was published by Zondervan Publishing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd another book.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd another book.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, co-authored with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\"\n\nIt is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\n\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.\n\nSo, if you are a mom with young children, also shocked by the stress of motherhood, or a dad, wondering why your wife is so stressed-out, please check back here occasionally for information and support, that we hope will help you deal with motherhood stress, and find encouragement in the ultimate helping profession.    - Deborah Shaw Lewis','Why Motherhood Stress, Not Joy?','','inherit','open','open','','498-revision','','','2011-11-03 13:51:00','2011-11-03 17:51:00','',498,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/498-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(500,2,'2011-11-03 19:54:01','2011-11-03 23:54:01','Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-258\" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe stress came as a shock.\n\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\n\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488\" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_209\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"195\" caption=\"Andrew, age 4, licking the beaters, while the cookies are in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-e1319130982226.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-209\" title=\"Andrew lickingbeaters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games. I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality. From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins. To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_45\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan both graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-e1317701202375.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-45\" title=\"Andrew and Jonathan graduate from Asbury University\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks.\n\nI did not envision <strong><em>ever</em></strong> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\n\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester. After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\" The list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\n<ul>\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\n	<li>lack of control</li>\n	<li>high expectations</li>\n	<li> ideals vs. reality</li>\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\n	<li> low status and low pay</li>\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\n</ul>\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\n\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store. We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes. The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again. Back in the house for that. Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in. But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\n\nBack into the house to change a diaper. Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short. Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly noon. I knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house. Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\n\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\n\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\n\nSo I wrote a book on the subject.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_63\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Published in 1989 in hardback by Word Publishing. The paperback was published by Zondervan Publishing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd another book.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd another book.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, co-authored with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\"\n\nIt is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\n\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.\n\nSo, if you are a mom with young children, also shocked by the stress of motherhood, or a dad, wondering why your wife is so stressed-out, please check back here occasionally for information and support, that we hope will help you deal with motherhood stress, and find encouragement in the ultimate helping profession.    - <a title=\"Meet Debi\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/sample-page/\" target=\"_blank\">Deborah Shaw Lewis</a>','Why Motherhood Stress, Not Joy?','','inherit','open','open','','498-autosave','','','2011-11-03 19:54:01','2011-11-03 23:54:01','',498,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/498-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(501,2,'2011-11-03 13:52:12','2011-11-03 17:52:12','Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-258\" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe stress came as a shock.\r\n\r\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\r\n\r\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488\" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_209\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"195\" caption=\"Andrew, age 4, licking the beaters, while the cookies are in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-e1319130982226.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-209\" title=\"Andrew lickingbeaters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games. I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality. From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins. To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_45\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan both graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-e1317701202375.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-45\" title=\"Andrew and Jonathan graduate from Asbury University\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks.\r\n\r\nI did not envision <strong><em>ever</em></strong> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\r\n\r\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester. After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\" The list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\r\n	<li>lack of control</li>\r\n	<li>high expectations</li>\r\n	<li> ideals vs. reality</li>\r\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\r\n	<li> low status and low pay</li>\r\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\r\n\r\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store. We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes. The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again. Back in the house for that. Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in. But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\r\n\r\nBack into the house to change a diaper. Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short. Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly noon. I knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house. Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\r\n\r\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\r\n\r\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\r\n\r\nSo I wrote a book on the subject.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_63\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Published in 1989 in hardback by Word Publishing. The paperback was published by Zondervan Publishing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd another book.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd another book.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, co-authored with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\"\r\n\r\nIt is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\r\n\r\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.\r\n\r\nSo, if you are a mom with young children, also shocked by the stress of motherhood, or a dad, wondering why your wife is so stressed-out, please check back here occasionally for information and support, that we hope will help you deal with motherhood stress, and find encouragement in the ultimate helping profession.    - <a title=\"Meet Debi\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/sample-page/\" target=\"_blank\">Deborah Shaw Lewis</a>','Why Motherhood Stress, Not Joy?','','inherit','open','open','','498-revision-2','','','2011-11-03 13:52:12','2011-11-03 17:52:12','',498,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/498-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(502,2,'2011-11-03 13:26:10','2011-11-03 17:26:10','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\r\n\r\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\r\n\r\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488 \" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_300\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"193\" caption=\"Andrew licking the beaters, while cookies were in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-300 \" title=\"Andrew_beaters_featured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured-276x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"210\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21 \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\r\n\r\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\r\n\r\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\r\n	<li>lack of control</li>\r\n	<li>high expectations</li>\r\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\r\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\r\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\r\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\r\n\r\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\r\n\r\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\r\n\r\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\r\n\r\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">All mothers feel motherhood stress.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">So I wrote a book on the subject.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_10\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"314\" caption=\"The hardback version was published by Word Publishing, the paperback by Zondervan.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd another book.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And another book.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, written with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently the president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\r\n\r\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome to Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-16','','','2011-11-03 13:26:10','2011-11-03 17:26:10','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(503,2,'2011-10-25 22:49:57','2011-10-26 02:49:57','<p style=\"text-align: left;\">One of the best parts of cooler weather is hot soup.  We love soup!  All kinds of soup. Tonight the Lewis family dined on broccoli cheddar soup.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I diced one large sweet onion. sautéed that in my largest frying pan, in 1/4 cup butter, with 2 tablespoons of minced garlic.  Used my pepper grinder to add 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/chicken_broth_simmer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-327 aligncenter\" title=\"chicken_broth_simmer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/chicken_broth_simmer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"454\" height=\"340\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">While that simmered, I chopped two small heads of broccoli.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/chopped_broccoli.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-328 aligncenter\" title=\"chopped_broccoli\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/chopped_broccoli.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"472\" height=\"387\" /></a></p>\r\nWhen the onions were transparent, I added one quart of chicken broth, turned up the heat and added the broccoli.  I let that simmer for 10 minutes or so, until the broccoli was tender.\r\n\r\nI added 1/3 cup of flour to 1 cup of cold water in a jar and shook it until the flour had dissolved.  Then poured that in and stirred until the mixture had thickened.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_329\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" caption=\"The flour mix thickening the soup\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stir_flour.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-329  \" title=\"stir_flour\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stir_flour.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTurned down the heat and poured in one can of evaporated milk.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_330\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"499\" caption=\"My favorite substitute for expensive cream\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/evaporated_milk.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-330 \" title=\"evaporated_milk\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/evaporated_milk.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"282\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThen sliced 8 or 9 slices of Velvetta cheese, stirred that in until it had melted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_331\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Velvetta added to other cheese make the result VERY creamy\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/velvetta.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-331 \" title=\"velvetta\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/velvetta.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"512\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSprinkled in 8 ounces of shredded sharp cheddar cheese.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_332\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Good cheese is important for the best results\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stir_cheddar.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-332 \" title=\"stir_cheddar\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stir_cheddar.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"395\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd served it with our favorite bakery rolls.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/broccoli_soup_served.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-376\" title=\"broccoli_soup_served\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/broccoli_soup_served.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"373\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBroccoli-Cheddar Soup\r\n\r\nPreparation time: 15 minutes\r\n\r\nCook Time: 30 Minutes\r\n\r\nServings: 8\r\n\r\nIngredients:\r\n\r\n1/4 cup butter\r\n\r\n1 onion, diced\r\n\r\n2 tablespoons chopped garlic\r\n\r\n1/2 teaspoon ground pepper\r\n\r\n1 large head of broccoli\r\n\r\n1 quart chicken broth\r\n\r\n1/3 cup all-purpose flour\r\n\r\n1 cup water\r\n\r\n1 12 ounce can evaporated milk\r\n\r\n7 or 8 slices of velvetta cheese\r\n\r\n8 ounces shredded sharp Cheddar cheese\r\n\r\nDirections:\r\n\r\n1. Melt butter over medium heat in a large pan. Saute onion and garlic in butter until softened. Add pepper.\r\n\r\n2. Pour in chicken broth. Chop broccoli and stir into chicken broth mixture. Bring to a boil and simmer until broccoli is tender, 10 to 15 minutes.\r\n\r\n3. Meanwhile whisk, or shake, flour into water until dissolved. Stir into soup stirring until thickened.\r\n\r\n4. Reduce heat, and pour in evaporated milk. Stir in slices of Velvetta cheese until melted. Sprinkle in shredded cheddar cheese and heat through.\r\n\r\n5. Serve with your favorite bread.','Broccoli-Cheddar Soup','','inherit','open','open','','326-revision-11','','','2011-10-25 22:49:57','2011-10-26 02:49:57','',326,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/25/326-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(504,2,'2011-10-23 20:04:26','2011-10-24 00:04:26','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish.<a title=\"Steve_Jobs_Children_quote\" href=\"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/steve-jobs-final-wish-to-get-to-know-his-children-before-it-was-too-late-2367355.html\" target=\"_blank\"> According to Omish</a>, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\r\n\r\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em>What a great description of being a parent!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"222\" height=\"222\" /></a>For our book, <a title=\"Mother_in_the_middle\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Mother in the Middle</em></a>, Dr. Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\r\n\r\nThat book begins with my personal story of motherhood:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"207\" caption=\"Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-173\" title=\"AM&amp;L L6months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"273\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\r\n\r\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Our Precious Lisette, at age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"269\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\r\n\r\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\r\n\r\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\r\n\r\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\r\n\r\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered our baby a gift from God.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"202\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-174\" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"282\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\r\n\r\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\r\n\r\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"205\" caption=\"Jonathan (1 year) and Benjamin (4)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\r\n\r\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.\r\n\r\nadapted from <em>Mother in the Middle</em> by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest','Steve Jobs: Children 10,000 Times Better than Anything','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision-12','','','2011-10-23 20:04:26','2011-10-24 00:04:26','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/23/170-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(505,2,'2011-11-03 13:57:46','2011-11-03 17:57:46','Welcome to MotherhoodStress.com. . . . Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.  The stress came as a shock.\r\n\r\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\r\n\r\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488 \" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_300\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"193\" caption=\"Andrew licking the beaters, while cookies were in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-300 \" title=\"Andrew_beaters_featured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_beaters_featured-276x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"210\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality.  From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins.  To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21 \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks. I did not envision <em>ever</em> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\r\n\r\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester.  After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\"\r\n\r\nThe list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\r\n	<li>lack of control</li>\r\n	<li>high expectations</li>\r\n	<li>ideals vs. reality</li>\r\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\r\n	<li>low status and low pay</li>\r\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\r\n\r\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store.  We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes.  The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again.  Back in the house for that.  Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in.  But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\r\n\r\nBack into the house to change a diaper.  Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short.  Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly  noon.\r\n\r\nI knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house.  Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\r\n\r\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">All mothers feel motherhood stress.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">So I wrote a book on the subject.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_10\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"314\" caption=\"The hardback version was published by Word Publishing, the paperback by Zondervan.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"314\" height=\"480\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd another book.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And another book.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, written with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently the president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\" It is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\r\n\r\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.','Welcome','','inherit','open','open','','480-revision-17','','','2011-11-03 13:57:46','2011-11-03 17:57:46','',480,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/480-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(507,2,'2011-11-05 12:03:50','2011-11-05 16:03:50','<strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth\nas witnesses against you that I have set before you\nlife and death, blessings and curses.\nNow choose life, so that you and your children may live\nand that you may love the LORD your God,\nlisten to his voice, and hold fast to him.\nFor the LORD is your life, and\nhe will give you many years in the land\nhe swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.\n\n1Now what I am commanding you today\nis not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.\nIt is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask,\n“Who will ascend into heaven to get it\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask,\n“Who will cross the sea to get it\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\nNo, the word is very near you;\nit is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.\nSee, I set before you today life and prosperity,\ndeath and destruction.\nFor I command you today to love the LORD your God,\nto walk in obedience to him,\nand to keep his commands, decrees and laws;\nthen you will live and increase,\nand the LORD your God will bless you\nin the land you are entering to possess.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\nfrom all her sins.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,\nslow to anger, abounding in love.\nHe does not treat us as our sins deserve\nor repay us according to our iniquities.\nFor as high as the heavens are above the earth,\nso great is his love for those who fear him;\nas far as the east is from the west,\nso far has he removed our transgressions from us.\n\nAs a father has compassion on his children,\nso the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;\nfor he knows how we are made,\nhe remembers that we are only dust.\nBut the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting\nfor those who fear him,\nand his righteousness with their children’s children—\nwith those who keep his covenant\nand remember his commandments to do them.\n\nThe Lord has established his throne in heaven,\nand his socereignty rules over all.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\nRejoice in the Lord always.\nI will say it again: Rejoice!\nLet your gentle spirit be evident to all.\nThe Lord is near.\nBe anxious for nothing\nbut in everything, by prayer and petition,\nwith thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\nAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,\nwill guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.\n\n\n</p>\n\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<h5></h5>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-revision','','','2011-11-05 12:03:50','2011-11-05 16:03:50','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(508,2,'2011-11-05 12:12:27','2011-11-05 16:12:27','<strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”\n\n<em>God gave this promise to Joshus, just after Moses died and Joshua found himself leading the Israelistes into the Promised Land. What a wonderful promise to claim each time you start out on a new stage of motherhood!</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth\nas witnesses against you that I have set before you\nlife and death, blessings and curses.\nNow choose life, so that you and your children may live\nand that you may love the Lord your God,\nlisten to his voice, and hold fast to him.\nFor the Lord is your life, and\nhe will give you many years in the land\nhe swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Now what I am commanding you today\nis not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.\nIt is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask,\n“Who will ascend into heaven to get it\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask,\n“Who will cross the sea to get it\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\nNo, the word is very near you;\nit is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.\nSee, I set before you today life and prosperity,\ndeath and destruction.\nFor I command you today to love the LORD your God,\nto walk in obedience to him,\nand to keep his commands, decrees and laws;\nthen you will live and increase,\nand the LORD your God will bless you\nin the land you are entering to possess.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>I love this promise that what God asks me to do is not too difficult, or mysterious. That it is \"very near\" me, in my mouth and in my heart.</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\nfrom all her sins.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,\nslow to anger, abounding in love.\nHe does not treat us as our sins deserve\nor repay us according to our iniquities.\nFor as high as the heavens are above the earth,\nso great is his love for those who fear him;\nas far as the east is from the west,\nso far has he removed our transgressions from us.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">As a father has compassion on his children,\nso the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;\nfor he knows how we are made,\nhe remembers that we are only dust.\nBut the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting\nfor those who fear him,\nand his righteousness with their children’s children—\nwith those who keep his covenant\nand remember his commandments to do them.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The Lord has established his throne in heaven,\nand his sovereignty rules over all.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I am grateful that</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(1)God\'s love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth and,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(2) that He had removed my sins as far as the east is from the west and</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(3) that He knows that I am only dust and</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(4) He is sovereign or me and my family</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\nRejoice in the Lord always.\nI will say it again: Rejoice!\nLet your gentle spirit be evident to all.\nThe Lord is near.\nBe anxious for nothing\nbut in everything, by prayer and petition,\nwith thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\nAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,\nwill guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-revision-2','','','2011-11-05 12:12:27','2011-11-05 16:12:27','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(534,2,'2011-11-05 17:34:07','2011-11-05 21:34:07','<strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”\r\n<blockquote><em>God gave this promise to Joshua, just after Moses died and Joshua found himself leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. What a wonderful promise to claim each time you start out on a new stage of motherhood!</em></blockquote>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\r\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth\r\nas witnesses against you that I have set before you\r\nlife and death, blessings and curses.\r\nNow choose life, so that you and your children may live\r\nand that you may love the Lord your God,\r\nlisten to his voice, and hold fast to him.\r\nFor the Lord is your life, and\r\nhe will give you many years in the land\r\nhe swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Now what I am commanding you today\r\nis not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.\r\nIt is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will ascend into heaven to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will cross the sea to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNo, the word is very near you;\r\nit is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.\r\nSee, I set before you today life and prosperity,\r\ndeath and destruction.\r\nFor I command you today to love the LORD your God,\r\nto walk in obedience to him,\r\nand to keep his commands, decrees and laws;\r\nthen you will live and increase,\r\nand the LORD your God will bless you\r\nin the land you are entering to possess.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>I love this promise that what God asks me to do is not too difficult, or mysterious. That it is \"very near\" me, in my mouth and in my heart.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\r\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\r\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\r\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\r\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\r\nfrom all her sins.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\r\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,\r\nslow to anger, abounding in love.\r\nHe does not treat us as our sins deserve\r\nor repay us according to our iniquities.\r\nFor as high as the heavens are above the earth,\r\nso great is his love for those who fear him;\r\nas far as the east is from the west,\r\nso far has he removed our transgressions from us.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">As a father has compassion on his children,\r\nso the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;\r\nfor he knows how we are made,\r\nhe remembers that we are only dust.\r\nBut the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting\r\nfor those who fear him,\r\nand his righteousness with their children’s children—\r\nwith those who keep his covenant\r\nand remember his commandments to do them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The Lord has established his throne in heaven,\r\nand his sovereignty rules over all.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>I am grateful that </em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(1)God\'s love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth and,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(2) that He had removed my sins as far as the east is from the west and</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em> (3) that He knows that I am only dust and</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(4) He is sovereign or me and my family</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\r\nRejoice in the Lord always.\r\nI will say it again: Rejoice!\r\nLet your gentle spirit be evident to all.\r\nThe Lord is near.\r\nBe anxious for nothing\r\nbut in everything, by prayer and petition,\r\nwith thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\r\nAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,\r\nwill guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-revision-4','','','2011-11-05 17:34:07','2011-11-05 21:34:07','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(509,2,'2011-11-05 12:12:56','2011-11-05 16:12:56',' ','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','publish','open','open','','509','','','2011-11-05 12:15:10','2011-11-05 16:15:10','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/509/',3,'nav_menu_item','',0),(510,2,'2011-10-26 17:15:48','2011-10-26 21:15:48','<a title=\"Dentist_buys_back_Halloween_candy\" href=\"http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20111023/NEWS01/110230301/-1/7daysarchives/Dentist-buy-back-Halloween-candy\" target=\"_blank\">A dentist in the Nashville, Tennessee area </a>is offering money in exchange for Halloween candy. His purpose, of course, is to reduce the sugar children consume, and improve their dental health. And, probably, gain new patients.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_319\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My niece Amanda as a clown\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Amanda_halloween.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-319 \" title=\"Amanda_halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Amanda_halloween-300x235.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"235\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFor parents who do not live near Nashville, what should you do to limit the candy your child eats at Halloween.\r\n\r\n* Have a favorite meal for an early supper, before trick-or-treating.\r\n* Give out non-candy items - spider rings, pencils, fake tattoos, stick on gems, crayons, erasers, etc.\r\n* Host a Halloween party, shifting the focus onto games and fun, rather than just acquiring candy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_161\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"243\" caption=\"Benjamin at age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_21.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-161\" title=\"Benj_halloween_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_21-243x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n* Go to a Trunk or Treat event, where your child will play games and socialize, in addition to trick-or-treat. More and more churches host these, providing games and food, in addition to a limited arena for getting candy.\r\n\r\n* Set your rules about the candy: when it can be eaten (after a meal) and how many pieces.\r\n\r\n* Set a limit on how long you\'ll keep the left-over candy. Plan to give it away or throw it away after 2 or 3 days.  Perhaps you know a teacher who would love to have candy to give out as rewards to her students.\r\n\r\n* Relax and enjoy the holiday and do not stress out too much over your child\'s sugar intake.','Dentist Buys Candy from Trick-or-Treaters','','inherit','open','open','','317-revision-5','','','2011-10-26 17:15:48','2011-10-26 21:15:48','',317,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/26/317-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(512,2,'2011-10-23 19:06:55','2011-10-23 23:06:55','Supermom: You know who I’m talking about.  She does it all. Her house is always clean. Her children are always dressed in matching clothes, with no stains.  She’s managed to keep her figure.  She never, ever loses her temper with her children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_214\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Lisette with Debi, still in their church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-214 \" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"175\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd she’s on the fast track at work, blazing new paths for women in the workplace. Bringing in that extra income that helps her family’s finances stay healthy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_209\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"186\" caption=\"Andrew helping me bake cookies at age 4\"]<img class=\"size-large wp-image-209  \" title=\"Andrew lickingbeaters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-666x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"186\" height=\"286\" />[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">All the while baking cookies with her children and sewing their halloween costumes.</p>\r\nWe may hate her, but she’s the myth most women feel pressured to emulate.\r\n\r\nIn a new study from the University of Washington, entitled <a title=\"Supermom_myth_depressed\" href=\"http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/23/working-women-who-subscribe-to-the-supermom-myth-are-more-likely-to-be-depressed/\" target=\"_blank\">“Even Supermoms Get the Blues,” </a>researcher Katrina Leupp reports that women who believe the myth---that they can juggle children, home, husband, career and volunteer work with perfection --- end up more depressed than other moms.\r\n\r\nAccording to Leupp, the University of Washington sociology graduate student who authored the study and presented her research in August at the American Sociological Association\'s annual meeting: “Ascribing to an ideal that women can do it all… increased the level of depressive symptoms compared to women who were more skeptical of whether or not work and family can be balanced.\"\r\n\r\n\"Women are sold a story that they can do it all, but most workplaces are still designed for employees without child-care responsibilities,\" Leupp reported.\r\n\r\nSome of her suggestions were:\r\n- Go into motherhood with more realistic expectations; realize that it won’t be easy.\r\n\r\n- Don’t buy into the \"supermom\" complex; don’t pressure yourself to be an overachiever in all aspects of life.\r\n\r\n- Delegate some of your responsibilities. Let someone else run the bake sale.  Ask your husband to do his share of folding the laundry.\r\n\r\n- Let a few things slide.\r\n\r\n- Limit your work-outside-the-home hours when you can.\r\n\r\nAnd here are some other suggestions, from my book, <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Stressbusters for Moms</em></a>:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_212\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Jonathan after a soccer game\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-212  \" title=\"Jonmuddysoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"395\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n“Remind yourself that you are not perfect. Your  husband is not perfect.  Your children won’t be perfect. Let love be the undercurrent running through the times of frustration and turmoil.” <em>- P. B., mother of two, ages 3 &amp; 5</em>\r\n\r\n“Good mothers some in many styles. Know your style and build on your strengths. This can free you from the trap of comparing yourself to other moms.” <em>- Diane Eble, A Life You Can Love</em>\r\n\r\n“Anticipate your children’s needs. Before I’d take my baby into a store, I would sit and nurse him, so he wouldn’t be hungry in the middle of shopping.  Later I learned to start my grocery trip down the aisle that led toward the bathrooms. Then five to ten minutes into grocery shopping, I’d take my preschoolers into the restroom with me, and let the power of suggestion take care of that stress.”  <em>- Deborah Shaw Lewis</em>\r\n\r\n“Pick your fights carefully. There will be disagreements galore while your child is growing up. Look at each situation and ask, “Will this decision matter in ten years?” If it will, stand your ground.  If it won’t, let your child make his or her own decision.  If the kid end up with blue hair or a weird haircut, it will grow back.”  <em>- P. W., mother of one, age 17</em>\r\n\r\n“Don’t obsess! Nobody does this parenting thing perfectly. Give yourself a break and don’t dwell on mistakes or fears.”  <em>A. L., mother of one, age 1</em>\r\n\r\n“Get into a weekly Bible study that has decent child care. You will gain wisdom and encouragement, and you will build a network of Christian women to share and support you as a mother.”  <em>D. S., mother of four, ages 12, 16, 17, 19</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Some material above was adapted from <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&amp;field-keywords=Mother+in+the+Middle+Yoest&amp;x=0&amp;y=0\" target=\"_blank\">Mother in the Middle</a> by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest.</em>','The Supermom Delusion','','inherit','open','open','','207-revision-13','','','2011-10-23 19:06:55','2011-10-23 23:06:55','',207,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/23/207-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(513,2,'2011-10-27 22:26:33','2011-10-28 02:26:33','Some of my favorite childhood memories center around my mother\'s Old Fashioned Tea Cakes.  A southern dish, they are simple, easy-to-make and relatively low-sugar, for such a sweet treat.\r\n\r\nIf you decorate them with icing, the sugar content jumps.  But if you paint them with colored evaporated milk, they are pretty, shiny and delicious, without being laden with sugar.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/tea_cake_ingredients3.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-407\" title=\"tea_cake_ingredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/tea_cake_ingredients3-264x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"264\" height=\"300\" /></a>Only six ingredients: shortening; sugar; eggs; milk; vanilla and self-rising flour.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd you just mix those six things together, add enough flour to get a stiff dough.  I find it usually takes another 1 - 1.5 cups of flour to make it the right stiffness.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stiff_batter.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-397\" title=\"stiff_batter\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stiff_batter-277x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"277\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThen roll it out and cut it with cookie cutters.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/rolling_pin.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-398\" title=\"rolling_pin\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/rolling_pin-266x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"266\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI collect cookie cutters. I found nine pumpkin and 2 apple cookie cutters.  I have WAY too many cookie cutters!<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cookie_cutters.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-399\" title=\"cookie_cutters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cookie_cutters-300x277.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"277\" /></a>\r\n\r\nBrush them with colored evaporated milk. Notice that I am NOT neat when I paint these cookies. I dribble colored milk everywhere.  But it cleans right up when I wash the pan, after baking the cookies.  No big deal - NBD, as I used to tell my children. NBD.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/painted_cookie.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-404\" title=\"painted_cookie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/painted_cookie-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThen bake for 6 minutes or so. Gotta love these simple recipes.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/finished_cookies.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-403\" title=\"finished_cookies\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/finished_cookies-300x257.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"257\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOld Fashioned Tea Cakes\r\n\r\n1 cup shortening\r\n\r\n2 cups sugar\r\n\r\n2 eggs\r\n\r\n1/2 cup milk\r\n\r\n1 teaspoon vanilla\r\n\r\n3 cups self-rising flour\r\n\r\nMix all ingredients together. Add enough self-rising flour to make a stiff dough. (It usually takes another 1 cup to 1.5 cup.)  Roll out on a floured board. Cut with cookie cutters and put on a cookie sheet.\r\n\r\nMix food coloring into a small quantity of evaporated milk, to desired color.  Bush onto the uncooked cookies.\r\n\r\nBake at 400 degrees until brown, 5 or 6 minutes.','More Low-Stress Halloween Treats: Pumpkin Tea Cakes','','inherit','open','open','','390-revision-8','','','2011-10-27 22:26:33','2011-10-28 02:26:33','',390,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/27/390-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(514,2,'2011-10-26 17:23:37','2011-10-26 21:23:37','One of my children’s favorite Halloween treats was also one of the easiest and, relatively nutritious, projects.  We made pumpkins with orange sherbet.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sherbert_cups1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-366\" title=\"sherbert_cups\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sherbert_cups1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"466\" /></a>\r\nAll it took was the sherbet, a round ice cream scoop, some ice cream cones (the ones with flat bottoms, that can stand up, work best), small tootsie rolls, and whatever you want to make the faces on the pumpkins.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sherbert_in_cups1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-367\" title=\"sherbert_in_cups\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sherbert_in_cups1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"589\" /></a>In scooping out the sherbet, to get nice round pumpkins, rinse off the scoop with hot water, between each pumpkin.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tootsies_added1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-368\" title=\"Tootsies_added\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tootsies_added1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"453\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe simplest version is to just have pumpkins - without faces.  A round scoop of orange sherbert, topped with a tootsie roll for a stem - even without extra details, they still look like pumpkins.  And taste delicious.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Sherbert_with_treats2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-370\" title=\"Sherbert_with_treats\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Sherbert_with_treats2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"338\" /></a>\r\n\r\nBut my children liked to go crazy with the details.  Green fruit slices can be sliced again, for fancy leaves near the stem.  And M &amp; Ms, or chocolate chips, licorice or gummy candy can make the face.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Sherbert_finished.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-371\" title=\"Sherbert_finished\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Sherbert_finished.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"496\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sherbert_finished2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-372\" title=\"sherbert_finished2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sherbert_finished2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"803\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Low-Stress Halloween Treats: Orange Sherbet Pumpkins','','inherit','open','open','','359-revision-8','','','2011-10-26 17:23:37','2011-10-26 21:23:37','',359,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/26/359-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(515,2,'2011-10-25 08:29:37','2011-10-25 12:29:37','[caption id=\"attachment_209\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"195\" caption=\"Andrew when he was four years old. We did NOT bake cookies the afternoon he escaped from kindergarten!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-209\" title=\"Andrew lickingbeaters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nUnpredictability. I saw the news today of the <a title=\"preschooler_escapes_goes_home\" href=\"http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/preschool-escapee-makes-solo-trek-home-150602032.html\" target=\"_blank\">three year old who escaped from preschool</a> and made the trek home alone. And, of course, thought of our oldest son Andrew, who specialized in unpredictability.\r\n\r\nOne day, just minutes after I dropped him off at kindergarten, he walked out the door of the school and hiked home, much like little Alfie Aldridge.\r\n\r\nAndrew attended afternoon kindergarten. So I’d driven home, gotten the younger children down for naps and picked up the phone to call my friends Judy.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nWhile chatting with her, I looked up to see Andrew, hiding in the bushes in front of our house.\r\n\r\nThank you, Lord, I was home. Samantha Aldridge, Alfie’s mom, is quoted as saying, “A wave of emotion come over me.” Boy, do I remember that wave of emotion!','The Day Andrew Walked Home from Kindergarten','','inherit','open','open','','282-revision-11','','','2011-10-25 08:29:37','2011-10-25 12:29:37','',282,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/25/282-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(516,2,'2011-10-23 21:49:32','2011-10-24 01:49:32','For a Pumpkin Patch field trip last week, I told the story of the day I got left at the gas station.\r\n\r\nWe were on vacation in Kentucky and were headed north, up into Ohio.Just before we crossed the bridge, into Ohio, we stopped at a gas station.','I Really Did Get Left at the Gas Station','','inherit','open','open','','323-revision-2','','','2011-10-23 21:49:32','2011-10-24 01:49:32','',323,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/23/323-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(517,2,'2011-10-19 00:11:56','2011-10-19 00:11:56','Stress is now being labeled as the \'<a title=\"Stress_Black_Death\" href=\"http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2045309/Stress-Top-cause-workplace-sickness-dubbed-Black-Death-21st-century.html\" target=\"_blank\">Black Death of the 21st century</a>,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reason for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already struggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I owed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"motherhood_stress_book\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317856568&amp;sr=1-2\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"motherhoodstress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a><em></em>','Motherhood Stress: Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-18','','','2011-10-19 00:11:56','2011-10-19 00:11:56','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/19/54-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(518,2,'2011-11-05 15:00:07','2011-11-05 19:00:07','','MattSparkler','Matthew, age 4, with a sparkler.','inherit','open','open','','mattsparkler','','','2011-11-05 15:00:07','2011-11-05 19:00:07','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSparkler.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(519,2,'2011-11-05 15:08:53','2011-11-05 19:08:53','','BenjTeddyWYWB','Benjamin, age 4, with his teddy bear. This photo from our book, When You Were a Baby.','inherit','open','open','','benjteddywywb','','','2011-11-05 15:08:53','2011-11-05 19:08:53','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/BenjTeddyWYWB.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(520,2,'2011-10-19 08:13:58','2011-10-19 08:13:58','New EU safety rules, just now being implemented, require that balloons may not be blown up by unsupervised children, for fear that the child may swallow the balloon and choke.  The same rules apply to party whistles and magnetic fishing games.\r\n\r\nIn addition the new EU rules dictate how noisy toys may be - including rattles and musical instruments. The rules even cover teddy bears, which must now be fully washable, lest those mangy stuffed animals harbor germs.\r\n\r\nThe outcry over the new rules centers on how they will inhibit a child’s freedom to play and to explore, restricting the types of play that encourage children to be independent.\r\n\r\nFrank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, warned: \"These bans diminish the experience, both of having fun and learning, by turning play into a danger zone with rules that stifle life and adventure for children.\"\r\n\r\nAnd, I would add, increase the stress levels of the mothers who will be expected to abide by the new rules.\r\n\r\nI cannot help but think that of the fears I felt for my children when they were small, balloons and party whistles were not high on the list.  My fears were over pollution, insecticides on apples, school shootings, serious diseases.\r\n\r\nAt the time<em> Motherhood Stress</em> was released, in a survery of its readers, Ladies Home Journal asked mothers, “What worries you most about raising your children?”\r\n43% said “protecting children from drug use”\r\n36% said “the media and peers undercutting parental authority”\r\n29% worried about working and not being at home full-time\r\n20% worried about economic instability\r\n17% were concerned about protecting their children from AIDS\r\n\r\nNothing in that list comes close to including the dangers posed by balloons and/or party whistles!\r\n\r\nFear is stressful.  It’s not as if mothers spend every waking hour in a state of perpetual anxiety over the safety and security of our children.  But we recognize many valid reasons to worry about the welfare of the babies we’ve brought into this dangerous and fallen world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_196\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"204\" caption=\"Our adventuresome DIL Jessica on a motor bike\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-196\" title=\"Jessmotorbike\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike-300x285.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"193\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd yet, as mothers, we know that our children need to face risks and access dangers, even as young children.  A growing body of evidence suggests that newer playgrounds, with “safer” - and therefore less challenging - equipment does not make our children’s lives safer.  Does not even produce fewer serious falls.  Apparently both parents and children overestimate the safety factors and are more prone to attempt risky moves.  And when children become bored wih “safe” playgrounds, they are more likely to play elsewhere, in truly dangerous locations.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_197\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"175\" caption=\"Gregg and Jonathan on a zipline over the Hersey River in Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-197\" title=\"gregg jon zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline-175x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"175\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI remember climbing one of the old, tall climbers on a playground in Griffin, Georgia, in 1956 or 1957, when I would have been either five or six years old. I paused at a point when I still felt safe, close enough to the ground.  Then I remember the thrill of taking that deep breathe and climbing higher, then higher.  Stopping at each level of the climber, to get my courage up to climb another rung.  And then the thrill of reaching the top and knowing that I had conquered that mountain.\r\n\r\nEven now, fifty years later, I clearly remember that sense of victory.  I believe that successes like that, as a child, taught me to be willing to step outside my comfort zone and take on challenges as an adult.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"221\" caption=\"Lisette braved the zipline over the river, by herself\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-198 \" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"288\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the book,<a title=\"Take the Risk\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Take-Risk-Learning-Identify-Acceptable/dp/0310259738/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1318381136&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"> Take the Risk</a>, Dr. Ben Carson says, “Since risk-taking is an almost universal trait of adolescence,the wisest strategy for parent is to offer teenagers controlled, acceptable risk-experiences. . . Teens are driven by human nature to establish, discover and prove who they will be and where they will fit into an adult world.  How will they do that? By exploring, experimenting, practicing and testing all manner of new experiences - and dealing with the incumbent risks.”\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_201\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"263\" caption=\"Matthew, with cousins, canoeing in Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/matt-canoe.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-201\" title=\"matt canoe\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/matt-canoe.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMission trips, white-water rafting, mountain hiking, public performances, acting or speaking, competitive sports - all provide teens with opportunities to challenge themselves, face the possibility of failure, embarassment and disappointment, get themselves out of their comfort zone.  And find out that they can succeed.  And that if they fail, life will go on with other opportunities.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_199\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"224\" caption=\"DIL Jessica white water rafting as a teen\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-199\" title=\"JessWhiteWaterRaft\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs parents, as mothers, we do not want to be so focused on keeping our children safe, that we stunt their emotional or creative growth or limit their potential for leadership and adventure in life.','No More Balloons, Party Whistles for Children, but More Stress for Moms','','inherit','open','open','','190-revision-9','','','2011-10-19 08:13:58','2011-10-19 08:13:58','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/19/190-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(521,2,'2011-11-05 15:11:25','2011-11-05 19:11:25','New EU safety rules, just now being implemented, require that balloons may not be blown up by unsupervised children, for fear that the child may swallow the balloon and choke.  The same rules apply to party whistles and magnetic fishing games.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_519\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"204\" caption=\"Benjamin, age 4, with his teddy bear. This photo from our book, When You Were a Baby.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/BenjTeddyWYWB.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-519\" title=\"BenjTeddyWYWB\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/BenjTeddyWYWB-204x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn addition the new EU rules dictate how noisy toys may be - including rattles and musical instruments. The rules even cover teddy bears, which must now be fully washable, lest those mangy stuffed animals harbor germs.\r\n\r\nThe outcry over the new rules centers on how they will inhibit a child’s freedom to play and to explore, restricting the types of play that encourage children to be independent.\r\n\r\nFrank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, warned: \"These bans diminish the experience, both of having fun and learning, by turning play into a danger zone with rules that stifle life and adventure for children.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_518\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\" caption=\"Matthew, age 4, with a sparkler.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSparkler.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-518 \" title=\"MattSparkler\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSparkler-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"210\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, I would add, increase the stress levels of the mothers who will be expected to abide by the new rules.\r\n\r\nI cannot help but think that of the fears I felt for my children when they were small, balloons and party whistles were not high on the list.  My fears were over pollution, insecticides on apples, school shootings, serious diseases.\r\n\r\nAt the time<em> Motherhood Stress</em> was released, in a survery of its readers, Ladies Home Journal asked mothers, “What worries you most about raising your children?”\r\n43% said “protecting children from drug use”\r\n36% said “the media and peers undercutting parental authority”\r\n29% worried about working and not being at home full-time\r\n20% worried about economic instability\r\n17% were concerned about protecting their children from AIDS\r\n\r\nNothing in that list comes close to including the dangers posed by balloons and/or party whistles!\r\n\r\nFear is stressful.  It’s not as if mothers spend every waking hour in a state of perpetual anxiety over the safety and security of our children.  But we recognize many valid reasons to worry about the welfare of the babies we’ve brought into this dangerous and fallen world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_196\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"204\" caption=\"Our adventuresome DIL Jessica on a motor bike\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-196\" title=\"Jessmotorbike\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike-300x285.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"193\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd yet, as mothers, we know that our children need to face risks and access dangers, even as young children.  A growing body of evidence suggests that newer playgrounds, with “safer” - and therefore less challenging - equipment does not make our children’s lives safer.  Does not even produce fewer serious falls.  Apparently both parents and children overestimate the safety factors and are more prone to attempt risky moves.  And when children become bored wih “safe” playgrounds, they are more likely to play elsewhere, in truly dangerous locations.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_197\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"175\" caption=\"Gregg and Jonathan on a zipline over the Hersey River in Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-197\" title=\"gregg jon zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline-175x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"175\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI remember climbing one of the old, tall climbers on a playground in Griffin, Georgia, in 1956 or 1957, when I would have been either five or six years old. I paused at a point when I still felt safe, close enough to the ground.  Then I remember the thrill of taking that deep breathe and climbing higher, then higher.  Stopping at each level of the climber, to get my courage up to climb another rung.  And then the thrill of reaching the top and knowing that I had conquered that mountain.\r\n\r\nEven now, fifty years later, I clearly remember that sense of victory.  I believe that successes like that, as a child, taught me to be willing to step outside my comfort zone and take on challenges as an adult.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"221\" caption=\"Lisette braved the zipline over the river, by herself\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-198 \" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"288\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the book,<a title=\"Take the Risk\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Take-Risk-Learning-Identify-Acceptable/dp/0310259738/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1318381136&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"> Take the Risk</a>, Dr. Ben Carson says, “Since risk-taking is an almost universal trait of adolescence,the wisest strategy for parent is to offer teenagers controlled, acceptable risk-experiences. . . Teens are driven by human nature to establish, discover and prove who they will be and where they will fit into an adult world.  How will they do that? By exploring, experimenting, practicing and testing all manner of new experiences - and dealing with the incumbent risks.”\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_201\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"263\" caption=\"Matthew, with cousins, canoeing in Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/matt-canoe.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-201\" title=\"matt canoe\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/matt-canoe.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMission trips, white-water rafting, mountain hiking, public performances, acting or speaking, competitive sports - all provide teens with opportunities to challenge themselves, face the possibility of failure, embarassment and disappointment, get themselves out of their comfort zone.  And find out that they can succeed.  And that if they fail, life will go on with other opportunities.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_199\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"224\" caption=\"DIL Jessica white water rafting as a teen\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-199\" title=\"JessWhiteWaterRaft\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs parents, as mothers, we do not want to be so focused on keeping our children safe, that we stunt their emotional or creative growth or limit their potential for leadership and adventure in life.','No More Balloons, Party Whistles for Children, but More Stress for Moms','','inherit','open','open','','190-revision-10','','','2011-11-05 15:11:25','2011-11-05 19:11:25','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/190-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(522,2,'2011-11-05 15:28:25','2011-11-05 19:28:25','','MattOnRings','','inherit','open','open','','mattonrings','','','2011-11-05 15:28:25','2011-11-05 19:28:25','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattOnRings.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(523,2,'2011-11-05 15:19:16','2011-11-05 19:19:16','New EU safety rules, just now being implemented, require that balloons may not be blown up by unsupervised children, for fear that the child may swallow the balloon and choke.  The same rules apply to party whistles and magnetic fishing games.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_519\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Benjamin, age 4, with his teddy bear. This photo from our book, When You Were a Baby.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/BenjTeddyWYWB.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-519 \" title=\"BenjTeddyWYWB\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/BenjTeddyWYWB-204x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn addition the new EU rules dictate how noisy toys may be - including rattles and musical instruments. The rules even cover teddy bears, which must now be fully washable, lest those mangy stuffed animals harbor germs.\r\n\r\nThe outcry over the new rules centers on how they will inhibit a child’s freedom to play and to explore, restricting the types of play that encourage children to be independent.\r\n\r\nFrank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, warned: \"These bans diminish the experience, both of having fun and learning, by turning play into a danger zone with rules that stifle life and adventure for children.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_518\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\" caption=\"Matthew, age 4, with a sparkler.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSparkler.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-518 \" title=\"MattSparkler\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSparkler-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"210\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, I would add, increase the stress levels of the mothers who will be expected to abide by the new rules.\r\n\r\nI cannot help but think that of the fears I felt for my children when they were small, balloons and party whistles were not high on the list.  My fears were over pollution, insecticides on apples, school shootings, serious diseases.\r\n\r\nAt the time<em> Motherhood Stress</em> was released, in a survery of its readers, Ladies Home Journal asked mothers, “What worries you most about raising your children?”\r\n43% said “protecting children from drug use”\r\n36% said “the media and peers undercutting parental authority”\r\n29% worried about working and not being at home full-time\r\n20% worried about economic instability\r\n17% were concerned about protecting their children from AIDS\r\n\r\nNothing in that list comes close to including the dangers posed by balloons and/or party whistles!\r\n\r\nFear is stressful.  It’s not as if mothers spend every waking hour in a state of perpetual anxiety over the safety and security of our children.  But we recognize many valid reasons to worry about the welfare of the babies we’ve brought into this dangerous and fallen world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_196\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"204\" caption=\"Our adventuresome DIL Jessica on a motor bike\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-196\" title=\"Jessmotorbike\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike-300x285.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"193\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd yet, as mothers, we know that our children need to face risks and access dangers, even as young children.  A growing body of evidence suggests that newer playgrounds, with “safer” - and therefore less challenging - equipment does not make our children’s lives safer.  Does not even produce fewer serious falls.  Apparently both parents and children overestimate the safety factors and are more prone to attempt risky moves.  And when children become bored wih “safe” playgrounds, they are more likely to play elsewhere, in truly dangerous locations.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_197\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"175\" caption=\"Gregg and Jonathan on a zipline over the Hersey River in Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-197\" title=\"gregg jon zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline-175x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"175\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI remember climbing one of the old, tall climbers on a playground in Griffin, Georgia, in 1956 or 1957, when I would have been either five or six years old. I paused at a point when I still felt safe, close enough to the ground.  Then I remember the thrill of taking that deep breathe and climbing higher, then higher.  Stopping at each level of the climber, to get my courage up to climb another rung.  And then the thrill of reaching the top and knowing that I had conquered that mountain.\r\n\r\nEven now, fifty years later, I clearly remember that sense of victory.  I believe that successes like that, as a child, taught me to be willing to step outside my comfort zone and take on challenges as an adult.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"221\" caption=\"Lisette braved the zipline over the river, by herself\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-198 \" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"288\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the book,<a title=\"Take the Risk\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Take-Risk-Learning-Identify-Acceptable/dp/0310259738/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1318381136&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"> Take the Risk</a>, Dr. Ben Carson says, “Since risk-taking is an almost universal trait of adolescence,the wisest strategy for parent is to offer teenagers controlled, acceptable risk-experiences. . . Teens are driven by human nature to establish, discover and prove who they will be and where they will fit into an adult world.  How will they do that? By exploring, experimenting, practicing and testing all manner of new experiences - and dealing with the incumbent risks.”\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_201\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"263\" caption=\"Matthew, with cousins, canoeing in Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/matt-canoe.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-201\" title=\"matt canoe\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/matt-canoe.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMission trips, white-water rafting, mountain hiking, public performances, acting or speaking, competitive sports - all provide teens with opportunities to challenge themselves, face the possibility of failure, embarassment and disappointment, get themselves out of their comfort zone.  And find out that they can succeed.  And that if they fail, life will go on with other opportunities.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_199\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"224\" caption=\"DIL Jessica white water rafting as a teen\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-199\" title=\"JessWhiteWaterRaft\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs parents, as mothers, we do not want to be so focused on keeping our children safe, that we stunt their emotional or creative growth or limit their potential for leadership and adventure in life.','No More Balloons, Party Whistles for Children, but More Stress for Moms','','inherit','open','open','','190-revision-11','','','2011-11-05 15:19:16','2011-11-05 19:19:16','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/190-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(524,2,'2011-11-05 16:55:13','2011-11-05 20:55:13','','AndrewMattLisetteBenj','Lisette, with 3 of her brothers, when she was 3 years old','inherit','open','open','','andrewmattlisettebenj','','','2011-11-05 16:55:13','2011-11-05 20:55:13','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewMattLisetteBenj.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(525,2,'2011-11-05 14:54:36','2011-11-05 18:54:36','Stress is now being labeled as the \'<a title=\"Stress_Black_Death\" href=\"http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2045309/Stress-Top-cause-workplace-sickness-dubbed-Black-Death-21st-century.html\" target=\"_blank\">Black Death of the 21st century</a>,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reason for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already struggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I owed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"motherhood_stress_book\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317856568&amp;sr=1-2\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"motherhoodstress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a><em></em>','Motherhood Stress: Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-19','','','2011-11-05 14:54:36','2011-11-05 18:54:36','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/54-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(526,2,'2011-11-05 17:02:42','2011-11-05 21:02:42','','A& Mfeatured','','inherit','open','open','','a-mfeatured','','','2011-11-05 17:02:42','2011-11-05 21:02:42','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/A-Mfeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(527,2,'2011-11-03 20:09:27','2011-11-04 00:09:27','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish.<a title=\"Steve_Jobs_Children_quote\" href=\"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/steve-jobs-final-wish-to-get-to-know-his-children-before-it-was-too-late-2367355.html\" target=\"_blank\"> According to Omish</a>, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\r\n\r\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em>What a great description of being a parent!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"222\" height=\"222\" /></a>For our book, <a title=\"Mother_in_the_middle\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Mother in the Middle</em></a>, Dr. Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\r\n\r\nThat book begins with my personal story of motherhood:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"207\" caption=\"Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-173\" title=\"AM&amp;L L6months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"273\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\r\n\r\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Our Precious Lisette, at age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"269\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\r\n\r\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\r\n\r\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\r\n\r\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\r\n\r\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered our baby a gift from God.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"202\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-174\" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"282\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\r\n\r\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\r\n\r\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"205\" caption=\"Jonathan (1 year) and Benjamin (4)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\r\n\r\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.\r\n\r\nadapted from <em>Mother in the Middle</em> by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest','Steve Jobs: Children 10,000 Times Better than Anything','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision-13','','','2011-11-03 20:09:27','2011-11-04 00:09:27','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/170-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(528,2,'2011-11-05 17:10:53','2011-11-05 21:10:53','','MattSprinkler','Matthew at age 2, playing in the sprinkler','inherit','open','open','','mattsprinkler','','','2011-11-05 17:10:53','2011-11-05 21:10:53','',38,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSprinkler.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(529,2,'2011-11-05 17:15:49','2011-11-05 21:15:49','','Benj3yr','Benjamin, age 3','inherit','open','open','','benj3yr','','','2011-11-05 17:15:49','2011-11-05 21:15:49','',38,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj3yr.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(530,2,'2011-10-19 00:08:25','2011-10-19 00:08:25','A certain amount of novelty can be a plus on any job. Cuts down on boredom, stimulates creativity and productivity. But an excess of unpredictability creates tremendous stress.\r\n\r\nCould there be any job more unpredictable than motherhood?\r\n\r\nI remember the day I checked on 17 month old Matthew and found him playing happily on top of our old upright piano.  Just moments before, he\'d been happily marching around the kitchen and into the living room, down a short hall and back into the kitchen - round and round, in and out of the kitchen where I was fixing supper.\r\n\r\nNo mystery how he climbed onto the piano bench, or from the piano bench to the piano keys.  But how on earth did he scale the distance from the keys to the tops of that old piano?  And why?\r\n\r\nI could only thank God that I checked on him BEFORE he decided to take a head-first dive from that height!\r\n\r\nAnd then there was the evening I fixed everyone hot chocolate. I found three matching cups for our (then) four children.  The fourth cup was yellow, Benjamin\'s favorite color.  So I handed Benjamin his cocoa in his favorite color cup.  And he pitched a fit.  Went to bed without his treat, rather than drink hot cocoa from a yellow cup.\r\n\r\nSo much for a pleasant evening snack routine!\r\n\r\nMotherhood brought me much more joy than I ever thought possible - but more unpredictability, too.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n. . . from Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','You Never Know What Will Happen Next. . . ','','inherit','open','open','','38-revision-7','','','2011-10-19 00:08:25','2011-10-19 00:08:25','',38,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/19/38-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(531,2,'2011-11-05 17:17:12','2011-11-05 21:17:12','A certain amount of novelty can be a plus on any job. Cuts down on boredom, stimulates creativity and productivity. But an excess of unpredictability creates tremendous stress.\r\n\r\nCould there be any job more unpredictable than motherhood?\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_528\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Matthew at age 2, playing in the sprinkler\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSprinkler.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-528 \" title=\"MattSprinkler\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSprinkler-296x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"198\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI remember the day I checked on 17 month old Matthew and found him playing happily on top of our old upright piano.  Just moments before, he\'d been happily marching around the kitchen and into the living room, down a short hall and back into the kitchen - round and round, in and out of the kitchen where I was fixing supper.\r\n\r\nNo mystery how he climbed onto the piano bench, or from the piano bench to the piano keys.  But how on earth did he scale the distance from the keys to the tops of that old piano?  And why?\r\n\r\nI could only thank God that I checked on him BEFORE he decided to take a head-first dive from that height!\r\n\r\nAnd then there was the evening I fixed everyone hot chocolate. I found three matching cups for our (then) four children.  The fourth cup was yellow, Benjamin\'s favorite color.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_529\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Benjamin, age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-529\" title=\"Benj3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj3yr-209x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I handed Benjamin his cocoa in his favorite color cup.  And he pitched a fit.  Went to bed without his treat, rather than drink hot cocoa from a yellow cup.\r\n\r\nSo much for a pleasant evening snack routine!\r\n\r\nMotherhood brought me much more joy than I ever thought possible - but more unpredictability, too.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n. . . from Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','You Never Know What Will Happen Next. . . ','','inherit','open','open','','38-revision-8','','','2011-11-05 17:17:12','2011-11-05 21:17:12','',38,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/38-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(532,2,'2011-11-05 18:00:50','2011-11-05 22:00:50','<blockquote><strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”</blockquote>\nGod gave this promise to Joshua, just after Moses died and Joshua found himself leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. What a wonderful promise to claim each time you start out on a new stage of motherhood!\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\nNo, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I love this promise that what God asks me to do is not too difficult, or mysterious. That it is \"very near\" me, in my mouth and in my heart.</p>\n\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\nfrom all her sins.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I often put my name into Bible verses as I read them, to remind myself that they apply to ME.</p>\n\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,slow to anger, abounding in love.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are made, he remembers that we are only dust.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">But the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember his commandments to do them.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his sovereignty rules over all.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I am grateful that</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(1)God\'s love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth and,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(2) that He had removed my sins as far as the east is from the west and</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(3) that He knows that I am only dust and</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(4) He is sovereign over me and my family</p>\n\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\nRejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be evident to all. The Lord is near.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Be anxious for nothing but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"></p>\n</blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Do you have a favorite Bible verse you would like to share?  Send that along in the comments below.</p>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-autosave','','','2011-11-05 18:00:50','2011-11-05 22:00:50','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(538,2,'2011-11-05 17:43:05','2011-11-05 21:43:05','<blockquote><strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”</blockquote>\r\nGod gave this promise to Joshua, just after Moses died and Joshua found himself leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. What a wonderful promise to claim each time you start out on a new stage of motherhood!\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\r\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth\r\nas witnesses that I have set before you\r\nlife and death, blessings and curses.\r\nNow choose life,                                                             so that you and your children may live\r\nand that you may love the Lord your God,\r\nlisten to his voice, and hold fast to him.\r\nFor the Lord is your life, and\r\nhe will give you many years in the land\r\nhe swore to give to your fathers,                 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Now what I am commanding you today\r\nis not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.\r\nIt is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will ascend into heaven to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will cross the sea to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNo, the word is very near you;\r\nit is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.\r\nSee, I set before you today life and prosperity,\r\ndeath and destruction.\r\nFor I command you today to love the LORD your God,\r\nto walk in obedience to him,\r\nand to keep his commands, decrees and laws;\r\nthen you will live and increase,\r\nand the LORD your God will bless you\r\nin the land you are entering to possess.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I love this promise that what God asks me to do is not too difficult, or mysterious. That it is \"very near\" me, in my mouth and in my heart.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\r\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\r\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\r\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\r\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\r\nfrom all her sins.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\r\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,\r\nslow to anger, abounding in love.\r\nHe does not treat us as our sins deserve\r\nor repay us according to our iniquities.\r\nFor as high as the heavens are above the earth,\r\nso great is his love for those who fear him;\r\nas far as the east is from the west,\r\nso far has he removed our transgressions from us.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As a father has compassion on his children,\r\nso the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;\r\nfor he knows how we are made,\r\nhe remembers that we are only dust.\r\nBut the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting\r\nfor those who fear him,\r\nand his righteousness with their children’s children—\r\nwith those who keep his covenant\r\nand remember his commandments to do them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The Lord has established his throne in heaven,\r\nand his sovereignty rules over all.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I am grateful that</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(1)God\'s love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth and,</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(2) that He had removed my sins as far as the east is from the west and</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(3) that He knows that I am only dust and</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(4) He is sovereign or me and my family</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\r\nRejoice in the Lord always.\r\nI will say it again: Rejoice!\r\nLet your gentle spirit be evident to all.\r\nThe Lord is near.\r\nBe anxious for nothing\r\nbut in everything, by prayer and petition,\r\nwith thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\r\nAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,\r\nwill guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p>\r\n</blockquote>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-revision-8','','','2011-11-05 17:43:05','2011-11-05 21:43:05','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(537,2,'2011-11-05 17:38:45','2011-11-05 21:38:45','<blockquote><strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”</blockquote>\r\n<em>God gave this promise to Joshua, just after Moses died and Joshua found himself leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. What a wonderful promise to claim each time you start out on a new stage of motherhood!</em>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\r\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth\r\nas witnesses against you that I have set before you\r\nlife and death, blessings and curses.\r\nNow choose life, so that you and your children may live\r\nand that you may love the Lord your God,\r\nlisten to his voice, and hold fast to him.\r\nFor the Lord is your life, and\r\nhe will give you many years in the land\r\nhe swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Now what I am commanding you today\r\nis not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.\r\nIt is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will ascend into heaven to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will cross the sea to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNo, the word is very near you;\r\nit is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.\r\nSee, I set before you today life and prosperity,\r\ndeath and destruction.\r\nFor I command you today to love the LORD your God,\r\nto walk in obedience to him,\r\nand to keep his commands, decrees and laws;\r\nthen you will live and increase,\r\nand the LORD your God will bless you\r\nin the land you are entering to possess.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>I love this promise that what God asks me to do is not too difficult, or mysterious. That it is \"very near\" me, in my mouth and in my heart.</em></p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\r\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\r\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\r\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\r\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\r\nfrom all her sins.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\r\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,\r\nslow to anger, abounding in love.\r\nHe does not treat us as our sins deserve\r\nor repay us according to our iniquities.\r\nFor as high as the heavens are above the earth,\r\nso great is his love for those who fear him;\r\nas far as the east is from the west,\r\nso far has he removed our transgressions from us.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">As a father has compassion on his children,\r\nso the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;\r\nfor he knows how we are made,\r\nhe remembers that we are only dust.\r\nBut the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting\r\nfor those who fear him,\r\nand his righteousness with their children’s children—\r\nwith those who keep his covenant\r\nand remember his commandments to do them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The Lord has established his throne in heaven,\r\nand his sovereignty rules over all.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>I am grateful that </em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(1)God\'s love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth and,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(2) that He had removed my sins as far as the east is from the west and</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em> (3) that He knows that I am only dust and</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(4) He is sovereign or me and my family</em></p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\r\nRejoice in the Lord always.\r\nI will say it again: Rejoice!\r\nLet your gentle spirit be evident to all.\r\nThe Lord is near.\r\nBe anxious for nothing\r\nbut in everything, by prayer and petition,\r\nwith thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\r\nAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,\r\nwill guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p>\r\n</blockquote>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-revision-7','','','2011-11-05 17:38:45','2011-11-05 21:38:45','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(533,2,'2011-11-05 12:12:56','2011-11-05 16:12:56','<strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”\r\n\r\n<em>God gave this promise to Joshus, just after Moses died and Joshua found himself leading the Israelistes into the Promised Land. What a wonderful promise to claim each time you start out on a new stage of motherhood!</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\r\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth\r\nas witnesses against you that I have set before you\r\nlife and death, blessings and curses.\r\nNow choose life, so that you and your children may live\r\nand that you may love the Lord your God,\r\nlisten to his voice, and hold fast to him.\r\nFor the Lord is your life, and\r\nhe will give you many years in the land\r\nhe swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Now what I am commanding you today\r\nis not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.\r\nIt is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will ascend into heaven to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will cross the sea to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNo, the word is very near you;\r\nit is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.\r\nSee, I set before you today life and prosperity,\r\ndeath and destruction.\r\nFor I command you today to love the LORD your God,\r\nto walk in obedience to him,\r\nand to keep his commands, decrees and laws;\r\nthen you will live and increase,\r\nand the LORD your God will bless you\r\nin the land you are entering to possess.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>I love this promise that what God asks me to do is not too difficult, or mysterious. That it is \"very near\" me, in my mouth and in my heart.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\r\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\r\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\r\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\r\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\r\nfrom all her sins.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\r\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,\r\nslow to anger, abounding in love.\r\nHe does not treat us as our sins deserve\r\nor repay us according to our iniquities.\r\nFor as high as the heavens are above the earth,\r\nso great is his love for those who fear him;\r\nas far as the east is from the west,\r\nso far has he removed our transgressions from us.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">As a father has compassion on his children,\r\nso the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;\r\nfor he knows how we are made,\r\nhe remembers that we are only dust.\r\nBut the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting\r\nfor those who fear him,\r\nand his righteousness with their children’s children—\r\nwith those who keep his covenant\r\nand remember his commandments to do them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The Lord has established his throne in heaven,\r\nand his sovereignty rules over all.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>I am grateful that </em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(1)God\'s love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth and,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(2) that He had removed my sins as far as the east is from the west and</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em> (3) that He knows that I am only dust and</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(4) He is sovereign or me and my family</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\r\nRejoice in the Lord always.\r\nI will say it again: Rejoice!\r\nLet your gentle spirit be evident to all.\r\nThe Lord is near.\r\nBe anxious for nothing\r\nbut in everything, by prayer and petition,\r\nwith thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\r\nAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,\r\nwill guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-revision-3','','','2011-11-05 12:12:56','2011-11-05 16:12:56','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(535,2,'2011-11-05 17:35:25','2011-11-05 21:35:25','<blockquote><strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”</blockquote>\r\n<em>God gave this promise to Joshua, just after Moses died and Joshua found himself leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. What a wonderful promise to claim each time you start out on a new stage of motherhood!</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\r\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth\r\nas witnesses against you that I have set before you\r\nlife and death, blessings and curses.\r\nNow choose life, so that you and your children may live\r\nand that you may love the Lord your God,\r\nlisten to his voice, and hold fast to him.\r\nFor the Lord is your life, and\r\nhe will give you many years in the land\r\nhe swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Now what I am commanding you today\r\nis not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.\r\nIt is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will ascend into heaven to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will cross the sea to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNo, the word is very near you;\r\nit is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.\r\nSee, I set before you today life and prosperity,\r\ndeath and destruction.\r\nFor I command you today to love the LORD your God,\r\nto walk in obedience to him,\r\nand to keep his commands, decrees and laws;\r\nthen you will live and increase,\r\nand the LORD your God will bless you\r\nin the land you are entering to possess.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>I love this promise that what God asks me to do is not too difficult, or mysterious. That it is \"very near\" me, in my mouth and in my heart.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\r\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\r\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\r\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\r\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\r\nfrom all her sins.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\r\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,\r\nslow to anger, abounding in love.\r\nHe does not treat us as our sins deserve\r\nor repay us according to our iniquities.\r\nFor as high as the heavens are above the earth,\r\nso great is his love for those who fear him;\r\nas far as the east is from the west,\r\nso far has he removed our transgressions from us.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">As a father has compassion on his children,\r\nso the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;\r\nfor he knows how we are made,\r\nhe remembers that we are only dust.\r\nBut the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting\r\nfor those who fear him,\r\nand his righteousness with their children’s children—\r\nwith those who keep his covenant\r\nand remember his commandments to do them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The Lord has established his throne in heaven,\r\nand his sovereignty rules over all.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>I am grateful that </em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(1)God\'s love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth and,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(2) that He had removed my sins as far as the east is from the west and</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em> (3) that He knows that I am only dust and</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(4) He is sovereign or me and my family</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\r\nRejoice in the Lord always.\r\nI will say it again: Rejoice!\r\nLet your gentle spirit be evident to all.\r\nThe Lord is near.\r\nBe anxious for nothing\r\nbut in everything, by prayer and petition,\r\nwith thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\r\nAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,\r\nwill guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-revision-5','','','2011-11-05 17:35:25','2011-11-05 21:35:25','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(539,2,'2011-11-05 17:47:11','2011-11-05 21:47:11','<blockquote><strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”</blockquote>\r\nGod gave this promise to Joshua, just after Moses died and Joshua found himself leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. What a wonderful promise to claim each time you start out on a new stage of motherhood!\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\r\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth\r\nas witnesses that I have set before you\r\nlife and death, blessings and curses.\r\nNow choose life, so that you and your children may live\r\nand that you may love the Lord your God,\r\nlisten to his voice, and hold fast to him.\r\nFor the Lord is your life, and\r\nhe will give you many years in the land\r\nhe swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Now what I am commanding you today\r\nis not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.\r\nIt is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will ascend into heaven to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will cross the sea to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNo, the word is very near you;\r\nit is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.\r\nSee, I set before you today life and prosperity,\r\ndeath and destruction.\r\nFor I command you today to love the LORD your God,\r\nto walk in obedience to him,\r\nand to keep his commands, decrees and laws;\r\nthen you will live and increase,\r\nand the LORD your God will bless you\r\nin the land you are entering to possess.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I love this promise that what God asks me to do is not too difficult, or mysterious. That it is \"very near\" me, in my mouth and in my heart.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\r\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\r\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\r\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\r\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\r\nfrom all her sins.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\r\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,\r\nslow to anger, abounding in love.\r\nHe does not treat us as our sins deserve\r\nor repay us according to our iniquities.\r\nFor as high as the heavens are above the earth,\r\nso great is his love for those who fear him;\r\nas far as the east is from the west,\r\nso far has he removed our transgressions from us.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As a father has compassion on his children,\r\nso the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;\r\nfor he knows how we are made,\r\nhe remembers that we are only dust.\r\nBut the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting\r\nfor those who fear him,\r\nand his righteousness with their children’s children—\r\nwith those who keep his covenant\r\nand remember his commandments to do them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The Lord has established his throne in heaven,\r\nand his sovereignty rules over all.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I am grateful that</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(1)God\'s love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth and,</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(2) that He had removed my sins as far as the east is from the west and</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(3) that He knows that I am only dust and</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(4) He is sovereign or me and my family</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\r\nRejoice in the Lord always.\r\nI will say it again: Rejoice!\r\nLet your gentle spirit be evident to all.\r\nThe Lord is near.\r\nBe anxious for nothing\r\nbut in everything, by prayer and petition,\r\nwith thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\r\nAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,\r\nwill guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p>\r\n</blockquote>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-revision-9','','','2011-11-05 17:47:11','2011-11-05 21:47:11','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(536,2,'2011-11-05 17:37:17','2011-11-05 21:37:17','<blockquote><strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”</blockquote>\r\n<em>God gave this promise to Joshua, just after Moses died and Joshua found himself leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. What a wonderful promise to claim each time you start out on a new stage of motherhood!</em>\r\n<blockquote>&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\r\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth\r\nas witnesses against you that I have set before you\r\nlife and death, blessings and curses.\r\nNow choose life, so that you and your children may live\r\nand that you may love the Lord your God,\r\nlisten to his voice, and hold fast to him.\r\nFor the Lord is your life, and\r\nhe will give you many years in the land\r\nhe swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Now what I am commanding you today\r\nis not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.\r\nIt is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will ascend into heaven to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will cross the sea to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNo, the word is very near you;\r\nit is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.\r\nSee, I set before you today life and prosperity,\r\ndeath and destruction.\r\nFor I command you today to love the LORD your God,\r\nto walk in obedience to him,\r\nand to keep his commands, decrees and laws;\r\nthen you will live and increase,\r\nand the LORD your God will bless you\r\nin the land you are entering to possess.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>I love this promise that what God asks me to do is not too difficult, or mysterious. That it is \"very near\" me, in my mouth and in my heart.</em></p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\r\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\r\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\r\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\r\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\r\nfrom all her sins.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\r\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,\r\nslow to anger, abounding in love.\r\nHe does not treat us as our sins deserve\r\nor repay us according to our iniquities.\r\nFor as high as the heavens are above the earth,\r\nso great is his love for those who fear him;\r\nas far as the east is from the west,\r\nso far has he removed our transgressions from us.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">As a father has compassion on his children,\r\nso the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;\r\nfor he knows how we are made,\r\nhe remembers that we are only dust.\r\nBut the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting\r\nfor those who fear him,\r\nand his righteousness with their children’s children—\r\nwith those who keep his covenant\r\nand remember his commandments to do them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The Lord has established his throne in heaven,\r\nand his sovereignty rules over all.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>I am grateful that </em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(1)God\'s love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth and,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(2) that He had removed my sins as far as the east is from the west and</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em> (3) that He knows that I am only dust and</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(4) He is sovereign or me and my family</em></p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\r\nRejoice in the Lord always.\r\nI will say it again: Rejoice!\r\nLet your gentle spirit be evident to all.\r\nThe Lord is near.\r\nBe anxious for nothing\r\nbut in everything, by prayer and petition,\r\nwith thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\r\nAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,\r\nwill guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p>\r\n</blockquote>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-revision-6','','','2011-11-05 17:37:17','2011-11-05 21:37:17','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(540,2,'2011-11-05 17:49:41','2011-11-05 21:49:41','<blockquote><strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”</blockquote>\r\nGod gave this promise to Joshua, just after Moses died and Joshua found himself leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. What a wonderful promise to claim each time you start out on a new stage of motherhood!\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\r\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.\r\nNow choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.\r\nFor the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Now what I am commanding you today\r\nis not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.\r\nIt is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will ascend into heaven to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask,\r\n“Who will cross the sea to get it\r\nand proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNo, the word is very near you;\r\nit is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.\r\nSee, I set before you today life and prosperity,\r\ndeath and destruction.\r\nFor I command you today to love the LORD your God,\r\nto walk in obedience to him,\r\nand to keep his commands, decrees and laws;\r\nthen you will live and increase,\r\nand the LORD your God will bless you\r\nin the land you are entering to possess.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I love this promise that what God asks me to do is not too difficult, or mysterious. That it is \"very near\" me, in my mouth and in my heart.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\r\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\r\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\r\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\r\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\r\nfrom all her sins.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\r\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,\r\nslow to anger, abounding in love.\r\nHe does not treat us as our sins deserve\r\nor repay us according to our iniquities.\r\nFor as high as the heavens are above the earth,\r\nso great is his love for those who fear him;\r\nas far as the east is from the west,\r\nso far has he removed our transgressions from us.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As a father has compassion on his children,\r\nso the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;\r\nfor he knows how we are made,\r\nhe remembers that we are only dust.\r\nBut the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting\r\nfor those who fear him,\r\nand his righteousness with their children’s children—\r\nwith those who keep his covenant\r\nand remember his commandments to do them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The Lord has established his throne in heaven,\r\nand his sovereignty rules over all.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I am grateful that</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(1)God\'s love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth and,</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(2) that He had removed my sins as far as the east is from the west and</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(3) that He knows that I am only dust and</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(4) He is sovereign or me and my family</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\r\nRejoice in the Lord always.\r\nI will say it again: Rejoice!\r\nLet your gentle spirit be evident to all.\r\nThe Lord is near.\r\nBe anxious for nothing\r\nbut in everything, by prayer and petition,\r\nwith thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\r\nAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,\r\nwill guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p>\r\n</blockquote>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-revision-10','','','2011-11-05 17:49:41','2011-11-05 21:49:41','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(541,2,'2011-11-05 17:53:11','2011-11-05 21:53:11','<blockquote><strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”</blockquote>\r\nGod gave this promise to Joshua, just after Moses died and Joshua found himself leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. What a wonderful promise to claim each time you start out on a new stage of motherhood!\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\r\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.\r\nNow choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNo, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I love this promise that what God asks me to do is not too difficult, or mysterious. That it is \"very near\" me, in my mouth and in my heart.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\r\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\r\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\r\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\r\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\r\nfrom all her sins.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I often put my name into Bible verses as I read them, to remind myself that they apply to ME.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\r\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,\r\nslow to anger, abounding in love.\r\nHe does not treat us as our sins deserve\r\nor repay us according to our iniquities.\r\nFor as high as the heavens are above the earth,\r\nso great is his love for those who fear him;\r\nas far as the east is from the west,\r\nso far has he removed our transgressions from us.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As a father has compassion on his children,\r\nso the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;\r\nfor he knows how we are made,\r\nhe remembers that we are only dust.\r\nBut the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting\r\nfor those who fear him,\r\nand his righteousness with their children’s children—\r\nwith those who keep his covenant\r\nand remember his commandments to do them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The Lord has established his throne in heaven,\r\nand his sovereignty rules over all.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I am grateful that</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(1)God\'s love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth and,</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(2) that He had removed my sins as far as the east is from the west and</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(3) that He knows that I am only dust and</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(4) He is sovereign or me and my family</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\r\nRejoice in the Lord always.\r\nI will say it again: Rejoice!\r\nLet your gentle spirit be evident to all.\r\nThe Lord is near.\r\nBe anxious for nothing\r\nbut in everything, by prayer and petition,\r\nwith thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\r\nAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,\r\nwill guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p>\r\n</blockquote>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-revision-11','','','2011-11-05 17:53:11','2011-11-05 21:53:11','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(542,2,'2011-11-05 17:58:53','2011-11-05 21:58:53','<blockquote><strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”</blockquote>\r\nGod gave this promise to Joshua, just after Moses died and Joshua found himself leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. What a wonderful promise to claim each time you start out on a new stage of motherhood!\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\r\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.\r\nNow choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”\r\nNo, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I love this promise that what God asks me to do is not too difficult, or mysterious. That it is \"very near\" me, in my mouth and in my heart.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\r\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\r\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\r\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\r\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\r\nfrom all her sins.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I often put my name into Bible verses as I read them, to remind myself that they apply to ME.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\r\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,slow to anger, abounding in love.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are made, he remembers that we are only dust.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">But the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember his commandments to do them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his sovereignty rules over all.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I am grateful that</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(1)God\'s love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth and,</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(2) that He had removed my sins as far as the east is from the west and</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(3) that He knows that I am only dust and</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(4) He is sovereign over me and my family</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\r\nRejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be evident to all. The Lord is near.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Be anxious for nothing but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"></p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Do you have a favorite Bible verse you would like to share?  Send that along in the comments below.</p>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-revision-12','','','2011-11-05 17:58:53','2011-11-05 21:58:53','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(543,2,'2011-11-05 18:01:09','2011-11-05 22:01:09','<blockquote><strong>Joshua 1:9</strong> Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”</blockquote>\r\nGod gave this promise to Joshua, just after Moses died and Joshua found himself leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. What a wonderful promise to claim each time you start out on a new stage of motherhood!\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Deuteronomy 30:19 &amp;20, 11-16</strong>\r\nThis day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\r\nNor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\r\nNo, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I love this promise that what God asks me to do is not too difficult, or mysterious. That it is \"very near\" me, in my mouth and in my heart.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 130: 7 &amp; 8</strong> (paraphrased)\r\nOh, Debi, put your hope in the LORD,\r\nfor with the LORD is unfailing love\r\nand with him is full and complete redemption.\r\nThe Lord himself will redeem Debi\r\nfrom all her sins.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I often put my name into Bible verses as I read them, to remind myself that they apply to ME.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Psalm 103: 8, 10 - 19</strong>\r\nThe Lord is compassionate and gracious,slow to anger, abounding in love.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are made, he remembers that we are only dust.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">But the mercies of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember his commandments to do them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his sovereignty rules over all.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I am grateful that</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(1)God\'s love for me is as high as the heavens are above the earth and,</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(2) that He had removed my sins as far as the east is from the west and</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(3) that He knows that I am only dust and</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(4) He is sovereign over me and my family</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong> Phillipians 4:4 - 7</strong>\r\nRejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be evident to all. The Lord is near.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Be anxious for nothing but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"></p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Do you have a favorite Bible verse you would like to share?  Send that along in the comments below.</p>','Debi\'s Favorite Bible Verses','','inherit','open','open','','506-revision-13','','','2011-11-05 18:01:09','2011-11-05 22:01:09','',506,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/506-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(544,2,'2011-11-05 17:03:28','2011-11-05 21:03:28','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish.<a title=\"Steve_Jobs_Children_quote\" href=\"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/steve-jobs-final-wish-to-get-to-know-his-children-before-it-was-too-late-2367355.html\" target=\"_blank\"> According to Omish</a>, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\r\n\r\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em>What a great description of being a parent!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"222\" height=\"222\" /></a>For our book, <a title=\"Mother_in_the_middle\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Mother in the Middle</em></a>, Dr. Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\r\n\r\nThat book begins with my personal story of motherhood:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"207\" caption=\"Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-173\" title=\"AM&amp;L L6months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"273\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\r\n\r\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Our Precious Lisette, at age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"269\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\r\n\r\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\r\n\r\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\r\n\r\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\r\n\r\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered our baby a gift from God.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"202\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-174\" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"282\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\r\n\r\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\r\n\r\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"205\" caption=\"Jonathan (1 year) and Benjamin (4)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\r\n\r\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.\r\n\r\nadapted from <em>Mother in the Middle</em> by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest','Steve Jobs: Children 10,000 Times Better than Anything','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision-14','','','2011-11-05 17:03:28','2011-11-05 21:03:28','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/170-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(545,2,'2011-11-03 13:54:45','2011-11-03 17:54:45','Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-258\" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe stress came as a shock.\r\n\r\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\r\n\r\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488\" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_209\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"195\" caption=\"Andrew, age 4, licking the beaters, while the cookies are in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-e1319130982226.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-209\" title=\"Andrew lickingbeaters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games. I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality. From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins. To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_45\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan both graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-e1317701202375.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-45\" title=\"Andrew and Jonathan graduate from Asbury University\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks.\r\n\r\nI did not envision <strong><em>ever</em></strong> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\r\n\r\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester. After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\" The list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\r\n	<li>lack of control</li>\r\n	<li>high expectations</li>\r\n	<li> ideals vs. reality</li>\r\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\r\n	<li> low status and low pay</li>\r\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\r\n\r\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store. We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes. The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again. Back in the house for that. Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in. But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\r\n\r\nBack into the house to change a diaper. Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short. Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly noon. I knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house. Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\r\n\r\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\r\n\r\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\r\n\r\nSo I wrote a book on the subject.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_63\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Published in 1989 in hardback by Word Publishing. The paperback was published by Zondervan Publishing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd another book.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd another book.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, co-authored with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\"\r\n\r\nIt is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\r\n\r\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.\r\n\r\nSo, if you are a mom with young children, also shocked by the stress of motherhood, or a dad, wondering why your wife is so stressed-out, please check back here occasionally for information and support, that we hope will help you deal with motherhood stress, and find encouragement in the ultimate helping profession.    - <a title=\"Meet Debi\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/sample-page/\" target=\"_blank\">Deborah Shaw Lewis</a>','Why Motherhood Stress, Not Joy?','','inherit','open','open','','498-revision-3','','','2011-11-03 13:54:45','2011-11-03 17:54:45','',498,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/03/498-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(547,2,'2011-11-02 10:56:48','2011-11-02 14:56:48','I have two confessions to make. First, I sang my babies to sleep. I did not “teach” them to \"self-soothe\" themselves to sleep. Second confession: I am so very, very glad I sang my babies to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_448\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"194\" caption=\"Andrew as a newborn\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-448\" title=\"AndrewNewborn\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewNewborn-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAndrew, our oldest son, our first “miracle” baby - now a handsome 32 year old man - was full of energy and enthusiasm for life from the moment he was born. He loved life and he hated sleep. He seemed to think that as soon as he went to sleep, he might miss out on something truly wonderful that life had to offer. So he fought going to sleep.\r\n\r\nI breastfeed my babies. So for the early months of his life, he simply nursed himself to sleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, I nursed him back to sleep. He was several weeks old before a night came when he woke in the night, nursed and did not fall back to sleep.\r\n\r\nSo, I put him in his crib. And he cried. And cried.\r\n\r\nFollowing the wisdom of parenting in 1979, I patted him and then proceeded to let him cry himself back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHe didn’t.\r\n\r\nHe cried and cried and cried and cried. And seemed to become more and more and more frantic. After more than an hour of letting him cry, I quit. Picked him up, rocked him and consoled him.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_449\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My father, Charles Shaw, rocking Benjamin to sleep. Daddy also sang to my children.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-449 \" title=\"DaddyRockingBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyRockingBenj-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe next night, we tried letting him cry again. And again, it went on for more than an hour, with Andrew becoming more and more frantic, as if he was saying, “I need company. Is there anyone, ANYONE out there listening? Maybe if I cry louder someone will come. Maybe I am ALONE in the universe.”\r\n\r\nThe next day I prayed and prayed over the situation. And that night, when he woke in the night, instead of letting him cry, I nursed him and then laid him down in his crib, patted his back and sang to him. And within 10 minutes or so, he had fallen back to sleep.\r\n\r\nHmmm, I thought. Ten minutes of singing to my baby, or an hour of listening to him cry frantically. The decision was easy.\r\n\r\nSo I sang to all five of my babies. Did not teach even one of them to “self soothe.” I sang mostly old hymns. I like old hymns, and they have lots and lots of verses, which I could sing several times through.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"559\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-457 \" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"559\" height=\"391\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEven today, many years since I’ve had a baby to put to sleep, I can sing every word of every verse of an amazing number of hymns.\r\n\r\nMy grown children do not seem to have suffered any major emotional distress from having not learned to “self soothe” as babies. They are, all five, amazingly independent, remarkable, adventuresome people. Well-bonded to their parents and to each other.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011-300x86.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"86\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, in recent years, two young men, both cousins roughly the same age as my children, have come to me at family gatherings (at different family gatherings, since they come from different branches of our family) to tell me that they loved to hear me sing to my children, when they were children and we were visiting them. One went so far as to say that he wanted to marry a woman who would sing their children to sleep.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_166\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"700\" caption=\"Lisette, Jonathan, Benjamin, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-166 \" title=\"cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"202\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLast year a young mother told me that their family was at a loss to know how to get their three year old to go to sleep. They were following a recommended program for helping their high-energy son to “self soothe.” But the process was taking them two hours or so each evening and their son was waking up, screaming in the middle of the night. And this had gone on for several months, with little progress.\r\n\r\n“Our entire family is suffering extreme sleep deprivation. I don’t know how my husband and I are functioning at all,” she sighed.\r\n\r\nSo I told her how I sang my babies to sleep. And how precious my memories of those motherhood moments are.\r\n\r\nA week or so later, she came back to me. “Your advice has changed our lives!” she said. “I’ve been singing my son to sleep. It takes 15 minutes or so a night. And he started sleeping through the night the very first night I sang. We are all getting the sleep we need. I can’t believe the difference it makes for our entire family.”','Singing My Babies to Sleep','','inherit','open','open','','446-revision-12','','','2011-11-02 10:56:48','2011-11-02 14:56:48','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/02/446-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(548,2,'2011-11-05 19:35:23','2011-11-05 23:35:23','','Jessica & Jon wedding','Andrew, Matthew, Lisette, Jessica, Jonathan, Debi, Gregg and Benjamin in June 11, 2011','inherit','open','open','','jessica-jon-wedding','','','2011-11-05 19:35:23','2011-11-05 23:35:23','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Jessica-Jon-wedding.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(643,2,'2011-11-24 02:02:39','2011-11-24 07:02:39','Last week at <a title=\"PALS_mothers_morning_out_program\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/28-years-ministry-children-and-families\" target=\"_blank\">PALS</a>, the mothers\' morning out program, where I serve as director, we had Thanksgiving Feasts.  Moms, Dads, and Grandparents were invited, and brought amazing treats.  Here are photos of some of the delightful, fun things that PALS\' parents brought for the feasts.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_644\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"TeePee Cupcakes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/teepeetreats.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-644\" title=\"teepeetreats\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/teepeetreats-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"208\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nEmma and Sarah Kate\'s mother made these teepee cupcakes. The ice cream cones were filled with cake batter and baked.  See instructions on how to make these <a title=\"TeePee_Cupcakes\" href=\"http://kiddie-soirees.lilsugar.com/Teepee-Cupcakes-10697974\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a>\r\n\r\nOr the teepees can be made, without the cupcake inside.  See directions for that <a title=\"TeePee_cones\" href=\"http://www.dashrecipes.com/blogs/dashboard/2011/11/21-teepee-cones.html\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_645\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Reese Cup Pilgrim Hats\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ReeseCupTurkey.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-645\" title=\"ReeseCupTurkey\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ReeseCupTurkey-300x148.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"148\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnother PALS family brought these pilgrim hat cookies, made with peanut butter cups.  See instructions for making these <a title=\"Pilgrim_Hat_Cookies\" href=\"http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Pilgrim-Hat-Cookies\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_646\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rice Krispie Treat pumpkins\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/KrispiePumpkins.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-646\" title=\"KrispiePumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/KrispiePumpkins-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI love rice krispie treats.  Don\'t most people?  Certainly most children love them.  These were colored with orange food coloring and shaped into pumpkins with a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter.\r\n\r\nIn <a title=\"Rice_krispie_treat_pumpkins\" href=\"http://www.food.com/recipe/rice-krispie-pumpkin-treats-396778\" target=\"_blank\">these instructions</a>, with the recipe for rice krispie treats, the cereal mix is shaped into round pumpkins. Either way would work for me.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_647\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Thanksgiving Cake Pops\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/CakePops.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-647\" title=\"CakePops\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/CakePops-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nGarrett\'s mom brought these Thanksgiving-decorated cake pops. Cake pops were new to me this Thanksgiving holiday, but have been popular, I\'m told, for the last year or so.  They were a big hit at our feast!\r\n\r\nEasy to make, Garrett\'s mom insisted. Just crumble up cake, mix in some icing to hold it all together, roll into balls and dip into chocolate. For more info, <a title=\"How_to_make_cake_pops\" href=\"http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/tips-techniques/how-to-make-cake-pops-078637\" target=\"_blank\">go here</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_648\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Thanksgiving cupcakes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/CupcakesSprinkles.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-648\" title=\"CupcakesSprinkles\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/CupcakesSprinkles-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThese were popular, too, and probably easier to make: cupcakes with chocolate icing and fall-colored sprinkles, and decorative flags.\r\n\r\nI wish I could include photos of ALL the wonderful foods that parents provided for the feasts.  Thanks to all the PALS mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers who came and made this event so much fun!\r\n\r\nAnd Happy Thanksgiving . . . I am thankful to God for each and every one of the 101 children at PALS. . . for our 14 amazing teachers . . . and for the parents who let us take care of their children.','Thanksgiving Treats','','publish','open','open','','thanksgiving-treats','','','2011-11-24 02:02:39','2011-11-24 07:02:39','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=643',0,'post','',1),(554,2,'2011-11-08 22:33:02','2011-11-09 03:33:02','How many mothers go into motherhood, expecting themselves and their children to be perfect, wanting the perfect motherhood experience?  <a title=\"stressed_out_supermoms\" href=\"http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_19249002\" target=\"_blank\">According to recent news reports</a>, when motherhood proves to be less than perfect, moms turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the disappointment of failed expectations.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-258 \" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"175\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI had a long talk last week with a young mother who talked about the pressure to live her life as a “Disney-perfect Mom.”  And how critical other mothers can be when your life doesn’t turn out to be “Disney perfect.”  So many mothers want to believe that if they just do the right things, follow the right advice with their children, their lives will be Disney-perfect and their children will all “say no to drugs,” graduate from high school as valedictorians - or at least salutatorians - and gain entrance into Harvard.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_558\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Matthew, Gregg and Debi at Matthew&#39;s high school graduation, 1999\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MattHSGrad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-558 \" title=\"MattHSGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MattHSGrad-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen life happens and we as mothers, and our children, as, well . . .  children, turns out to be less than Disney-perfect.  And your other mother-friends look at your life and try to decide where you went wrong.  Hoping that if they can figure that out, and avoid your mistakes, they can continue to live Disney-perfect lives, with Disney-perfect children.\r\n\r\nAccording to the reports on drug and alcohol abuse among supermoms, mothers often turn to “uppers” to avoid postpartum depression and then fall into the pattern of taking  prescription drugs. They even call them “mother’s little helpers” -  uppers in the morning to energize yourself and downers in the evenings to calm yourself down.\r\n\r\nWe all know how important our roles as mothers are.  And we don’t want our children messed up by our mistakes.  We want to do this motherhood thing perfectly, because we love our children and want the very best for them.  And the best is perfection, right?\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_559\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Micah, Tim and our Andrew, goofing off at Ichthus, a music festival\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MicahTimAndrewIchthus.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-559 \" title=\"MicahTimAndrewIchthus\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MicahTimAndrewIchthus-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"169\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHow many of us mothers keep up the illusion that our lives and our children are perfect? That we manage to have it all: the children and the career; the spotless house and the PTO presidency.  So we don’t have to face the criticism of our friends or neighbors or family, when we fail.\r\n\r\nAs a young mother, I read something by Dr. James Dobson, saying that one of the most unkind things young mothers do to each other is to hurry around and pick up and clean their houses before another mother came over.  Not presenting an honest picture of ourselves or our lives to each other.\r\n\r\nThe result is a comparative performance stress where we all look at each other and think that other moms are handling the pressures of motherhood better than we are.  And we end up feeling inadequate, in what we know to be the most important job of our lives.\r\n\r\nWhat is best for our children is NOT perfection, but the honest sharing of our struggles and our shortcomings.  \"Nobody gets to be perfect,\" I told my children when they were small. \"Mama isn\'t perfect.  Daddy isn\'t perfect. You don\'t get to be perfect. Only Jesus was perfect.\"\r\n\r\nRather than the uppers and downers or alcohol to numb the disappointment of being less than perfect, we can just embrace our imperfections.  And find friends who are also imperfect - and with whom we can be honest about that.\r\n\r\nBecause nobody gets to be perfect.','Supermoms are Stressed-Out, Use Alcohol, Drugs','','publish','open','open','','supermoms-are-stress-out-use-alcohol-drugs','','','2011-11-09 08:15:45','2011-11-09 13:15:45','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=554',0,'post','',0),(555,2,'2011-11-08 13:23:20','2011-11-08 18:23:20','How many mothers go into motherhood, expecting themselves and their children to be perfect, wanting the perfect motherhood experience?  According to recent news reports, when motherhood proves to be less than perfect, moms turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the disappointment of failed expectations.\n\nI had a long talk last week with a young mother who talked about the pressure to live her life as a “Disney-perfect Mom.”  And how critical other mothers can be when your life doesn’t turn out to be “Disney perfect.”  So many mothers want to believe that if they just “do the right things” with their children, their lives will be Disney-perfect and their children will all “say no to drugs,” graduate from high school on the honor roll and gain entrance into Harvard.\n\nThen life happens and we as mothers, and our children, as, well . . .  children, turns out to be less than Disney-perfect.  And your other mother friends look at your life and try to decide where you went wrong.  Hoping that if they can figure that out, and avoid your mistakes, they can continue to live Disney-perfect lives, with Disney-perfect children.\n\nWe all know how important our roles as mothers are.  And we don’t want our children messed up by our mistakes.  We want to do this motherhood thing perfectly, because we love our children and want the very best for them.  And the best is perfection, right?\n\nAccording to the reports on drug and alcohol abuse among supermoms, mothers often turn to “uppers” to avoid post-partum depression and then fall into the pattern of taking  prescription drugs. They even call them “mother’s little helpers” -  uppers in the morning to energize themselves and downers in the evenings to calm themselves down.\n\nHow many of us mothers keep up the illussion that our lives and our children are perfect?  So we don’t have to face the criticism of our friends or neighbors or family, when we fail.','Supermoms are Stress-Out, Use Alcohol, Drugs','','inherit','open','open','','554-revision','','','2011-11-08 13:23:20','2011-11-08 18:23:20','',554,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/08/554-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(556,2,'2011-11-08 13:33:05','2011-11-08 18:33:05','How many mothers go into motherhood, expecting themselves and their children to be perfect, wanting the perfect motherhood experience?  According to recent news reports, when motherhood proves to be less than perfect, moms turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the disappointment of failed expectations.\n\nI had a long talk last week with a young mother who talked about the pressure to live her life as a “Disney-perfect Mom.”  And how critical other mothers can be when your life doesn’t turn out to be “Disney perfect.”  So many mothers want to believe that if they just “do the right things” with their children, their lives will be Disney-perfect and their children will all “say no to drugs,” graduate from high school as valedictorian and gain entrance into Harvard.\n\nThen life happens and we as mothers, and our children, as, well . . .  children, turns out to be less than Disney-perfect.  And your other mother friends look at your life and try to decide where you went wrong.  Hoping that if they can figure that out, and avoid your mistakes, they can continue to live Disney-perfect lives, with Disney-perfect children.\n\nAccording to the reports on drug and alcohol abuse among supermoms, mothers often turn to “uppers” to avoid postpartum depression and then fall into the pattern of taking  prescription drugs. They even call them “mother’s little helpers” -  uppers in the morning to energize yourself and downers in the evenings to calm yourself down.\n\nWe all know how important our roles as mothers are.  And we don’t want our children messed up by our mistakes.  We want to do this motherhood thing perfectly, because we love our children and want the very best for them.  And the best is perfection, right?\n\nHow many of us mothers keep up the illusion that our lives and our children are perfect?  So we don’t have to face the criticism of our friends or neighbors or family, when we fail.\n\nWhen the best for our children is NOT perfection, but honesty and','Supermoms are Stress-Out, Use Alcohol, Drugs','','inherit','open','open','','554-revision-2','','','2011-11-08 13:33:05','2011-11-08 18:33:05','',554,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/08/554-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(557,2,'2011-11-08 13:34:43','2011-11-08 18:34:43','How many mothers go into motherhood, expecting themselves and their children to be perfect, wanting the perfect motherhood experience?  According to recent news reports, when motherhood proves to be less than perfect, moms turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the disappointment of failed expectations.\r\n\r\nI had a long talk last week with a young mother who talked about the pressure to live her life as a “Disney-perfect Mom.”  And how critical other mothers can be when your life doesn’t turn out to be “Disney perfect.”  So many mothers want to believe that if they just “do the right things” with their children, their lives will be Disney-perfect and their children will all “say no to drugs,” graduate from high school as valedictorian and gain entrance into Harvard.\r\n\r\nThen life happens and we as mothers, and our children, as, well . . .  children, turns out to be less than Disney-perfect.  And your other mother friends look at your life and try to decide where you went wrong.  Hoping that if they can figure that out, and avoid your mistakes, they can continue to live Disney-perfect lives, with Disney-perfect children.\r\n\r\nAccording to the reports on drug and alcohol abuse among supermoms, mothers often turn to “uppers” to avoid postpartum depression and then fall into the pattern of taking  prescription drugs. They even call them “mother’s little helpers” -  uppers in the morning to energize yourself and downers in the evenings to calm yourself down.\r\n\r\nWe all know how important our roles as mothers are.  And we don’t want our children messed up by our mistakes.  We want to do this motherhood thing perfectly, because we love our children and want the very best for them.  And the best is perfection, right?\r\n\r\nHow many of us mothers keep up the illusion that our lives and our children are perfect?  So we don’t have to face the criticism of our friends or neighbors or family, when we fail.\r\n\r\nWhen the best for our children is NOT perfection, but honesty and','Supermoms are Stress-Out, Use Alcohol, Drugs','','inherit','open','open','','554-revision-3','','','2011-11-08 13:34:43','2011-11-08 18:34:43','',554,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/08/554-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(558,2,'2011-11-08 22:15:14','2011-11-09 03:15:14','','MattHSGrad','Matthew, Gregg and Debi at Matthew\'s high school graduation, 1999','inherit','open','open','','matthsgrad','','','2011-11-08 22:15:14','2011-11-09 03:15:14','',554,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MattHSGrad.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(559,2,'2011-11-08 22:30:17','2011-11-09 03:30:17','','MicahTimAndrewIchthus','Micah, Tim and our Andrew, goofing off at Ichthus, a music festival','inherit','open','open','','micahtimandrewichthus','','','2011-11-08 22:30:17','2011-11-09 03:30:17','',554,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MicahTimAndrewIchthus.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(560,2,'2011-11-08 22:32:26','2011-11-09 03:32:26','How many mothers go into motherhood, expecting themselves and their children to be perfect, wanting the perfect motherhood experience?  According to recent news reports, when motherhood proves to be less than perfect, moms turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the disappointment of failed expectations.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-258 \" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"175\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI had a long talk last week with a young mother who talked about the pressure to live her life as a “Disney-perfect Mom.”  And how critical other mothers can be when your life doesn’t turn out to be “Disney perfect.”  So many mothers want to believe that if they just do the right things, follow the right advice with their children, their lives will be Disney-perfect and their children will all “say no to drugs,” graduate from high school as valedictorians - or at least salutatorians - and gain entrance into Harvard.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_558\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Matthew, Gregg and Debi at Matthew&#39;s high school graduation, 1999\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MattHSGrad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-558 \" title=\"MattHSGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MattHSGrad-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen life happens and we as mothers, and our children, as, well . . .  children, turns out to be less than Disney-perfect.  And your other mother-friends look at your life and try to decide where you went wrong.  Hoping that if they can figure that out, and avoid your mistakes, they can continue to live Disney-perfect lives, with Disney-perfect children.\n\nAccording to the reports on drug and alcohol abuse among supermoms, mothers often turn to “uppers” to avoid postpartum depression and then fall into the pattern of taking  prescription drugs. They even call them “mother’s little helpers” -  uppers in the morning to energize yourself and downers in the evenings to calm yourself down.\n\nWe all know how important our roles as mothers are.  And we don’t want our children messed up by our mistakes.  We want to do this motherhood thing perfectly, because we love our children and want the very best for them.  And the best is perfection, right?\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_559\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Micah, Tim and our Andrew, goofing off at Ichthus, a music festival\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MicahTimAndrewIchthus.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-559 \" title=\"MicahTimAndrewIchthus\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MicahTimAndrewIchthus-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"169\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nHow many of us mothers keep up the illusion that our lives and our children are perfect? That we manage to have it all: the children and the career; the spotless house and the PTO presidency.  So we don’t have to face the criticism of our friends or neighbors or family, when we fail.\n\nAs a young mother, I read something by Dr. James Dobson, saying that one of the most unkind things young mothers do to each other is to hurry around and pick up and clean their houses before another mother came over.  Not presenting an honest picture of ourselves or our lives to each other.\n\nThe result is a comparative performance stress where we all look at each other and think that other moms are handling the pressures of motherhood better than we are.  And we end up feeling inadequate, in what we know to be the most important job of our lives.\n\nWhat is best for our children is NOT perfection, but the honest sharing of our struggles and our shortcomings.  \"Nobody gets to be perfect,\" I told my children when they were small. \"Mama isn\'t perfect.  Daddy isn\'t perfect. You don\'t get to be perfect. Only Jesus was perfect.\"\n\nRather than the uppers and downers or alcohol to numb the disappointment of being less than perfect, we can just embrace our imperfections.  And find friends who are also imperfect - and with whom we can be honest about that.\n\nBecause nobody gets to be perfect.','Supermoms are Stress-Out, Use Alcohol, Drugs','','inherit','open','open','','554-revision-4','','','2011-11-08 22:32:26','2011-11-09 03:32:26','',554,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/08/554-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(561,2,'2011-11-08 22:33:02','2011-11-09 03:33:02','How many mothers go into motherhood, expecting themselves and their children to be perfect, wanting the perfect motherhood experience?  According to recent news reports, when motherhood proves to be less than perfect, moms turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the disappointment of failed expectations.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-258 \" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"175\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI had a long talk last week with a young mother who talked about the pressure to live her life as a “Disney-perfect Mom.”  And how critical other mothers can be when your life doesn’t turn out to be “Disney perfect.”  So many mothers want to believe that if they just do the right things, follow the right advice with their children, their lives will be Disney-perfect and their children will all “say no to drugs,” graduate from high school as valedictorians - or at least salutatorians - and gain entrance into Harvard.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_558\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Matthew, Gregg and Debi at Matthew&#39;s high school graduation, 1999\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MattHSGrad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-558 \" title=\"MattHSGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MattHSGrad-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen life happens and we as mothers, and our children, as, well . . .  children, turns out to be less than Disney-perfect.  And your other mother-friends look at your life and try to decide where you went wrong.  Hoping that if they can figure that out, and avoid your mistakes, they can continue to live Disney-perfect lives, with Disney-perfect children.\r\n\r\nAccording to the reports on drug and alcohol abuse among supermoms, mothers often turn to “uppers” to avoid postpartum depression and then fall into the pattern of taking  prescription drugs. They even call them “mother’s little helpers” -  uppers in the morning to energize yourself and downers in the evenings to calm yourself down.\r\n\r\nWe all know how important our roles as mothers are.  And we don’t want our children messed up by our mistakes.  We want to do this motherhood thing perfectly, because we love our children and want the very best for them.  And the best is perfection, right?\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_559\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Micah, Tim and our Andrew, goofing off at Ichthus, a music festival\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MicahTimAndrewIchthus.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-559 \" title=\"MicahTimAndrewIchthus\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MicahTimAndrewIchthus-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"169\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHow many of us mothers keep up the illusion that our lives and our children are perfect? That we manage to have it all: the children and the career; the spotless house and the PTO presidency.  So we don’t have to face the criticism of our friends or neighbors or family, when we fail.\r\n\r\nAs a young mother, I read something by Dr. James Dobson, saying that one of the most unkind things young mothers do to each other is to hurry around and pick up and clean their houses before another mother came over.  Not presenting an honest picture of ourselves or our lives to each other.\r\n\r\nThe result is a comparative performance stress where we all look at each other and think that other moms are handling the pressures of motherhood better than we are.  And we end up feeling inadequate, in what we know to be the most important job of our lives.\r\n\r\nWhat is best for our children is NOT perfection, but the honest sharing of our struggles and our shortcomings.  \"Nobody gets to be perfect,\" I told my children when they were small. \"Mama isn\'t perfect.  Daddy isn\'t perfect. You don\'t get to be perfect. Only Jesus was perfect.\"\r\n\r\nRather than the uppers and downers or alcohol to numb the disappointment of being less than perfect, we can just embrace our imperfections.  And find friends who are also imperfect - and with whom we can be honest about that.\r\n\r\nBecause nobody gets to be perfect.','Supermoms are Stress-Out, Use Alcohol, Drugs','','inherit','open','open','','554-revision-5','','','2011-11-08 22:33:02','2011-11-09 03:33:02','',554,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/08/554-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(562,2,'2011-11-08 22:36:32','2011-11-09 03:36:32','How many mothers go into motherhood, expecting themselves and their children to be perfect, wanting the perfect motherhood experience?  According to recent news reports, when motherhood proves to be less than perfect, moms turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the disappointment of failed expectations.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-258 \" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"175\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI had a long talk last week with a young mother who talked about the pressure to live her life as a “Disney-perfect Mom.”  And how critical other mothers can be when your life doesn’t turn out to be “Disney perfect.”  So many mothers want to believe that if they just do the right things, follow the right advice with their children, their lives will be Disney-perfect and their children will all “say no to drugs,” graduate from high school as valedictorians - or at least salutatorians - and gain entrance into Harvard.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_558\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Matthew, Gregg and Debi at Matthew&#39;s high school graduation, 1999\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MattHSGrad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-558 \" title=\"MattHSGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MattHSGrad-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen life happens and we as mothers, and our children, as, well . . .  children, turns out to be less than Disney-perfect.  And your other mother-friends look at your life and try to decide where you went wrong.  Hoping that if they can figure that out, and avoid your mistakes, they can continue to live Disney-perfect lives, with Disney-perfect children.\r\n\r\nAccording to the reports on drug and alcohol abuse among supermoms, mothers often turn to “uppers” to avoid postpartum depression and then fall into the pattern of taking  prescription drugs. They even call them “mother’s little helpers” -  uppers in the morning to energize yourself and downers in the evenings to calm yourself down.\r\n\r\nWe all know how important our roles as mothers are.  And we don’t want our children messed up by our mistakes.  We want to do this motherhood thing perfectly, because we love our children and want the very best for them.  And the best is perfection, right?\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_559\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Micah, Tim and our Andrew, goofing off at Ichthus, a music festival\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MicahTimAndrewIchthus.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-559 \" title=\"MicahTimAndrewIchthus\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MicahTimAndrewIchthus-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"169\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHow many of us mothers keep up the illusion that our lives and our children are perfect? That we manage to have it all: the children and the career; the spotless house and the PTO presidency.  So we don’t have to face the criticism of our friends or neighbors or family, when we fail.\r\n\r\nAs a young mother, I read something by Dr. James Dobson, saying that one of the most unkind things young mothers do to each other is to hurry around and pick up and clean their houses before another mother came over.  Not presenting an honest picture of ourselves or our lives to each other.\r\n\r\nThe result is a comparative performance stress where we all look at each other and think that other moms are handling the pressures of motherhood better than we are.  And we end up feeling inadequate, in what we know to be the most important job of our lives.\r\n\r\nWhat is best for our children is NOT perfection, but the honest sharing of our struggles and our shortcomings.  \"Nobody gets to be perfect,\" I told my children when they were small. \"Mama isn\'t perfect.  Daddy isn\'t perfect. You don\'t get to be perfect. Only Jesus was perfect.\"\r\n\r\nRather than the uppers and downers or alcohol to numb the disappointment of being less than perfect, we can just embrace our imperfections.  And find friends who are also imperfect - and with whom we can be honest about that.\r\n\r\nBecause nobody gets to be perfect.','Supermoms are Stressed-Out, Use Alcohol, Drugs','','inherit','open','open','','554-revision-6','','','2011-11-08 22:36:32','2011-11-09 03:36:32','',554,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/08/554-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(563,2,'2011-11-09 08:17:43','2011-11-09 13:17:43','How many mothers go into motherhood, expecting themselves and their children to be perfect, wanting the perfect motherhood experience?  <a title=\"stressed_out_supermoms\" href=\"http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_19249002\" target=\"_blank\">According to recent news reports</a>, when motherhood proves to be less than perfect, moms turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the disappointment of failed expectations.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-258 \" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"175\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI had a long talk last week with a young mother who talked about the pressure to live her life as a “Disney-perfect Mom.”  And how critical other mothers can be when your life doesn’t turn out to be “Disney perfect.”  So many mothers want to believe that if they just do the right things, follow the right advice with their children, their lives will be Disney-perfect and their children will all “say no to drugs,” graduate from high school as valedictorians - or at least salutatorians - and gain entrance into Harvard.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_558\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Matthew, Gregg and Debi at Matthew&#39;s high school graduation, 1999\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MattHSGrad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-558 \" title=\"MattHSGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MattHSGrad-300x186.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen life happens and we as mothers, and our children, as, well . . .  children, turns out to be less than Disney-perfect.  And your other mother-friends look at your life and try to decide where you went wrong.  Hoping that if they can figure that out, and avoid your mistakes, they can continue to live Disney-perfect lives, with Disney-perfect children.\n\nAccording to the reports on drug and alcohol abuse among supermoms, mothers often turn to “uppers” to avoid postpartum depression and then fall into the pattern of taking  prescription drugs. They even call them “mother’s little helpers” -  uppers in the morning to energize yourself and downers in the evenings to calm yourself down.\n\nWe all know how important our roles as mothers are.  And we don’t want our children messed up by our mistakes.  We want to do this motherhood thing perfectly, because we love our children and want the very best for them.  And the best is perfection, right?\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_559\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Micah, Tim and our Andrew, goofing off at Ichthus, a music festival\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MicahTimAndrewIchthus.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-559 \" title=\"MicahTimAndrewIchthus\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MicahTimAndrewIchthus-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"169\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nHow many of us mothers keep up the illusion that our lives and our children are perfect? That we manage to have it all: the children and the career; the spotless house and the PTO presidency.  So we don’t have to face the criticism of our friends or neighbors or family, when we fail.\n\nAs a young mother, I read something by Dr. James Dobson, saying that one of the most unkind things young mothers do to each other is to hurry around and pick up and clean their houses before another mother came over.  Not presenting an honest picture of ourselves or our lives to each other.\n\nThe result is a comparative performance stress where we all look at each other and think that other moms are handling the pressures of motherhood better than we are.  And we end up feeling inadequate, in what we know to be the most important job of our lives.\n\nWhat is best for our children is NOT perfection, but the honest sharing of our struggles and our shortcomings.  \"Nobody gets to be perfect,\" I told my children when they were small. \"Mama isn\'t perfect.  Daddy isn\'t perfect. You don\'t get to be perfect. Only Jesus was perfect.\"\n\nRather than the uppers and downers or alcohol to numb the disappointment of being less than perfect, we can just embrace our imperfections.  And find friends who are also imperfect - and with whom we can be honest about that.\n\nBecause nobody gets to be perfect.','Supermoms are Stressed-Out, Use Alcohol, Drugs','','inherit','open','open','','554-autosave','','','2011-11-09 08:17:43','2011-11-09 13:17:43','',554,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/09/554-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(564,2,'2011-11-12 15:18:21','2011-11-12 20:18:21','If doesn\'t matter if you are a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) or a mother with two careers, ALL moms feel judged by how clean - or how messy - their house is.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"407\" caption=\"Benjamin, Debi and Jonathan, in our breakfast room\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenDebiJon.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-567\" title=\"BenDebiJon\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenDebiJon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"407\" height=\"323\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nA new survey, on 3,700 mothers across the nation, by <a title=\"All_moms_have_messy_houses\" href=\"http://www.workingmother.com/research-institute/what-moms-choose-working-mother-report\" target=\"_blank\">Working Mother Research Institute and Ernst and Young</a>, shows that 55 percent of working moms and 44 percent of stay-at-home moms feel guilty about how messy their houses are.\r\n\r\nAnd, most of us worry that other moms judge us for how dirty our houses are - 42 percent of working mothers and 35 percent of SAH moms.\r\n\r\nWhy are we so overwhelmed with the basics of housework?  And how did our mothers and grandmothers keep their houses as neat as we remember them? Mama Shaw, my paternal grandmother, was said to have kept her house so clean, \"you could eat off the floor.\"\r\n\r\n<em>Generations of women have kept their houses tidy</em>, we think. <em>Why can\'t I?</em>  And that thought makes us feel inadequate as mothers.\r\n\r\nWhen my children were small, while working on the book, <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress</span></em>, I came across the book, <a title=\"More_Work_For_Mother\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/More-Work-Mother-Household-Technology/dp/0465047327/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1321126184&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>More Work for Mother</em></span></a>, by Ruth Schwartz Cowan. That book, reporting on an in-depth survey of housework since the 1600s, helped me change my view of the housework I faced each day.\r\n\r\nAs I wrote in <a title=\"Motherhood_Stress\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1321126306&amp;sr=1-1-spell\" target=\"_blank\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress</span></em></a>:\r\n\r\nLong gone are the days of cooking with wood fires, scrubbing floors with homemade lye soap, and laundering clothes by hand with washboards in tubs of water drawn by the bucketful from a well or spring. Most mother today find it nearly impossible to imagine how our grandmothers and great-grandmothers coped in the days before self-cleaning ovens, vacuum cleaners and permanent press clothing.  At least housework is simpler, faster and less stressful today, right?\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_568\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Even now, with only Gregg and me at home, I struggle with the laundry.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/laundryhamper.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-568\" title=\"laundryhamper\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/laundryhamper-300x245.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"245\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNot necessarily. The vast majority of cultural changes and technological improvements in all three major areas of housework - cooking, cleaning and laundry - have had two results. They have either (1) raised expectations and standards to a level unimaginable to women of previous generations, or (2) shifted responsibilities from others onto mothers.\r\n\r\nTake cooking for example. Where men hunted and helped raise the food for the family table in the past, women today purchase most food. At the same time, while kitchen appliances, frozen foods, and instant mixes have made meal preparation \"simple.\" the recipes we attempt are more complicated and the food we serve is more varied than anything our grandmothers imagined.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_471\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Potato soup served with sour cream, cheddar cheese, grapes and bread\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-471\" title=\"SoupDone\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone-300x248.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"248\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAccording to the <a href=\"http://www.workingmother.com/special-reports/what-moms-choose-stay-home-or-work\">survey by Working Mother Research Institute</a>:\r\n\r\n<em>Working mothers feel most judged about:</em>\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li><strong>How clean my house is</strong></li>\r\n	<li>Not taking care of myself</li>\r\n	<li>The amount of time I spend with my children</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<em>Stay-at-home mothers feel most judged about:</em>\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>My contribution to family finances</li>\r\n	<li><strong>How clean my house is</strong></li>\r\n	<li>Not using my education</li>\r\n</ol>','We ALL Worry About Our Messy Houses','','publish','open','open','','we-all-worry-about-our-messy-houses','','','2011-11-12 15:36:07','2011-11-12 20:36:07','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=564',0,'post','',0),