(565,2,'2011-11-11 20:50:49','2011-11-12 01:50:49','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.\n\nA <a href=\"http://www.workingmother.com/special-reports/what-moms-choose-stay-home-or-work\">report</a>, by the <a href=\"http://www.workingmother.com/research/2010/10/working-mother-media-research-institute\">Working Mother Research Institute </a>and Ernst &amp; Young, surveyed 3,700 mothers nationwide on their work and family decisions.\n\nAccording to the <a href=\"http://www.workingmother.com/special-reports/what-moms-choose-stay-home-or-work\">survey</a>:\n\n<em>Working mothers feel most judged about:</em>\n<ol>\n	<li><strong>How clean my house is</strong></li>\n	<li>Not taking care of myself</li>\n	<li>The amount of time I spend with my children</li>\n</ol>\n<em>Stay-at-home mothers feel most judged about:</em>\n<ol>\n	<li>My contribution to family finances</li>\n	<li><strong>How clean my house is</strong></li>\n	<li>Not using my education</li>\n</ol>','We ALL Worry About Our Messy Houses','','inherit','open','open','','564-revision','','','2011-11-11 20:50:49','2011-11-12 01:50:49','',564,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/11/564-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(566,2,'2011-11-12 14:33:58','2011-11-12 19:33:58','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.\n\nA new survery, on 3,70 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.\n\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.\n\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.\"\n\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.\n\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.\n\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>:\n\nLong one 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 cope in the days before self-cleaning ovens, vacuum cleaners and permanent press clothing.  At least housework is simpler, faster and less stressful today, right?\n\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 heave either (1) raised expectations and standards to a level unimaginable to women of previous generations, or (2) shifted responsibilities from others onto mothers.\n\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.\n\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>:\n\n<em>Working mothers feel most judged about:</em>\n<ol>\n	<li><strong>How clean my house is</strong></li>\n	<li>Not taking care of myself</li>\n	<li>The amount of time I spend with my children</li>\n</ol>\n<em>Stay-at-home mothers feel most judged about:</em>\n<ol>\n	<li>My contribution to family finances</li>\n	<li><strong>How clean my house is</strong></li>\n	<li>Not using my education</li>\n</ol>','We ALL Worry About Our Messy Houses','','inherit','open','open','','564-revision-2','','','2011-11-12 14:33:58','2011-11-12 19:33:58','',564,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/12/564-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(567,2,'2011-11-12 14:44:42','2011-11-12 19:44:42','','BenDebiJon','Benjamin, Debi and Jonathan, in our breakfast room','inherit','open','open','','bendebijon','','','2011-11-12 14:44:42','2011-11-12 19:44:42','',564,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenDebiJon.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(568,2,'2011-11-12 15:10:43','2011-11-12 20:10:43','','laundryhamper','Even now, with only Gregg and me at home, I stuggle with the laundry.','inherit','open','open','','laundryhamper','','','2011-11-12 15:10:43','2011-11-12 20:10:43','',564,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/laundryhamper.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(569,2,'2011-11-12 15:12:36','2011-11-12 20:12:36','','BenjDebiJonFeatured','','inherit','open','open','','benjdebijonfeatured','','','2011-11-12 15:12:36','2011-11-12 20:12:36','',564,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjDebiJonFeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(570,2,'2011-11-12 15:13:36','2011-11-12 20:13:36','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.\n\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]\n\nA new survery, on 3,70 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.\n\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.\n\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.\"\n\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.\n\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.\n\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>:\n\nLong one 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 cope in the days before self-cleaning ovens, vacuum cleaners and permanent press clothing.  At least housework is simpler, faster and less stressful today, right?\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_568\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Even now, with only Gregg and me at home, I stuggle 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]\n\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 heave either (1) raised expectations and standards to a level unimaginable to women of previous generations, or (2) shifted responsibilities from others onto mothers.\n\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.\n\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>:\n\n<em>Working mothers feel most judged about:</em>\n<ol>\n	<li><strong>How clean my house is</strong></li>\n	<li>Not taking care of myself</li>\n	<li>The amount of time I spend with my children</li>\n</ol>\n<em>Stay-at-home mothers feel most judged about:</em>\n<ol>\n	<li>My contribution to family finances</li>\n	<li><strong>How clean my house is</strong></li>\n	<li>Not using my education</li>\n</ol>','We ALL Worry About Our Messy Houses','','inherit','open','open','','564-revision-3','','','2011-11-12 15:13:36','2011-11-12 20:13:36','',564,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/12/564-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(572,2,'2011-11-12 15:17:46','2011-11-12 20:17:46','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.\n\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]\n\nA new survey, on 3,70 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.\n\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.\n\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.\"\n\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.\n\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.\n\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>:\n\nLong one 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 cope in the days before self-cleaning ovens, vacuum cleaners and permanent press clothing.  At least housework is simpler, faster and less stressful today, right?\n\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]\n\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.\n\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.\n\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>:\n\n<em>Working mothers feel most judged about:</em>\n<ol>\n	<li><strong>How clean my house is</strong></li>\n	<li>Not taking care of myself</li>\n	<li>The amount of time I spend with my children</li>\n</ol>\n<em>Stay-at-home mothers feel most judged about:</em>\n<ol>\n	<li>My contribution to family finances</li>\n	<li><strong>How clean my house is</strong></li>\n	<li>Not using my education</li>\n</ol>','We ALL Worry About Our Messy Houses','','inherit','open','open','','564-revision-5','','','2011-11-12 15:17:46','2011-11-12 20:17:46','',564,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/12/564-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(571,2,'2011-11-12 15:13:40','2011-11-12 20:13:40','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 survery, on 3,70 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 one 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 cope 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 stuggle 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 heave 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\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','','inherit','open','open','','564-revision-4','','','2011-11-12 15:13:40','2011-11-12 20:13:40','',564,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/12/564-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(573,2,'2011-11-12 15:34:48','2011-11-12 20:34:48','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.\n\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]\n\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.\n\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.\n\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.\"\n\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.\n\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.\n\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>:\n\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?\n\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]\n\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.\n\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.\n\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>:\n\n<em>Working mothers feel most judged about:</em>\n<ol>\n	<li><strong>How clean my house is</strong></li>\n	<li>Not taking care of myself</li>\n	<li>The amount of time I spend with my children</li>\n</ol>\n<em>Stay-at-home mothers feel most judged about:</em>\n<ol>\n	<li>My contribution to family finances</li>\n	<li><strong>How clean my house is</strong></li>\n	<li>Not using my education</li>\n</ol>','We ALL Worry About Our Messy Houses','','inherit','open','open','','564-autosave','','','2011-11-12 15:34:48','2011-11-12 20:34:48','',564,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/12/564-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(574,2,'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 3,70 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 one 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 cope 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\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','','inherit','open','open','','564-revision-6','','','2011-11-12 15:18:21','2011-11-12 20:18:21','',564,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/12/564-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(575,2,'2011-11-12 15:25:41','2011-11-12 20:25:41','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 3,70 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 one 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 cope 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\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','','inherit','open','open','','564-revision-7','','','2011-11-12 15:25:41','2011-11-12 20:25:41','',564,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/12/564-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(577,2,'2011-11-13 18:17:58','2011-11-13 23:17:58','','GlobalCafeLisette','','inherit','open','open','','globalcafelisette','','','2011-11-13 18:17:58','2011-11-13 23:17:58','',576,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(578,2,'2011-11-13 18:23:34','2011-11-13 23:23:34','<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-577\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"320\" /></a>\n\nOur daughter Lisette spent two years in Africa, teaching the children of American missionaries, mostly doctors and nurses at Tenwek Hospital, in Bomet, Kenya. She has been back in the States for 3 years, working as an art teacher as Lexington Christian Academy in Lexington, Kentucky.  She plans to return to Kenya next Fall.\n\nShe is speaking tonight, in Wilmore, Kentucky, about her years in Kenya and her plans to return.  How I wish I could be there ande hear her tongi','','','inherit','open','open','','576-revision','','','2011-11-13 18:23:34','2011-11-13 23:23:34','',576,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/13/576-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(579,2,'2011-11-13 18:29:02','2011-11-13 23:29:02','<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-577\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"320\" /></a>\n\nOur daughter Lisette spent two years in Africa, teaching the children of American missionaries, mostly doctors and nurses at Tenwek Hospital, in Bomet, Kenya. She has been back in the States for 3 years, working as an art teacher as Lexington Christian Academy in Lexington, Kentucky.  She plans to return to Kenya next Fall.\n\nShe is speaking tonight, in Wilmore, Kentucky, about her years in Kenya and her plans to return.  How I wish I could be there and hear her tonight!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_524\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, with 3 of her brothers, when she was 3 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewMattLisetteBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-524\" title=\"AndrewMattLisetteBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewMattLisetteBenj-300x132.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"132\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_549\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" 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-medium wp-image-549\" title=\"JonAndrewGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JonAndrewGrad-300x152.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"152\" /></a>[/caption]','My Precious Daughter, Teacher, Missionary, Fearless ','','inherit','open','open','','576-revision-2','','','2011-11-13 18:29:02','2011-11-13 23:29:02','',576,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/13/576-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(580,2,'2011-11-13 18:29:14','2011-11-13 23:29:14','<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-577\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"320\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOur daughter Lisette spent two years in Africa, teaching the children of American missionaries, mostly doctors and nurses at Tenwek Hospital, in Bomet, Kenya. She has been back in the States for 3 years, working as an art teacher as Lexington Christian Academy in Lexington, Kentucky.  She plans to return to Kenya next Fall.\r\n\r\nShe is speaking tonight, in Wilmore, Kentucky, about her years in Kenya and her plans to return.  How I wish I could be there and hear her tonight!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_524\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, with 3 of her brothers, when she was 3 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewMattLisetteBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-524\" title=\"AndrewMattLisetteBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewMattLisetteBenj-300x132.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"132\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_549\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" 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-medium wp-image-549\" title=\"JonAndrewGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JonAndrewGrad-300x152.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"152\" /></a>[/caption]','My Precious Daughter, Teacher, Missionary, Fearless Adventurer','','inherit','open','open','','576-revision-3','','','2011-11-13 18:29:14','2011-11-13 23:29:14','',576,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/13/576-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(581,2,'2011-11-13 18:34:53','2011-11-13 23:34:53','','GlobalCafeLisette_2','','inherit','open','open','','globalcafelisette_2','','','2011-11-13 18:34:53','2011-11-13 23:34:53','',576,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(582,2,'2011-11-13 18:31:30','2011-11-13 23:31:30','<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-577\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"320\" /></a>\n\nOur daughter Lisette spent two years in Africa, teaching the children of American missionaries, mostly doctors and nurses at Tenwek Hospital, in Bomet, Kenya. She has been back in the States for 3 years, working as an art teacher as Lexington Christian Academy in Lexington, Kentucky.  She plans to return to Kenya next Fall.\n\nShe is speaking tonight, in Wilmore, Kentucky, about her years in Kenya and her plans to return.  How I wish I could be there and hear her tonight!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_524\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, with 3 of her brothers, when she was 3 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewMattLisetteBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-524\" title=\"AndrewMattLisetteBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewMattLisetteBenj-300x132.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"132\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_549\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" 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-medium wp-image-549\" title=\"JonAndrewGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JonAndrewGrad-300x152.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"152\" /></a>[/caption]','My Precious Daughter, Teacher, Missionary, Fearless Adventurer','','inherit','open','open','','576-revision-4','','','2011-11-13 18:31:30','2011-11-13 23:31:30','',576,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/13/576-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(583,2,'2011-11-13 18:35:42','2011-11-13 23:35:42','<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-577\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"320\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOur daughter Lisette spent two years in Africa, teaching the children of American missionaries, mostly doctors and nurses at Tenwek Hospital, in Bomet, Kenya. She has been back in the States for 3 years, working as an art teacher as Lexington Christian Academy in Lexington, Kentucky.  She plans to return to Kenya next Fall.\r\n\r\nShe is speaking tonight, in Wilmore, Kentucky, about her years in Kenya and her plans to return.  How I wish I could be there and hear her tonight!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_524\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, with 3 of her brothers, when she was 3 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewMattLisetteBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-524\" title=\"AndrewMattLisetteBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewMattLisetteBenj-300x132.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"132\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_549\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" 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-medium wp-image-549\" title=\"JonAndrewGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JonAndrewGrad-300x152.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"152\" /></a>[/caption]','My Precious Daughter, Teacher, Missionary, Fearless Adventurer','','inherit','open','open','','576-revision-5','','','2011-11-13 18:35:42','2011-11-13 23:35:42','',576,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/13/576-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(584,2,'2011-11-13 18:39:33','2011-11-13 23:39:33','','GlobalCafeLisette_2','','inherit','open','open','','globalcafelisette_2-2','','','2011-11-13 18:39:33','2011-11-13 23:39:33','',576,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette_21.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(585,2,'2011-11-13 18:35:57','2011-11-13 23:35:57','<p><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-577\" title=\"GlobalCafeLisette\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GlobalCafeLisette.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"320\" /></a></p>\r\n<p>Our daughter Lisette spent two years in Africa, teaching the children of American missionaries, mostly doctors and nurses at Tenwek Hospital, in Bomet, Kenya. She has been back in the States for 3 years, working as an art teacher as Lexington Christian Academy in Lexington, Kentucky.  She plans to return to Kenya next Fall.</p>\r\n<p>She is speaking tonight, in Wilmore, Kentucky, about her years in Kenya and her plans to return.  How I wish I could be there and hear her tonight!</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_524\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, with 3 of her brothers, when she was 3 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewMattLisetteBenj.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-524\" title=\"AndrewMattLisetteBenj\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AndrewMattLisetteBenj-300x132.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"132\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_549\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" 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-medium wp-image-549\" title=\"JonAndrewGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JonAndrewGrad-300x152.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"152\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n','My Precious Daughter, Teacher, Missionary, Fearless Adventurer','','inherit','open','open','','576-revision-6','','','2011-11-13 18:35:57','2011-11-13 23:35:57','',576,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/13/576-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(587,2,'2011-11-15 05:57:12','2011-11-15 10:57:12','Michelle Obama recently <a title=\"Michelle_Obama_motherhood\" href=\"http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/10/19/how-michelle-obama-tries-to-make-a-normal-life-for-her-kids/\" target=\"_blank\">talked to People magazine</a> about the challenges she faces as a mother -- trying to maintain a \"normal\" family life and raising two daughters in the national spotlight.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_589\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"179\" caption=\"Michelle Obama&#39;s official photograph\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michelle_Obama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-589 \" title=\"Michelle_Obama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michelle_Obama-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"179\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n“Like any mother, I am just hoping that I don’t mess them up,” the First Lady told People Magazine.\r\n\r\nMost mothers can relate to her concern, even if we can\'t imagine the added motherhood stress any mom would have to feel living such a public life.\r\n\r\nThe truth is, while none of the rest of us have to face the scrutiny of parenting in public that Michelle Obama does, we\'re all being watched and judged every day. By our friends who seem to have their mothering act all together.  By sisters whose careers are taking off, while we are just stay-at-home-mommies. By our mothers or mother-in-laws, who cannot seem to keep themselves from tidying up our houses when they visit.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_590\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"217\" caption=\"Benjamin and Jonathan on a Big Wheel - what a good big brother!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonBigWheel.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-590 \" title=\"BenjJonBigWheel\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonBigWheel.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"217\" height=\"312\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne day, when Benjamin was three years old, I found myself turtle-ing down the stairs at church behind him. We were talking about his day at <a title=\"PALS_at_Trinity\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/pals-mothers-morning-out\" target=\"_blank\">PALS, the mothers\' morning out preschool</a>, where I am currently the director. He would take one step down, stop and tell me something else about his day. Then slowly turn and take another step.\r\n\r\nI wanted to hear what he had to say. But I also desperately wanted to pick him up and get him down the stairs and head for home!\r\n\r\nWhen we reached the bottom of the stairs, we were greeted by the smiling face of Mrs. Hilda Candler, then the director of PALS. Hilda said, \"You seem like such a good mother. You are SO patient with Benjamin.\"\r\n\r\nWhat a blessing! Just a few words of encouragement, that helped me to focus on my strengths as a mother, rather than my shortcomings.  Even now, years later, I am grateful for the people, like Hilda, who found ways to encourage me, and so many other young mothers.\r\n\r\nThat memory reminds me that I, too, can make a difference in the lives of young mothers, by finding ways to point out their strengths as moms. In doing so, I hope to also ease that performance stress that mothers so often feel\r\n\r\nPerformance anxiety is one of the motherhood\'s most common and crippling stresses.  And we don\'t have to be Michelle Obama to feel it.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_591\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin stopping to look at me, as he was climbing on a playground\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playground.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-591\" title=\"Benjamin playground\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playground-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"211\" /></a>[/caption]','Motherhood Stress in the White House Spotlight','','publish','open','open','','motherhood-stress-in-the-white-house-spotlight','','','2011-11-15 06:01:30','2011-11-15 11:01:30','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=587',0,'post','',0),(588,2,'2011-11-15 05:32:33','2011-11-15 10:32:33','Michelle Obama recently <a title=\"Michelle_Obama_motherhood\" href=\"http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/10/19/how-michelle-obama-tries-to-make-a-normal-life-for-her-kids/\" target=\"_blank\">talked to People magazine</a> about the challenges she faces as a mother -- trying to maintain a \"normal\" family life and raising two daughters in the national spotlight.\n\n“Like any mother, I am just hoping that I don’t mess them up,” the First Lady told People Magazine.\n\nMost mothers can relate to her concern, even if we can\'t imagine the added motherhood stress any mom would have to feel living such a public life.\n\nThe truth is, while none of the rest of us have to face the scrutiny of parenting in public that Michelle Obama does, we\'re all being watched and judged every day. By our friends who seem to have their mothering act all together.  By sisters whose careers are taking off, while we are just stay-at-home-mommies. By our mothers or mother-in-laws, who cannot seem to keep themselves from tidying up our houses when they visit.\n\nOne day, when Benjamin was three years old,I found myself turtle-ing down the stairs at church behind him. We were talking about his day at PALS, the mothers\' morning out preschool, where I am currently the director. He would take one step down, stop and tell me something else about his day. Then slowly turn and take another step.\n\nI wanted to hear what he had to say. But I also desperately wanted to pick him up and get him down the stairs and head for home!\n\nWhen we reached the bottom of the stairs, we were greeted by the smiling face of Mrs. Hilda Candler, then the director of PALS. Hilda said, \"You seem like such a good mother. You are SO patient with Benjamin.\"\n\nWhat a blessing! Just a few words of encouragement, helping me to focus on my strengths as a mother, rather than my shortcomings.  Even now, years later, I am grateful for the people, like Hilda, who found ways to encourage me, and so many other young mothers.\n\nThat memory reminds me that I, too, can make a difference in the lives of young mothers, by finding ways to point out their strengths as moms. In doing so, I hope to also ease that performance stress that mothers so often feel\n\nThe performance anxiety that is one of the motherhood\'s most common and crippling stressors.  And we don\'t have to be Michelle Obama to feel it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“They’re terrific girls,” she says of daughters <strong>Malia</strong>, 13, and <strong>Sasha</strong>, 10. “They’re poised, and they’re kind, and they’re curious … But you have to carve out space and hold it sacred for them.”\n\n(and go on and use a short reprint from your MS chapter on advice, everybody knowing your job, or performance stress or whatever--it wouldn\'t hae to be long. And you could bring it full circle at the end and mention the White House or Michelle Obama or Spotlight again.) Could tag, Michelle Obama, White House, Motherhood Stress--bet you could get that article high on google.','Motherhood Stress in the White House Spotlight','','inherit','open','open','','587-revision','','','2011-11-15 05:32:33','2011-11-15 10:32:33','',587,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/15/587-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(589,2,'2011-11-15 05:37:07','2011-11-15 10:37:07','','Michelle_Obama','Michelle Obama\'s official photograph','inherit','open','open','','michelle_obama','','','2011-11-15 05:37:07','2011-11-15 10:37:07','',587,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michelle_Obama.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(590,2,'2011-11-15 05:47:21','2011-11-15 10:47:21','','BenjJonBigWheel','Benjamin and Jonathan on a Big Wheel - what a good big brother!','inherit','open','open','','benjjonbigwheel','','','2011-11-15 05:47:21','2011-11-15 10:47:21','',587,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonBigWheel.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(592,2,'2011-11-15 05:52:28','2011-11-15 10:52:28','Michelle Obama recently <a title=\"Michelle_Obama_motherhood\" href=\"http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/10/19/how-michelle-obama-tries-to-make-a-normal-life-for-her-kids/\" target=\"_blank\">talked to People magazine</a>about the challenges she faces as a mother -- trying to maintain a \"normal\" family life and raising two daughters in the national spotlight.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_589\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"224\" caption=\"Michelle Obama&#39;s official photograph\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michelle_Obama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-589\" title=\"Michelle_Obama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michelle_Obama-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n“Like any mother, I am just hoping that I don’t mess them up,” the First Lady told People Magazine.\n\nMost mothers can relate to her concern, even if we can\'t imagine the added motherhood stress any mom would have to feel living such a public life.\n\nThe truth is, while none of the rest of us have to face the scrutiny of parenting in public that Michelle Obama does, we\'re all being watched and judged every day. By our friends who seem to have their mothering act all together.  By sisters whose careers are taking off, while we are just stay-at-home-mommies. By our mothers or mother-in-laws, who cannot seem to keep themselves from tidying up our houses when they visit.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_590\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"217\" caption=\"Benjamin and Jonathan on a Big Wheel - what a good big brother!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonBigWheel.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-590 \" title=\"BenjJonBigWheel\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonBigWheel.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"217\" height=\"312\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOne day, when Benjamin was three years old,I found myself turtle-ing down the stairs at church behind him. We were talking about his day at PALS, the mothers\' morning out preschool, where I am currently the director. He would take one step down, stop and tell me something else about his day. Then slowly turn and take another step.\n\nI wanted to hear what he had to say. But I also desperately wanted to pick him up and get him down the stairs and head for home!\n\nWhen we reached the bottom of the stairs, we were greeted by the smiling face of Mrs. Hilda Candler, then the director of PALS. Hilda said, \"You seem like such a good mother. You are SO patient with Benjamin.\"\n\nWhat a blessing! Just a few words of encouragement, helping me to focus on my strengths as a mother, rather than my shortcomings.  Even now, years later, I am grateful for the people, like Hilda, who found ways to encourage me, and so many other young mothers.\n\nThat memory reminds me that I, too, can make a difference in the lives of young mothers, by finding ways to point out their strengths as moms. In doing so, I hope to also ease that performance stress that mothers so often feel\n\nPerformance anxiety is one of the motherhood\'s most common and crippling stressors.  And we don\'t have to be Michelle Obama to feel it.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_591\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin stopping to look at me, as he was climbing on a playground\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playground.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-591\" title=\"Benjamin playground\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playground-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"211\" /></a>[/caption]','Motherhood Stress in the White House Spotlight','','inherit','open','open','','587-revision-2','','','2011-11-15 05:52:28','2011-11-15 10:52:28','',587,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/15/587-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(591,2,'2011-11-15 05:51:32','2011-11-15 10:51:32','','Benjamin playground','Benjamin stopping to look at me, as he was climbing on a playground','inherit','open','open','','benjamin-playground','','','2011-11-15 05:51:32','2011-11-15 10:51:32','',587,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playground.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(593,2,'2011-11-15 05:57:00','2011-11-15 10:57:00','Michelle Obama recently <a title=\"Michelle_Obama_motherhood\" href=\"http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/10/19/how-michelle-obama-tries-to-make-a-normal-life-for-her-kids/\" target=\"_blank\">talked to People magazine</a>about the challenges she faces as a mother -- trying to maintain a \"normal\" family life and raising two daughters in the national spotlight.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_589\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"179\" caption=\"Michelle Obama&#39;s official photograph\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michelle_Obama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-589 \" title=\"Michelle_Obama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michelle_Obama-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"179\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n“Like any mother, I am just hoping that I don’t mess them up,” the First Lady told People Magazine.\n\nMost mothers can relate to her concern, even if we can\'t imagine the added motherhood stress any mom would have to feel living such a public life.\n\nThe truth is, while none of the rest of us have to face the scrutiny of parenting in public that Michelle Obama does, we\'re all being watched and judged every day. By our friends who seem to have their mothering act all together.  By sisters whose careers are taking off, while we are just stay-at-home-mommies. By our mothers or mother-in-laws, who cannot seem to keep themselves from tidying up our houses when they visit.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_590\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"217\" caption=\"Benjamin and Jonathan on a Big Wheel - what a good big brother!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonBigWheel.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-590 \" title=\"BenjJonBigWheel\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonBigWheel.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"217\" height=\"312\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOne day, when Benjamin was three years old,I found myself turtle-ing down the stairs at church behind him. We were talking about his day at <a title=\"PALS_at_Trinity\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/pals-mothers-morning-out\" target=\"_blank\">PALS, the mothers\' morning out preschool</a>, where I am currently the director. He would take one step down, stop and tell me something else about his day. Then slowly turn and take another step.\n\nI wanted to hear what he had to say. But I also desperately wanted to pick him up and get him down the stairs and head for home!\n\nWhen we reached the bottom of the stairs, we were greeted by the smiling face of Mrs. Hilda Candler, then the director of PALS. Hilda said, \"You seem like such a good mother. You are SO patient with Benjamin.\"\n\nWhat a blessing! Just a few words of encouragement, that helped me to focus on my strengths as a mother, rather than my shortcomings.  Even now, years later, I am grateful for the people, like Hilda, who found ways to encourage me, and so many other young mothers.\n\nThat memory reminds me that I, too, can make a difference in the lives of young mothers, by finding ways to point out their strengths as moms. In doing so, I hope to also ease that performance stress that mothers so often feel\n\nPerformance anxiety is one of the motherhood\'s most common and crippling stresses.  And we don\'t have to be Michelle Obama to feel it.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_591\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin stopping to look at me, as he was climbing on a playground\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playground.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-591\" title=\"Benjamin playground\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playground-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"211\" /></a>[/caption]','Motherhood Stress in the White House Spotlight','','inherit','open','open','','587-revision-3','','','2011-11-15 05:57:00','2011-11-15 10:57:00','',587,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/15/587-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(594,2,'2011-11-15 05:58:19','2011-11-15 10:58:19','','Benjamin playgroundfeatured','','inherit','open','open','','benjamin-playgroundfeatured','','','2011-11-15 05:58:19','2011-11-15 10:58:19','',587,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playgroundfeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(595,2,'2011-11-15 05:58:54','2011-11-15 10:58:54','Michelle Obama recently <a title=\"Michelle_Obama_motherhood\" href=\"http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/10/19/how-michelle-obama-tries-to-make-a-normal-life-for-her-kids/\" target=\"_blank\">talked to People magazine</a>about the challenges she faces as a mother -- trying to maintain a \"normal\" family life and raising two daughters in the national spotlight.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_589\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"179\" caption=\"Michelle Obama&#39;s official photograph\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michelle_Obama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-589 \" title=\"Michelle_Obama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michelle_Obama-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"179\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n“Like any mother, I am just hoping that I don’t mess them up,” the First Lady told People Magazine.\n\nMost mothers can relate to her concern, even if we can\'t imagine the added motherhood stress any mom would have to feel living such a public life.\n\nThe truth is, while none of the rest of us have to face the scrutiny of parenting in public that Michelle Obama does, we\'re all being watched and judged every day. By our friends who seem to have their mothering act all together.  By sisters whose careers are taking off, while we are just stay-at-home-mommies. By our mothers or mother-in-laws, who cannot seem to keep themselves from tidying up our houses when they visit.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_590\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"217\" caption=\"Benjamin and Jonathan on a Big Wheel - what a good big brother!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonBigWheel.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-590 \" title=\"BenjJonBigWheel\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonBigWheel.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"217\" height=\"312\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOne day, when Benjamin was three years old,I found myself turtle-ing down the stairs at church behind him. We were talking about his day at <a title=\"PALS_at_Trinity\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/pals-mothers-morning-out\" target=\"_blank\">PALS, the mothers\' morning out preschool</a>, where I am currently the director. He would take one step down, stop and tell me something else about his day. Then slowly turn and take another step.\n\nI wanted to hear what he had to say. But I also desperately wanted to pick him up and get him down the stairs and head for home!\n\nWhen we reached the bottom of the stairs, we were greeted by the smiling face of Mrs. Hilda Candler, then the director of PALS. Hilda said, \"You seem like such a good mother. You are SO patient with Benjamin.\"\n\nWhat a blessing! Just a few words of encouragement, that helped me to focus on my strengths as a mother, rather than my shortcomings.  Even now, years later, I am grateful for the people, like Hilda, who found ways to encourage me, and so many other young mothers.\n\nThat memory reminds me that I, too, can make a difference in the lives of young mothers, by finding ways to point out their strengths as moms. In doing so, I hope to also ease that performance stress that mothers so often feel\n\nPerformance anxiety is one of the motherhood\'s most common and crippling stresses.  And we don\'t have to be Michelle Obama to feel it.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_591\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin stopping to look at me, as he was climbing on a playground\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playground.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-591\" title=\"Benjamin playground\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playground-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"211\" /></a>[/caption]','Motherhood Stress in the White House Spotlight','','inherit','open','open','','587-autosave','','','2011-11-15 05:58:54','2011-11-15 10:58:54','',587,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/15/587-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(596,2,'2011-11-15 05:57:12','2011-11-15 10:57:12','Michelle Obama recently <a title=\"Michelle_Obama_motherhood\" href=\"http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/10/19/how-michelle-obama-tries-to-make-a-normal-life-for-her-kids/\" target=\"_blank\">talked to People magazine</a>about the challenges she faces as a mother -- trying to maintain a \"normal\" family life and raising two daughters in the national spotlight.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_589\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"179\" caption=\"Michelle Obama&#39;s official photograph\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michelle_Obama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-589 \" title=\"Michelle_Obama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michelle_Obama-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"179\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n“Like any mother, I am just hoping that I don’t mess them up,” the First Lady told People Magazine.\r\n\r\nMost mothers can relate to her concern, even if we can\'t imagine the added motherhood stress any mom would have to feel living such a public life.\r\n\r\nThe truth is, while none of the rest of us have to face the scrutiny of parenting in public that Michelle Obama does, we\'re all being watched and judged every day. By our friends who seem to have their mothering act all together.  By sisters whose careers are taking off, while we are just stay-at-home-mommies. By our mothers or mother-in-laws, who cannot seem to keep themselves from tidying up our houses when they visit.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_590\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"217\" caption=\"Benjamin and Jonathan on a Big Wheel - what a good big brother!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonBigWheel.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-590 \" title=\"BenjJonBigWheel\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonBigWheel.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"217\" height=\"312\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne day, when Benjamin was three years old,I found myself turtle-ing down the stairs at church behind him. We were talking about his day at <a title=\"PALS_at_Trinity\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/pals-mothers-morning-out\" target=\"_blank\">PALS, the mothers\' morning out preschool</a>, where I am currently the director. He would take one step down, stop and tell me something else about his day. Then slowly turn and take another step.\r\n\r\nI wanted to hear what he had to say. But I also desperately wanted to pick him up and get him down the stairs and head for home!\r\n\r\nWhen we reached the bottom of the stairs, we were greeted by the smiling face of Mrs. Hilda Candler, then the director of PALS. Hilda said, \"You seem like such a good mother. You are SO patient with Benjamin.\"\r\n\r\nWhat a blessing! Just a few words of encouragement, that helped me to focus on my strengths as a mother, rather than my shortcomings.  Even now, years later, I am grateful for the people, like Hilda, who found ways to encourage me, and so many other young mothers.\r\n\r\nThat memory reminds me that I, too, can make a difference in the lives of young mothers, by finding ways to point out their strengths as moms. In doing so, I hope to also ease that performance stress that mothers so often feel\r\n\r\nPerformance anxiety is one of the motherhood\'s most common and crippling stresses.  And we don\'t have to be Michelle Obama to feel it.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_591\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin stopping to look at me, as he was climbing on a playground\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playground.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-591\" title=\"Benjamin playground\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playground-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"211\" /></a>[/caption]','Motherhood Stress in the White House Spotlight','','inherit','open','open','','587-revision-4','','','2011-11-15 05:57:12','2011-11-15 10:57:12','',587,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/15/587-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(597,2,'2011-11-15 05:59:14','2011-11-15 10:59:14','Michelle Obama recently <a title=\"Michelle_Obama_motherhood\" href=\"http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/10/19/how-michelle-obama-tries-to-make-a-normal-life-for-her-kids/\" target=\"_blank\">talked to People magazine</a>about the challenges she faces as a mother -- trying to maintain a \"normal\" family life and raising two daughters in the national spotlight.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_589\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"179\" caption=\"Michelle Obama&#39;s official photograph\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michelle_Obama.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-589 \" title=\"Michelle_Obama\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michelle_Obama-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"179\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n“Like any mother, I am just hoping that I don’t mess them up,” the First Lady told People Magazine.\r\n\r\nMost mothers can relate to her concern, even if we can\'t imagine the added motherhood stress any mom would have to feel living such a public life.\r\n\r\nThe truth is, while none of the rest of us have to face the scrutiny of parenting in public that Michelle Obama does, we\'re all being watched and judged every day. By our friends who seem to have their mothering act all together.  By sisters whose careers are taking off, while we are just stay-at-home-mommies. By our mothers or mother-in-laws, who cannot seem to keep themselves from tidying up our houses when they visit.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_590\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"217\" caption=\"Benjamin and Jonathan on a Big Wheel - what a good big brother!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonBigWheel.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-590 \" title=\"BenjJonBigWheel\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonBigWheel.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"217\" height=\"312\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne day, when Benjamin was three years old,I found myself turtle-ing down the stairs at church behind him. We were talking about his day at <a title=\"PALS_at_Trinity\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/pals-mothers-morning-out\" target=\"_blank\">PALS, the mothers\' morning out preschool</a>, where I am currently the director. He would take one step down, stop and tell me something else about his day. Then slowly turn and take another step.\r\n\r\nI wanted to hear what he had to say. But I also desperately wanted to pick him up and get him down the stairs and head for home!\r\n\r\nWhen we reached the bottom of the stairs, we were greeted by the smiling face of Mrs. Hilda Candler, then the director of PALS. Hilda said, \"You seem like such a good mother. You are SO patient with Benjamin.\"\r\n\r\nWhat a blessing! Just a few words of encouragement, that helped me to focus on my strengths as a mother, rather than my shortcomings.  Even now, years later, I am grateful for the people, like Hilda, who found ways to encourage me, and so many other young mothers.\r\n\r\nThat memory reminds me that I, too, can make a difference in the lives of young mothers, by finding ways to point out their strengths as moms. In doing so, I hope to also ease that performance stress that mothers so often feel\r\n\r\nPerformance anxiety is one of the motherhood\'s most common and crippling stresses.  And we don\'t have to be Michelle Obama to feel it.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_591\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin stopping to look at me, as he was climbing on a playground\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playground.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-591\" title=\"Benjamin playground\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Benjamin-playground-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"211\" /></a>[/caption]','Motherhood Stress in the White House Spotlight','','inherit','open','open','','587-revision-5','','','2011-11-15 05:59:14','2011-11-15 10:59:14','',587,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/15/587-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(599,2,'2011-11-16 22:48:30','2011-11-17 03:48:30','Many of my earliest memories are of walks with my mother.  When I was three, and my sister Carol was five, Mother and I would walk Carol to kindergarten at a nearby church. On the way home, and on the way back each day, I had my Mother to myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_603\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Christmas 1955 at the Shaw home. I&#39;m the lucky one, sitting partly on my Mother&#39;s lap and partly on Daddy&#39;s lap.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-603\" title=\"Christmas55_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2-300x283.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"283\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn December that year, my sister Beth was born.  She joined us on our walks to and from Carol\'s kindergarten.  But, as a baby, she took so little of Mother\'s time and attention that it seemed like I still had my Mama to myself.\r\n\r\nMother also walked us to the library for storytime.  And on the way home, we stopped at a bakery and bought gingerbread men for a treat. Even today, many years later, in my mind\'s eye, I can see the town square in Griffin, Georgia, with the library on one side and the bakery on another.\r\n\r\nIf I close my eyes, I can almost smell the gingerbread baking.\r\n\r\nAnd Mother read to us, cuddling us in her lap while we escaped the confines of our small town and traveled in our imaginations around the world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_605\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My Father, reading to my niece Brannon and my daughter Lisette, Christmas 1985.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-605\" title=\"DaddyReading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhat a gift a mother gives her children, and herself, when she reads to her family!\r\n\r\nRecently, on my birthday, my son Benjamin quoted a poem to me.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Reading Mother</strong>\r\n\r\nby Strickland Gillilan\r\n\r\n<em>I had a mother who read to me</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>\"Blackbirds\" stowed in the hold beneath.</em>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me lays</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Of ancient and gallant and golden days;</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Which every boy has a right to know.</em></p>\r\n<em>I had a Mother who read me tales</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>True to his trust till his tragic death,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Faithfulness blent with his final breath.</em>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me the things</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>That wholesome life to the boy heart brings--</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories that stir with an upward touch,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Oh, that each mother of boys were such!</em></p>\r\n<em>You may have tangible wealth untold;</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Richer than I you can never be--</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I had a Mother who read to me.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo paraphrase the poem:\r\n\r\nRicher than I you can never be. .\r\n\r\nI had a Mother who read to me. . .\r\n\r\nAnd took me on walks. . .\r\n\r\nAnd I have children, who now, as adult, read poems to me.\r\n\r\nWhat a wonderful birthday gift!','I Had a Mother Who Read to Me','','publish','open','open','','i-had-a-mother-who-read-to-me','','','2011-11-16 23:11:21','2011-11-17 04:11:21','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=599',0,'post','',1),(600,2,'2011-11-16 21:55:21','2011-11-17 02:55:21','Recently, on my birthday, my son Benjamin quoted a poem to me.\n\nThe Reading Mother by Strickland Gillilan\n\nI had a mother who read to me\n\nSagas of pirates who scoured the sea,\n\nCutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,\n\n\"Blackbirds\" stowed in the hold beneath.\n\nI had a Mother who read me lays\n\nOf ancient and gallant and golden days;\n\nStories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,\n\nWhich every boy has a right to know.\n\nI had a Mother who read me tales\n\nOf Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,\n\nTrue to his trust till his tragic death,\n\nFaithfulness blent with his final breath.\n\nI had a Mother who read me the things\n\nThat wholesome life to the boy heart brings--\n\nStories that stir with an upward touch,\n\nOh, that each mother of boys were such!\n\nYou may have tangible wealth untold;\n\nCaskets of jewels and coffers of gold.\n\nRicher than I you can never be--\n\nI had a Mother who read to me.','','','inherit','open','open','','599-revision','','','2011-11-16 21:55:21','2011-11-17 02:55:21','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/16/599-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(601,2,'2011-11-16 22:04:52','2011-11-17 03:04:52','Many of my earliest memories are of walks with my mother.  When I was three, and my sister Carol was five, Mother and I would walk Carol to kindergarten at a nearby church. On the way home, and on the way back each day, I had my Mother to myself.\n\nIn December that year, my sister Beth was born.  She joined us on our walks to and from Carol\'s kindergarten.  But, as a baby, she took so little of Mother\'s time and attention that it seemed like I still had my Mama to myself.\n\nMother also walked us to the library for storytime.  And on the way home, we stopped at a bakery and bought gingerbread men for a treat. Even today, many years later, I can see the town square in Griffin, Georgia, with the library on one side and the bakery on another.\n\nAnd Mother read to us, cuddling us in her lap while we escaped the confines of our small town and traveled in our imaginations around the world.\n\nWhat a gift a mother gives her children, and herself, when she reads to heRecently, on my birthday, my son Benjamin quoted a poem to me.\n\nThe Reading Mother by Strickland Gillilan\n\nI had a mother who read to me\n\nSagas of pirates who scoured the sea,\n\nCutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,\n\n\"Blackbirds\" stowed in the hold beneath.\n\nI had a Mother who read me lays\n\nOf ancient and gallant and golden days;\n\nStories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,\n\nWhich every boy has a right to know.\n\nI had a Mother who read me tales\n\nOf Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,\n\nTrue to his trust till his tragic death,\n\nFaithfulness blent with his final breath.\n\nI had a Mother who read me the things\n\nThat wholesome life to the boy heart brings--\n\nStories that stir with an upward touch,\n\nOh, that each mother of boys were such!\n\nYou may have tangible wealth untold;\n\nCaskets of jewels and coffers of gold.\n\nRicher than I you can never be--\n\nI had a Mother who read to me.','','','inherit','open','open','','599-revision-2','','','2011-11-16 22:04:52','2011-11-17 03:04:52','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/16/599-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(602,2,'2011-11-16 22:05:21','2011-11-17 03:05:21','Many of my earliest memories are of walks with my mother.  When I was three, and my sister Carol was five, Mother and I would walk Carol to kindergarten at a nearby church. On the way home, and on the way back each day, I had my Mother to myself.\r\n\r\nIn December that year, my sister Beth was born.  She joined us on our walks to and from Carol\'s kindergarten.  But, as a baby, she took so little of Mother\'s time and attention that it seemed like I still had my Mama to myself.\r\n\r\nMother also walked us to the library for storytime.  And on the way home, we stopped at a bakery and bought gingerbread men for a treat. Even today, many years later, I can see the town square in Griffin, Georgia, with the library on one side and the bakery on another.\r\n\r\nAnd Mother read to us, cuddling us in her lap while we escaped the confines of our small town and traveled in our imaginations around the world.\r\n\r\nWhat a gift a mother gives her children, and herself, when she reads to her family!\r\n\r\nRecently, on my birthday, my son Benjamin quoted a poem to me.\r\n\r\nThe Reading Mother by Strickland Gillilan\r\n\r\nI had a mother who read to me\r\n\r\nSagas of pirates who scoured the sea,\r\n\r\nCutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,\r\n\r\n\"Blackbirds\" stowed in the hold beneath.\r\n\r\nI had a Mother who read me lays\r\n\r\nOf ancient and gallant and golden days;\r\n\r\nStories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,\r\n\r\nWhich every boy has a right to know.\r\n\r\nI had a Mother who read me tales\r\n\r\nOf Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,\r\n\r\nTrue to his trust till his tragic death,\r\n\r\nFaithfulness blent with his final breath.\r\n\r\nI had a Mother who read me the things\r\n\r\nThat wholesome life to the boy heart brings--\r\n\r\nStories that stir with an upward touch,\r\n\r\nOh, that each mother of boys were such!\r\n\r\nYou may have tangible wealth untold;\r\n\r\nCaskets of jewels and coffers of gold.\r\n\r\nRicher than I you can never be--\r\n\r\nI had a Mother who read to me.','','','inherit','open','open','','599-revision-3','','','2011-11-16 22:05:21','2011-11-17 03:05:21','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/16/599-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(603,2,'2011-11-16 22:32:39','2011-11-17 03:32:39','','Christmas55_2','Christmas 1955 at the Shaw home. I\'m the lucky one, sitting partly on my Mother\'s lap and partly on Daddy\'s lap.','inherit','open','open','','christmas55_2','','','2011-11-16 22:32:39','2011-11-17 03:32:39','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(604,2,'2011-11-16 22:07:28','2011-11-17 03:07:28','Many of my earliest memories are of walks with my mother.  When I was three, and my sister Carol was five, Mother and I would walk Carol to kindergarten at a nearby church. On the way home, and on the way back each day, I had my Mother to myself.\n\nIn December that year, my sister Beth was born.  She joined us on our walks to and from Carol\'s kindergarten.  But, as a baby, she took so little of Mother\'s time and attention that it seemed like I still had my Mama to myself.\n\nMother also walked us to the library for storytime.  And on the way home, we stopped at a bakery and bought gingerbread men for a treat. Even today, many years later, I can see the town square in Griffin, Georgia, with the library on one side and the bakery on another.\n\nAnd Mother read to us, cuddling us in her lap while we escaped the confines of our small town and traveled in our imaginations around the world.\n\nWhat a gift a mother gives her children, and herself, when she reads to her family!\n\nRecently, on my birthday, my son Benjamin quoted a poem to me.\n\nThe Reading Mother by Strickland Gillilan\n\nI had a mother who read to me\n\nSagas of pirates who scoured the sea,\n\nCutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,\n\n\"Blackbirds\" stowed in the hold beneath.\n\nI had a Mother who read me lays\n\nOf ancient and gallant and golden days;\n\nStories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,\n\nWhich every boy has a right to know.\n\nI had a Mother who read me tales\n\nOf Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,\n\nTrue to his trust till his tragic death,\n\nFaithfulness blent with his final breath.\n\nI had a Mother who read me the things\n\nThat wholesome life to the boy heart brings--\n\nStories that stir with an upward touch,\n\nOh, that each mother of boys were such!\n\nYou may have tangible wealth untold;\n\nCaskets of jewels and coffers of gold.\n\nRicher than I you can never be--\n\nI had a Mother who read to me.','I Had a Mother Who Read to Me','','inherit','open','open','','599-revision-4','','','2011-11-16 22:07:28','2011-11-17 03:07:28','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/16/599-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(605,2,'2011-11-16 22:35:48','2011-11-17 03:35:48','','DaddyReading','My Father, reading to my niece Brannon and my daughter Lisette, Christmas 1985.','inherit','open','open','','daddyreading','','','2011-11-16 22:35:48','2011-11-17 03:35:48','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(606,2,'2011-11-16 22:39:56','2011-11-17 03:39:56','Many of my earliest memories are of walks with my mother.  When I was three, and my sister Carol was five, Mother and I would walk Carol to kindergarten at a nearby church. On the way home, and on the way back each day, I had my Mother to myself.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_603\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Christmas 1955 at the Shaw home. I&#39;m the lucky one, sitting partly on my Mother&#39;s lap and partly on Daddy&#39;s lap.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-603\" title=\"Christmas55_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2-300x283.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"283\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn December that year, my sister Beth was born.  She joined us on our walks to and from Carol\'s kindergarten.  But, as a baby, she took so little of Mother\'s time and attention that it seemed like I still had my Mama to myself.\n\nMother also walked us to the library for storytime.  And on the way home, we stopped at a bakery and bought gingerbread men for a treat. Even today, many years later, in my mind\'s eye, I can see the town square in Griffin, Georgia, with the library on one side and the bakery on another.\n\nIf I close my eyes, I can almost smell the gingerbread baking.\n\nAnd Mother read to us, cuddling us in her lap while we escaped the confines of our small town and traveled in our imaginations around the world.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_605\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My Father, reading to my niece Brannon and my daughter Lisette, Christmas 1985.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-605\" title=\"DaddyReading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWhat a gift a mother gives her children, and herself, when she reads to her family!\n\nRecently, on my birthday, my son Benjamin quoted a poem to me.\n\nThe Reading Mother by Strickland Gillilan\n\nI had a mother who read to me\n\nSagas of pirates who scoured the sea,\n\nCutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,\n\n\"Blackbirds\" stowed in the hold beneath.\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">I had a Mother who read me lays</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Of ancient and gallant and golden days;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Which every boy has a right to know.</p>\nI had a Mother who read me tales\n\nOf Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,\n\nTrue to his trust till his tragic death,\n\nFaithfulness blent with his final breath.\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">I had a Mother who read me the things</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">That wholesome life to the boy heart brings--</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Stories that stir with an upward touch,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Oh, that each mother of boys were such!</p>\nYou may have tangible wealth untold;\n\nCaskets of jewels and coffers of gold.\n\nRicher than I you can never be--\n\nI had a Mother who read to me.','I Had a Mother Who Read to Me','','inherit','open','open','','599-revision-5','','','2011-11-16 22:39:56','2011-11-17 03:39:56','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/16/599-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(607,2,'2011-11-16 22:45:16','2011-11-17 03:45:16','Many of my earliest memories are of walks with my mother.  When I was three, and my sister Carol was five, Mother and I would walk Carol to kindergarten at a nearby church. On the way home, and on the way back each day, I had my Mother to myself.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_603\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Christmas 1955 at the Shaw home. I&#39;m the lucky one, sitting partly on my Mother&#39;s lap and partly on Daddy&#39;s lap.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-603\" title=\"Christmas55_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2-300x283.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"283\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn December that year, my sister Beth was born.  She joined us on our walks to and from Carol\'s kindergarten.  But, as a baby, she took so little of Mother\'s time and attention that it seemed like I still had my Mama to myself.\n\nMother also walked us to the library for storytime.  And on the way home, we stopped at a bakery and bought gingerbread men for a treat. Even today, many years later, in my mind\'s eye, I can see the town square in Griffin, Georgia, with the library on one side and the bakery on another.\n\nIf I close my eyes, I can almost smell the gingerbread baking.\n\nAnd Mother read to us, cuddling us in her lap while we escaped the confines of our small town and traveled in our imaginations around the world.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_605\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My Father, reading to my niece Brannon and my daughter Lisette, Christmas 1985.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-605\" title=\"DaddyReading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWhat a gift a mother gives her children, and herself, when she reads to her family!\n\nRecently, on my birthday, my son Benjamin quoted a poem to me.\n\n<strong>The Reading Mother</strong>\n\nby Strickland Gillilan\n\n<em>I had a mother who read to me</em>\n\n<em>Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,</em>\n\n<em>Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,</em>\n\n<em>\"Blackbirds\" stowed in the hold beneath.</em>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me lays</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Of ancient and gallant and golden days;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Which every boy has a right to know.</em></p>\n<em>I had a Mother who read me tales</em>\n\n<em>Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,</em>\n\n<em>True to his trust till his tragic death,</em>\n\n<em>Faithfulness blent with his final breath.</em>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me the things</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>That wholesome life to the boy heart brings--</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories that stir with an upward touch,</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Oh, that each mother of boys were such!</em></p>\n<em>You may have tangible wealth untold;</em>\n\n<em>Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.</em>\n\n<em>Richer than I you can never be--</em>\n\n<em>I had a Mother who read to me.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo paraphrase the poem:\n\nRicher than I you can never be. .\n\nI had a Mother who read to me. . .\n\nAnd took me on walks. . .\n\nAnd I have children, who now, as adult, read poems to me.\n\nWhat a wonderful birthday gift!','I Had a Mother Who Read to Me','','inherit','open','open','','599-revision-6','','','2011-11-16 22:45:16','2011-11-17 03:45:16','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/16/599-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(608,2,'2011-11-16 22:52:12','2011-11-17 03:52:12','','Christmas1955','','inherit','open','open','','christmas1955','','','2011-11-16 22:52:12','2011-11-17 03:52:12','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas1955.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(609,2,'2011-11-16 22:53:11','2011-11-17 03:53:11','','MotherCarolDebiBeth','Beth, Mother, Debi and Carol, circa 1959','inherit','open','open','','mothercaroldebibeth','','','2011-11-16 22:53:11','2011-11-17 03:53:11','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MotherCarolDebiBeth.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(610,2,'2011-11-16 22:48:30','2011-11-17 03:48:30','Many of my earliest memories are of walks with my mother.  When I was three, and my sister Carol was five, Mother and I would walk Carol to kindergarten at a nearby church. On the way home, and on the way back each day, I had my Mother to myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_603\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Christmas 1955 at the Shaw home. I&#39;m the lucky one, sitting partly on my Mother&#39;s lap and partly on Daddy&#39;s lap.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-603\" title=\"Christmas55_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2-300x283.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"283\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn December that year, my sister Beth was born.  She joined us on our walks to and from Carol\'s kindergarten.  But, as a baby, she took so little of Mother\'s time and attention that it seemed like I still had my Mama to myself.\r\n\r\nMother also walked us to the library for storytime.  And on the way home, we stopped at a bakery and bought gingerbread men for a treat. Even today, many years later, in my mind\'s eye, I can see the town square in Griffin, Georgia, with the library on one side and the bakery on another.\r\n\r\nIf I close my eyes, I can almost smell the gingerbread baking.\r\n\r\nAnd Mother read to us, cuddling us in her lap while we escaped the confines of our small town and traveled in our imaginations around the world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_605\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My Father, reading to my niece Brannon and my daughter Lisette, Christmas 1985.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-605\" title=\"DaddyReading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhat a gift a mother gives her children, and herself, when she reads to her family!\r\n\r\nRecently, on my birthday, my son Benjamin quoted a poem to me.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Reading Mother</strong>\r\n\r\nby Strickland Gillilan\r\n\r\n<em>I had a mother who read to me</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>\"Blackbirds\" stowed in the hold beneath.</em>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me lays</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Of ancient and gallant and golden days;</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Which every boy has a right to know.</em></p>\r\n<em>I had a Mother who read me tales</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>True to his trust till his tragic death,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Faithfulness blent with his final breath.</em>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me the things</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>That wholesome life to the boy heart brings--</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories that stir with an upward touch,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Oh, that each mother of boys were such!</em></p>\r\n<em>You may have tangible wealth untold;</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Richer than I you can never be--</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I had a Mother who read to me.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo paraphrase the poem:\r\n\r\nRicher than I you can never be. .\r\n\r\nI had a Mother who read to me. . .\r\n\r\nAnd took me on walks. . .\r\n\r\nAnd I have children, who now, as adult, read poems to me.\r\n\r\nWhat a wonderful birthday gift!','I Had a Mother Who Read to Me','','inherit','open','open','','599-revision-7','','','2011-11-16 22:48:30','2011-11-17 03:48:30','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/16/599-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(611,2,'2011-11-16 22:54:55','2011-11-17 03:54:55','Many of my earliest memories are of walks with my mother.  When I was three, and my sister Carol was five, Mother and I would walk Carol to kindergarten at a nearby church. On the way home, and on the way back each day, I had my Mother to myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_603\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Christmas 1955 at the Shaw home. I&#39;m the lucky one, sitting partly on my Mother&#39;s lap and partly on Daddy&#39;s lap.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-603\" title=\"Christmas55_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2-300x283.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"283\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn December that year, my sister Beth was born.  She joined us on our walks to and from Carol\'s kindergarten.  But, as a baby, she took so little of Mother\'s time and attention that it seemed like I still had my Mama to myself.\r\n\r\nMother also walked us to the library for storytime.  And on the way home, we stopped at a bakery and bought gingerbread men for a treat. Even today, many years later, in my mind\'s eye, I can see the town square in Griffin, Georgia, with the library on one side and the bakery on another.\r\n\r\nIf I close my eyes, I can almost smell the gingerbread baking.\r\n\r\nAnd Mother read to us, cuddling us in her lap while we escaped the confines of our small town and traveled in our imaginations around the world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_605\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My Father, reading to my niece Brannon and my daughter Lisette, Christmas 1985.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-605\" title=\"DaddyReading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhat a gift a mother gives her children, and herself, when she reads to her family!\r\n\r\nRecently, on my birthday, my son Benjamin quoted a poem to me.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Reading Mother</strong>\r\n\r\nby Strickland Gillilan\r\n\r\n<em>I had a mother who read to me</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>\"Blackbirds\" stowed in the hold beneath.</em>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me lays</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Of ancient and gallant and golden days;</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Which every boy has a right to know.</em></p>\r\n<em>I had a Mother who read me tales</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>True to his trust till his tragic death,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Faithfulness blent with his final breath.</em>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me the things</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>That wholesome life to the boy heart brings--</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories that stir with an upward touch,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Oh, that each mother of boys were such!</em></p>\r\n<em>You may have tangible wealth untold;</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Richer than I you can never be--</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I had a Mother who read to me.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo paraphrase the poem:\r\n\r\nRicher than I you can never be. .\r\n\r\nI had a Mother who read to me. . .\r\n\r\nAnd took me on walks. . .\r\n\r\nAnd I have children, who now, as adult, read poems to me.\r\n\r\nWhat a wonderful birthday gift!','I Had a Mother Who Read to Me','','inherit','open','open','','599-revision-8','','','2011-11-16 22:54:55','2011-11-17 03:54:55','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/16/599-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(612,2,'2011-11-16 22:57:28','2011-11-17 03:57:28','Many of my earliest memories are of walks with my mother.  When I was three, and my sister Carol was five, Mother and I would walk Carol to kindergarten at a nearby church. On the way home, and on the way back each day, I had my Mother to myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_603\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Christmas 1955 at the Shaw home. I&#39;m the lucky one, sitting partly on my Mother&#39;s lap and partly on Daddy&#39;s lap.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-603\" title=\"Christmas55_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2-300x283.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"283\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn December that year, my sister Beth was born.  She joined us on our walks to and from Carol\'s kindergarten.  But, as a baby, she took so little of Mother\'s time and attention that it seemed like I still had my Mama to myself.\r\n\r\nMother also walked us to the library for storytime.  And on the way home, we stopped at a bakery and bought gingerbread men for a treat. Even today, many years later, in my mind\'s eye, I can see the town square in Griffin, Georgia, with the library on one side and the bakery on another.\r\n\r\nIf I close my eyes, I can almost smell the gingerbread baking.\r\n\r\nAnd Mother read to us, cuddling us in her lap while we escaped the confines of our small town and traveled in our imaginations around the world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_605\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My Father, reading to my niece Brannon and my daughter Lisette, Christmas 1985.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-605\" title=\"DaddyReading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhat a gift a mother gives her children, and herself, when she reads to her family!\r\n\r\nRecently, on my birthday, my son Benjamin quoted a poem to me.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Reading Mother</strong>\r\n\r\nby Strickland Gillilan\r\n\r\n<em>I had a mother who read to me</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>\"Blackbirds\" stowed in the hold beneath.</em>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me lays</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Of ancient and gallant and golden days;</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Which every boy has a right to know.</em></p>\r\n<em>I had a Mother who read me tales</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>True to his trust till his tragic death,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Faithfulness blent with his final breath.</em>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me the things</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>That wholesome life to the boy heart brings--</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories that stir with an upward touch,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Oh, that each mother of boys were such!</em></p>\r\n<em>You may have tangible wealth untold;</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Richer than I you can never be--</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I had a Mother who read to me.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo paraphrase the poem:\r\n\r\nRicher than I you can never be. .\r\n\r\nI had a Mother who read to me. . .\r\n\r\nAnd took me on walks. . .\r\n\r\nAnd I have children, who now, as adult, read poems to me.\r\n\r\nWhat a wonderful birthday gift!','I Had a Mother Who Read to Me','','inherit','open','open','','599-revision-9','','','2011-11-16 22:57:28','2011-11-17 03:57:28','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/16/599-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(613,2,'2011-11-16 23:12:34','2011-11-17 04:12:34','Many of my earliest memories are of walks with my mother.  When I was three, and my sister Carol was five, Mother and I would walk Carol to kindergarten at a nearby church. On the way home, and on the way back each day, I had my Mother to myself.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_603\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Christmas 1955 at the Shaw home. I&#39;m the lucky one, sitting partly on my Mother&#39;s lap and partly on Daddy&#39;s lap.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-603\" title=\"Christmas55_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2-300x283.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"283\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn December that year, my sister Beth was born.  She joined us on our walks to and from Carol\'s kindergarten.  But, as a baby, she took so little of Mother\'s time and attention that it seemed like I still had my Mama to myself.\n\nMother also walked us to the library for storytime.  And on the way home, we stopped at a bakery and bought gingerbread men for a treat. Even today, many years later, in my mind\'s eye, I can see the town square in Griffin, Georgia, with the library on one side and the bakery on another.\n\nIf I close my eyes, I can almost smell the gingerbread baking.\n\nAnd Mother read to us, cuddling us in her lap while we escaped the confines of our small town and traveled in our imaginations around the world.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_605\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My Father, reading to my niece Brannon and my daughter Lisette, Christmas 1985.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-605\" title=\"DaddyReading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWhat a gift a mother gives her children, and herself, when she reads to her family!\n\nRecently, on my birthday, my son Benjamin quoted a poem to me.\n\n<strong>The Reading Mother</strong>\n\nby Strickland Gillilan\n\n<em>I had a mother who read to me</em>\n\n<em>Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,</em>\n\n<em>Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,</em>\n\n<em>\"Blackbirds\" stowed in the hold beneath.</em>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me lays</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Of ancient and gallant and golden days;</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Which every boy has a right to know.</em></p>\n<em>I had a Mother who read me tales</em>\n\n<em>Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,</em>\n\n<em>True to his trust till his tragic death,</em>\n\n<em>Faithfulness blent with his final breath.</em>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me the things</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>That wholesome life to the boy heart brings--</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories that stir with an upward touch,</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Oh, that each mother of boys were such!</em></p>\n<em>You may have tangible wealth untold;</em>\n\n<em>Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.</em>\n\n<em>Richer than I you can never be--</em>\n\n<em>I had a Mother who read to me.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo paraphrase the poem:\n\nRicher than I you can never be. .\n\nI had a Mother who read to me. . .\n\nAnd took me on walks. . .\n\nAnd I have children, who now, as adult, read poems to me.\n\nWhat a wonderful birthday gift!','I Had a Mother Who Read to Me','','inherit','open','open','','599-autosave','','','2011-11-16 23:12:34','2011-11-17 04:12:34','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/16/599-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(614,2,'2011-11-16 23:02:33','2011-11-17 04:02:33','','MotherCarolDebiBeth','','inherit','open','open','','mothercaroldebibeth-2','','','2011-11-16 23:02:33','2011-11-17 04:02:33','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MotherCarolDebiBeth1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(615,2,'2011-11-16 23:01:07','2011-11-17 04:01:07','Many of my earliest memories are of walks with my mother.  When I was three, and my sister Carol was five, Mother and I would walk Carol to kindergarten at a nearby church. On the way home, and on the way back each day, I had my Mother to myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_603\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Christmas 1955 at the Shaw home. I&#39;m the lucky one, sitting partly on my Mother&#39;s lap and partly on Daddy&#39;s lap.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-603\" title=\"Christmas55_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2-300x283.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"283\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn December that year, my sister Beth was born.  She joined us on our walks to and from Carol\'s kindergarten.  But, as a baby, she took so little of Mother\'s time and attention that it seemed like I still had my Mama to myself.\r\n\r\nMother also walked us to the library for storytime.  And on the way home, we stopped at a bakery and bought gingerbread men for a treat. Even today, many years later, in my mind\'s eye, I can see the town square in Griffin, Georgia, with the library on one side and the bakery on another.\r\n\r\nIf I close my eyes, I can almost smell the gingerbread baking.\r\n\r\nAnd Mother read to us, cuddling us in her lap while we escaped the confines of our small town and traveled in our imaginations around the world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_605\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My Father, reading to my niece Brannon and my daughter Lisette, Christmas 1985.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-605\" title=\"DaddyReading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhat a gift a mother gives her children, and herself, when she reads to her family!\r\n\r\nRecently, on my birthday, my son Benjamin quoted a poem to me.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Reading Mother</strong>\r\n\r\nby Strickland Gillilan\r\n\r\n<em>I had a mother who read to me</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>\"Blackbirds\" stowed in the hold beneath.</em>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me lays</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Of ancient and gallant and golden days;</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Which every boy has a right to know.</em></p>\r\n<em>I had a Mother who read me tales</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>True to his trust till his tragic death,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Faithfulness blent with his final breath.</em>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me the things</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>That wholesome life to the boy heart brings--</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories that stir with an upward touch,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Oh, that each mother of boys were such!</em></p>\r\n<em>You may have tangible wealth untold;</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Richer than I you can never be--</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I had a Mother who read to me.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo paraphrase the poem:\r\n\r\nRicher than I you can never be. .\r\n\r\nI had a Mother who read to me. . .\r\n\r\nAnd took me on walks. . .\r\n\r\nAnd I have children, who now, as adult, read poems to me.\r\n\r\nWhat a wonderful birthday gift!','I Had a Mother Who Read to Me','','inherit','open','open','','599-revision-10','','','2011-11-16 23:01:07','2011-11-17 04:01:07','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/16/599-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(616,2,'2011-11-16 23:03:56','2011-11-17 04:03:56','Many of my earliest memories are of walks with my mother.  When I was three, and my sister Carol was five, Mother and I would walk Carol to kindergarten at a nearby church. On the way home, and on the way back each day, I had my Mother to myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_603\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Christmas 1955 at the Shaw home. I&#39;m the lucky one, sitting partly on my Mother&#39;s lap and partly on Daddy&#39;s lap.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-603\" title=\"Christmas55_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Christmas55_2-300x283.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"283\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn December that year, my sister Beth was born.  She joined us on our walks to and from Carol\'s kindergarten.  But, as a baby, she took so little of Mother\'s time and attention that it seemed like I still had my Mama to myself.\r\n\r\nMother also walked us to the library for storytime.  And on the way home, we stopped at a bakery and bought gingerbread men for a treat. Even today, many years later, in my mind\'s eye, I can see the town square in Griffin, Georgia, with the library on one side and the bakery on another.\r\n\r\nIf I close my eyes, I can almost smell the gingerbread baking.\r\n\r\nAnd Mother read to us, cuddling us in her lap while we escaped the confines of our small town and traveled in our imaginations around the world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_605\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My Father, reading to my niece Brannon and my daughter Lisette, Christmas 1985.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-605\" title=\"DaddyReading\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DaddyReading-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhat a gift a mother gives her children, and herself, when she reads to her family!\r\n\r\nRecently, on my birthday, my son Benjamin quoted a poem to me.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Reading Mother</strong>\r\n\r\nby Strickland Gillilan\r\n\r\n<em>I had a mother who read to me</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>\"Blackbirds\" stowed in the hold beneath.</em>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me lays</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Of ancient and gallant and golden days;</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Which every boy has a right to know.</em></p>\r\n<em>I had a Mother who read me tales</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>True to his trust till his tragic death,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Faithfulness blent with his final breath.</em>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>I had a Mother who read me the things</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>That wholesome life to the boy heart brings--</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Stories that stir with an upward touch,</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Oh, that each mother of boys were such!</em></p>\r\n<em>You may have tangible wealth untold;</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Richer than I you can never be--</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I had a Mother who read to me.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo paraphrase the poem:\r\n\r\nRicher than I you can never be. .\r\n\r\nI had a Mother who read to me. . .\r\n\r\nAnd took me on walks. . .\r\n\r\nAnd I have children, who now, as adult, read poems to me.\r\n\r\nWhat a wonderful birthday gift!','I Had a Mother Who Read to Me','','inherit','open','open','','599-revision-11','','','2011-11-16 23:03:56','2011-11-17 04:03:56','',599,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/16/599-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(617,2,'2011-11-18 20:25:43','2011-11-19 01:25:43','The World, we often told our children, is a cold, dark place. A place where people will sometimes try to tear you down, in order to build themselves up. Your FAMILY, we would tell them, was where you could go to be loved.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_618\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"349\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin in front of Alto Park School, on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-618 \" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"594\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYour FAMILY, we told them, knows that you are not perfect. In fact your family knows your every fault and loves you anyway. Your family accepts you for the person you are.  And encourages you regardless of what the world has to say about you.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_619\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Jonathan, our youngest son, with Andrew, our oldest son, when Jonathan was 3 and Andrew was 12 years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-619\" title=\"A &amp; J 3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nTherefore, we would tell our children, you may NOT continue to harass or quarrel with your sibling.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\" caption=\"Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd therefore, you WILL find a way to be kind to your sibling. And you will stop your fight with him THIS VERY MINUTE!\r\n\r\nAt first, I called this my Mama lecture #232.  Or some such number.  But each time I began the lecture, I forgot what number I had assigned to it the time before.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_621\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette, Benjamin and Jonathan, at Lisette&#39;s graduation from Asbury College. This was taken not long after Jonathan, our youngest, became our tallest.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-621\" title=\"AMLBJ at L grad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad-300x165.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"165\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOver time, I just randomly assigned a number to this Mama lecture. Sometimes it was Mama Lecture #540.  Other times it was Mama Lecture #765.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_622\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin, Jonathan and Matthew. I have no idea what they were watching. They were looking toward the place where we had a basketball goal at that time. Jonathan spent a lot of time with a sibling&#39;s arm on his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-622\" title=\"JM&amp;B 2yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn fact, all my Mama Lectures had random numbers. I never did remember any numbers I assigned to any of my Mama Lectures.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_624\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Matthew, Benjamin and Jonathan, on Mackinaw Island, Michigan, when Jonathan was 7 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-624\" title=\"MBJMackinaw7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr-300x271.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"271\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut while I changed the number on this lecture randomly, it always began with the words,<em> The World is a Cold Dark Place</em>. And when my children heard those words, they began to groan.\r\n\r\n\"Mother!\" they would say, \"We have heard this before. We do NOT need to hear it again.\"\r\n\r\n\"If you don\'t want to hear Mama Lecture #2465,\" I would answer, \"do not quarrel with your brother (sister).\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_625\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Jonathan, Benjamin and Matthew, while visiting Matthew, when he was a student at Dartmouth College\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBMDartmouth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-625\" title=\"JBMDartmouth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBMDartmouth-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nDespite the warnings, my children heard those words, \"The world is a cold, dark place,\" many, many times during their growing up years.\r\n\r\nWe did not want our children to be afraid of that cold, dark world. We just wanted them to value their family.  And to quit engaging in fights with their siblings!\r\n\r\nOur adult children do not seem to fear the world.  All five have traveled to third world countries on mission trips.  Lisette spent 2 years in Kenya, teaching the children of missionaries.  Andrew spent three years as a missionary to gang kids in Los Angeles. I consider it safe to say they do not fear a cold, dark world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_627\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Emma (their cousin), Lisette, Andrew, Benjamin, Jonathan in May 2011\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EmLABJMay2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-627\" title=\"EmLABJMay2011\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EmLABJMay2011-300x133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"133\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd  I hope I can safely say that, finally, now that they are adults - and friends with each other, too - I no longer have any reason to repeat my Mama Lecture #472. The one that begins with \"The World Is a Cold Dark Place.\"','Siblings in a Cold, Dark World','','publish','open','open','','siblings-in-a-cold-dark-world','','','2011-11-18 20:25:43','2011-11-19 01:25:43','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=617',0,'post','',0),(618,2,'2011-11-18 18:06:40','2011-11-18 23:06:40','','BenjJonAltoPark','Jonathan and Benjamin in front of Alto Park School, on Jonathan\'s first day of kindergarten','inherit','open','open','','benjjonaltopark','','','2011-11-18 18:06:40','2011-11-18 23:06:40','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(619,2,'2011-11-18 18:09:03','2011-11-18 23:09:03','','A & J 3yr','Jonathan, our youngest son, with Andrew, our oldest son, when Jonathan was 3 and Andrew was 12 years old.','inherit','open','open','','a-j-3yr','','','2011-11-18 18:09:03','2011-11-18 23:09:03','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(620,2,'2011-11-18 18:12:41','2011-11-18 23:12:41','','JB&LPhilly7 yr','Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall','inherit','open','open','','jblphilly7-yr','','','2011-11-18 18:12:41','2011-11-18 23:12:41','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(621,2,'2011-11-18 18:16:56','2011-11-18 23:16:56','','AMLBJ at L grad','Andrew, Matthew, Lisette, Benjamin and Jonathan, at Lisette\'s graduation from Asbury College. This was taken not long after Jonathan, our youngest, became our tallest.','inherit','open','open','','amlbj-at-l-grad','','','2011-11-18 18:16:56','2011-11-18 23:16:56','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(622,2,'2011-11-18 18:19:41','2011-11-18 23:19:41','','JM&B 2yr','Benjamin, Jonathan and Matthew. I have no idea what they were watching. They were looking toward the place where we had a basketball goal at that time.  Jonathan spent a lot of time with a sibling\'s arm on his shoulder.','inherit','open','open','','jmb-2yr','','','2011-11-18 18:19:41','2011-11-18 23:19:41','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(623,2,'2011-11-18 18:19:11','2011-11-18 23:19:11','The World, we often told our children, is a cold hard place. A place where people will sometimes try to tear you down, in order to build themselves up. Your FAMILY, we would tell them, was where they could go to be loved.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_618\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"349\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin in front of Alto Park School, on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-618 \" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"594\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYour FAMILY, we told them, knows that you are not perfect. In fact your family knows your every fault and loves you anyway.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_619\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Jonathan, our youngest son, with Andrew, our oldest son, when Jonathan was 3 and Andrew was 12 years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-619\" title=\"A &amp; J 3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTherefore, we would tell our children, you may NOT continue to harrass or quarrel with your sibling.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\" caption=\"Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd therefore, you WILL find a way to be kind to your sibling.\n\nAt first, I thought I would call this my Mama lecture #232.  Or some such number.  But each time I began the lecture, I would forget what number I had assigned to it the time before.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_621\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette, Benjamin and Jonathan, at Lisette&#39;s graduation from Asbury College. This was taken not long after Jonathan, our youngest, became our tallest.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-621\" title=\"AMLBJ at L grad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad-300x165.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"165\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen, over time, I just randomly assigned a number to this Mama lecture. Sometimes it was Mama Lecture # 540.  Other times it was','Siblings in a Cold, Hard World','','inherit','open','open','','617-revision','','','2011-11-18 18:19:11','2011-11-18 23:19:11','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/18/617-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(624,2,'2011-11-18 18:25:58','2011-11-18 23:25:58','','MBJMackinaw7 yr','Matthew, Benjamin and Jonathan, on Mackinaw Island, Michigan, when Jonathan was 7 years old','inherit','open','open','','mbjmackinaw7-yr','','','2011-11-18 18:25:58','2011-11-18 23:25:58','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(625,2,'2011-11-18 18:28:19','2011-11-18 23:28:19','','JBMDartmouth','Jonathan, Benjamin and Matthew, while visiting Matthew, when he was a student at Dartmouth College','inherit','open','open','','jbmdartmouth','','','2011-11-18 18:28:19','2011-11-18 23:28:19','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBMDartmouth.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(626,2,'2011-11-18 18:27:47','2011-11-18 23:27:47','The World, we often told our children, is a cold hard place. A place where people will sometimes try to tear you down, in order to build themselves up. Your FAMILY, we would tell them, was where they could go to be loved.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_618\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"349\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin in front of Alto Park School, on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-618 \" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"594\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYour FAMILY, we told them, knows that you are not perfect. In fact your family knows your every fault and loves you anyway. Your family accepts you for the person you are.  And encourages you regardless of what the world has to say about you.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_619\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Jonathan, our youngest son, with Andrew, our oldest son, when Jonathan was 3 and Andrew was 12 years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-619\" title=\"A &amp; J 3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTherefore, we would tell our children, you may NOT continue to harass or quarrel with your sibling.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\" caption=\"Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd therefore, you WILL find a way to be kind to your sibling. And you will stop your fight with him THIS VERY MINUTE!\n\nAt first, I thought I would call this my Mama lecture #232.  Or some such number.  But each time I began the lecture, I would forget what number I had assigned to it the time before.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_621\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette, Benjamin and Jonathan, at Lisette&#39;s graduation from Asbury College. This was taken not long after Jonathan, our youngest, became our tallest.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-621\" title=\"AMLBJ at L grad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad-300x165.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"165\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen, over time, I just randomly assigned a number to this Mama lecture. Sometimes it was Mama Lecture # 540.  Other times it was Mama Lecture #765.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_622\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin, Jonathan and Matthew. I have no idea what they were watching. They were looking toward the place where we had a basketball goal at that time. Jonathan spent a lot of time with a sibling&#39;s arm on his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-622\" title=\"JM&amp;B 2yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn fact, all my Mama Lectures had random numbers. I never did remember any numbers I assigned to any of my Mama Lectures.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_624\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Matthew, Benjamin and Jonathan, on Mackinaw Island, Michigan, when Jonathan was 7 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-624\" title=\"MBJMackinaw7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr-300x271.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"271\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut while I changed the number on this lecture randomly, it always began with the words, The World is a Cold Hard Place.','Siblings in a Cold, Hard World','','inherit','open','open','','617-revision-2','','','2011-11-18 18:27:47','2011-11-18 23:27:47','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/18/617-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(627,2,'2011-11-18 18:34:26','2011-11-18 23:34:26','','EmLABJMay2011','Lisette, Andrew, Benjamin, Jonathan and their cousin Emma','inherit','open','open','','emlabjmay2011','','','2011-11-18 18:34:26','2011-11-18 23:34:26','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EmLABJMay2011.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(628,2,'2011-11-18 18:37:33','2011-11-18 23:37:33','The World, we often told our children, is a cold hard place. A place where people will sometimes try to tear you down, in order to build themselves up. Your FAMILY, we would tell them, was where they could go to be loved.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_618\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"349\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin in front of Alto Park School, on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-618 \" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"594\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYour FAMILY, we told them, knows that you are not perfect. In fact your family knows your every fault and loves you anyway. Your family accepts you for the person you are.  And encourages you regardless of what the world has to say about you.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_619\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Jonathan, our youngest son, with Andrew, our oldest son, when Jonathan was 3 and Andrew was 12 years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-619\" title=\"A &amp; J 3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTherefore, we would tell our children, you may NOT continue to harass or quarrel with your sibling.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\" caption=\"Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd therefore, you WILL find a way to be kind to your sibling. And you will stop your fight with him THIS VERY MINUTE!\n\nAt first, I thought I would call this my Mama lecture #232.  Or some such number.  But each time I began the lecture, I would forget what number I had assigned to it the time before.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_621\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette, Benjamin and Jonathan, at Lisette&#39;s graduation from Asbury College. This was taken not long after Jonathan, our youngest, became our tallest.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-621\" title=\"AMLBJ at L grad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad-300x165.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"165\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen, over time, I just randomly assigned a number to this Mama lecture. Sometimes it was Mama Lecture # 540.  Other times it was Mama Lecture #765.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_622\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin, Jonathan and Matthew. I have no idea what they were watching. They were looking toward the place where we had a basketball goal at that time. Jonathan spent a lot of time with a sibling&#39;s arm on his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-622\" title=\"JM&amp;B 2yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn fact, all my Mama Lectures had random numbers. I never did remember any numbers I assigned to any of my Mama Lectures.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_624\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Matthew, Benjamin and Jonathan, on Mackinaw Island, Michigan, when Jonathan was 7 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-624\" title=\"MBJMackinaw7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr-300x271.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"271\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut while I changed the number on this lecture randomly, it always began with the words,<em> The World is a Cold Hard Place</em>.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_625\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Jonathan, Benjamin and Matthew, while visiting Matthew, when he was a student at Dartmouth College\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBMDartmouth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-625\" title=\"JBMDartmouth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBMDartmouth-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe did not want our children to be afraid of that cold, hard world.  And they do not seem to fear the world.  All five have traveled to third world countries on mission trips.  Lisette spent 2 years in Kenya, teaching the children of missionaries.  Andrew spent three years as a missionary to gang kids in Los Angeles. I hope it is safe to say they do not fear a cold, hard world.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_627\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Emma (their cousin), Lisette, Andrew, Benjamin, Jonathan in May 2011\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EmLABJMay2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-627\" title=\"EmLABJMay2011\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EmLABJMay2011-300x133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"133\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd  I hope I can safely say that, finally, as adults, I no longer have any reason to repeat my Mama Lecture # 472, that begins with \"The World','Siblings in a Cold, Hard World','','inherit','open','open','','617-revision-3','','','2011-11-18 18:37:33','2011-11-18 23:37:33','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/18/617-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(629,2,'2011-11-18 19:50:03','2011-11-19 00:50:03','','JessEmmaBenjFeature','','inherit','open','open','','jessemmabenjfeature','','','2011-11-18 19:50:03','2011-11-19 00:50:03','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JessEmmaBenjFeature.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(630,2,'2011-11-18 19:48:42','2011-11-19 00:48:42','The World, we often told our children, is a cold, dark place. A place where people will sometimes try to tear you down, in order to build themselves up. Your FAMILY, we would tell them, was where you could go to be loved.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_618\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"349\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin in front of Alto Park School, on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-618 \" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"594\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYour FAMILY, we told them, knows that you are not perfect. In fact your family knows your every fault and loves you anyway. Your family accepts you for the person you are.  And encourages you regardless of what the world has to say about you.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_619\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Jonathan, our youngest son, with Andrew, our oldest son, when Jonathan was 3 and Andrew was 12 years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-619\" title=\"A &amp; J 3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTherefore, we would tell our children, you may NOT continue to harass or quarrel with your sibling.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\" caption=\"Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd therefore, you WILL find a way to be kind to your sibling. And you will stop your fight with him THIS VERY MINUTE!\n\nAt first, I thought I would call this my Mama lecture #232.  Or some such number.  But each time I began the lecture, I would forget what number I had assigned to it the time before.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_621\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette, Benjamin and Jonathan, at Lisette&#39;s graduation from Asbury College. This was taken not long after Jonathan, our youngest, became our tallest.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-621\" title=\"AMLBJ at L grad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad-300x165.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"165\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSo, over time, I just randomly assigned a number to this Mama lecture. Sometimes it was Mama Lecture #540.  Other times it was Mama Lecture #765.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_622\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin, Jonathan and Matthew. I have no idea what they were watching. They were looking toward the place where we had a basketball goal at that time. Jonathan spent a lot of time with a sibling&#39;s arm on his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-622\" title=\"JM&amp;B 2yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn fact, all my Mama Lectures had random numbers. I never did remember any numbers I assigned to any of my Mama Lectures.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_624\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Matthew, Benjamin and Jonathan, on Mackinaw Island, Michigan, when Jonathan was 7 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-624\" title=\"MBJMackinaw7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr-300x271.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"271\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut while I changed the number on this lecture randomly, it always began with the words,<em> The World is a Cold Dark Place</em>. And when my children heard those words, they began to groan.\n\n\"Mother!\" they would say, \"We have heard this before. We do NOT need to hear it again.\"\n\n\"If you don\'t want to hear Mama Lecture #2465,\" I would answer, \"do not quarrel with your brother (sister).\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_625\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Jonathan, Benjamin and Matthew, while visiting Matthew, when he was a student at Dartmouth College\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBMDartmouth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-625\" title=\"JBMDartmouth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBMDartmouth-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut, despite the warnings, my children heard those words, \"The world is a cold, dark place,\" many, many times during their growing up years.\n\nWe did not want our children to be afraid of that cold, dark world. We just wanted them to value their family.  And to quit engaging in fights with their siblings!\n\nOur adult children do not seem to fear the world.  All five have traveled to third world countries on mission trips.  Lisette spent 2 years in Kenya, teaching the children of missionaries.  Andrew spent three years as a missionary to gang kids in Los Angeles. I hope it is safe to say they do not fear a cold, dark world.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_627\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Emma (their cousin), Lisette, Andrew, Benjamin, Jonathan in May 2011\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EmLABJMay2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-627\" title=\"EmLABJMay2011\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EmLABJMay2011-300x133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"133\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd  I hope I can safely say that, finally, as adults, I no longer have any reason to repeat my Mama Lecture # 472, that begins with \"The World Is a Cold Dark Place.\"','Siblings in a Cold, Dark World','','inherit','open','open','','617-revision-4','','','2011-11-18 19:48:42','2011-11-19 00:48:42','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/18/617-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(631,2,'2011-11-18 20:12:34','2011-11-19 01:12:34','','BenjJonAnd','','inherit','open','open','','benjjonand','','','2011-11-18 20:12:34','2011-11-19 01:12:34','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAnd.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(632,2,'2011-11-18 19:52:06','2011-11-19 00:52:06','The World, we often told our children, is a cold, dark place. A place where people will sometimes try to tear you down, in order to build themselves up. Your FAMILY, we would tell them, was where you could go to be loved.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_618\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"349\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin in front of Alto Park School, on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-618 \" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"594\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYour FAMILY, we told them, knows that you are not perfect. In fact your family knows your every fault and loves you anyway. Your family accepts you for the person you are.  And encourages you regardless of what the world has to say about you.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_619\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Jonathan, our youngest son, with Andrew, our oldest son, when Jonathan was 3 and Andrew was 12 years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-619\" title=\"A &amp; J 3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTherefore, we would tell our children, you may NOT continue to harass or quarrel with your sibling.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\" caption=\"Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd therefore, you WILL find a way to be kind to your sibling. And you will stop your fight with him THIS VERY MINUTE!\n\nAt first, I thought I would call this my Mama lecture #232.  Or some such number.  But each time I began the lecture, I would forget what number I had assigned to it the time before.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_621\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette, Benjamin and Jonathan, at Lisette&#39;s graduation from Asbury College. This was taken not long after Jonathan, our youngest, became our tallest.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-621\" title=\"AMLBJ at L grad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad-300x165.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"165\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSo, over time, I just randomly assigned a number to this Mama lecture. Sometimes it was Mama Lecture #540.  Other times it was Mama Lecture #765.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_622\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin, Jonathan and Matthew. I have no idea what they were watching. They were looking toward the place where we had a basketball goal at that time. Jonathan spent a lot of time with a sibling&#39;s arm on his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-622\" title=\"JM&amp;B 2yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn fact, all my Mama Lectures had random numbers. I never did remember any numbers I assigned to any of my Mama Lectures.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_624\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Matthew, Benjamin and Jonathan, on Mackinaw Island, Michigan, when Jonathan was 7 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-624\" title=\"MBJMackinaw7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr-300x271.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"271\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut while I changed the number on this lecture randomly, it always began with the words,<em> The World is a Cold Dark Place</em>. And when my children heard those words, they began to groan.\n\n\"Mother!\" they would say, \"We have heard this before. We do NOT need to hear it again.\"\n\n\"If you don\'t want to hear Mama Lecture #2465,\" I would answer, \"do not quarrel with your brother (sister).\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_625\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Jonathan, Benjamin and Matthew, while visiting Matthew, when he was a student at Dartmouth College\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBMDartmouth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-625\" title=\"JBMDartmouth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBMDartmouth-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut, despite the warnings, my children heard those words, \"The world is a cold, dark place,\" many, many times during their growing up years.\n\nWe did not want our children to be afraid of that cold, dark world. We just wanted them to value their family.  And to quit engaging in fights with their siblings!\n\nOur adult children do not seem to fear the world.  All five have traveled to third world countries on mission trips.  Lisette spent 2 years in Kenya, teaching the children of missionaries.  Andrew spent three years as a missionary to gang kids in Los Angeles. I hope it is safe to say they do not fear a cold, dark world.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_627\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Emma (their cousin), Lisette, Andrew, Benjamin, Jonathan in May 2011\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EmLABJMay2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-627\" title=\"EmLABJMay2011\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EmLABJMay2011-300x133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"133\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd  I hope I can safely say that, finally, as adults, I no longer have any reason to repeat my Mama Lecture # 472, that begins with \"The World Is a Cold Dark Place.\"','Siblings in a Cold, Dark World','','inherit','open','open','','617-revision-5','','','2011-11-18 19:52:06','2011-11-19 00:52:06','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/18/617-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(633,2,'2011-11-18 20:21:15','2011-11-19 01:21:15','The World, we often told our children, is a cold, dark place. A place where people will sometimes try to tear you down, in order to build themselves up. Your FAMILY, we would tell them, was where you could go to be loved.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_618\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"349\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin in front of Alto Park School, on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-618 \" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"594\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYour FAMILY, we told them, knows that you are not perfect. In fact your family knows your every fault and loves you anyway. Your family accepts you for the person you are.  And encourages you regardless of what the world has to say about you.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_619\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Jonathan, our youngest son, with Andrew, our oldest son, when Jonathan was 3 and Andrew was 12 years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-619\" title=\"A &amp; J 3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTherefore, we would tell our children, you may NOT continue to harass or quarrel with your sibling.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\" caption=\"Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd therefore, you WILL find a way to be kind to your sibling. And you will stop your fight with him THIS VERY MINUTE!\n\nAt first, I called this my Mama lecture #232.  Or some such number.  But each time I began the lecture, I forgot what number I had assigned to it the time before.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_621\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette, Benjamin and Jonathan, at Lisette&#39;s graduation from Asbury College. This was taken not long after Jonathan, our youngest, became our tallest.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-621\" title=\"AMLBJ at L grad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad-300x165.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"165\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOver time, I just randomly assigned a number to this Mama lecture. Sometimes it was Mama Lecture #540.  Other times it was Mama Lecture #765.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_622\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin, Jonathan and Matthew. I have no idea what they were watching. They were looking toward the place where we had a basketball goal at that time. Jonathan spent a lot of time with a sibling&#39;s arm on his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-622\" title=\"JM&amp;B 2yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn fact, all my Mama Lectures had random numbers. I never did remember any numbers I assigned to any of my Mama Lectures.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_624\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Matthew, Benjamin and Jonathan, on Mackinaw Island, Michigan, when Jonathan was 7 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-624\" title=\"MBJMackinaw7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr-300x271.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"271\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut while I changed the number on this lecture randomly, it always began with the words,<em> The World is a Cold Dark Place</em>. And when my children heard those words, they began to groan.\n\n\"Mother!\" they would say, \"We have heard this before. We do NOT need to hear it again.\"\n\n\"If you don\'t want to hear Mama Lecture #2465,\" I would answer, \"do not quarrel with your brother (sister).\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_625\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Jonathan, Benjamin and Matthew, while visiting Matthew, when he was a student at Dartmouth College\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBMDartmouth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-625\" title=\"JBMDartmouth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBMDartmouth-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nDespite the warnings, my children heard those words, \"The world is a cold, dark place,\" many, many times during their growing up years.\n\nWe did not want our children to be afraid of that cold, dark world. We just wanted them to value their family.  And to quit engaging in fights with their siblings!\n\nOur adult children do not seem to fear the world.  All five have traveled to third world countries on mission trips.  Lisette spent 2 years in Kenya, teaching the children of missionaries.  Andrew spent three years as a missionary to gang kids in Los Angeles. I consider it safe to say they do not fear a cold, dark world.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_627\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Emma (their cousin), Lisette, Andrew, Benjamin, Jonathan in May 2011\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EmLABJMay2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-627\" title=\"EmLABJMay2011\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EmLABJMay2011-300x133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"133\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd  I hope I can safely say that, finally, now that they are adults - and friends with each other, too, I no longer have any reason to repeat my Mama Lecture #472. The on that begins with \"The World Is a Cold Dark Place.\"','Siblings in a Cold, Dark World','','inherit','open','open','','617-revision-6','','','2011-11-18 20:21:15','2011-11-19 01:21:15','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/18/617-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(634,2,'2011-11-18 20:24:39','2011-11-19 01:24:39','The World, we often told our children, is a cold, dark place. A place where people will sometimes try to tear you down, in order to build themselves up. Your FAMILY, we would tell them, was where you could go to be loved.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_618\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"349\" caption=\"Jonathan and Benjamin in front of Alto Park School, on Jonathan&#39;s first day of kindergarten\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-618 \" title=\"BenjJonAltoPark\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BenjJonAltoPark.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"594\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYour FAMILY, we told them, knows that you are not perfect. In fact your family knows your every fault and loves you anyway. Your family accepts you for the person you are.  And encourages you regardless of what the world has to say about you.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_619\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Jonathan, our youngest son, with Andrew, our oldest son, when Jonathan was 3 and Andrew was 12 years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-619\" title=\"A &amp; J 3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/A-J-3yr-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTherefore, we would tell our children, you may NOT continue to harass or quarrel with your sibling.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_620\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\" caption=\"Benjamin (10), Jonathan (7) and Lisette (12) in Philadelphia, in front of Independence Hall\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-620\" title=\"JB&amp;LPhilly7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBLPhilly7-yr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"579\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd therefore, you WILL find a way to be kind to your sibling. And you will stop your fight with him THIS VERY MINUTE!\n\nAt first, I called this my Mama lecture #232.  Or some such number.  But each time I began the lecture, I forgot what number I had assigned to it the time before.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_621\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette, Benjamin and Jonathan, at Lisette&#39;s graduation from Asbury College. This was taken not long after Jonathan, our youngest, became our tallest.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-621\" title=\"AMLBJ at L grad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AMLBJ-at-L-grad-300x165.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"165\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOver time, I just randomly assigned a number to this Mama lecture. Sometimes it was Mama Lecture #540.  Other times it was Mama Lecture #765.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_622\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin, Jonathan and Matthew. I have no idea what they were watching. They were looking toward the place where we had a basketball goal at that time. Jonathan spent a lot of time with a sibling&#39;s arm on his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-622\" title=\"JM&amp;B 2yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JMB-2yr-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn fact, all my Mama Lectures had random numbers. I never did remember any numbers I assigned to any of my Mama Lectures.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_624\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Matthew, Benjamin and Jonathan, on Mackinaw Island, Michigan, when Jonathan was 7 years old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-624\" title=\"MBJMackinaw7 yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MBJMackinaw7-yr-300x271.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"271\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut while I changed the number on this lecture randomly, it always began with the words,<em> The World is a Cold Dark Place</em>. And when my children heard those words, they began to groan.\n\n\"Mother!\" they would say, \"We have heard this before. We do NOT need to hear it again.\"\n\n\"If you don\'t want to hear Mama Lecture #2465,\" I would answer, \"do not quarrel with your brother (sister).\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_625\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Jonathan, Benjamin and Matthew, while visiting Matthew, when he was a student at Dartmouth College\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBMDartmouth.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-625\" title=\"JBMDartmouth\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/JBMDartmouth-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nDespite the warnings, my children heard those words, \"The world is a cold, dark place,\" many, many times during their growing up years.\n\nWe did not want our children to be afraid of that cold, dark world. We just wanted them to value their family.  And to quit engaging in fights with their siblings!\n\nOur adult children do not seem to fear the world.  All five have traveled to third world countries on mission trips.  Lisette spent 2 years in Kenya, teaching the children of missionaries.  Andrew spent three years as a missionary to gang kids in Los Angeles. I consider it safe to say they do not fear a cold, dark world.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_627\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Emma (their cousin), Lisette, Andrew, Benjamin, Jonathan in May 2011\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EmLABJMay2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-627\" title=\"EmLABJMay2011\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EmLABJMay2011-300x133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"133\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd  I hope I can safely say that, finally, now that they are adults - and friends with each other, too, I no longer have any reason to repeat my Mama Lecture #472. The on that begins with \"The World Is a Cold Dark Place.\"','Siblings in a Cold, Dark World','','inherit','open','open','','617-revision-7','','','2011-11-18 20:24:39','2011-11-19 01:24:39','',617,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/18/617-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(640,2,'2011-11-19 07:13:34','2011-11-19 12:13:34','Rose and Daniel Wagner were out walking in the Pennsylvania town of Oakmont, near Pittsburg, when Daniel was hit by a . . . pumpkin.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_133\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Taylor passing a pumpkin to Jay - not throwing it!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-133\" title=\"Tayler_Jay_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins-300x247.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"247\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI love pumpkins!\n\nI\'ve written in <a title=\"I_Love_Pumpkins\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=124&amp;action=edit\" target=\"_blank\">an earlier post </a>about my  love for pumpkins.\n\nI love the pumpkin patch at our church, <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist_Church\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Trinity United Methodist</a>, in Rome, Georgia.  Pumpkins should NOT be used as weapons!\n\nEven in a prank.\n\nFour teens, two 15-year-olds, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, turned themselves into the police. They confessed to stealing pumpkins, then tossing the pumpkin from their vehicle.\n\nThe prank was caught on the surveillance camera at a school nearby and the vehicle, an SUV, was recognized.\n\nThe pranksters are  being lauded for coming forward, but will face fines and community service. They will also make restitution to the injured man.\n\nDaniel suffered a concussion. He continues to recover.','Attack of the Pumpkin','','inherit','open','open','','635-revision-4','','','2011-11-19 07:13:34','2011-11-19 12:13:34','',635,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/19/635-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(641,2,'2011-11-19 07:21:41','2011-11-19 12:21:41','Rose and Daniel Wagner were out walking in the Pennsylvania town of Oakmont, near Pittsburg, when Daniel was hit by a . . . pumpkin.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_133\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Taylor passing a pumpkin to Jay - not throwing it!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-133\" title=\"Tayler_Jay_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins-300x247.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"247\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI love pumpkins!\n\nI wrote in <a title=\"I_Love_Pumpkins\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=124&amp;action=edit\" target=\"_blank\">an earlier post </a>about my  love for pumpkins.\n\nOver the past 14 years, I\'ve spent countless hours in the Pumpkin Patch at our church, <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist_Church\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Trinity United Methodist</a>, in Rome, Georgia. Telling stories - particularly the Gunny Wolf. Singing songs. Showing children the pumpkins with lumpy bumps. Nibbling on our famous apple-pumpkin bread - the \"best stuff you ever put in your mouth.\"\n\nPumpkins should NOT be used as weapons!\n\nEven in a prank.\n\nFour teens, two 15-year-olds, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, turned themselves into the police. They confessed to stealing pumpkins, then tossing the pumpkin from their vehicle.\n\nThe episode was caught on the surveillance camera at a school nearby and the vehicle, an SUV, was recognized.\n\nThe pranksters are  being lauded for coming forward, but will face fines and community service. They will also make restitution to the injured man.\n\nDaniel suffered a concussion. He continues to recover.\n\nThe poor pumpkin used in the prank was broken. It was admitted into police evidence.','Attack of the Pumpkin','','inherit','open','open','','635-revision-5','','','2011-11-19 07:21:41','2011-11-19 12:21:41','',635,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/19/635-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(644,2,'2011-11-24 01:30:46','2011-11-24 06:30:46','','teepeetreats','TeePee Cupcakes','inherit','open','open','','teepeetreats','','','2011-11-24 01:30:46','2011-11-24 06:30:46','',643,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/teepeetreats.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(645,2,'2011-11-24 01:35:35','2011-11-24 06:35:35','','ReeseCupTurkey','Reese Cup Pilgrim Hats','inherit','open','open','','reesecupturkey','','','2011-11-24 01:35:35','2011-11-24 06:35:35','',643,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ReeseCupTurkey.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(646,2,'2011-11-24 01:39:06','2011-11-24 06:39:06','','KrispiePumpkins','Rice Krispie Treat pumpkins','inherit','open','open','','krispiepumpkins','','','2011-11-24 01:39:06','2011-11-24 06:39:06','',643,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/KrispiePumpkins.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(647,2,'2011-11-24 01:43:32','2011-11-24 06:43:32','','CakePops','Thanksgiving Cake Pops','inherit','open','open','','cakepops','','','2011-11-24 01:43:32','2011-11-24 06:43:32','',643,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/CakePops.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(648,2,'2011-11-24 01:48:35','2011-11-24 06:48:35','','CupcakesSprinkles','Thanksgiving cupcakes','inherit','open','open','','cupcakessprinkles','','','2011-11-24 01:48:35','2011-11-24 06:48:35','',643,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/CupcakesSprinkles.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(649,2,'2011-11-24 01:55:11','2011-11-24 06:55:11','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 some photos of the delightful, fun things that PALS\' parents brought for the feasts.\n\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]\n\nChristy Yoder 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>\n\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>\n\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]\n\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>\n\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]\n\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.\n\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.\n\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]\n\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!\n\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>.\n\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]\n\nThese were popular, too, and probably easier to make: cupcakes with chocolate icing and fall-colored sprinkles, and decorative flags.\n\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!  And Happy Thanksgiving . . . I am thankful to God for all the 101 children at PALS. . . for our 14 teachers . . . and for the parents who let us take care of their children.','Thanksgiving Treats','','inherit','open','open','','643-revision','','','2011-11-24 01:55:11','2011-11-24 06:55:11','',643,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/24/643-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(650,2,'2011-11-24 02:02:14','2011-11-24 07:02:14','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.\n\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]\n\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>\n\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>\n\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]\n\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>\n\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]\n\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.\n\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.\n\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]\n\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!\n\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>.\n\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]\n\nThese were popular, too, and probably easier to make: cupcakes with chocolate icing and fall-colored sprinkles, and decorative flags.\n\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!\n\nAnd Happy Thanksgiving . . . I am thankful to God for each and every one of the 101 children at PALS. . . for our 14 teachers . . . and for the parents who let us take care of their children.','Thanksgiving Treats','','inherit','open','open','','643-revision-2','','','2011-11-24 02:02:14','2011-11-24 07:02:14','',643,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/24/643-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(699,2,'2011-12-04 18:28:20','2011-12-04 23:28:20','<p>Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix. <a title=\"toygaroo_website\" href=\"http://www.toygaroo.com/guest/xmas_welcome\" target=\"_blank\"> Toygaroo</a>, an online toy rental, lets you:</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_702\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"178\" caption=\"My brother David and I, the Christmas I got a baby doll, and a nurse outfit for Christmas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-702  \" title=\"DebiDAvidChristmas59\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59-773x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"236\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>1. Add toys to your wishlist.</p>\r\n<p>2. Toys are delivered to your door.</p>\r\n<p>3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.</p>\r\n<p>The least expensive option is $25/month for a box of four toys shipped bi-monthly. The most costly choice is $53/month for eight toys each month. The cost of shipping - by FedEx - is included in the monthly fee.</p>\r\n<p>The choices range from 4 toys, to 6 toys to 8 toys in each package.  And you may choose to get a new package every month or every other month (bi-monthly).</p>\r\n<p>If you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal. If you lose a piece, you have 30 days to find it. Or you pay a \"lost piece\" fee.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_703\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"298\" caption=\"One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegosaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegosauruses.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-703\" title=\"MattSteggie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie-298x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>The folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor. According to their website:</p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><em>All toys regardless of brand new or returned by a member are unpacked and steam cleaned at 212 degrees to ensure 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and dust mites are killed on the spot.</em></li>\r\n<li><em>Toys are then cleaned and fully sanitized using an all organic, EPA approved, bleach free product from Melaleuca. This solution is so safe its used across the country in some of the best hospital neonatal centers.</em></li>\r\n<li><em><em>Last but not least each toy is carefully inspected, signed off on by a toy sanitization inspector and then shrink wrapped to keep it from being affected by any outside elements from the time it leaves our warehouse and arrives at your door.</em></em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_705\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Our DIL Jessica at Christmas one year.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-705 \" title=\"JessicaChristmas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>The toys seem to be aimed mostly for preschoolers.  And they include brands like Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Little Tikes, Melissa and Doug, Learning Journey International, LeapFrog and Manhattan Baby.</p>\r\n<p>My husband and I often \"recycled\" toys with our children, taking some out of circulation and putting them up in our attic, then taking them down a couple of months later, when our children would be excited to see them again.  Renting toys would accomplish much the same thing.</p>\r\n<p>If our children were still preschoolers, I could be persuaded to try this approach to Christmas gift-giving of toys.  We\'d love to hear from you.  Would you order rent-a-toys for your children?</p>\r\n','Toygaroo: Rent Toys for Christmas','','publish','open','open','','toygaroo-rent-toys-for-christmas','','','2011-12-04 19:13:50','2011-12-05 00:13:50','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=699',0,'post','',1),(652,2,'2011-11-26 10:32:59','2011-11-26 15:32:59','My sister Joan, my mother and I went on an apple trip to Ellijay, Georgia, with 34 friends, the Rah-Rahs (retired and happy) from our church.  And came home with MANY apples - a half-bushel of Granny Smiths and another half-bushel of Rome apples.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_661\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The RahRahs had lunch at the Amicalola Falls State Park Lodge, on the Fall 2011 Apple Trip.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/rahrah.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-661\" title=\"rahrah\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/rahrah-300x149.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy daughter Lisette is home for the Thanksgiving holiday and she loves to cook apples. Soon I plan to post her Apple Dumpling recipe.  Today, here is her version of \"fried\" apples.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_653\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rome Apples are good for cooking.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/friedapples1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-653\" title=\"friedapples1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/friedapples1-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe started with six Rome apples, peeled and sliced, and a splash of apple cider (rather than butter).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples31.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-656\" title=\"apples3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples31-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThen she tossed in two tablespoons of brown sugar and sprinkled in some cinnamon.  And cooked it over medium heat for 5 or 6 minutes, until the apples had softened.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples4jpg.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-657\" title=\"apples4,jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples4jpg-300x181.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"181\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThen we served the apples with scrambled eggs and biscuits (that I made).  We still had some Thanksgiving paper plates for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_658\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apples make a good complement to scrambled eggs and fresh biscuits.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples5.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-658\" title=\"apples5\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples5-300x244.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"244\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNotice the pumpkin shaped coffee mug? I was the Pumpkin Queen at our church (the project coordinator for the <a title=\"Big, Little, Huge:   I LOVE Pumpkins\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/06/pumpkins-big-little-huge-i-love-pumpkins/\">Pumpkin Patch</a>) for 10 years. I have an AMAZING collection of pumpkin items! Pumpkins go with Thanksgiving, as well as Halloween.','Fried Apples for Breakfast the Day After Thanksgiving','','publish','open','open','','fried-apples-for-breakfast-the-day-after-thanksgiving','','','2011-11-26 10:32:59','2011-11-26 15:32:59','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=652',0,'post','',0),(653,2,'2011-11-26 08:57:31','2011-11-26 13:57:31','','friedapples1','Rome Apples are good for cooking.','inherit','open','open','','friedapples1','','','2011-11-26 08:57:31','2011-11-26 13:57:31','',652,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/friedapples1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(654,2,'2011-11-26 08:58:31','2011-11-26 13:58:31','','apples2','','inherit','open','open','','apples2','','','2011-11-26 08:58:31','2011-11-26 13:58:31','',652,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(655,2,'2011-11-26 08:59:46','2011-11-26 13:59:46','','apples3','','inherit','open','open','','apples3','','','2011-11-26 08:59:46','2011-11-26 13:59:46','',652,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples3.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(656,2,'2011-11-26 09:00:00','2011-11-26 14:00:00','','apples3','','inherit','open','open','','apples3-2','','','2011-11-26 09:00:00','2011-11-26 14:00:00','',652,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples31.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(657,2,'2011-11-26 09:00:50','2011-11-26 14:00:50','','apples4,jpg','','inherit','open','open','','apples4jpg','','','2011-11-26 09:00:50','2011-11-26 14:00:50','',652,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples4jpg.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(658,2,'2011-11-26 09:01:29','2011-11-26 14:01:29','','apples5','Apples make a good compliment to scrambled eggs and fresh biscuits.','inherit','open','open','','apples5','','','2011-11-26 09:01:29','2011-11-26 14:01:29','',652,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples5.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(659,2,'2011-11-26 09:04:00','2011-11-26 14:04:00','[caption id=\"attachment_653\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rome Apples are good for cooking.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/friedapples1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-653\" title=\"friedapples1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/friedapples1-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples31.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-656\" title=\"apples3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples31-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples4jpg.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-657\" title=\"apples4,jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples4jpg-300x181.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"181\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_658\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apples make a good compliment to scrambled eggs and fresh biscuits.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples5.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-658\" title=\"apples5\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples5-300x244.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"244\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;','Fried Apples for Breakfast','','inherit','open','open','','652-revision','','','2011-11-26 09:04:00','2011-11-26 14:04:00','',652,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/26/652-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(660,2,'2011-11-26 09:16:16','2011-11-26 14:16:16','My sister Joan, my mother and I went on an apple trip to Ellijay, Georgia, with 34 friends, the Rah-Rahs (retired and happy) from our church.  And came home with MANY apples.\n\nMy daughter Lisette is home for the Thanksgiving holiday and she loves to cook apples. Soon I plan to post her Apple Dumpling recipe.  Today, here is her version of \"fried\" apples.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_653\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rome Apples are good for cooking.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/friedapples1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-653\" title=\"friedapples1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/friedapples1-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nShe started with six Rome apples, peeled and sliced, and a splash of apple cider (rather than butter).\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples31.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-656\" title=\"apples3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples31-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>\n\nThen she sprinkled in two tablespoons of brown sugar and sprinkled in some cinnamon.  And cooked it over medium heat for 5 or 6 minutes, until the apples had begun to get soft.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples4jpg.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-657\" title=\"apples4,jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples4jpg-300x181.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"181\" /></a>\n\nThen we served the apples with scrambled eggs and biscuits (that I made).  We still a some Thanksgiving paper plates for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_658\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apples make a good compliment to scrambled eggs and fresh biscuits.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples5.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-658\" title=\"apples5\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples5-300x244.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"244\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nNotice the pumpkin shaped coffee mug? I was the Pumpkin Queen at our church (the project coordinator for the Pumpkin Patch) for 10 years. I have an AMAZIN\n\n&nbsp;','Fried Apples for Breakfast','','inherit','open','open','','652-revision-2','','','2011-11-26 09:16:16','2011-11-26 14:16:16','',652,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/26/652-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(661,2,'2011-11-26 10:23:22','2011-11-26 15:23:22','','rahrah','The RahRahs had lunch at the Amicalola Falls State Park Lodge, on the Fall 2011 Apple Trip.','inherit','open','open','','rahrah','','','2011-11-26 10:23:22','2011-11-26 15:23:22','',652,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/rahrah.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(662,2,'2011-11-26 10:30:58','2011-11-26 15:30:58','My sister Joan, my mother and I went on an apple trip to Ellijay, Georgia, with 34 friends, the Rah-Rahs (retired and happy) from our church.  And came home with MANY apples - a half-bushel of Granny Smiths and another half-bushel of Rome apples.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_661\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The RahRahs had lunch at the Amicalola Falls State Park Lodge, on the Fall 2011 Apple Trip.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/rahrah.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-661\" title=\"rahrah\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/rahrah-300x149.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy daughter Lisette is home for the Thanksgiving holiday and she loves to cook apples. Soon I plan to post her Apple Dumpling recipe.  Today, here is her version of \"fried\" apples.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_653\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rome Apples are good for cooking.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/friedapples1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-653\" title=\"friedapples1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/friedapples1-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nShe started with six Rome apples, peeled and sliced, and a splash of apple cider (rather than butter).\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples31.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-656\" title=\"apples3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples31-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>\n\nThen she tossed in two tablespoons of brown sugar and sprinkled in some cinnamon.  And cooked it over medium heat for 5 or 6 minutes, until the apples had softened.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples4jpg.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-657\" title=\"apples4,jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples4jpg-300x181.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"181\" /></a>\n\nThen we served the apples with scrambled eggs and biscuits (that I made).  We still had some Thanksgiving paper plates for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_658\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apples make a good complement to scrambled eggs and fresh biscuits.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples5.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-658\" title=\"apples5\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples5-300x244.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"244\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nNotice the pumpkin shaped coffee mug? I was the Pumpkin Queen at our church (the project coordinator for the Pumpkin Patch) for 10 years. I have an AMAZING collection of pumpkin items! Pumpkins go with Thanksgiving, as well as Halloween.','Fried Apples for Breakfast the Day After Thanksgiving','','inherit','open','open','','652-revision-3','','','2011-11-26 10:30:58','2011-11-26 15:30:58','',652,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/26/652-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(663,2,'2011-11-26 10:32:24','2011-11-26 15:32:24','My sister Joan, my mother and I went on an apple trip to Ellijay, Georgia, with 34 friends, the Rah-Rahs (retired and happy) from our church.  And came home with MANY apples - a half-bushel of Granny Smiths and another half-bushel of Rome apples.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_661\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The RahRahs had lunch at the Amicalola Falls State Park Lodge, on the Fall 2011 Apple Trip.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/rahrah.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-661\" title=\"rahrah\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/rahrah-300x149.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy daughter Lisette is home for the Thanksgiving holiday and she loves to cook apples. Soon I plan to post her Apple Dumpling recipe.  Today, here is her version of \"fried\" apples.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_653\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rome Apples are good for cooking.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/friedapples1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-653\" title=\"friedapples1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/friedapples1-300x239.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe started with six Rome apples, peeled and sliced, and a splash of apple cider (rather than butter).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples31.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-656\" title=\"apples3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples31-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThen she tossed in two tablespoons of brown sugar and sprinkled in some cinnamon.  And cooked it over medium heat for 5 or 6 minutes, until the apples had softened.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples4jpg.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-657\" title=\"apples4,jpg\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples4jpg-300x181.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"181\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThen we served the apples with scrambled eggs and biscuits (that I made).  We still had some Thanksgiving paper plates for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_658\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apples make a good complement to scrambled eggs and fresh biscuits.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples5.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-658\" title=\"apples5\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apples5-300x244.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"244\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNotice the pumpkin shaped coffee mug? I was the Pumpkin Queen at our church (the project coordinator for the <a title=\"Big, Little, Huge:   I LOVE Pumpkins\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/10/06/pumpkins-big-little-huge-i-love-pumpkins/\">Pumpkin Patch</a>) for 10 years. I have an AMAZING collection of pumpkin items! Pumpkins go with Thanksgiving, as well as Halloween.','Fried Apples for Breakfast the Day After Thanksgiving','','inherit','open','open','','652-revision-4','','','2011-11-26 10:32:24','2011-11-26 15:32:24','',652,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/26/652-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(664,2,'2011-11-27 21:13:49','2011-11-28 02:13:49','The Denver Broncos have won five of the six games they\'ve played since Tim Tebow became their starting quarterback, turning their season around.  As I watch him play football, I remember the evening in April 2009, when we heard Pam Tebow, Tim\'s mother, tell her story, and the story of her Heisman Trophy winning son, at a fundraiser for a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Tennessee.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/pamtebow.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-677\" title=\"pamtebow\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/pamtebow.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"155\" height=\"194\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen she was pregnant with Tim, her fifth child, she was told that if she gave birth to that child she would risk her own life.\r\n\r\nPam and her husband Bob were missionaries in the Phillipines. Medication she had taken for an amoeba infection resulted in complications and, the doctors told them, she NEEDED to have an abortion.\r\n\r\n\"They didn\'t just recommend it; they didn\'t really give me a choice,\" Pam said. \"That was the only option they gave me.\"\r\n\r\nInstead of following the doctors’ advice, the family prayed. They prayed for Timmy by name.\r\n\r\n“God spared him,” Pam told us that day in 2009. “We knew that God had His hand on Timmy’s life. And through the years we all told Timmy that.”\r\n\r\nPam shared that one of the values she and Bob instilled in their children was humility.  And that they relied on Scripture and faith.\r\n\r\nShe turned to those of us in her audience and said, “I have the same Bible and the same God that you do.  I’ve just chosen to count on it and I have staked my life - and the lives of my children - on it.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_669\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"90\" caption=\"Tim Tebow after the Heisman Trophy presentation in 2008\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-669 \" title=\"Heisman Trophy Presentation\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"90\" height=\"90\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Tebows told all five of their children that they were special and that God had a plan for their lives. Tim\'s situation, however, was more intense because of his miraculous birth.\r\n\r\nThe Tebow children were home-schooled. A Florida law passed in the 1990s allowed homeschoolers to play public school sports.  So Tim played football for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, even though he did not attend classes there.\r\n\r\nTim has gone on mission trips every year since he turned 15.  He spoke to a group of ten thousand students in the Phillipines on one such trip.  Pam attributed his ability to articulate his faith clearly to those summer mission trips.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_670\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Tim as the quarterback for the University of Florida.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-670\" title=\"Tim Tebow\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nPam’s advice to us as parents was this:\r\n- \"You start teaching them values when they are five or younger -- you don\'t start when they are in college.\"\r\n\r\n- She had two “secrets” for parenting. The first was scripture. “We spent a lot of time memorizing Scripture and studying the Bible -- a lot of time.\"\r\n\r\n- Her second \"secret\" was faith. “Trust God who has given you your children. He is adequate. You can trust Him to enable you to do what He\'s called you to do.\"\r\n\r\n- \"Prayer is also a huge part of the discipline of a parent,\" she reminded us.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TimTebow3.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-672\" title=\"TimTebow3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TimTebow3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"120\" height=\"80\" /></a>Most of the parents whose young children I work with today, like the majority of parents I knew when my own five were growing up, spend untold hours chauffeuring kids to and from sports practices and cheering them from the sidelines game after game, season after season. Few of us will ever watch our kids play for national championships, earn their livings as professional athletes, or become the talk of sports world (like Tim Tebow has lately) with broadcasters and commentators describing their athletic feats as \"magic\" or praising them as \"a winning winner.\"\r\n\r\nBut we can pray for our children, study the Bible for wisdom, and trust God to help us to teach them the values that will enable them to be winners in life.','Tim Tebow: Miracle Baby, Winning Quarterback','','publish','open','open','','tim-tebow-miracle-baby-amazing-quarterback','','','2011-11-27 21:19:23','2011-11-28 02:19:23','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=664',0,'post','',0),(665,2,'2011-11-27 19:47:30','2011-11-28 00:47:30','In April 2009, we heard Pam Tebow, mother of quarterback Tim Tebow, tell her story at a fundraiser for a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Tennessee.  When she was pregnant with Tim, her fifth child, she was told that if she gave birth to that child she would risk her own life.\n\nPam and her husband Bob were missionaries in the Phillipines. Medication she had taken for an amoeba infection resulted in complications and, the doctors told them, she NEEDED to have an abortion.\n\n\"They didn\'t just recommend it; they didn\'t really give me a choice,\" Pam said. \"That was the only option they gave me.\"\n\nInstead of following the doctors’ advice, the family prayed. They prayed for Timmy by name.\n\n“God spared him,” Pam told us that day in 2009. “We knew that God had His hand on Timmy’s life. And through the years we all told Timmy that.”\n\nPam shared that one of the values she and Bob instilled in their children was humility.  And that they relied on Scripture and faith.\n\nShe turned to those of us in her audience and said, “I have the same Bible and the same God that you do.  I’ve just chosen to count on it and I have staked my life - and the lives of my children - on it.\nThe Tebows told all five of their children that they were special and that God had a plan for their lives. Tim\'s situation, however, was more intense because of his more intense and miraculous birth.\n\nThe Tebow children were home-schooled. A Florida law passed in the 1990s allowed homeschoolers to play public school sports.  So Tim played football for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, even though he did not attend classes there.\n\nTim has gone on mission trips every year since he turned 15.  He once spoke to a group of ten thousand students in the Phillipines on one such trip.  Pam attributed his ability to articulate his faith clearly to those summer mission trips.\n\nPam’s advice to us as parents was this:\n- \"You start teaching them character traits when they are five or younger -- you don\'t start when they are in college.\"\n\n- She had two “secrets” for parenting - scripture and faith. “We spent a lot of time memorizing Scripture and studying the Bible -- a lot of time.\"\n\n- “Trust God who has given you your children. He is adequate. You can trust Him to enable you to do what He\'s called you to do.\"\n\n- Prayer is also a \"huge\" part of the discipline of a parent.','Tim Tebow: Miracle Baby, Amazing Quarterback','','inherit','open','open','','664-revision','','','2011-11-27 19:47:30','2011-11-28 00:47:30','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/27/664-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(666,2,'2011-11-27 20:08:59','2011-11-28 01:08:59','The Denver Broncos have won five of the six games they\'ve played since Tim Tebow became their starting quarterback, turning their season around.  As I watch him play football, I remember the evening in April 2009, when we heard Pam Tebow, Tim\'s mother, tell her story at a fundraiser for a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Tennessee.\n\nWhen she was pregnant with Tim, her fifth child, she was told that if she gave birth to that child she would risk her own life.\n\nPam and her husband Bob were missionaries in the Phillipines. Medication she had taken for an amoeba infection resulted in complications and, the doctors told them, she NEEDED to have an abortion.\n\n\"They didn\'t just recommend it; they didn\'t really give me a choice,\" Pam said. \"That was the only option they gave me.\"\n\nInstead of following the doctors’ advice, the family prayed. They prayed for Timmy by name.\n\n“God spared him,” Pam told us that day in 2009. “We knew that God had His hand on Timmy’s life. And through the years we all told Timmy that.”\n\nPam shared that one of the values she and Bob instilled in their children was humility.  And that they relied on Scripture and faith.\n\nShe turned to those of us in her audience and said, “I have the same Bible and the same God that you do.  I’ve just chosen to count on it and I have staked my life - and the lives of my children - on it.\n\nThe Tebows told all five of their children that they were special and that God had a plan for their lives. Tim\'s situation, however, was more intense because of his more intense and miraculous birth.\n\nThe Tebow children were home-schooled. A Florida law passed in the 1990s allowed homeschoolers to play public school sports.  So Tim played football for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, even though he did not attend classes there.\n\nTim has gone on mission trips every year since he turned 15.  He once spoke to a group of ten thousand students in the Phillipines on one such trip.  Pam attributed his ability to articulate his faith clearly to those summer mission trips.\n\nPam’s advice to us as parents was this:\n- \"You start teaching them values when they are five or younger -- you don\'t start when they are in college.\"\n\n- She had two “secrets” for parenting. The first was scripture. “We spent a lot of time memorizing Scripture and studying the Bible -- a lot of time.\"\n\n- Her second \"secret\" was faith. “Trust God who has given you your children. He is adequate. You can trust Him to enable you to do what He\'s called you to do.\"\n\n- Prayer is also a \"huge\" part of the discipline of a parent, she reminded us.\n\nFew of us will ever see our sons be Heisman Trophy winners, or watch our children play professional sports.  We are not likely to hear sportscasters discuss our children with the sort of superlatives they are using for Tim Tebow. Someone called him  \"a winning winner who wins.\" Others refer to that \"Tebow magic.\"','Tim Tebow: Miracle Baby, Amazing Quarterback','','inherit','open','open','','664-revision-2','','','2011-11-27 20:08:59','2011-11-28 01:08:59','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/27/664-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(667,2,'2011-11-27 20:10:18','2011-11-28 01:10:18','The Denver Broncos have won five of the six games they\'ve played since Tim Tebow became their starting quarterback, turning their season around.  As I watch him play football, I remember the evening in April 2009, when we heard Pam Tebow, Tim\'s mother, tell her story at a fundraiser for a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Tennessee.\n\nWhen she was pregnant with Tim, her fifth child, she was told that if she gave birth to that child she would risk her own life.\n\nPam and her husband Bob were missionaries in the Phillipines. Medication she had taken for an amoeba infection resulted in complications and, the doctors told them, she NEEDED to have an abortion.\n\n\"They didn\'t just recommend it; they didn\'t really give me a choice,\" Pam said. \"That was the only option they gave me.\"\n\nInstead of following the doctors’ advice, the family prayed. They prayed for Timmy by name.\n\n“God spared him,” Pam told us that day in 2009. “We knew that God had His hand on Timmy’s life. And through the years we all told Timmy that.”\n\nPam shared that one of the values she and Bob instilled in their children was humility.  And that they relied on Scripture and faith.\n\nShe turned to those of us in her audience and said, “I have the same Bible and the same God that you do.  I’ve just chosen to count on it and I have staked my life - and the lives of my children - on it.\n\nThe Tebows told all five of their children that they were special and that God had a plan for their lives. Tim\'s situation, however, was more intense because of his more intense and miraculous birth.\n\nThe Tebow children were home-schooled. A Florida law passed in the 1990s allowed homeschoolers to play public school sports.  So Tim played football for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, even though he did not attend classes there.\n\nTim has gone on mission trips every year since he turned 15.  He once spoke to a group of ten thousand students in the Phillipines on one such trip.  Pam attributed his ability to articulate his faith clearly to those summer mission trips.\n\nPam’s advice to us as parents was this:\n- \"You start teaching them values when they are five or younger -- you don\'t start when they are in college.\"\n\n- She had two “secrets” for parenting. The first was scripture. “We spent a lot of time memorizing Scripture and studying the Bible -- a lot of time.\"\n\n- Her second \"secret\" was faith. “Trust God who has given you your children. He is adequate. You can trust Him to enable you to do what He\'s called you to do.\"\n\n- Prayer is also a \"huge\" part of the discipline of a parent, she reminded us.\n\nFew of us will ever see our sons be Heisman Trophy winners, or watch our children play professional sports.  We are not likely to hear sportscasters discuss our children with the sort of superlatives they are using for Tim Tebow. Someone called him  \"a winning winner who wins.\" Others refer to that \"Tebow magic.\"','Tim Tebow: Miracle Baby, Amazing Quarterback','','inherit','open','open','','664-revision-3','','','2011-11-27 20:10:18','2011-11-28 01:10:18','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/27/664-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(668,2,'2011-11-27 20:15:43','2011-11-28 01:15:43','The Denver Broncos have won five of the six games they\'ve played since Tim Tebow became their starting quarterback, turning their season around.  As I watch him play football, I remember the evening in April 2009, when we heard Pam Tebow, Tim\'s mother, tell her story, and the story of her Heisman Trophy winning son, at a fundraiser for a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Tennessee.\n\nWhen she was pregnant with Tim, her fifth child, she was told that if she gave birth to that child she would risk her own life.\n\nPam and her husband Bob were missionaries in the Phillipines. Medication she had taken for an amoeba infection resulted in complications and, the doctors told them, she NEEDED to have an abortion.\n\n\"They didn\'t just recommend it; they didn\'t really give me a choice,\" Pam said. \"That was the only option they gave me.\"\n\nInstead of following the doctors’ advice, the family prayed. They prayed for Timmy by name.\n\n“God spared him,” Pam told us that day in 2009. “We knew that God had His hand on Timmy’s life. And through the years we all told Timmy that.”\n\nPam shared that one of the values she and Bob instilled in their children was humility.  And that they relied on Scripture and faith.\n\nShe turned to those of us in her audience and said, “I have the same Bible and the same God that you do.  I’ve just chosen to count on it and I have staked my life - and the lives of my children - on it.\n\nThe Tebows told all five of their children that they were special and that God had a plan for their lives. Tim\'s situation, however, was more intense because of his more intense and miraculous birth.\n\nThe Tebow children were home-schooled. A Florida law passed in the 1990s allowed homeschoolers to play public school sports.  So Tim played football for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, even though he did not attend classes there.\n\nTim has gone on mission trips every year since he turned 15.  He once spoke to a group of ten thousand students in the Phillipines on one such trip.  Pam attributed his ability to articulate his faith clearly to those summer mission trips.\n\nPam’s advice to us as parents was this:\n- \"You start teaching them values when they are five or younger -- you don\'t start when they are in college.\"\n\n- She had two “secrets” for parenting. The first was scripture. “We spent a lot of time memorizing Scripture and studying the Bible -- a lot of time.\"\n\n- Her second \"secret\" was faith. “Trust God who has given you your children. He is adequate. You can trust Him to enable you to do what He\'s called you to do.\"\n\n- Prayer is also a \"huge\" part of the discipline of a parent, she reminded us.\n\nFew of us will ever see our sons be Heisman Trophy winners, or watch our children play professional sports.  We are not likely to hear sportscasters called our children \"a winning winner\" or \"magic.\" But we can pray for our children, and teach th','Tim Tebow: Miracle Baby, Amazing Quarterback','','inherit','open','open','','664-revision-4','','','2011-11-27 20:15:43','2011-11-28 01:15:43','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/27/664-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(669,2,'2011-11-27 20:45:11','2011-11-28 01:45:11','NEW YORK - DECEMBER 13:  Tim Tebow of the University of Florida talks with the media at a press conference after the Heisman Trophy presentation on December 13, 2008 at the Sports Museum of America in New York City.  (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)','Heisman Trophy Presentation','Tim Tebow after the Heisman Trophy presentation in 2008','inherit','open','open','','heisman-trophy-presentation','','','2011-11-27 20:45:11','2011-11-28 01:45:11','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(670,2,'2011-11-27 20:47:12','2011-11-28 01:47:12','Florida football quarterback Tim Tebow warms up during Florida\'s 26-7 over Kentucky on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2006, in Gainesville, Fla. Tebow will face Mike Shula and Alabama on Saturday, Sept. 30, after nearly joining the Crimson Tide last December. (AP Photo/Independent Florida Alligator, Tim Casey) ** MANDATORY CREDIT **','Tim Tebow','Tim as the quarterback for the University of Florida.','inherit','open','open','','tim-tebow','','','2011-11-27 20:47:12','2011-11-28 01:47:12','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(671,2,'2011-11-27 20:48:42','2011-11-28 01:48:42','The Denver Broncos have won five of the six games they\'ve played since Tim Tebow became their starting quarterback, turning their season around.  As I watch him play football, I remember the evening in April 2009, when we heard Pam Tebow, Tim\'s mother, tell her story, and the story of her Heisman Trophy winning son, at a fundraiser for a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Tennessee.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_669\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"90\" caption=\"Tim Tebow after the Heisman Trophy presentation in 2008\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-669 \" title=\"Heisman Trophy Presentation\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"90\" height=\"90\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWhen she was pregnant with Tim, her fifth child, she was told that if she gave birth to that child she would risk her own life.\n\nPam and her husband Bob were missionaries in the Phillipines. Medication she had taken for an amoeba infection resulted in complications and, the doctors told them, she NEEDED to have an abortion.\n\n\"They didn\'t just recommend it; they didn\'t really give me a choice,\" Pam said. \"That was the only option they gave me.\"\n\nInstead of following the doctors’ advice, the family prayed. They prayed for Timmy by name.\n\n“God spared him,” Pam told us that day in 2009. “We knew that God had His hand on Timmy’s life. And through the years we all told Timmy that.”\n\nPam shared that one of the values she and Bob instilled in their children was humility.  And that they relied on Scripture and faith.\n\nShe turned to those of us in her audience and said, “I have the same Bible and the same God that you do.  I’ve just chosen to count on it and I have staked my life - and the lives of my children - on it.\n\nThe Tebows told all five of their children that they were special and that God had a plan for their lives. Tim\'s situation, however, was more intense because of his more intense and miraculous birth.\n\nThe Tebow children were home-schooled. A Florida law passed in the 1990s allowed homeschoolers to play public school sports.  So Tim played football for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, even though he did not attend classes there.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_670\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Tim as the quarterback for the University of Florida.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-670\" title=\"Tim Tebow\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nTim has gone on mission trips every year since he turned 15.  He once spoke to a group of ten thousand students in the Phillipines on one such trip.  Pam attributed his ability to articulate his faith clearly to those summer mission trips.\n\nPam’s advice to us as parents was this:\n- \"You start teaching them values when they are five or younger -- you don\'t start when they are in college.\"\n\n- She had two “secrets” for parenting. The first was scripture. “We spent a lot of time memorizing Scripture and studying the Bible -- a lot of time.\"\n\n- Her second \"secret\" was faith. “Trust God who has given you your children. He is adequate. You can trust Him to enable you to do what He\'s called you to do.\"\n\n- Prayer is also a \"huge\" part of the discipline of a parent, she reminded us.\n\nFew of us will ever see our sons be Heisman Trophy winners, or watch our children play professional sports.  We are not likely to hear sportscasters called our children \"a winning winner\" or \"magic.\" But we can pray for our children, and teach them the values that enable them to be winners in life.','Tim Tebow: Miracle Baby, Amazing Quarterback','','inherit','open','open','','664-revision-5','','','2011-11-27 20:48:42','2011-11-28 01:48:42','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/27/664-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(672,2,'2011-11-27 20:52:35','2011-11-28 01:52:35','','TimTebow3','','inherit','open','open','','timtebow3','','','2011-11-27 20:52:35','2011-11-28 01:52:35','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TimTebow3.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(673,2,'2011-11-27 20:59:37','2011-11-28 01:59:37','The Denver Broncos have won five of the six games they\'ve played since Tim Tebow became their starting quarterback, turning their season around.  As I watch him play football, I remember the evening in April 2009, when we heard Pam Tebow, Tim\'s mother, tell her story, and the story of her Heisman Trophy winning son, at a fundraiser for a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Tennessee.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_669\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"90\" caption=\"Tim Tebow after the Heisman Trophy presentation in 2008\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-669 \" title=\"Heisman Trophy Presentation\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"90\" height=\"90\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWhen she was pregnant with Tim, her fifth child, she was told that if she gave birth to that child she would risk her own life.\n\nPam and her husband Bob were missionaries in the Phillipines. Medication she had taken for an amoeba infection resulted in complications and, the doctors told them, she NEEDED to have an abortion.\n\n\"They didn\'t just recommend it; they didn\'t really give me a choice,\" Pam said. \"That was the only option they gave me.\"\n\nInstead of following the doctors’ advice, the family prayed. They prayed for Timmy by name.\n\n“God spared him,” Pam told us that day in 2009. “We knew that God had His hand on Timmy’s life. And through the years we all told Timmy that.”\n\nPam shared that one of the values she and Bob instilled in their children was humility.  And that they relied on Scripture and faith.\n\nShe turned to those of us in her audience and said, “I have the same Bible and the same God that you do.  I’ve just chosen to count on it and I have staked my life - and the lives of my children - on it.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_670\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Tim as the quarterback for the University of Florida.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-670\" title=\"Tim Tebow\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe Tebows told all five of their children that they were special and that God had a plan for their lives. Tim\'s situation, however, was more intense because of his more intense and miraculous birth.\n\nThe Tebow children were home-schooled. A Florida law passed in the 1990s allowed homeschoolers to play public school sports.  So Tim played football for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, even though he did not attend classes there.\n\nTim has gone on mission trips every year since he turned 15.  He spoke to a group of ten thousand students in the Phillipines on one such trip.  Pam attributed his ability to articulate his faith clearly to those summer mission trips.\n\nPam’s advice to us as parents was this:\n- \"You start teaching them values when they are five or younger -- you don\'t start when they are in college.\"\n\n- She had two “secrets” for parenting. The first was scripture. “We spent a lot of time memorizing Scripture and studying the Bible -- a lot of time.\"\n\n- Her second \"secret\" was faith. “Trust God who has given you your children. He is adequate. You can trust Him to enable you to do what He\'s called you to do.\"\n\n- Prayer is also a \"huge\" part of the discipline of a parent, she reminded us.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TimTebow3.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-672\" title=\"TimTebow3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TimTebow3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"120\" height=\"80\" /></a>Most of the parents whose young children I work with today, like the majority of parents I knew when my own five were growing up, spend untold hours chauffeuring kids to and from practices and cheering them from the sidelines game after game, season after season. Few of us will ever watch our kids play for national championships, earn their livings as professional athletes, or become the talk of sports world (like Tim Tebow has lately) with broadcasters and commentators describing their athletic feats as \"magic\" or praising them as \"a winning winner.\"\n\nBut we can pray for our children, study the scriptures for wisdom, and trust God to help us to teach them the values that will enable them to be winners in life.','Tim Tebow: Miracle Baby, Amazing Quarterback','','inherit','open','open','','664-revision-6','','','2011-11-27 20:59:37','2011-11-28 01:59:37','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/27/664-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(674,2,'2011-11-27 21:05:35','2011-11-28 02:05:35','','tim-tebow_2','','inherit','open','open','','tim-tebow_2','','','2011-11-27 21:05:35','2011-11-28 02:05:35','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow_2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(675,2,'2011-11-27 20:59:53','2011-11-28 01:59:53','The Denver Broncos have won five of the six games they\'ve played since Tim Tebow became their starting quarterback, turning their season around.  As I watch him play football, I remember the evening in April 2009, when we heard Pam Tebow, Tim\'s mother, tell her story, and the story of her Heisman Trophy winning son, at a fundraiser for a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Tennessee.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_669\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"90\" caption=\"Tim Tebow after the Heisman Trophy presentation in 2008\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-669 \" title=\"Heisman Trophy Presentation\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"90\" height=\"90\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen she was pregnant with Tim, her fifth child, she was told that if she gave birth to that child she would risk her own life.\r\n\r\nPam and her husband Bob were missionaries in the Phillipines. Medication she had taken for an amoeba infection resulted in complications and, the doctors told them, she NEEDED to have an abortion.\r\n\r\n\"They didn\'t just recommend it; they didn\'t really give me a choice,\" Pam said. \"That was the only option they gave me.\"\r\n\r\nInstead of following the doctors’ advice, the family prayed. They prayed for Timmy by name.\r\n\r\n“God spared him,” Pam told us that day in 2009. “We knew that God had His hand on Timmy’s life. And through the years we all told Timmy that.”\r\n\r\nPam shared that one of the values she and Bob instilled in their children was humility.  And that they relied on Scripture and faith.\r\n\r\nShe turned to those of us in her audience and said, “I have the same Bible and the same God that you do.  I’ve just chosen to count on it and I have staked my life - and the lives of my children - on it.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_670\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Tim as the quarterback for the University of Florida.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-670\" title=\"Tim Tebow\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Tebows told all five of their children that they were special and that God had a plan for their lives. Tim\'s situation, however, was more intense because of his more intense and miraculous birth.\r\n\r\nThe Tebow children were home-schooled. A Florida law passed in the 1990s allowed homeschoolers to play public school sports.  So Tim played football for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, even though he did not attend classes there.\r\n\r\nTim has gone on mission trips every year since he turned 15.  He spoke to a group of ten thousand students in the Phillipines on one such trip.  Pam attributed his ability to articulate his faith clearly to those summer mission trips.\r\n\r\nPam’s advice to us as parents was this:\r\n- \"You start teaching them values when they are five or younger -- you don\'t start when they are in college.\"\r\n\r\n- She had two “secrets” for parenting. The first was scripture. “We spent a lot of time memorizing Scripture and studying the Bible -- a lot of time.\"\r\n\r\n- Her second \"secret\" was faith. “Trust God who has given you your children. He is adequate. You can trust Him to enable you to do what He\'s called you to do.\"\r\n\r\n- Prayer is also a \"huge\" part of the discipline of a parent, she reminded us.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TimTebow3.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-672\" title=\"TimTebow3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TimTebow3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"120\" height=\"80\" /></a>Most of the parents whose young children I work with today, like the majority of parents I knew when my own five were growing up, spend untold hours chauffeuring kids to and from practices and cheering them from the sidelines game after game, season after season. Few of us will ever watch our kids play for national championships, earn their livings as professional athletes, or become the talk of sports world (like Tim Tebow has lately) with broadcasters and commentators describing their athletic feats as \"magic\" or praising them as \"a winning winner.\"\r\n\r\nBut we can pray for our children, study the scriptures for wisdom, and trust God to help us to teach them the values that will enable them to be winners in life.','Tim Tebow: Miracle Baby, Amazing Quarterback','','inherit','open','open','','664-revision-7','','','2011-11-27 20:59:53','2011-11-28 01:59:53','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/27/664-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(676,2,'2011-11-27 21:06:34','2011-11-28 02:06:34','The Denver Broncos have won five of the six games they\'ve played since Tim Tebow became their starting quarterback, turning their season around.  As I watch him play football, I remember the evening in April 2009, when we heard Pam Tebow, Tim\'s mother, tell her story, and the story of her Heisman Trophy winning son, at a fundraiser for a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Tennessee.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_669\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"90\" caption=\"Tim Tebow after the Heisman Trophy presentation in 2008\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-669 \" title=\"Heisman Trophy Presentation\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"90\" height=\"90\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen she was pregnant with Tim, her fifth child, she was told that if she gave birth to that child she would risk her own life.\r\n\r\nPam and her husband Bob were missionaries in the Phillipines. Medication she had taken for an amoeba infection resulted in complications and, the doctors told them, she NEEDED to have an abortion.\r\n\r\n\"They didn\'t just recommend it; they didn\'t really give me a choice,\" Pam said. \"That was the only option they gave me.\"\r\n\r\nInstead of following the doctors’ advice, the family prayed. They prayed for Timmy by name.\r\n\r\n“God spared him,” Pam told us that day in 2009. “We knew that God had His hand on Timmy’s life. And through the years we all told Timmy that.”\r\n\r\nPam shared that one of the values she and Bob instilled in their children was humility.  And that they relied on Scripture and faith.\r\n\r\nShe turned to those of us in her audience and said, “I have the same Bible and the same God that you do.  I’ve just chosen to count on it and I have staked my life - and the lives of my children - on it.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_670\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Tim as the quarterback for the University of Florida.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-670\" title=\"Tim Tebow\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Tebows told all five of their children that they were special and that God had a plan for their lives. Tim\'s situation, however, was more intense because of his more intense and miraculous birth.\r\n\r\nThe Tebow children were home-schooled. A Florida law passed in the 1990s allowed homeschoolers to play public school sports.  So Tim played football for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, even though he did not attend classes there.\r\n\r\nTim has gone on mission trips every year since he turned 15.  He spoke to a group of ten thousand students in the Phillipines on one such trip.  Pam attributed his ability to articulate his faith clearly to those summer mission trips.\r\n\r\nPam’s advice to us as parents was this:\r\n- \"You start teaching them values when they are five or younger -- you don\'t start when they are in college.\"\r\n\r\n- She had two “secrets” for parenting. The first was scripture. “We spent a lot of time memorizing Scripture and studying the Bible -- a lot of time.\"\r\n\r\n- Her second \"secret\" was faith. “Trust God who has given you your children. He is adequate. You can trust Him to enable you to do what He\'s called you to do.\"\r\n\r\n- Prayer is also a \"huge\" part of the discipline of a parent, she reminded us.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TimTebow3.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-672\" title=\"TimTebow3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TimTebow3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"120\" height=\"80\" /></a>Most of the parents whose young children I work with today, like the majority of parents I knew when my own five were growing up, spend untold hours chauffeuring kids to and from practices and cheering them from the sidelines game after game, season after season. Few of us will ever watch our kids play for national championships, earn their livings as professional athletes, or become the talk of sports world (like Tim Tebow has lately) with broadcasters and commentators describing their athletic feats as \"magic\" or praising them as \"a winning winner.\"\r\n\r\nBut we can pray for our children, study the scriptures for wisdom, and trust God to help us to teach them the values that will enable them to be winners in life.','Tim Tebow: Miracle Baby, Amazing Quarterback','','inherit','open','open','','664-revision-8','','','2011-11-27 21:06:34','2011-11-28 02:06:34','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/27/664-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(677,2,'2011-11-27 21:10:09','2011-11-28 02:10:09','','pamtebow','','inherit','open','open','','pamtebow','','','2011-11-27 21:10:09','2011-11-28 02:10:09','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/pamtebow.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(678,2,'2011-11-27 21:08:40','2011-11-28 02:08:40','The Denver Broncos have won five of the six games they\'ve played since Tim Tebow became their starting quarterback, turning their season around.  As I watch him play football, I remember the evening in April 2009, when we heard Pam Tebow, Tim\'s mother, tell her story, and the story of her Heisman Trophy winning son, at a fundraiser for a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Tennessee.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_669\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"90\" caption=\"Tim Tebow after the Heisman Trophy presentation in 2008\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-669 \" title=\"Heisman Trophy Presentation\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"90\" height=\"90\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWhen she was pregnant with Tim, her fifth child, she was told that if she gave birth to that child she would risk her own life.\n\nPam and her husband Bob were missionaries in the Phillipines. Medication she had taken for an amoeba infection resulted in complications and, the doctors told them, she NEEDED to have an abortion.\n\n\"They didn\'t just recommend it; they didn\'t really give me a choice,\" Pam said. \"That was the only option they gave me.\"\n\nInstead of following the doctors’ advice, the family prayed. They prayed for Timmy by name.\n\n“God spared him,” Pam told us that day in 2009. “We knew that God had His hand on Timmy’s life. And through the years we all told Timmy that.”\n\nPam shared that one of the values she and Bob instilled in their children was humility.  And that they relied on Scripture and faith.\n\nShe turned to those of us in her audience and said, “I have the same Bible and the same God that you do.  I’ve just chosen to count on it and I have staked my life - and the lives of my children - on it.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_670\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Tim as the quarterback for the University of Florida.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-670\" title=\"Tim Tebow\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe Tebows told all five of their children that they were special and that God had a plan for their lives. Tim\'s situation, however, was more intense because of his more intense and miraculous birth.\n\nThe Tebow children were home-schooled. A Florida law passed in the 1990s allowed homeschoolers to play public school sports.  So Tim played football for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, even though he did not attend classes there.\n\nTim has gone on mission trips every year since he turned 15.  He spoke to a group of ten thousand students in the Phillipines on one such trip.  Pam attributed his ability to articulate his faith clearly to those summer mission trips.\n\nPam’s advice to us as parents was this:\n- \"You start teaching them values when they are five or younger -- you don\'t start when they are in college.\"\n\n- She had two “secrets” for parenting. The first was scripture. “We spent a lot of time memorizing Scripture and studying the Bible -- a lot of time.\"\n\n- Her second \"secret\" was faith. “Trust God who has given you your children. He is adequate. You can trust Him to enable you to do what He\'s called you to do.\"\n\n- Prayer is also a \"huge\" part of the discipline of a parent, she reminded us.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TimTebow3.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-672\" title=\"TimTebow3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TimTebow3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"120\" height=\"80\" /></a>Most of the parents whose young children I work with today, like the majority of parents I knew when my own five were growing up, spend untold hours chauffeuring kids to and from practices and cheering them from the sidelines game after game, season after season. Few of us will ever watch our kids play for national championships, earn their livings as professional athletes, or become the talk of sports world (like Tim Tebow has lately) with broadcasters and commentators describing their athletic feats as \"magic\" or praising them as \"a winning winner.\"\n\nBut we can pray for our children, study the scriptures for wisdom, and trust God to help us to teach them the values that will enable them to be winners in life.','Tim Tebow: Miracle Baby, Amazing Quarterback','','inherit','open','open','','664-revision-9','','','2011-11-27 21:08:40','2011-11-28 02:08:40','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/27/664-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(679,2,'2011-11-27 21:13:49','2011-11-28 02:13:49','The Denver Broncos have won five of the six games they\'ve played since Tim Tebow became their starting quarterback, turning their season around.  As I watch him play football, I remember the evening in April 2009, when we heard Pam Tebow, Tim\'s mother, tell her story, and the story of her Heisman Trophy winning son, at a fundraiser for a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Tennessee.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/pamtebow.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-677\" title=\"pamtebow\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/pamtebow.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"155\" height=\"194\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen she was pregnant with Tim, her fifth child, she was told that if she gave birth to that child she would risk her own life.\r\n\r\nPam and her husband Bob were missionaries in the Phillipines. Medication she had taken for an amoeba infection resulted in complications and, the doctors told them, she NEEDED to have an abortion.\r\n\r\n\"They didn\'t just recommend it; they didn\'t really give me a choice,\" Pam said. \"That was the only option they gave me.\"\r\n\r\nInstead of following the doctors’ advice, the family prayed. They prayed for Timmy by name.\r\n\r\n“God spared him,” Pam told us that day in 2009. “We knew that God had His hand on Timmy’s life. And through the years we all told Timmy that.”\r\n\r\nPam shared that one of the values she and Bob instilled in their children was humility.  And that they relied on Scripture and faith.\r\n\r\nShe turned to those of us in her audience and said, “I have the same Bible and the same God that you do.  I’ve just chosen to count on it and I have staked my life - and the lives of my children - on it.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_669\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"90\" caption=\"Tim Tebow after the Heisman Trophy presentation in 2008\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-669 \" title=\"Heisman Trophy Presentation\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tim-Tebow.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"90\" height=\"90\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Tebows told all five of their children that they were special and that God had a plan for their lives. Tim\'s situation, however, was more intense because of his more intense and miraculous birth.\r\n\r\nThe Tebow children were home-schooled. A Florida law passed in the 1990s allowed homeschoolers to play public school sports.  So Tim played football for Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, even though he did not attend classes there.\r\n\r\nTim has gone on mission trips every year since he turned 15.  He spoke to a group of ten thousand students in the Phillipines on one such trip.  Pam attributed his ability to articulate his faith clearly to those summer mission trips.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_670\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Tim as the quarterback for the University of Florida.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-670\" title=\"Tim Tebow\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tim-tebow-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nPam’s advice to us as parents was this:\r\n- \"You start teaching them values when they are five or younger -- you don\'t start when they are in college.\"\r\n\r\n- She had two “secrets” for parenting. The first was scripture. “We spent a lot of time memorizing Scripture and studying the Bible -- a lot of time.\"\r\n\r\n- Her second \"secret\" was faith. “Trust God who has given you your children. He is adequate. You can trust Him to enable you to do what He\'s called you to do.\"\r\n\r\n- \"Prayer is also a huge part of the discipline of a parent,\" she reminded us.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TimTebow3.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-672\" title=\"TimTebow3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TimTebow3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"120\" height=\"80\" /></a>Most of the parents whose young children I work with today, like the majority of parents I knew when my own five were growing up, spend untold hours chauffeuring kids to and from sports practices and cheering them from the sidelines game after game, season after season. Few of us will ever watch our kids play for national championships, earn their livings as professional athletes, or become the talk of sports world (like Tim Tebow has lately) with broadcasters and commentators describing their athletic feats as \"magic\" or praising them as \"a winning winner.\"\r\n\r\nBut we can pray for our children, study the Bible for wisdom, and trust God to help us to teach them the values that will enable them to be winners in life.','Tim Tebow: Miracle Baby, Amazing Quarterback','','inherit','open','open','','664-revision-10','','','2011-11-27 21:13:49','2011-11-28 02:13:49','',664,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/27/664-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(720,2,'2011-12-05 23:15:29','2011-12-06 04:15:29','Today is December 5, and looking ahead, it already seems that Christmas Day will be here before I can blink. But I am also looking back, over the years when our children were young, and what Christmas traditions we began for our family, what worked and what didn\'t and which ones mattered to my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_722\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"252\" caption=\"Grandpa and Grandma watch Lisette with her new baby doll and stroller.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-722  \" title=\"LisetteBabyDoll\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"252\" height=\"385\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe tried to keep gift-giving affordable.  We often bought used toys at yard sales. Children do not care if a toy has been played with by another child. A little Lysol, a little cleaning up, and, for a child, it might as well be brand new.\r\n\r\nIn fact, if I got it at a garage sale and it was still in good shape, that meant it was durable. Not a small consideration when buying something for Andrew who played hard and long, with 110 percent intensity.\r\n\r\nAnd we kept the gifts simple and classic. Baby dolls and strollers. Puppets and Legos and wooden building blocks. Games like tic-tac-toe or Aggravation. Our family has always liked board games, so most Christmases our children would get a game as one of their gifts. Then part of Christmas fun was playing them together.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_723\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"273\" caption=\"Andrew and his game of tic-tac-toe.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-723 \" title=\"AndrewTicTac\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"273\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFor years we lived in Illinois and my husband\'s parents lived in Kentucky and my parents lived in Georgia.  So Christmas always meant travel in a car. We\'d spend one Christmas with his folks and the next one with mine.\r\n\r\nWe were determined to keep some of our own family traditions , regardless of where we celebrated the holiday.  How we did that will be in tomorrow\'s post.','Lewis Family Christmas Traditions','','publish','open','open','','lewis-family-christmas-traditions','','','2011-12-05 23:15:29','2011-12-06 04:15:29','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=720',0,'post','',0),(731,2,'2011-12-06 23:35:25','2011-12-07 04:35:25','<a title=\"Temper Trantrums\" href=\"http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/12/05/temper-tantrums-theres-method-to-the-madness/\" target=\"_blank\">New research into temper tantrums</a> in young children shows that the best parental reaction is . . . to ignore them.  Researchers sewed microphones into the onesies of 13 two to three year olds and recorded their cries during temper tantrums.  Then they analyzed the sounds and rhythms for the corresponding emotions.\r\n\r\nTheir conclusion? “Ignoring the child” is the fastest way to get past the tantrum. Do not argue or engage with the child until the child calms down.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_732\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Andrew always did EVERYTHING 110 percent, including temper tantrums. This photo, at 6 months, shows his personality.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-732 \" title=\"Andrew6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThey could have saved their research money if only they had asked me!  Or asked my mother, who long before anyone dreamed of this study, advised me to ignore tantrums.\r\nOur oldest son Andrew was our king of the temper tantrums.  Starting just before his second birthday, if he was not getting what he wanted, he could - and would - throw himself on the floor of the grocery store - or any store - and pound arms and legs until I wondered if he’d bruise himself.\r\n\r\nFollowing my mother’s advice, I would walk a few yards down the grocery store aisle, pick up a can of something, anything off the shelf and pretend to read the label. I’d watch Andrew out of the corner of my eye.\r\n\r\nHe’d get up off the floor, stomp down the aisle until he was beside me, then toss himself on the floor and begin the tantrum again.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_733\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Not hard to see that gung-ho, give-it-everything-I&#39;ve-got personality trait, is it?\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-733 \" title=\"Andrew110\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110-210x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI’d put the can back on the shelf, then move further down the aisle, pick up another item and pretend to read that label, as if I was completely oblivious to the screaming child who kept following me.\r\n\r\nBy the end of the aisle, the tantrum was usually over.\r\n\r\nI found he was less likely to pitch a fit if I did not to take him places when he was tired or hungry.  But, nothing I did completely eliminated his tantrums.  Until just before he turned three, he simply quit pitching tantrums, abandoning them as an apparently ineffective means of trying to get his way.\r\n\r\nExcept when my mother-in-law visited.  She found it impossible to ignore the tantrums.  So Andrew continued them when she was around, until after his fourth birthday.\r\n\r\nThe study on temper tantrums, done by Michael Potegal and James A. Green, was published in the journal Emotion and reported on NPR’s Morning Edition today.','New Temper Tantrum Research Confirms Old Advice','','publish','open','open','','new-temper-trantrum-research-confirms-old-advice','','','2011-12-06 23:55:42','2011-12-07 04:55:42','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=731',0,'post','',1),(683,2,'2011-11-30 23:30:56','2011-12-01 04:30:56','When our children were younger and living at home with us, I usually fixed big, Saturday morning breakfasts: pancakes or french toast or waffles.  We had TWO waffle-makers, bought at yard sales, so that I could make the waffles faster and keep them hot.\r\n\r\nOne of our favorite breakfasts, though, was biscuits.  With scrambled eggs or fried eggs and bacon or sausage.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_688\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"A Good Country Breakfast\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/countrybfast.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-688\" title=\"countrybfast\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/countrybfast-300x261.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"261\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nGood Southern-style biscuits are . . . delicious . . . mouth-watering . . . melt-in-your-mouth . . . when they are hot out of the oven.  And good biscuits are okay the next morning, heated up in the oven or even the microwave.\r\n\r\nBut, after that, well, you cannot keep biscuits.\r\n\r\nSo, fixing a batch of biscuits for a family of seven was fun.  I\'d mess up the kitchen, but it was worth it. A big batch fed everyone in the family, and any friends who had spent the night.  With enough to reheat for okay biscuits the next day.\r\n\r\nNow that it is just my husband and me at home, I often do not think that biscuits are worth all the bother, for just two people.  But I have found a solution.\r\n\r\nI mix up a big batch of biscuit dough.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_685\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Six cups of self-rising flour; 2 cups of shortening; 4 cups of milk\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitingredients1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-685\" title=\"biscuitingredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitingredients1-300x253.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"253\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI mix the dough with my hands until it is just mixed.  My Mother always warned me to handle biscuit dough as little as possible. I add enough milk to make a very soft dough.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_686\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"I mix the dough by hand in a wooden dough bowl.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mixingbiscuits.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-686\" title=\"mixingbiscuits\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mixingbiscuits-300x205.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"205\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen I put a generous amount of flour on my board and roll out some of the biscuit dough - enough to make 4 or 5 biscuits. I fold it over and pat it down, then fold it over and pat it down, four or five times, until the dough is somewhat smooth. Each time I fold it over, the thin layer of flour the dough picks up off the board creates a layer of flakiness.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/doughonboard.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-689\" title=\"doughonboard\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/doughonboard-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThen I cut out and bake four biscuits -- to make a nice breakfast for my husband and me.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/cuttingbiscuits.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-690\" title=\"cuttingbiscuits\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/cuttingbiscuits-293x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"293\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitsonpan.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-696\" title=\"biscuitsonpan\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitsonpan-300x275.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"275\" /></a>But, I am left with a large bowl of biscuit dough. To which I add 2 tablespoons of baking powder and one tablespoon of salt.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SaltBakingpowder.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-692\" title=\"SaltBakingpowder\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SaltBakingpowder-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" /></a> I stir it enough to mix the extra leavening in. Then pat it out, fold it over, pat it out and fold it over, again 4 or 5 times, until the dough is smooth.\r\n\r\nThen I cut them into biscuits, put them on a pan and stick them in the freezer.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_693\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Since I am freezing them, not baking the, the biscuits can be close together.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitstofreeze.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-693\" title=\"biscuitstofreeze\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitstofreeze-300x196.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"196\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLet them freeze for several hours.  Then pop them into a freezer bag.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/bakedbiscuits.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-694\" title=\"bakedbiscuits\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/bakedbiscuits-300x278.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"278\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThen, any morning of the week, we can pull out just how many biscuits we want, thaw them in the microwave and bake them.  And have fresh, hot-out-of-the oven biscuits, without any mess or fuss.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Yummy Freezer Biscuits','','publish','open','open','','yummy-freezer-biscuits','','','2011-11-30 23:30:56','2011-12-01 04:30:56','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=683',0,'post','',1),(684,2,'2011-11-30 22:38:40','2011-12-01 03:38:40','','biscuitingredients','Just three ingredients: self-rising flour; shortening and milk','inherit','open','open','','biscuitingredients','','','2011-11-30 22:38:40','2011-12-01 03:38:40','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitingredients.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(685,2,'2011-11-30 22:52:39','2011-12-01 03:52:39','','biscuitingredients','Six cups of self-rising flour; 2 cups of shortening; 4 cups of milk','inherit','open','open','','biscuitingredients-2','','','2011-11-30 22:52:39','2011-12-01 03:52:39','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitingredients1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(686,2,'2011-11-30 22:55:05','2011-12-01 03:55:05','','mixingbiscuits','I mix the dough by hand in a wooden dough bowl.','inherit','open','open','','mixingbiscuits','','','2011-11-30 22:55:05','2011-12-01 03:55:05','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mixingbiscuits.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(687,2,'2011-11-30 22:53:52','2011-12-01 03:53:52','When our children were younger and living at home with us, I usually fixed big, Saturday morning breakfasts: pancakes or french toast or waffles.  We had TWO waffle-makers, bought at yard sales, so that I could make the waffles faster and keep them hot.\n\nOne of our favorite breakfast, though, was biscuits.  With scrambled eggs or fried eggs and bacon or sausage.\n\nBiscuits are delicious . . . mouth-watering . . . melt-in-your-mouth when they are hot out of the oven.  And they are okay the next morning, heated up in the oven or even the microwave.  But, after that, well, you cannot keep biscuits.\n\nSo, fixing a batch of biscuits for a family of seven was fun.  I\'d mess up the kitchen, but it was worth it.  Now that it is just my husband and me at home, it is hard to think that biscuits are worth all the bother, for just two people.  But I have found a solution.\n\nI mix up a big batch of biscuit dough.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_685\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Six cups of self-rising flour; 2 cups of shortening; 4 cups of milk\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitingredients1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-685\" title=\"biscuitingredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitingredients1-300x253.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"253\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen bake four biscuits  to make a nice breakfast for my husband and me.  Then I add extra baking powder and salt to the remaining biscuit dough, roll it out and freeze them.\n\nThen, any morning of the week, we can pull out just how many biscuits we want, thaw them in the microwave and bake them.  And have fresh, hot-out-of-the oven biscuits, without any mess or fuss.','Yummy Freezer Biscuits','','inherit','open','open','','683-revision','','','2011-11-30 22:53:52','2011-12-01 03:53:52','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/30/683-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(688,2,'2011-11-30 22:58:10','2011-12-01 03:58:10','','countrybfast','A Good Country Breakfast','inherit','open','open','','countrybfast','','','2011-11-30 22:58:10','2011-12-01 03:58:10','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/countrybfast.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(689,2,'2011-11-30 23:03:36','2011-12-01 04:03:36','','doughonboard','','inherit','open','open','','doughonboard','','','2011-11-30 23:03:36','2011-12-01 04:03:36','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/doughonboard.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(690,2,'2011-11-30 23:05:42','2011-12-01 04:05:42','','cuttingbiscuits','','inherit','open','open','','cuttingbiscuits','','','2011-11-30 23:05:42','2011-12-01 04:05:42','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/cuttingbiscuits.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(691,2,'2011-11-30 23:06:55','2011-12-01 04:06:55','When our children were younger and living at home with us, I usually fixed big, Saturday morning breakfasts: pancakes or french toast or waffles.  We had TWO waffle-makers, bought at yard sales, so that I could make the waffles faster and keep them hot.\n\nOne of our favorite breakfast, though, was biscuits.  With scrambled eggs or fried eggs and bacon or sausage.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_688\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"A Good Country Breakfast\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/countrybfast.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-688\" title=\"countrybfast\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/countrybfast-300x261.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"261\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBiscuits are delicious . . . mouth-watering . . . melt-in-your-mouth when they are hot out of the oven.  And they are okay the next morning, heated up in the oven or even the microwave.  But, after that, well, you cannot keep biscuits.\n\nSo, fixing a batch of biscuits for a family of seven was fun.  I\'d mess up the kitchen, but it was worth it.  Now that it is just my husband and me at home, I often do not think that biscuits are worth all the bother, for just two people.  But I have found a solution.\n\nI mix up a big batch of biscuit dough.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_685\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Six cups of self-rising flour; 2 cups of shortening; 4 cups of milk\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitingredients1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-685\" title=\"biscuitingredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitingredients1-300x253.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"253\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI mix the dough with my hands until it is just mixed.  My Mother always warned me to handle biscuit dough as little as possible.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_686\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"I mix the dough by hand in a wooden dough bowl.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mixingbiscuits.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-686\" title=\"mixingbiscuits\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mixingbiscuits-300x205.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"205\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen I put a generous amount of flour on my board and roll out some of the biscuit dough - enough to make 4 or 5 biscuits. I fold it over and pat it down, then fold it over and pat it down, four or five times, until the dough is somewhat smooth.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/doughonboard.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-689\" title=\"doughonboard\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/doughonboard-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nThen I cut out and bake four biscuits -- to make a nice breakfast for my husband and me.  Then I add extra baking powder and salt to the remaining biscuit dough, roll it out and freeze them.\n\nThen, any morning of the week, we can pull out just how many biscuits we want, thaw them in the microwave and bake them.  And have fresh, hot-out-of-the oven biscuits, without any mess or fuss.','Yummy Freezer Biscuits','','inherit','open','open','','683-revision-2','','','2011-11-30 23:06:55','2011-12-01 04:06:55','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/30/683-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(692,2,'2011-11-30 23:13:59','2011-12-01 04:13:59','','SaltBakingpowder','','inherit','open','open','','saltbakingpowder','','','2011-11-30 23:13:59','2011-12-01 04:13:59','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SaltBakingpowder.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(693,2,'2011-11-30 23:14:45','2011-12-01 04:14:45','','biscuitstofreeze','Since I am freezing them, not baking the, the biscuits can be close together.','inherit','open','open','','biscuitstofreeze','','','2011-11-30 23:14:45','2011-12-01 04:14:45','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitstofreeze.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(694,2,'2011-11-30 23:16:08','2011-12-01 04:16:08','','bakedbiscuits','','inherit','open','open','','bakedbiscuits','','','2011-11-30 23:16:08','2011-12-01 04:16:08','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/bakedbiscuits.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(695,2,'2011-11-30 23:17:03','2011-12-01 04:17:03','','biscuitsfeatured','','inherit','open','open','','biscuitsfeatured','','','2011-11-30 23:17:03','2011-12-01 04:17:03','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitsfeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(696,2,'2011-11-30 23:23:37','2011-12-01 04:23:37','','biscuitsonpan','','inherit','open','open','','biscuitsonpan','','','2011-11-30 23:23:37','2011-12-01 04:23:37','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitsonpan.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(697,2,'2011-11-30 23:28:44','2011-12-01 04:28:44','When our children were younger and living at home with us, I usually fixed big, Saturday morning breakfasts: pancakes or french toast or waffles.  We had TWO waffle-makers, bought at yard sales, so that I could make the waffles faster and keep them hot.\n\nOne of our favorite breakfast, though, was biscuits.  With scrambled eggs or fried eggs and bacon or sausage.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_688\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"A Good Country Breakfast\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/countrybfast.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-688\" title=\"countrybfast\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/countrybfast-300x261.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"261\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nGood Southern-style biscuits are . . . delicious . . . mouth-watering . . . melt-in-your-mouth . . . when they are hot out of the oven.  And good biscuits are okay the next morning, heated up in the oven or even the microwave.\n\nBut, after that, well, you cannot keep biscuits.\n\nSo, fixing a batch of biscuits for a family of seven was fun.  I\'d mess up the kitchen, but it was worth it. A big batch fed everyone in the family, and any friends who had spent the night.  With enough to reheat for okay biscuits the next day.\n\nNow that it is just my husband and me at home, I often do not think that biscuits are worth all the bother, for just two people.  But I have found a solution.\n\nI mix up a big batch of biscuit dough.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_685\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Six cups of self-rising flour; 2 cups of shortening; 4 cups of milk\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitingredients1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-685\" title=\"biscuitingredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitingredients1-300x253.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"253\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI mix the dough with my hands until it is just mixed.  My Mother always warned me to handle biscuit dough as little as possible. I add enough milk to make a very soft dough.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_686\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"I mix the dough by hand in a wooden dough bowl.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mixingbiscuits.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-686\" title=\"mixingbiscuits\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mixingbiscuits-300x205.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"205\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen I put a generous amount of flour on my board and roll out some of the biscuit dough - enough to make 4 or 5 biscuits. I fold it over and pat it down, then fold it over and pat it down, four or five times, until the dough is somewhat smooth. Each time I fold it over, the thin layer of flour the dough picks up off the board creates a layer of flakiness.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/doughonboard.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-689\" title=\"doughonboard\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/doughonboard-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nThen I cut out and bake four biscuits -- to make a nice breakfast for my husband and me.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/cuttingbiscuits.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-690\" title=\"cuttingbiscuits\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/cuttingbiscuits-293x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"293\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitsonpan.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-696\" title=\"biscuitsonpan\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitsonpan-300x275.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"275\" /></a>But, I am left with a large bowl of biscuit dough. To which I add 2 tablespoons of baking powder and one tablespoon of salt.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SaltBakingpowder.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-692\" title=\"SaltBakingpowder\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SaltBakingpowder-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" /></a> I stir it enough to mix the extra leavening in. Then pat it out, fold it over, pat it out and fold it over, again 4 or 5 times, until the dough is smooth.\n\nThen I cut them into biscuits, put them on a pan and stick them in the freezer.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_693\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Since I am freezing them, not baking the, the biscuits can be close together.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitstofreeze.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-693\" title=\"biscuitstofreeze\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitstofreeze-300x196.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"196\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nLet them freeze for several hours.  Then pop them into a freezer bag.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/bakedbiscuits.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-694\" title=\"bakedbiscuits\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/bakedbiscuits-300x278.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"278\" /></a>\n\nThen, any morning of the week, we can pull out just how many biscuits we want, thaw them in the microwave and bake them.  And have fresh, hot-out-of-the oven biscuits, without any mess or fuss.\n\n&nbsp;','Yummy Freezer Biscuits','','inherit','open','open','','683-revision-3','','','2011-11-30 23:28:44','2011-12-01 04:28:44','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/30/683-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(698,2,'2011-11-30 23:28:51','2011-12-01 04:28:51','When our children were younger and living at home with us, I usually fixed big, Saturday morning breakfasts: pancakes or french toast or waffles.  We had TWO waffle-makers, bought at yard sales, so that I could make the waffles faster and keep them hot.\r\n\r\nOne of our favorite breakfast, though, was biscuits.  With scrambled eggs or fried eggs and bacon or sausage.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_688\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"A Good Country Breakfast\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/countrybfast.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-688\" title=\"countrybfast\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/countrybfast-300x261.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"261\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nGood Southern-style biscuits are . . . delicious . . . mouth-watering . . . melt-in-your-mouth . . . when they are hot out of the oven.  And good biscuits are okay the next morning, heated up in the oven or even the microwave.\r\n\r\nBut, after that, well, you cannot keep biscuits.\r\n\r\nSo, fixing a batch of biscuits for a family of seven was fun.  I\'d mess up the kitchen, but it was worth it. A big batch fed everyone in the family, and any friends who had spent the night.  With enough to reheat for okay biscuits the next day.\r\n\r\nNow that it is just my husband and me at home, I often do not think that biscuits are worth all the bother, for just two people.  But I have found a solution.\r\n\r\nI mix up a big batch of biscuit dough.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_685\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Six cups of self-rising flour; 2 cups of shortening; 4 cups of milk\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitingredients1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-685\" title=\"biscuitingredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitingredients1-300x253.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"253\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI mix the dough with my hands until it is just mixed.  My Mother always warned me to handle biscuit dough as little as possible. I add enough milk to make a very soft dough.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_686\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"I mix the dough by hand in a wooden dough bowl.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mixingbiscuits.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-686\" title=\"mixingbiscuits\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mixingbiscuits-300x205.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"205\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen I put a generous amount of flour on my board and roll out some of the biscuit dough - enough to make 4 or 5 biscuits. I fold it over and pat it down, then fold it over and pat it down, four or five times, until the dough is somewhat smooth. Each time I fold it over, the thin layer of flour the dough picks up off the board creates a layer of flakiness.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/doughonboard.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-689\" title=\"doughonboard\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/doughonboard-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThen I cut out and bake four biscuits -- to make a nice breakfast for my husband and me.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/cuttingbiscuits.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-690\" title=\"cuttingbiscuits\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/cuttingbiscuits-293x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"293\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitsonpan.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-696\" title=\"biscuitsonpan\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitsonpan-300x275.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"275\" /></a>But, I am left with a large bowl of biscuit dough. To which I add 2 tablespoons of baking powder and one tablespoon of salt.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SaltBakingpowder.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-692\" title=\"SaltBakingpowder\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SaltBakingpowder-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" /></a> I stir it enough to mix the extra leavening in. Then pat it out, fold it over, pat it out and fold it over, again 4 or 5 times, until the dough is smooth.\r\n\r\nThen I cut them into biscuits, put them on a pan and stick them in the freezer.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_693\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Since I am freezing them, not baking the, the biscuits can be close together.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitstofreeze.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-693\" title=\"biscuitstofreeze\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/biscuitstofreeze-300x196.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"196\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLet them freeze for several hours.  Then pop them into a freezer bag.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/bakedbiscuits.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-694\" title=\"bakedbiscuits\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/bakedbiscuits-300x278.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"278\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThen, any morning of the week, we can pull out just how many biscuits we want, thaw them in the microwave and bake them.  And have fresh, hot-out-of-the oven biscuits, without any mess or fuss.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Yummy Freezer Biscuits','','inherit','open','open','','683-revision-4','','','2011-11-30 23:28:51','2011-12-01 04:28:51','',683,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/30/683-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(700,2,'2011-12-04 17:30:20','2011-12-04 22:30:20','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix.  Toygaroo, an online toy rental, lets you:\n\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\n\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\n\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\n\n4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe least expensive option is $25/month for a box of four toys.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and no yuck factor.\"','Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-revision','','','2011-12-04 17:30:20','2011-12-04 22:30:20','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(701,2,'2011-12-04 17:30:47','2011-12-04 22:30:47','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix.  Toygaroo, an online toy rental, lets you:\r\n\r\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\r\n\r\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\r\n\r\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\r\n\r\n4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe least expensive option is $25/month for a box of four toys.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor.\"','Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-revision-2','','','2011-12-04 17:30:47','2011-12-04 22:30:47','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(702,2,'2011-12-04 17:35:18','2011-12-04 22:35:18','','DebiDAvidChristmas59','','inherit','open','open','','debidavidchristmas59','','','2011-12-04 17:35:18','2011-12-04 22:35:18','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(703,2,'2011-12-04 17:40:37','2011-12-04 22:40:37','','MattSteggie','One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegasaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegasauruses.','inherit','open','open','','mattsteggie','','','2011-12-04 17:40:37','2011-12-04 22:40:37','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(704,2,'2011-12-04 17:45:03','2011-12-04 22:45:03','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix. <a title=\"toygaroo_website\" href=\"http://www.toygaroo.com/guest/xmas_welcome\" target=\"_blank\"> Toygaroo</a>, an online toy rental, lets you:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_702\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"178\" caption=\"My brother David and I, the Christmas I got a baby doll, and a nurse outfit for Christmas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-702  \" title=\"DebiDAvidChristmas59\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59-773x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"236\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\n\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\n\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.</p>\nThe least expensive option is $25/month for a box of four toys. But the choices range from 4 toys, to 6 toys to 8 toys in each package.  And you\n\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal.\n\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor. According to their website:\n<ul>\n	<li><em>All toys regardless of brand new or returned by a member are unpacked and steam cleaned at 212 degrees to ensure 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and dust mites are killed on the spot.</em></li>\n	<li><em>Toys are then cleaned and fully sanitized using an all organic, EPA approved, bleach free product from Melaleuca. This solution is so safe its used across the country in some of the best hospital neonatal centers.</em></li>\n	<li><em><em>Last but not least each toy is carefully inspected, signed off on by a toy sanitization inspector and then shrink wrapped to keep it from being affected by any outside elements from the time it leaves our warehouse and arrives at your door.</em></em>\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_703\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"298\" caption=\"One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegasaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegasauruses.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-703\" title=\"MattSteggie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie-298x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]</li>\n</ul>','Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-revision-3','','','2011-12-04 17:45:03','2011-12-04 22:45:03','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(705,2,'2011-12-04 17:59:01','2011-12-04 22:59:01','','JessicaChristmas','Our DIL Jessica at Christmas one year.','inherit','open','open','','jessicachristmas','','','2011-12-04 17:59:01','2011-12-04 22:59:01','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(706,2,'2011-12-04 18:03:43','2011-12-04 23:03:43','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix. <a title=\"toygaroo_website\" href=\"http://www.toygaroo.com/guest/xmas_welcome\" target=\"_blank\"> Toygaroo</a>, an online toy rental, lets you:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_702\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"178\" caption=\"My brother David and I, the Christmas I got a baby doll, and a nurse outfit for Christmas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-702  \" title=\"DebiDAvidChristmas59\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59-773x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"236\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\n\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\n\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.</p>\nThe least expensive option is $25 for a box of four toys shipped bi-monthly. The most costly choice is $53 for eight toys each month.\n\nThe choices range from 4 toys, to 6 toys to 8 toys in each package.  And you may choose to get a new package every month or every other month (bi-monthly).\n\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_703\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"298\" caption=\"One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegasaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegasauruses.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-703\" title=\"MattSteggie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie-298x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor. According to their website:\n<ul>\n	<li><em>All toys regardless of brand new or returned by a member are unpacked and steam cleaned at 212 degrees to ensure 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and dust mites are killed on the spot.</em></li>\n	<li><em>Toys are then cleaned and fully sanitized using an all organic, EPA approved, bleach free product from Melaleuca. This solution is so safe its used across the country in some of the best hospital neonatal centers.</em></li>\n	<li><em><em>Last but not least each toy is carefully inspected, signed off on by a toy sanitization inspector and then shrink wrapped to keep it from being affected by any outside elements from the time it leaves our warehouse and arrives at your door.</em></em></li>\n</ul>\n[caption id=\"attachment_705\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Our DIL Jessica at Christmas one year.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-705 \" title=\"JessicaChristmas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe toys seem to be aimed mostly for preschoolers.  And they include brands like Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Little Tikes, and Manhattan Baby.\n\nWe often \"recycled\" toys with our children, taking some out of circulation and putting them up in our attic, then taking them down a couple of months later, when our children would be excited to see them again.  Renting toys would accomplish much the same thing.\n\nIf our children were still preschoolers, I could be persuaded to try this approach to Christmas gift-giving of toys','Toygaroo: Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-revision-4','','','2011-12-04 18:03:43','2011-12-04 23:03:43','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(707,2,'2011-12-04 18:11:18','2011-12-04 23:11:18','','JChristmasfeatured','','inherit','open','open','','jchristmasfeatured','','','2011-12-04 18:11:18','2011-12-04 23:11:18','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JChristmasfeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(708,2,'2011-12-04 18:04:59','2011-12-04 23:04:59','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix. <a title=\"toygaroo_website\" href=\"http://www.toygaroo.com/guest/xmas_welcome\" target=\"_blank\"> Toygaroo</a>, an online toy rental, lets you:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_702\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"178\" caption=\"My brother David and I, the Christmas I got a baby doll, and a nurse outfit for Christmas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-702  \" title=\"DebiDAvidChristmas59\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59-773x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"236\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\n\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\n\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.</p>\nThe least expensive option is $25 for a box of four toys shipped bi-monthly. The most costly choice is $53 for eight toys each month.\n\nThe choices range from 4 toys, to 6 toys to 8 toys in each package.  And you may choose to get a new package every month or every other month (bi-monthly).\n\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_703\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"298\" caption=\"One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegasaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegasauruses.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-703\" title=\"MattSteggie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie-298x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor. According to their website:\n<ul>\n	<li><em>All toys regardless of brand new or returned by a member are unpacked and steam cleaned at 212 degrees to ensure 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and dust mites are killed on the spot.</em></li>\n	<li><em>Toys are then cleaned and fully sanitized using an all organic, EPA approved, bleach free product from Melaleuca. This solution is so safe its used across the country in some of the best hospital neonatal centers.</em></li>\n	<li><em><em>Last but not least each toy is carefully inspected, signed off on by a toy sanitization inspector and then shrink wrapped to keep it from being affected by any outside elements from the time it leaves our warehouse and arrives at your door.</em></em></li>\n</ul>\n[caption id=\"attachment_705\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Our DIL Jessica at Christmas one year.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-705 \" title=\"JessicaChristmas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe toys seem to be aimed mostly for preschoolers.  And they include brands like Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Little Tikes, and Manhattan Baby.\n\nWe often \"recycled\" toys with our children, taking some out of circulation and putting them up in our attic, then taking them down a couple of months later, when our children would be excited to see them again.  Renting toys would accomplish much the same thing.\n\nIf our children were still preschoolers, I could be persuaded to try this approach to Christmas gift-giving of toys.','Toygaroo: Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-revision-5','','','2011-12-04 18:04:59','2011-12-04 23:04:59','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(709,2,'2011-12-04 18:16:01','2011-12-04 23:16:01','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix. <a title=\"toygaroo_website\" href=\"http://www.toygaroo.com/guest/xmas_welcome\" target=\"_blank\"> Toygaroo</a>, an online toy rental, lets you:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_702\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"178\" caption=\"My brother David and I, the Christmas I got a baby doll, and a nurse outfit for Christmas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-702  \" title=\"DebiDAvidChristmas59\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59-773x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"236\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\n\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\n\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.</p>\nThe least expensive option is $25 for a box of four toys shipped bi-monthly. The most costly choice is $53 for eight toys each month.\n\nThe choices range from 4 toys, to 6 toys to 8 toys in each package.  And you may choose to get a new package every month or every other month (bi-monthly).\n\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_703\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"298\" caption=\"One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegosaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegosauruses.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-703\" title=\"MattSteggie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie-298x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor. According to their website:\n<ul>\n	<li><em>All toys regardless of brand new or returned by a member are unpacked and steam cleaned at 212 degrees to ensure 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and dust mites are killed on the spot.</em></li>\n	<li><em>Toys are then cleaned and fully sanitized using an all organic, EPA approved, bleach free product from Melaleuca. This solution is so safe its used across the country in some of the best hospital neonatal centers.</em></li>\n	<li><em><em>Last but not least each toy is carefully inspected, signed off on by a toy sanitization inspector and then shrink wrapped to keep it from being affected by any outside elements from the time it leaves our warehouse and arrives at your door.</em></em></li>\n</ul>\n[caption id=\"attachment_705\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Our DIL Jessica at Christmas one year.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-705 \" title=\"JessicaChristmas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe toys seem to be aimed mostly for preschoolers.  And they include brands like Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Little Tikes, Melissa and Doug, Learning Journey International, LeapFrog and Manhattan Baby.\n\nMy husband and I often \"recycled\" toys with our children, taking some out of circulation and putting them up in our attic, then taking them down a couple of months later, when our children would be excited to see them again.  Renting toys would accomplish much the same thing.\n\nIf our children were still preschoolers, I could be persuaded to try this approach to Christmas gift-giving of toys.  We\'d love to hear from you.  Would you order rent-a-toys for your children?','Toygaroo: Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-revision-6','','','2011-12-04 18:16:01','2011-12-04 23:16:01','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(710,2,'2011-12-04 18:18:40','2011-12-04 23:18:40','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix. <a title=\"toygaroo_website\" href=\"http://www.toygaroo.com/guest/xmas_welcome\" target=\"_blank\"> Toygaroo</a>, an online toy rental, lets you:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_702\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"178\" caption=\"My brother David and I, the Christmas I got a baby doll, and a nurse outfit for Christmas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-702  \" title=\"DebiDAvidChristmas59\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59-773x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"236\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\n\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\n\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.</p>\nThe least expensive option is $25 for a box of four toys shipped bi-monthly. The most costly choice is $53 for eight toys each month.\n\nThe choices range from 4 toys, to 6 toys to 8 toys in each package.  And you may choose to get a new package either every month or every other month (bi-monthly).\n\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_703\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"298\" caption=\"One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegosaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegosauruses.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-703\" title=\"MattSteggie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie-298x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor.\"  According to their website:\n<ul>\n	<li><em>All toys regardless of brand new or returned by a member are unpacked and steam cleaned at 212 degrees to ensure 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and dust mites are killed on the spot.</em></li>\n	<li><em>Toys are then cleaned and fully sanitized using an all organic, EPA approved, bleach free product from Melaleuca. This solution is so safe its used across the country in some of the best hospital neonatal centers.</em></li>\n	<li><em><em>Last but not least each toy is carefully inspected, signed off on by a toy sanitization inspector and then shrink wrapped to keep it from being affected by any outside elements from the time it leaves our warehouse and arrives at your door.</em></em></li>\n</ul>\n[caption id=\"attachment_705\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Our DIL Jessica at Christmas one year.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-705 \" title=\"JessicaChristmas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe toys seem to be aimed mostly for preschoolers.  And they include brands like Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Little Tikes, Melissa and Doug, Learning Journey International, LeapFrog and Manhattan Baby.\n\nMy husband and I often \"recycled\" toys with our children, taking some out of circulation and putting them up in our attic, then taking them down a couple of months later, when our children would be excited to see them again.  Renting toys would accomplish much the same thing.\n\nIf our children were still preschoolers, I could be persuaded to try this approach to Christmas gift-giving of toys.  We\'d love to hear from you.  Would you order rent-a-toys for your children?','Toygaroo: Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-revision-7','','','2011-12-04 18:18:40','2011-12-04 23:18:40','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(711,2,'2011-12-04 18:21:30','2011-12-04 23:21:30','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix. <a title=\"toygaroo_website\" href=\"http://www.toygaroo.com/guest/xmas_welcome\" target=\"_blank\"> Toygaroo</a>, an online toy rental, lets you:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_702\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"178\" caption=\"My brother David and I, the Christmas I got a baby doll, and a nurse outfit for Christmas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-702  \" title=\"DebiDAvidChristmas59\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59-773x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"236\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\n\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\n\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.</p>\nThe least expensive option is $25 for a box of four toys shipped bi-monthly. The most costly choice is $53 for eight toys each month.\n\nThe choices range from 4 toys, to 6 toys to 8 toys in each package.  And you may choose to get a new package every month or every other month (bi-monthly).\n\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal. If you lose a piece, you have 30 days to find it. Or you pay a \"lost piece\" fee.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_703\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"298\" caption=\"One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegosaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegosauruses.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-703\" title=\"MattSteggie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie-298x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor. According to their website:\n<ul>\n	<li><em>All toys regardless of brand new or returned by a member are unpacked and steam cleaned at 212 degrees to ensure 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and dust mites are killed on the spot.</em></li>\n	<li><em>Toys are then cleaned and fully sanitized using an all organic, EPA approved, bleach free product from Melaleuca. This solution is so safe its used across the country in some of the best hospital neonatal centers.</em></li>\n	<li><em><em>Last but not least each toy is carefully inspected, signed off on by a toy sanitization inspector and then shrink wrapped to keep it from being affected by any outside elements from the time it leaves our warehouse and arrives at your door.</em></em></li>\n</ul>\n[caption id=\"attachment_705\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Our DIL Jessica at Christmas one year.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-705 \" title=\"JessicaChristmas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe toys seem to be aimed mostly for preschoolers.  And they include brands like Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Little Tikes, Melissa and Doug, Learning Journey International, LeapFrog and Manhattan Baby.\n\nMy husband and I often \"recycled\" toys with our children, taking some out of circulation and putting them up in our attic, then taking them down a couple of months later, when our children would be excited to see them again.  Renting toys would accomplish much the same thing.\n\nIf our children were still preschoolers, I could be persuaded to try this approach to Christmas gift-giving of toys.  We\'d love to hear from you.  Would you order rent-a-toys for your children?','Toygaroo: Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-revision-8','','','2011-12-04 18:21:30','2011-12-04 23:21:30','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(712,2,'2011-12-04 18:23:09','2011-12-04 23:23:09','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix. <a title=\"toygaroo_website\" href=\"http://www.toygaroo.com/guest/xmas_welcome\" target=\"_blank\"> Toygaroo</a>, an online toy rental, lets you:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_702\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"178\" caption=\"My brother David and I, the Christmas I got a baby doll, and a nurse outfit for Christmas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-702  \" title=\"DebiDAvidChristmas59\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59-773x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"236\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\r\n\r\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\r\n\r\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.</p>\r\nThe least expensive option is $25/month for a box of four toys shipped bi-monthly. The most costly choice is $53/month for eight toys each month. The cost of shipping is included in the monthly fee.\r\n\r\nThe choices range from 4 toys, to 6 toys to 8 toys in each package.  And you may choose to get a new package every month or every other month (bi-monthly).\r\n\r\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal. If you lose a piece, you have 30 days to find it. Or you pay a \"lost piece\" fee.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_703\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"298\" caption=\"One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegosaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegosauruses.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-703\" title=\"MattSteggie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie-298x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor. According to their website:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em>All toys regardless of brand new or returned by a member are unpacked and steam cleaned at 212 degrees to ensure 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and dust mites are killed on the spot.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em>Toys are then cleaned and fully sanitized using an all organic, EPA approved, bleach free product from Melaleuca. This solution is so safe its used across the country in some of the best hospital neonatal centers.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em><em>Last but not least each toy is carefully inspected, signed off on by a toy sanitization inspector and then shrink wrapped to keep it from being affected by any outside elements from the time it leaves our warehouse and arrives at your door.</em></em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_705\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Our DIL Jessica at Christmas one year.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-705 \" title=\"JessicaChristmas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe toys seem to be aimed mostly for preschoolers.  And they include brands like Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Little Tikes, Melissa and Doug, Learning Journey International, LeapFrog and Manhattan Baby.\r\n\r\nMy husband and I often \"recycled\" toys with our children, taking some out of circulation and putting them up in our attic, then taking them down a couple of months later, when our children would be excited to see them again.  Renting toys would accomplish much the same thing.\r\n\r\nIf our children were still preschoolers, I could be persuaded to try this approach to Christmas gift-giving of toys.  We\'d love to hear from you.  Would you order rent-a-toys for your children?','Toygaroo: Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-revision-9','','','2011-12-04 18:23:09','2011-12-04 23:23:09','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(713,2,'2011-12-04 18:24:24','2011-12-04 23:24:24','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix. <a title=\"toygaroo_website\" href=\"http://www.toygaroo.com/guest/xmas_welcome\" target=\"_blank\"> Toygaroo</a>, an online toy rental, lets you:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_702\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"178\" caption=\"My brother David and I, the Christmas I got a baby doll, and a nurse outfit for Christmas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-702  \" title=\"DebiDAvidChristmas59\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59-773x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"236\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\n\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\n\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.</p>\nThe least expensive option is $25/month for a box of four toys shipped bi-monthly. The most costly choice is $53/month for eight toys each month. The cost of shipping is included in the monthly fee.\n\nThe choices range from 4 toys, to 6 toys to 8 toys in each package.  And you may choose to get a new package every month or every other month (bi-monthly).\n\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal. If you lose a piece, you have 30 days to find it. Or you pay a \"lost piece\" fee.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_703\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"298\" caption=\"One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegosaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegosauruses.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-703\" title=\"MattSteggie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie-298x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor. According to their website:\n<ul>\n	<li><em>All toys regardless of brand new or returned by a member are unpacked and steam cleaned at 212 degrees to ensure 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and dust mites are killed on the spot.</em></li>\n	<li><em>Toys are then cleaned and fully sanitized using an all organic, EPA approved, bleach free product from Melaleuca. This solution is so safe its used across the country in some of the best hospital neonatal centers.</em></li>\n	<li><em><em>Last but not least each toy is carefully inspected, signed off on by a toy sanitization inspector and then shrink wrapped to keep it from being affected by any outside elements from the time it leaves our warehouse and arrives at your door.</em></em></li>\n</ul>\n[caption id=\"attachment_705\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Our DIL Jessica at Christmas one year.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-705 \" title=\"JessicaChristmas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe toys seem to be aimed mostly for preschoolers.  And they include brands like Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Little Tikes, Melissa and Doug, Learning Journey International, LeapFrog and Manhattan Baby.\n\nMy husband and I often \"recycled\" toys with our children, taking some out of circulation and putting them up in our attic, then taking them down a couple of months later, when our children would be excited to see them again.  Renting toys would accomplish much the same thing.\n\nIf our children were still preschoolers, I could be persuaded to try this approach to Christmas gift-giving of toys.  We\'d love to hear from you.  Would you order rent-a-toys for your children?','Toygaroo: Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-revision-10','','','2011-12-04 18:24:24','2011-12-04 23:24:24','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(714,2,'2011-12-04 18:26:16','2011-12-04 23:26:16','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix. <a title=\"toygaroo_website\" href=\"http://www.toygaroo.com/guest/xmas_welcome\" target=\"_blank\"> Toygaroo</a>, an online toy rental, lets you:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_702\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"178\" caption=\"My brother David and I, the Christmas I got a baby doll, and a nurse outfit for Christmas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-702  \" title=\"DebiDAvidChristmas59\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59-773x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"236\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\n\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\n\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.</p>\nThe least expensive option is $25/month for a box of four toys shipped bi-monthly. The most costly choice is $53/month for eight toys each month. The cost of shipping is included in the monthly fee.\n\nThe choices range from 4 toys, to 6 toys to 8 toys in each package.  And you may choose to get a new package every month or every other month (bi-monthly).\n\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal. If you lose a piece, you have 30 days to find it. Or you pay a \"lost piece\" fee.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_703\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"298\" caption=\"One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegosaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegosauruses.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-703\" title=\"MattSteggie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie-298x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor. According to their website:\n<ul>\n	<li><em>All toys regardless of brand new or returned by a member are unpacked and steam cleaned at 212 degrees to ensure 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and dust mites are killed on the spot.</em></li>\n	<li><em>Toys are then cleaned and fully sanitized using an all organic, EPA approved, bleach free product from Melaleuca. This solution is so safe its used across the country in some of the best hospital neonatal centers.</em></li>\n	<li><em><em>Last but not least each toy is carefully inspected, signed off on by a toy sanitization inspector and then shrink wrapped to keep it from being affected by any outside elements from the time it leaves our warehouse and arrives at your door.</em></em></li>\n</ul>\n[caption id=\"attachment_705\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Our DIL Jessica at Christmas one year.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-705 \" title=\"JessicaChristmas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe toys seem to be aimed mostly for preschoolers.  And they include brands like Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Little Tikes, Melissa and Doug, Learning Journey International, LeapFrog and Manhattan Baby.\n\nMy husband and I often \"recycled\" toys with our children, taking some out of circulation and putting them up in our attic, then taking them down a couple of months later, when our children would be excited to see them again.  Renting toys would accomplish much the same thing.\n\nIf our children were still preschoolers, I could be persuaded to try this approach to Christmas gift-giving of toys.  We\'d love to hear from you.  Would you order rent-a-toys for your children?','Toygaroo: Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-revision-11','','','2011-12-04 18:26:16','2011-12-04 23:26:16','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(715,2,'2011-12-04 18:27:28','2011-12-04 23:27:28','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix. <a title=\"toygaroo_website\" href=\"http://www.toygaroo.com/guest/xmas_welcome\" target=\"_blank\"> Toygaroo</a>, an online toy rental, lets you:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_702\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"178\" caption=\"My brother David and I, the Christmas I got a baby doll, and a nurse outfit for Christmas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-702  \" title=\"DebiDAvidChristmas59\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59-773x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"236\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\r\n\r\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\r\n\r\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.</p>\r\nThe least expensive option is $25/month for a box of four toys shipped bi-monthly. The most costly choice is $53/month for eight toys each month. The cost of shipping is included in the monthly fee.\r\n\r\nThe choices range from 4 toys, to 6 toys to 8 toys in each package.  And you may choose to get a new package every month or every other month (bi-monthly).\r\n\r\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal. If you lose a piece, you have 30 days to find it. Or you pay a \"lost piece\" fee.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_703\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"298\" caption=\"One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegosaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegosauruses.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-703\" title=\"MattSteggie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie-298x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor. According to their website:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em>All toys regardless of brand new or returned by a member are unpacked and steam cleaned at 212 degrees to ensure 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and dust mites are killed on the spot.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em>Toys are then cleaned and fully sanitized using an all organic, EPA approved, bleach free product from Melaleuca. This solution is so safe its used across the country in some of the best hospital neonatal centers.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em><em>Last but not least each toy is carefully inspected, signed off on by a toy sanitization inspector and then shrink wrapped to keep it from being affected by any outside elements from the time it leaves our warehouse and arrives at your door.</em></em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_705\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Our DIL Jessica at Christmas one year.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-705 \" title=\"JessicaChristmas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe toys seem to be aimed mostly for preschoolers.  And they include brands like Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Little Tikes, Melissa and Doug, Learning Journey International, LeapFrog and Manhattan Baby.\r\n\r\nMy husband and I often \"recycled\" toys with our children, taking some out of circulation and putting them up in our attic, then taking them down a couple of months later, when our children would be excited to see them again.  Renting toys would accomplish much the same thing.\r\n\r\nIf our children were still preschoolers, I could be persuaded to try this approach to Christmas gift-giving of toys.  We\'d love to hear from you.  Would you order rent-a-toys for your children?','Toygaroo: Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-revision-12','','','2011-12-04 18:27:28','2011-12-04 23:27:28','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(779,2,'2011-12-15 16:32:51','2011-12-15 21:32:51','[caption id=\"attachment_212\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"159\" caption=\"Jonathan after a soccer game when he was 7 years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-212 \" title=\"Jonmuddysoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer-159x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"159\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nA 3-year-old boy at <a href=\"http://www.palsattrinity.org\" target=\"_blank\">PALS</a> (I\'ll call him Caleb) locked his baby sister, and the car keys, in the family car, earlier this week.  His mother (I\'ll call her Ruthann) had dropped her keys on the front seat of the car, before strapping her baby in the car seat.\r\n\r\nUnaware that Caleb had pushed the lock button on the car door, she closed that door and walked around the car to buckle Caleb in his car seat. And found that door locked. . . all the doors locked, with the keys and the baby inside.\r\n\r\nRuthann had REALLY meant to replace her back-up set of keys, which Caleb had \"lost\" the week before. (She replaced them IMMEDIATELY after this incident.)\r\n\r\nTwo fire trucks and five firemen arrived with flashing lights, to extricate the baby.  Caleb greeted them with \"Hi, guys!!\" and the firemen gave Caleb high fives.\r\n\r\nTalk about rewarding a little boy for his mischievous behavior! Ruthann will be fortunate indeed if Caleb doesn\'t repeat this stunt, hoping to achieve similar success.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Ruthann shared her \"embarrassing\" story with me and another mother at PALS yesterday.  And then I shared some stories about Isaac, one of my favorite 3-year-olds, also a child at PALS - with our son Jonathan, twenty years ago.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_794\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"398\" caption=\"Isaac standing, watching Jonathan slide in the mud in front of our house. They were six years old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacmud2.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-794 \" title=\"JonIsaacmud2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacmud2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"398\" height=\"418\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSeveral more moms stopped to listen, as I told about the day Isaac locked himself and the car keys in his house. His mother had carried a load of \"mother stuff\" - those things that mothers end up carting around with them - to the car.  She returned for Isaac and her purse, with the car keys.  To find the house locked.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacMud.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-787 aligncenter\" title=\"JonIsaacMud\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacMud.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"353\" height=\"538\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_794\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Jonathan and Isaac the day they graduated from Rome High. Both boys wore the National Honor Society stole. Isaac was valedictorian.\"]</dt><dd class=\"wp-caption-dd\">Jonathan and Isaac LOVED mud. They still went \"mudding\" when they were teenagers. They are both now 23-years old, college graduates and fine men.</dd></dl></div>\r\nShe knocked on the door and Isaac peered out the nearest window, waved and grinned at her. She went from door to door, around the house, looking for an unlocked one or an open window. No luck. Back to the front door where she knocked and Isaac waved and smiled at her again. Around the house again, looking for a door or window where she could break in.\r\n\r\nBefore breaking a window, she went across the street to a neighbor\'s house. That retired gentleman returned with her, rang the door bell and Isaac promptly opened the door for him.\r\n\r\nIsaac\'s mother had an extra house key made THAT DAY, and found a place to hide it, outside their home.\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\"><dl id=\"attachment_791\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 490px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacGrad.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-791 \" title=\"JonIsaacGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacGrad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"249\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, I reminded the 5 or 6 mothers now listening to my stories, Isaac survived to grow up, was his high school valedictorian and is now a grad student at Harvard.\r\n\r\nAnd, then, I told the story of the day Isaac slipped through the bars at the local Burger King playground. His mother was, of course, not small enough to slip through that fence.  By the time she raced into and through the fast food restaurant and outside, she found Isaac standing in the middle lane of the five-lane thoroughfare in front of the BK, with traffic stopped in both directions.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_801\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Matthew and Andrew on a playground in Carol Stream, Illinois, circa 1985.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewMattPlayground.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-801\" title=\"AndrewMattPlayground\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewMattPlayground-300x216.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"216\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, adding my refrain to the verses of my story, he survived to grow up, was the valedictorian at Rome High, and is now in grad school at Harvard.\r\n\r\n\"You canNOT believe how much better that makes me feel!\" Ruthann told us. \"Caleb will survive to grow up? He\'ll graduate from high school? Caleb can be so wide open, so inquisitive, sometimes people - especially mothers with quiet little girls - look at me as if something is wrong with me as a mother, that I have such an active boy. Or that something is wrong with Caleb that he is active and exploring.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_806\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"479\" caption=\"Lillian (his cousin), Hunt (his best man), Isaac and Aaron (who also attended PALS with Jonathan) at Jessica and Jonathan&#39;s wedding last June.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LilHuntIsaacAaronWedding.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-806 \" title=\"LilHuntIsaacAaronWedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LilHuntIsaacAaronWedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"281\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n\"I don\'t want to squash the joy he finds in exploration, that excitement and curiosity. He is sweet and eager to please. If he gets too rowdy, I find it easy to redirect his energy.\r\n\r\n\"He is just all-boy!\"\r\n\r\nAs a mother with four sons, I can assure you, that is a GOOD thing.','Boys, Mud and Lost Car Keys','','publish','open','open','','boys-mud-and-lost-car-keys','','','2011-12-15 16:41:40','2011-12-15 21:41:40','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=779',0,'post','',4),(718,2,'2011-12-04 18:28:20','2011-12-04 23:28:20','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix. <a title=\"toygaroo_website\" href=\"http://www.toygaroo.com/guest/xmas_welcome\" target=\"_blank\"> Toygaroo</a>, an online toy rental, lets you:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_702\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"178\" caption=\"My brother David and I, the Christmas I got a baby doll, and a nurse outfit for Christmas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-702  \" title=\"DebiDAvidChristmas59\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59-773x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"236\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\r\n\r\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\r\n\r\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.</p>\r\nThe least expensive option is $25/month for a box of four toys shipped bi-monthly. The most costly choice is $53/month for eight toys each month. The cost of shipping - by FedEx - is included in the monthly fee.\r\n\r\nThe choices range from 4 toys, to 6 toys to 8 toys in each package.  And you may choose to get a new package every month or every other month (bi-monthly).\r\n\r\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal. If you lose a piece, you have 30 days to find it. Or you pay a \"lost piece\" fee.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_703\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"298\" caption=\"One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegosaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegosauruses.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-703\" title=\"MattSteggie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie-298x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor. According to their website:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em>All toys regardless of brand new or returned by a member are unpacked and steam cleaned at 212 degrees to ensure 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and dust mites are killed on the spot.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em>Toys are then cleaned and fully sanitized using an all organic, EPA approved, bleach free product from Melaleuca. This solution is so safe its used across the country in some of the best hospital neonatal centers.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em><em>Last but not least each toy is carefully inspected, signed off on by a toy sanitization inspector and then shrink wrapped to keep it from being affected by any outside elements from the time it leaves our warehouse and arrives at your door.</em></em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_705\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Our DIL Jessica at Christmas one year.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-705 \" title=\"JessicaChristmas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe toys seem to be aimed mostly for preschoolers.  And they include brands like Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Little Tikes, Melissa and Doug, Learning Journey International, LeapFrog and Manhattan Baby.\r\n\r\nMy husband and I often \"recycled\" toys with our children, taking some out of circulation and putting them up in our attic, then taking them down a couple of months later, when our children would be excited to see them again.  Renting toys would accomplish much the same thing.\r\n\r\nIf our children were still preschoolers, I could be persuaded to try this approach to Christmas gift-giving of toys.  We\'d love to hear from you.  Would you order rent-a-toys for your children?','Toygaroo: Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-revision-13','','','2011-12-04 18:28:20','2011-12-04 23:28:20','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(719,2,'2011-12-04 19:15:10','2011-12-05 00:15:10','Now, just in time for Christmas, a new way to put toys for your children under your Christmas tree: you may rent toys, in much the same way you rent movies from Netflix. <a title=\"toygaroo_website\" href=\"http://www.toygaroo.com/guest/xmas_welcome\" target=\"_blank\"> Toygaroo</a>, an online toy rental, lets you:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_702\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"178\" caption=\"My brother David and I, the Christmas I got a baby doll, and a nurse outfit for Christmas.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-702  \" title=\"DebiDAvidChristmas59\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DebiDAvidChristmas59-773x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"236\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n1. Add toys to your wishlist.\n\n2. Toys are delivered to your door.\n\n3. You keep the toys for 30 days or more.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4. Return your toys and get a new shipment.</p>\nThe least expensive option is $25/month for a box of four toys shipped bi-monthly. The most costly choice is $53/month for eight toys each month. The cost of shipping - by FedEx - is included in the monthly fee.\n\nThe choices range from 4 toys, to 6 toys to 8 toys in each package.  And you may choose to get a new package every month or every other month (bi-monthly).\n\nIf you get a toy that your child simply loves and cannot bear to send back, you may buy it at a discounted rate.  If you break a toy, same deal. If you lose a piece, you have 30 days to find it. Or you pay a \"lost piece\" fee.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_703\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"298\" caption=\"One Christmas, my brother Terrell and his wife Sheila made a stuffed stegosaurus for our son Matthew, who LOVED dinosaurs, especially stegosauruses.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-703\" title=\"MattSteggie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MattSteggie-298x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe folks at Toygaroo promise that the toys will arrive \"clean, safe and No Yuck Factor. According to their website:\n<ul>\n	<li><em>All toys regardless of brand new or returned by a member are unpacked and steam cleaned at 212 degrees to ensure 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and dust mites are killed on the spot.</em></li>\n	<li><em>Toys are then cleaned and fully sanitized using an all organic, EPA approved, bleach free product from Melaleuca. This solution is so safe its used across the country in some of the best hospital neonatal centers.</em></li>\n	<li><em><em>Last but not least each toy is carefully inspected, signed off on by a toy sanitization inspector and then shrink wrapped to keep it from being affected by any outside elements from the time it leaves our warehouse and arrives at your door.</em></em></li>\n</ul>\n[caption id=\"attachment_705\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"215\" caption=\"Our DIL Jessica at Christmas one year.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-705 \" title=\"JessicaChristmas\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessicaChristmas-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe toys seem to be aimed mostly for preschoolers.  And they include brands like Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Little Tikes, Melissa and Doug, Learning Journey International, LeapFrog and Manhattan Baby.\n\nMy husband and I often \"recycled\" toys with our children, taking some out of circulation and putting them up in our attic, then taking them down a couple of months later, when our children would be excited to see them again.  Renting toys would accomplish much the same thing.\n\nIf our children were still preschoolers, I could be persuaded to try this approach to Christmas gift-giving of toys.  We\'d love to hear from you.  Would you order rent-a-toys for your children?','Toygaroo: Rent Toys for Christmas','','inherit','open','open','','699-autosave','','','2011-12-04 19:15:10','2011-12-05 00:15:10','',699,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/04/699-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(721,2,'2011-12-05 21:33:55','2011-12-06 02:33:55','Today is December 5, and already, looking ahead, it seems that Christmas Day will be here before I can blink. But I am also looking back, over the years that our children were young, and what Christmas traditions we began for our family, what worked and what didn\'t and which ones mattered to my children.\n\nWe tried to keep it simple and affordable.  We often bought used toys at yard sales. Children do not care if a toy has been played with by another child. In fact, if I got it at a garage sale and it was still in good shape, that meant it was durable. Not a small consideration when buying something for Andrew who played hard and long, with 110 percent intensity.','Lewis Family Christmas Traditions','','inherit','open','open','','720-revision','','','2011-12-05 21:33:55','2011-12-06 02:33:55','',720,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/05/720-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(722,2,'2011-12-05 22:34:24','2011-12-06 03:34:24','','LisetteBabyDoll','Grandpa and Grandma watch Lisette with her new baby doll and stroller.','inherit','open','open','','lisettebabydoll','','','2011-12-05 22:34:24','2011-12-06 03:34:24','',720,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(723,2,'2011-12-05 22:39:22','2011-12-06 03:39:22','','AndrewTicTac','Andrew and his game of tic-tac-toe.','inherit','open','open','','andrewtictac','','','2011-12-05 22:39:22','2011-12-06 03:39:22','',720,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(724,2,'2011-12-05 22:51:21','2011-12-06 03:51:21','Today is December 5, and looking ahead, it already seems that Christmas Day will be here before I can blink. But I am also looking back, over the years when our children were young, and what Christmas traditions we began for our family, what worked and what didn\'t and which ones mattered to my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_722\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Grandpa and Grandma watch Lisette with her new baby doll and stroller.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-722  \" title=\"LisetteBabyDoll\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"321\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe tried to keep gift-giving affordable.  We often bought used toys at yard sales. Children do not care if a toy has been played with by another child. A little Lysol, a little cleaning up, and, for a child, it might as well be brand new.\n\nIn fact, if I got it at a garage sale and it was still in good shape, that meant it was durable. Not a small consideration when buying something for Andrew who played hard and long, with 110 percent intensity.\n\nAnd we kept the gifts simple and classic. Baby dolls and strollers. Puppets and Legos and wooden building blocks. Games like tic-tac-toe or Aggravation. Our family has always liked board games, so most Christmases our children would get a game as one of their gifts. Then part of Christmas fun was playing them together.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_723\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"273\" caption=\"Andrew and his game of tic-tac-toe.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-723  \" title=\"AndrewTicTac\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"273\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nFor years we lived in Illinois and my husband\'s parents lived in Kentucky and my parents lived in Georgia.  So Christmas always meant travel in a car. We\'d spend one Christmas with his folks and the next one with mine.\n\nAnd we were determined to keep some of our own family traditions , regardless of where we celebrated the holiday.','Lewis Family Christmas Traditions','','inherit','open','open','','720-revision-2','','','2011-12-05 22:51:21','2011-12-06 03:51:21','',720,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/05/720-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(725,2,'2011-12-05 23:08:16','2011-12-06 04:08:16','','JonoFeatured','','inherit','open','open','','jonofeatured','','','2011-12-05 23:08:16','2011-12-06 04:08:16','',720,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonoFeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(726,2,'2011-12-05 22:53:28','2011-12-06 03:53:28','Today is December 5, and looking ahead, it already seems that Christmas Day will be here before I can blink. But I am also looking back, over the years when our children were young, and what Christmas traditions we began for our family, what worked and what didn\'t and which ones mattered to my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_722\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Grandpa and Grandma watch Lisette with her new baby doll and stroller.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-722  \" title=\"LisetteBabyDoll\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"321\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe tried to keep gift-giving affordable.  We often bought used toys at yard sales. Children do not care if a toy has been played with by another child. A little Lysol, a little cleaning up, and, for a child, it might as well be brand new.\n\nIn fact, if I got it at a garage sale and it was still in good shape, that meant it was durable. Not a small consideration when buying something for Andrew who played hard and long, with 110 percent intensity.\n\nAnd we kept the gifts simple and classic. Baby dolls and strollers. Puppets and Legos and wooden building blocks. Games like tic-tac-toe or Aggravation. Our family has always liked board games, so most Christmases our children would get a game as one of their gifts. Then part of Christmas fun was playing them together.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_723\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"273\" caption=\"Andrew and his game of tic-tac-toe.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-723  \" title=\"AndrewTicTac\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"273\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nFor years we lived in Illinois and my husband\'s parents lived in Kentucky and my parents lived in Georgia.  So Christmas always meant travel in a car. We\'d spend one Christmas with his folks and the next one with mine.\n\nWe were determined to keep some of our own family traditions , regardless of where we celebrated the holiday.  How we did that will be in tomorrow\'s post.','Lewis Family Christmas Traditions','','inherit','open','open','','720-revision-3','','','2011-12-05 22:53:28','2011-12-06 03:53:28','',720,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/05/720-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(727,2,'2011-12-05 23:11:27','2011-12-06 04:11:27','Today is December 5, and looking ahead, it already seems that Christmas Day will be here before I can blink. But I am also looking back, over the years when our children were young, and what Christmas traditions we began for our family, what worked and what didn\'t and which ones mattered to my children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_722\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Grandpa and Grandma watch Lisette with her new baby doll and stroller.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-722  \" title=\"LisetteBabyDoll\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"321\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe tried to keep gift-giving affordable.  We often bought used toys at yard sales. Children do not care if a toy has been played with by another child. A little Lysol, a little cleaning up, and, for a child, it might as well be brand new.\n\nIn fact, if I got it at a garage sale and it was still in good shape, that meant it was durable. Not a small consideration when buying something for Andrew who played hard and long, with 110 percent intensity.\n\nAnd we kept the gifts simple and classic. Baby dolls and strollers. Puppets and Legos and wooden building blocks. Games like tic-tac-toe or Aggravation. Our family has always liked board games, so most Christmases our children would get a game as one of their gifts. Then part of Christmas fun was playing them together.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_723\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"273\" caption=\"Andrew and his game of tic-tac-toe.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-723  \" title=\"AndrewTicTac\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"273\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nFor years we lived in Illinois and my husband\'s parents lived in Kentucky and my parents lived in Georgia.  So Christmas always meant travel in a car. We\'d spend one Christmas with his folks and the next one with mine.\n\nWe were determined to keep some of our own family traditions , regardless of where we celebrated the holiday.  How we did that will be in tomorrow\'s post.','Lewis Family Christmas Traditions','','inherit','open','open','','720-revision-4','','','2011-12-05 23:11:27','2011-12-06 04:11:27','',720,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/05/720-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(728,2,'2011-12-05 23:12:56','2011-12-06 04:12:56','Today is December 5, and looking ahead, it already seems that Christmas Day will be here before I can blink. But I am also looking back, over the years when our children were young, and what Christmas traditions we began for our family, what worked and what didn\'t and which ones mattered to my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_722\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Grandpa and Grandma watch Lisette with her new baby doll and stroller.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-722 \" title=\"LisetteBabyDoll\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"321\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe tried to keep gift-giving affordable.  We often bought used toys at yard sales. Children do not care if a toy has been played with by another child. A little Lysol, a little cleaning up, and, for a child, it might as well be brand new.\r\n\r\nIn fact, if I got it at a garage sale and it was still in good shape, that meant it was durable. Not a small consideration when buying something for Andrew who played hard and long, with 110 percent intensity.\r\n\r\nAnd we kept the gifts simple and classic. Baby dolls and strollers. Puppets and Legos and wooden building blocks. Games like tic-tac-toe or Aggravation. Our family has always liked board games, so most Christmases our children would get a game as one of their gifts. Then part of Christmas fun was playing them together.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_723\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"273\" caption=\"Andrew and his game of tic-tac-toe.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-723 \" title=\"AndrewTicTac\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"273\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFor years we lived in Illinois and my husband\'s parents lived in Kentucky and my parents lived in Georgia.  So Christmas always meant travel in a car. We\'d spend one Christmas with his folks and the next one with mine.\r\n\r\nWe were determined to keep some of our own family traditions , regardless of where we celebrated the holiday.  How we did that will be in tomorrow\'s post.','Lewis Family Christmas Traditions','','inherit','open','open','','720-revision-5','','','2011-12-05 23:12:56','2011-12-06 04:12:56','',720,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/05/720-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(730,2,'2011-12-05 23:14:15','2011-12-06 04:14:15','Today is December 5, and looking ahead, it already seems that Christmas Day will be here before I can blink. But I am also looking back, over the years when our children were young, and what Christmas traditions we began for our family, what worked and what didn\'t and which ones mattered to my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_722\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"252\" caption=\"Grandpa and Grandma watch Lisette with her new baby doll and stroller.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-722  \" title=\"LisetteBabyDoll\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"252\" height=\"385\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe tried to keep gift-giving affordable.  We often bought used toys at yard sales. Children do not care if a toy has been played with by another child. A little Lysol, a little cleaning up, and, for a child, it might as well be brand new.\r\n\r\nIn fact, if I got it at a garage sale and it was still in good shape, that meant it was durable. Not a small consideration when buying something for Andrew who played hard and long, with 110 percent intensity.\r\n\r\nAnd we kept the gifts simple and classic. Baby dolls and strollers. Puppets and Legos and wooden building blocks. Games like tic-tac-toe or Aggravation. Our family has always liked board games, so most Christmases our children would get a game as one of their gifts. Then part of Christmas fun was playing them together.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_723\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"273\" caption=\"Andrew and his game of tic-tac-toe.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-723 \" title=\"AndrewTicTac\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"273\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFor years we lived in Illinois and my husband\'s parents lived in Kentucky and my parents lived in Georgia.  So Christmas always meant travel in a car. We\'d spend one Christmas with his folks and the next one with mine.\r\n\r\nWe were determined to keep some of our own family traditions , regardless of where we celebrated the holiday.  How we did that will be in tomorrow\'s post.','Lewis Family Christmas Traditions','','inherit','open','open','','720-revision-7','','','2011-12-05 23:14:15','2011-12-06 04:14:15','',720,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/05/720-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(729,2,'2011-12-05 23:13:09','2011-12-06 04:13:09','<p>Today is December 5, and looking ahead, it already seems that Christmas Day will be here before I can blink. But I am also looking back, over the years when our children were young, and what Christmas traditions we began for our family, what worked and what didn\'t and which ones mattered to my children.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_722\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Grandpa and Grandma watch Lisette with her new baby doll and stroller.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-722 \" title=\"LisetteBabyDoll\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LisetteBabyDoll.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"321\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>We tried to keep gift-giving affordable.  We often bought used toys at yard sales. Children do not care if a toy has been played with by another child. A little Lysol, a little cleaning up, and, for a child, it might as well be brand new.</p>\r\n<p>In fact, if I got it at a garage sale and it was still in good shape, that meant it was durable. Not a small consideration when buying something for Andrew who played hard and long, with 110 percent intensity.</p>\r\n<p>And we kept the gifts simple and classic. Baby dolls and strollers. Puppets and Legos and wooden building blocks. Games like tic-tac-toe or Aggravation. Our family has always liked board games, so most Christmases our children would get a game as one of their gifts. Then part of Christmas fun was playing them together.</p>\r\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_723\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"273\" caption=\"Andrew and his game of tic-tac-toe.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-723 \" title=\"AndrewTicTac\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewTicTac.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"273\" height=\"173\" /></a>[/caption]</p>\r\n<p>For years we lived in Illinois and my husband\'s parents lived in Kentucky and my parents lived in Georgia.  So Christmas always meant travel in a car. We\'d spend one Christmas with his folks and the next one with mine.</p>\r\n<p>We were determined to keep some of our own family traditions , regardless of where we celebrated the holiday.  How we did that will be in tomorrow\'s post.</p>\r\n','Lewis Family Christmas Traditions','','inherit','open','open','','720-revision-6','','','2011-12-05 23:13:09','2011-12-06 04:13:09','',720,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/05/720-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(732,2,'2011-12-06 23:15:33','2011-12-07 04:15:33','','Andrew6mo','Andrew always did EVERYTHING 110 percent, including temper tantrums.','inherit','open','open','','andrew6mo','','','2011-12-06 23:15:33','2011-12-07 04:15:33','',731,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(733,2,'2011-12-06 23:19:45','2011-12-07 04:19:45','','Andrew110','Not hard to see that gung-ho, give-it-everything-I\'ve-got personality trait, is it?','inherit','open','open','','andrew110','','','2011-12-06 23:19:45','2011-12-07 04:19:45','',731,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(734,2,'2011-12-06 23:23:20','2011-12-07 04:23:20','<a title=\"Temper Trantrums\" href=\"http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/12/05/temper-tantrums-theres-method-to-the-madness/\" target=\"_blank\">New research into temper tantrums</a> in young children shows that the best parental reaction is . . . to ignore them.  Researchers sewed microphones into the onesies of 13 two to three year olds and recorded their cries during temper tantrums.  Then they analyzed the sounds and rhythms for the corresponding emotions.\n\nTheir conclusion? “Ignoring the child” is the fastest way to get past the tantrum. Do not argue or engage with the child until the child calms down.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_732\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Andrew always did EVERYTHING 110 percent, including temper tantrums. This photo, at 6 months, shows his personality.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-732 \" title=\"Andrew6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThey could have saved their research money if only they had asked me!  Or asked my mother, who long before anyone dreamed of this study, advised me to ignore tantrums.\nOur oldest son Andrew was our king of the temper tantrums.  Starting just before his second birthday, if he was not getting what he wanted, he could - and would - throw himself on the floor of the grocery store - or any store - and pound arms and legs until I wondered if he’d bruise himself.\n\nFollowing my mother’s advice, I would walk a few yards down the grocery store aisle, pick up a can of something, anything off the shelf and pretend to read the label. I’d watch Andrew out of the corner of my eye.\n\nHe’d get up off the floor, stomp down the aisle until he was beside me, then toss himself on the floor and begin the tantrum again.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_733\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Not hard to see that gung-ho, give-it-everything-I&#39;ve-got personality trait, is it?\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-733 \" title=\"Andrew110\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110-210x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI’d put the can back on the shelf, then move further down the aisle, pick up another item and pretend to read that label, as if I was completely oblivious to the screaming child who kept following me.\n\nBy the end of the aisle, the tantrum was usually over.\n\nI found he was less likely to pitch a fit if I did not to take him places when he was tired or hungry.  But, nothing I did completely eliminated his tantrums.  Until just before he turned three, he simply quit pitching tantrums, abandoning them as an apparently ineffective means of trying to get his way.\n\nExcept when my mother-in-law vi.  She found it impossible to ignore the tantrums.  So Andrew continued them when she was around, until after his fourth birthday.\n\nThe study, done by Michael Potegal and James A. Green, was published in the journal Emotion and reported on NPR’s Morning Edition today.','Temper Trantrum Research ','','inherit','open','open','','731-revision','','','2011-12-06 23:23:20','2011-12-07 04:23:20','',731,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/06/731-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(735,2,'2011-12-06 23:24:11','2011-12-07 04:24:11','<a title=\"Temper Trantrums\" href=\"http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/12/05/temper-tantrums-theres-method-to-the-madness/\" target=\"_blank\">New research into temper tantrums</a> in young children shows that the best parental reaction is . . . to ignore them.  Researchers sewed microphones into the onesies of 13 two to three year olds and recorded their cries during temper tantrums.  Then they analyzed the sounds and rhythms for the corresponding emotions.\r\n\r\nTheir conclusion? “Ignoring the child” is the fastest way to get past the tantrum. Do not argue or engage with the child until the child calms down.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_732\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Andrew always did EVERYTHING 110 percent, including temper tantrums. This photo, at 6 months, shows his personality.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-732 \" title=\"Andrew6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThey could have saved their research money if only they had asked me!  Or asked my mother, who long before anyone dreamed of this study, advised me to ignore tantrums.\r\nOur oldest son Andrew was our king of the temper tantrums.  Starting just before his second birthday, if he was not getting what he wanted, he could - and would - throw himself on the floor of the grocery store - or any store - and pound arms and legs until I wondered if he’d bruise himself.\r\n\r\nFollowing my mother’s advice, I would walk a few yards down the grocery store aisle, pick up a can of something, anything off the shelf and pretend to read the label. I’d watch Andrew out of the corner of my eye.\r\n\r\nHe’d get up off the floor, stomp down the aisle until he was beside me, then toss himself on the floor and begin the tantrum again.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_733\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Not hard to see that gung-ho, give-it-everything-I&#39;ve-got personality trait, is it?\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-733 \" title=\"Andrew110\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110-210x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI’d put the can back on the shelf, then move further down the aisle, pick up another item and pretend to read that label, as if I was completely oblivious to the screaming child who kept following me.\r\n\r\nBy the end of the aisle, the tantrum was usually over.\r\n\r\nI found he was less likely to pitch a fit if I did not to take him places when he was tired or hungry.  But, nothing I did completely eliminated his tantrums.  Until just before he turned three, he simply quit pitching tantrums, abandoning them as an apparently ineffective means of trying to get his way.\r\n\r\nExcept when my mother-in-law visited.  She found it impossible to ignore the tantrums.  So Andrew continued them when she was around, until after his fourth birthday.\r\n\r\nThe study on temper tantrums, done by Michael Potegal and James A. Green, was published in the journal Emotion and reported on NPR’s Morning Edition today.','Temper Trantrum Research ','','inherit','open','open','','731-revision-2','','','2011-12-06 23:24:11','2011-12-07 04:24:11','',731,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/06/731-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(736,2,'2011-12-06 23:34:08','2011-12-07 04:34:08','','AndrewDaddyFeatured','','inherit','open','open','','andrewdaddyfeatured','','','2011-12-06 23:34:08','2011-12-07 04:34:08','',731,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewDaddyFeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(737,2,'2011-12-06 23:28:14','2011-12-07 04:28:14','<a title=\"Temper Trantrums\" href=\"http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/12/05/temper-tantrums-theres-method-to-the-madness/\" target=\"_blank\">New research into temper tantrums</a> in young children shows that the best parental reaction is . . . to ignore them.  Researchers sewed microphones into the onesies of 13 two to three year olds and recorded their cries during temper tantrums.  Then they analyzed the sounds and rhythms for the corresponding emotions.\n\nTheir conclusion? “Ignoring the child” is the fastest way to get past the tantrum. Do not argue or engage with the child until the child calms down.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_732\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Andrew always did EVERYTHING 110 percent, including temper tantrums. This photo, at 6 months, shows his personality.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-732 \" title=\"Andrew6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThey could have saved their research money if only they had asked me!  Or asked my mother, who long before anyone dreamed of this study, advised me to ignore tantrums.\nOur oldest son Andrew was our king of the temper tantrums.  Starting just before his second birthday, if he was not getting what he wanted, he could - and would - throw himself on the floor of the grocery store - or any store - and pound arms and legs until I wondered if he’d bruise himself.\n\nFollowing my mother’s advice, I would walk a few yards down the grocery store aisle, pick up a can of something, anything off the shelf and pretend to read the label. I’d watch Andrew out of the corner of my eye.\n\nHe’d get up off the floor, stomp down the aisle until he was beside me, then toss himself on the floor and begin the tantrum again.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_733\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Not hard to see that gung-ho, give-it-everything-I&#39;ve-got personality trait, is it?\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-733 \" title=\"Andrew110\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110-210x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI’d put the can back on the shelf, then move further down the aisle, pick up another item and pretend to read that label, as if I was completely oblivious to the screaming child who kept following me.\n\nBy the end of the aisle, the tantrum was usually over.\n\nI found he was less likely to pitch a fit if I did not to take him places when he was tired or hungry.  But, nothing I did completely eliminated his tantrums.  Until just before he turned three, he simply quit pitching tantrums, abandoning them as an apparently ineffective means of trying to get his way.\n\nExcept when my mother-in-law visited.  She found it impossible to ignore the tantrums.  So Andrew continued them when she was around, until after his fourth birthday.\n\nThe study on temper tantrums, done by Michael Potegal and James A. Green, was published in the journal Emotion and reported on NPR’s Morning Edition today.','New Temper Trantrum Research Confirms Old Advice','','inherit','open','open','','731-revision-3','','','2011-12-06 23:28:14','2011-12-07 04:28:14','',731,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/06/731-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(738,2,'2011-12-06 23:35:25','2011-12-07 04:35:25','<a title=\"Temper Trantrums\" href=\"http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/12/05/temper-tantrums-theres-method-to-the-madness/\" target=\"_blank\">New research into temper tantrums</a> in young children shows that the best parental reaction is . . . to ignore them.  Researchers sewed microphones into the onesies of 13 two to three year olds and recorded their cries during temper tantrums.  Then they analyzed the sounds and rhythms for the corresponding emotions.\r\n\r\nTheir conclusion? “Ignoring the child” is the fastest way to get past the tantrum. Do not argue or engage with the child until the child calms down.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_732\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Andrew always did EVERYTHING 110 percent, including temper tantrums. This photo, at 6 months, shows his personality.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-732 \" title=\"Andrew6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThey could have saved their research money if only they had asked me!  Or asked my mother, who long before anyone dreamed of this study, advised me to ignore tantrums.\r\nOur oldest son Andrew was our king of the temper tantrums.  Starting just before his second birthday, if he was not getting what he wanted, he could - and would - throw himself on the floor of the grocery store - or any store - and pound arms and legs until I wondered if he’d bruise himself.\r\n\r\nFollowing my mother’s advice, I would walk a few yards down the grocery store aisle, pick up a can of something, anything off the shelf and pretend to read the label. I’d watch Andrew out of the corner of my eye.\r\n\r\nHe’d get up off the floor, stomp down the aisle until he was beside me, then toss himself on the floor and begin the tantrum again.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_733\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Not hard to see that gung-ho, give-it-everything-I&#39;ve-got personality trait, is it?\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-733 \" title=\"Andrew110\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110-210x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI’d put the can back on the shelf, then move further down the aisle, pick up another item and pretend to read that label, as if I was completely oblivious to the screaming child who kept following me.\r\n\r\nBy the end of the aisle, the tantrum was usually over.\r\n\r\nI found he was less likely to pitch a fit if I did not to take him places when he was tired or hungry.  But, nothing I did completely eliminated his tantrums.  Until just before he turned three, he simply quit pitching tantrums, abandoning them as an apparently ineffective means of trying to get his way.\r\n\r\nExcept when my mother-in-law visited.  She found it impossible to ignore the tantrums.  So Andrew continued them when she was around, until after his fourth birthday.\r\n\r\nThe study on temper tantrums, done by Michael Potegal and James A. Green, was published in the journal Emotion and reported on NPR’s Morning Edition today.','New Temper Trantrum Research Confirms Old Advice','','inherit','open','open','','731-revision-4','','','2011-12-06 23:35:25','2011-12-07 04:35:25','',731,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/06/731-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(739,2,'2011-12-06 23:36:06','2011-12-07 04:36:06','<a title=\"Temper Trantrums\" href=\"http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/12/05/temper-tantrums-theres-method-to-the-madness/\" target=\"_blank\">New research into temper tantrums</a> in young children shows that the best parental reaction is . . . to ignore them.  Researchers sewed microphones into the onesies of 13 two to three year olds and recorded their cries during temper tantrums.  Then they analyzed the sounds and rhythms for the corresponding emotions.\r\n\r\nTheir conclusion? “Ignoring the child” is the fastest way to get past the tantrum. Do not argue or engage with the child until the child calms down.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_732\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Andrew always did EVERYTHING 110 percent, including temper tantrums. This photo, at 6 months, shows his personality.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-732 \" title=\"Andrew6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThey could have saved their research money if only they had asked me!  Or asked my mother, who long before anyone dreamed of this study, advised me to ignore tantrums.\r\nOur oldest son Andrew was our king of the temper tantrums.  Starting just before his second birthday, if he was not getting what he wanted, he could - and would - throw himself on the floor of the grocery store - or any store - and pound arms and legs until I wondered if he’d bruise himself.\r\n\r\nFollowing my mother’s advice, I would walk a few yards down the grocery store aisle, pick up a can of something, anything off the shelf and pretend to read the label. I’d watch Andrew out of the corner of my eye.\r\n\r\nHe’d get up off the floor, stomp down the aisle until he was beside me, then toss himself on the floor and begin the tantrum again.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_733\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Not hard to see that gung-ho, give-it-everything-I&#39;ve-got personality trait, is it?\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-733 \" title=\"Andrew110\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110-210x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI’d put the can back on the shelf, then move further down the aisle, pick up another item and pretend to read that label, as if I was completely oblivious to the screaming child who kept following me.\r\n\r\nBy the end of the aisle, the tantrum was usually over.\r\n\r\nI found he was less likely to pitch a fit if I did not to take him places when he was tired or hungry.  But, nothing I did completely eliminated his tantrums.  Until just before he turned three, he simply quit pitching tantrums, abandoning them as an apparently ineffective means of trying to get his way.\r\n\r\nExcept when my mother-in-law visited.  She found it impossible to ignore the tantrums.  So Andrew continued them when she was around, until after his fourth birthday.\r\n\r\nThe study on temper tantrums, done by Michael Potegal and James A. Green, was published in the journal Emotion and reported on NPR’s Morning Edition today.','New Temper Tantrum Research Confirms Old Advice','','inherit','open','open','','731-revision-5','','','2011-12-06 23:36:06','2011-12-07 04:36:06','',731,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/06/731-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(740,2,'2011-12-06 23:55:16','2011-12-07 04:55:16','<a title=\"Temper Trantrums\" href=\"http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/12/05/temper-tantrums-theres-method-to-the-madness/\" target=\"_blank\">New research into temper tantrums</a> in young children shows that the best parental reaction is . . . to ignore them.  Researchers sewed microphones into the onesies of 13 two to three year olds and recorded their cries during temper tantrums.  Then they analyzed the sounds and rhythms for the corresponding emotions.\r\n\r\nTheir conclusion? “Ignoring the child” is the fastest way to get past the tantrum. Do not argue or engage with the child until the child calms down.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_732\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Andrew always did EVERYTHING 110 percent, including temper tantrums. This photo, at 6 months, shows his personality.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-732 \" title=\"Andrew6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThey could have saved their research money if only they had asked me!  Or asked my mother, who long before anyone dreamed of this study, advised me to ignore tantrums.\r\nOur oldest son Andrew was our king of the temper tantrums.  Starting just before his second birthday, if he was not getting what he wanted, he could - and would - throw himself on the floor of the grocery store - or any store - and pound arms and legs until I wondered if he’d bruise himself.\r\n\r\nFollowing my mother’s advice, I would walk a few yards down the grocery store aisle, pick up a can of something, anything off the shelf and pretend to read the label. I’d watch Andrew out of the corner of my eye.\r\n\r\nHe’d get up off the floor, stomp down the aisle until he was beside me, then toss himself on the floor and begin the tantrum again.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_733\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Not hard to see that gung-ho, give-it-everything-I&#39;ve-got personality trait, is it?\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-733 \" title=\"Andrew110\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110-210x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI’d put the can back on the shelf, then move further down the aisle, pick up another item and pretend to read that label, as if I was completely oblivious to the screaming child who kept following me.\r\n\r\nBy the end of the aisle, the tantrum was usually over.\r\n\r\nI found he was less likely to pitch a fit if I did not to take him places when he was tired or hungry.  But, nothing I did completely eliminated his tantrums.  Until just before he turned three, he simply quit pitching tantrums, abandoning them as an apparently ineffective means of trying to get his way.\r\n\r\nExcept when my mother-in-law visited.  She found it impossible to ignore the tantrums.  So Andrew continued them when she was around, until after his fourth birthday.\r\n\r\nThe study on temper tantrums, done by Michael Potegal and James A. Green, was published in the journal Emotion and reported on NPR’s Morning Edition today.','New Temper Tantrum Research Confirms Old Advice','','inherit','open','open','','731-autosave','','','2011-12-06 23:55:16','2011-12-07 04:55:16','',731,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/06/731-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(741,2,'2011-12-06 23:42:53','2011-12-07 04:42:53','<a title=\"Temper Trantrums\" href=\"http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/12/05/temper-tantrums-theres-method-to-the-madness/\" target=\"_blank\">New research into temper tantrums</a> in young children shows that the best parental reaction is . . . to ignore them.  Researchers sewed microphones into the onesies of 13 two to three year olds and recorded their cries during temper tantrums.  Then they analyzed the sounds and rhythms for the corresponding emotions.\r\n\r\nTheir conclusion? “Ignoring the child” is the fastest way to get past the tantrum. Do not argue or engage with the child until the child calms down.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_732\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Andrew always did EVERYTHING 110 percent, including temper tantrums. This photo, at 6 months, shows his personality.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-732 \" title=\"Andrew6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew6mo-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"278\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThey could have saved their research money if only they had asked me!  Or asked my mother, who long before anyone dreamed of this study, advised me to ignore tantrums.\r\nOur oldest son Andrew was our king of the temper tantrums.  Starting just before his second birthday, if he was not getting what he wanted, he could - and would - throw himself on the floor of the grocery store - or any store - and pound arms and legs until I wondered if he’d bruise himself.\r\n\r\nFollowing my mother’s advice, I would walk a few yards down the grocery store aisle, pick up a can of something, anything off the shelf and pretend to read the label. I’d watch Andrew out of the corner of my eye.\r\n\r\nHe’d get up off the floor, stomp down the aisle until he was beside me, then toss himself on the floor and begin the tantrum again.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_733\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Not hard to see that gung-ho, give-it-everything-I&#39;ve-got personality trait, is it?\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-733 \" title=\"Andrew110\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrew110-210x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI’d put the can back on the shelf, then move further down the aisle, pick up another item and pretend to read that label, as if I was completely oblivious to the screaming child who kept following me.\r\n\r\nBy the end of the aisle, the tantrum was usually over.\r\n\r\nI found he was less likely to pitch a fit if I did not to take him places when he was tired or hungry.  But, nothing I did completely eliminated his tantrums.  Until just before he turned three, he simply quit pitching tantrums, abandoning them as an apparently ineffective means of trying to get his way.\r\n\r\nExcept when my mother-in-law visited.  She found it impossible to ignore the tantrums.  So Andrew continued them when she was around, until after his fourth birthday.\r\n\r\nThe study on temper tantrums, done by Michael Potegal and James A. Green, was published in the journal Emotion and reported on NPR’s Morning Edition today.','New Temper Tantrum Research Confirms Old Advice','','inherit','open','open','','731-revision-6','','','2011-12-06 23:42:53','2011-12-07 04:42:53','',731,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/06/731-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1024,2,'2012-01-16 11:05:05','2012-01-16 16:05:05','<h1>Motherhood and the Call to Holiness</h1>\n<h2>How staying at home helped moms understand their vocation. Jan. 15 issue feature.</h2>\n<div>\n<div><a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/motherhood-and-the-call-to-holiness1\" target=\"_blank\">Share</a></div>\n<div></div>\n</div>\n<cite>by THOMAS L. McDONALD</cite> <em>01/14/2012 Comments <a href=\"http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/motherhood-and-the-call-to-holiness1/#blogComments\">(1)</a></em>\n<div>\n<div id=\"article-image-1\"><img title=\"Shutterstock\" src=\"http://www.ncregister.com/images/sized/images/uploads/motherhooddn-255x255.jpg\" alt=\"Shutterstock\" width=\"255\" height=\"255\" /><cite>– Shutterstock</cite>\n\n</div>\nRecently, the Women at NBCU (a marketing firm for NBC Universal) study found that 66% of moms said they would rather be a stay-at-home parent than a working parent. Additionally, the majority of employed moms (53%) feel that, while financially they need to work, they would prefer to be stay-at-home moms.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLong before she was married or even pregnant, Vicky Stone intended to be a stay-at-home mom. It didn’t work out that way. When she and her husband had their first child, her career was taking off. They had just purchased a house and couldn’t give up the income or benefits. “I think it came down to me being too young and selfish at that time,” she admits. “I couldn’t see the big picture.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy the time she was pregnant with her fourth child, she had risen to the position of assistant county administrator for Camden County, N.J. She enjoyed the work but felt the overwhelming need to be at home with her children. “Working was coming at the cost of spending time with my family. I needed to re-evaluate my priorities.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo she left the workforce and never looked back. Now, with seven children, ranging in age from 5 to 16, she knows she made the right choice. She discerned motherhood as her vocation and learned the unique way it sanctifies everyday life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“God calls each and every one of us to holiness, but being a mother is a special blessing. Being a mother one is able to be his instrument in creation, his hands, as we help our children in all they do,” she says. “We demonstrate his love in our unconditional love for our children — and all of this carries through to not only our own children, but to all.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOther Catholic women have faced similar challenges and discernment.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Michelle Reitemeyer was working as a civil engineer, she believed she could balance both a large family and a demanding career. Married at 24, she had her first child at 27. She wanted to stay home, but, like many families, they simply couldn’t afford to lose the extra paycheck: “The reality was that we owed a ton of money from our private college education, and we hadn’t been overly prudent in how we spent our spare cash in our early marriage. I managed to keep my paycheck, but finagled fewer hours in the office and two days working from home.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis approach didn’t work out too well, and a month before the birth of her second son, she made the decision to stop working and turn to motherhood full time. “Often, a woman works just to pay for childcare, and it makes no sense,” she explains. “Not in my case. Had I poured myself into my career, I could have made a lot of money. I was on an upward path, especially once my company added a commission to my base pay a few months before I quit. But, enticing as that was, I am an old-fashioned girl. I had dreams of waving goodbye to the kids as they left for school, spending my day cleaning the house and baking cookies, greeting them with smiles when they got home, and just having this perfect <em>Leave It to Beaver</em> life. I didn’t want other people to change my babies’ diapers, feed my babies bottles, or help my children with their homework.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMother of six Margaret Berns, on the other hand, always knew she would stay home to raise her family. “In fact,” she says, “I told my husband so on our first date. (The fact that he stuck around for a second date was very encouraging.) This is it for me: Raising my children is the most important thing I will do.” She left her job as a teacher in a small Catholic high school upon the birth of her first child.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHeather Price was also working as a teacher when she decided to leave her job to stay at home. Teaching is “probably one of the most family-friendly careers there is,” she says. “I loved it until I was a mother — then the joy paled to nonexistence. I decided to focus on my family when it hurt so much to drop my oldest off at her aunt’s so I could go to work. It seemed hypocritical to be teaching other people’s children and leave someone else to take care of my own. Then No. 2 was born when No. 1 was only a year and a half old, and the work to get out the door was just overwhelming. Between prepared-food costs, gas costs and day-care costs, I wasn’t making any money.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow Price is pregnant with her sixth child, and she and her husband are committed to “the spirit of sacrifice. I would love to make annual trips to France or even take graduate-level classes in art history or French; even a solitary trip to the grocery store, however, is a luxury. Sometimes I feel like I live in a cloister, with my only influence being through prayer, but I don’t know that I’m comfortable with that comparison. Those courageous women have made far greater sacrifices than I.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor Berns, the call to holiness comes from “the love that I show my children and husband. Theoretically, this love will increase exponentially when my children leave the house — the ripples will expand; the faith will be shared. That is my great hope: that my children will all be emissaries of the King and will be inspired, not hindered, by what they’ve learned in our home.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSome new mothers, however, find the image of the vocation doesn’t always match the reality. How can children be the means for a mother’s sanctification if they only make her irritable, tense and exhausted? Reitemeyer learned gradually that things do get better with age and experience.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“There were many evenings I wept while nursing a little one to sleep,” she admits, “and prayed to Mother Mary for the grace to be gentle and patient and kind. I still have a long way to go, but, certainly, I find it much easier now to speak softly or slow down to a child’s pace or laugh before scolding. Motherhood, well done, has no room for selfishness, impatience, sloth or cowardice. Every day brings new challenges that require exercising one or more virtues, and to boldly face another day is to get a bit stronger, better, holier. Certainly, there is the possibility of failure, of becoming apathetic, of remaining selfish and self-centered. And, surely, as the mother goes, so too will go the family, and thus the world.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“Holy women will tend to raise holy families, and since the family is the fundamental unit of society, the more holy families there are, the better our society will be.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor Stone, the call to holiness in her vocation reflects the call of God to mankind. “When we become filled with his love,” she says, “we see others as his children. And just as we want to help our children attain their full potential, you can see how God wants all of his children to attain heaven. We feel the call to help others, as we should, on our path to walk alongside us as we strive to be more pleasing to him.”\n\n&nbsp;\n<p align=\"right\"><em>Thomas L. McDonald is a catechist in the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey.</em></p>\n\n</div>\nRead more: <a href=\"http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/motherhood-and-the-call-to-holiness1/#ixzz1jdbMa400\">http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/motherhood-and-the-call-to-holiness1/#ixzz1jdbMa400</a>','Motherhood and Call to Holiness','','inherit','open','open','','1023-revision','','','2012-01-16 11:05:05','2012-01-16 16:05:05','',1023,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/16/1023-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(744,2,'2011-12-08 21:48:08','2011-12-09 02:48:08','The news today reports that Michelle Duggar, star of the reality show \"19 Kids and Counting\" has miscarried her 20th child. A miscarriage. A lost baby. A broken-hearted mother.\r\n\r\nOn September 28, 2011, I received a phone call at work, from one of my favorite young mothers. She told me that she had gone to the doctor that morning for a routine prenatal check-up and the doctor could not find her baby’s heartbeat. Last April, she lost a baby at 20 weeks. And now, she told me, she had apparently also lost this baby, again at 20 weeks. My heart sank.\r\n\r\nHow clearly I remember September 27, 1986. 25 years earlier, the day we suffered a miscarriage. I was 3 1/2 months along in my pregnancy - 15 weeks. I had felt the baby move. Had been talking to her. Had been praying over her. Had been daily thanking God for my new precious little one.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_745\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"187\" caption=\"Benjamin at age 2. He is now 26 and finishing his doctorate in Greek and Latin.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Benjat2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-745  \" title=\"Benjat2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Benjat2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"237\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe would have been 22 months or so younger than Benjamin, our fourth child.\r\n\r\nBut I got up that Saturday morning, feeling strange, lethargic. Andrew, then 7 years old, had a soccer game. I was too sick to go to the game. I NEVER missed any of our children’s sporting events, so Gregg knew that something was seriously wrong. Gregg took Andrew, and the other children, to the soccer game and left me at home to rest. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrewsoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-746 alignright\" title=\"Andrewsoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrewsoccer-269x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"224\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI went back to bed and tried to sleep. Then the bleeding started. I called my friend Judy, who is a nurse. She sent her husband Harold to the ballpark to tell Gregg. Judy talked to me, prayed over me and over the baby.\r\n\r\nThen I called my doctor, who asked if I was having cramps. I started to tell him, “No.” But before the word came out of my mouth, I felt a spasm grip my abdomen. The next few hours were consumed with cramps and bleeding.\r\n\r\nAt some point Gregg laid his hands on my belly and prayed for the baby we were, by that point, obviously losing.\r\n\r\nIn one conversation with the doctor, he asked if I’d been sick. “I had a small cold last week,” I told him. “Not much more than a runny nose and a headache.” That virus that had been such a small discomfort to me, had probably been devastating to our baby.\r\n\r\nIn between conversations with Judy and Gregg and the doctor, I carried on a long conversaton with God. At first I pleaded for the life of my baby. My Heavenly Father held me close and comforted me. And gently let me know that my little one would soon be with Him.\r\n\r\nOn the advice our doctor, we named our baby Kaitlyn Marie. Not because we could be sure that she was a girl - at 15 weeks, we didn’t know the gender - but because we’d already decided on a girl’s name. We hadn’t decided on a boy’s name yet, having run out of boy’s names that we both liked.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_747\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"554\" caption=\"Benjamin with Jonathan on the day of Jonathan&#39;s birth.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-747 \" title=\"BenjJonfeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"554\" height=\"298\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen, two years later, on September 24, 1988, our son Jonathan was born. No child can EVER take the place of another child. Kaitlyn was her own person and has her own place in our family. Jonathan is unique and precious in his own way. But we know that if I had carried Kaitlyn to fullterm, we would almost certainly not have gotten pregnant with Jonathan, so soon afterward.\r\n\r\nAnd, now in September, we celebrate his birthday. And three days later, I quietly remember Katie, my child I never got to see, but will one day meet and get to know in heaven.\r\n\r\nMy heart goes out to Michelle Duggar. It hurts to lose a baby, even when you have 19 - or four - other children. And my heart aches for my friend who has lost two baby girls in the last year. I\'m glad she has her precious (and I do mean <em>precious</em>!) three year old son to ease that loss.','Michelle Duggar Loses Baby: Thoughts on Miscarriage','','publish','open','open','','michelle-duggar-loses-baby-thoughts-on-miscarriage','','','2011-12-08 21:48:08','2011-12-09 02:48:08','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=744',0,'post','',5),(745,2,'2011-12-08 21:17:15','2011-12-09 02:17:15','','Benjat2','Benjamin at age 2. He is now 26 and finishing his doctorate in Greek and Latin.','inherit','open','open','','benjat2','','','2011-12-08 21:17:15','2011-12-09 02:17:15','',744,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Benjat2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(746,2,'2011-12-08 21:20:36','2011-12-09 02:20:36','','Andrewsoccer','','inherit','open','open','','andrewsoccer','','','2011-12-08 21:20:36','2011-12-09 02:20:36','',744,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrewsoccer.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(747,2,'2011-12-08 21:31:06','2011-12-09 02:31:06','','BenjJonfeatured','Benjamin with Jonathan on the day of Jonathan\'s birth.','inherit','open','open','','benjjonfeatured','','','2011-12-08 21:31:06','2011-12-09 02:31:06','',744,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(812,2,'2011-12-17 22:13:13','2011-12-18 03:13:13','\"Jesus received three gifts, so our little girl will receive three gifts this Christmas,\" the young mother explained.  I told about that conversation in a <a title=\"Family Christmas Traditions, Part Three: Give Three Gifts\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/11/family-christmas-traditions-part-three-give-three-gifts/\">previous post</a>.  And that started a flurry of discussion on the idea of limiting family gift-giving to three gifts.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_818\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"251\" caption=\"Our family Christmas tree in 2007\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ChristmasTree07.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-818  \" title=\"ChristmasTree07\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ChristmasTree07.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"251\" height=\"480\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne mother takes the approach that they give each of their girls: one gift that she has requested; another gift that the parents have chosen; and a book.\r\n\r\nAnother parent, who has subscribed to the \"three gift\" idea for years, commented that her now-teen children \"really put thought into what 3 things they ask for instead of some endless list.\"  The three gift idea would have that impact, wouldn\'t it? An excellent benefit to this program!\r\n\r\nWe are thinking that this Christmas each of our adult children will receive, from us: one item listed on their Amazon wish list; one hand-made gift and one other present.\r\n\r\nOf course, our children also exchange gifts among themselves.  They draw names so that each of them get one sibling gift and buy one gift for a sibling.  With Jonathan\'s marriage to Jessica this past summer, this Christmas is the first year we had seven children to swap sibling names.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_817\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Andrew, Matthew, Lisette, Jessica (the bride), Jonathan, Debi, Gregg, and Benjamin.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessJonWedding.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-817 \" title=\"JessJonWedding\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JessJonWedding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"298\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, each of our children also have a stocking, with some small gifts. Traditionally the stocking has one orange and a small bottle of grape juice. That\'s a family tradition taken from my family-of-origin; we always got an orange and a bottle of grape juice in our stockings.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_821\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"325\" caption=\" Matthew watches Andrew opening a gift. You can see our stockings on the couch beside Matthew.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewOpenGift.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-821 \" title=\"AndrewOpenGift\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AndrewOpenGift.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"325\" height=\"444\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe stocking usually also contains some candy and, most years, one or two small items.','Give Three Gifts at Christmas: Different Approaches','','publish','open','open','','give-three-gifts-at-christmas-different-approaches','','','2011-12-17 22:13:13','2011-12-18 03:13:13','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=812',0,'post','',0),(749,2,'2011-12-08 21:39:29','2011-12-09 02:39:29','The news today reports that Michelle Duggar, star of the reality show \"19 Kids and Counting\" has miscarried her 20th child. A miscarriage. A lost baby. A broken-hearted mother.\n\nOn September 28, 2011, I received a phone call at work, from one of my favorite young mothers. She told me that she had gone to the doctor that morning for a routine prenatal check-up and the doctor could not find her baby’s heartbeat. Last April, she lost a baby at 20 weeks. And now, she told me, she had apparently also lost this baby, again at 20 weeks. My heart sank.\n\nHow clearly I remember September 27, 1986. 25 years earlier, the day we suffered a miscarriage. I was 3 1/2 months along in my pregnancy - 15 weeks. I had felt the baby move. Had been talking to her. Had been praying over her. Had been daily thanking God for my new precious little one.\n\nShe would have been 22 months or so younger than Benjamin, our fourth child.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_745\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"282\" caption=\"Benjamin at age 2. He is now 26 and finishing his doctorate in Greek and Latin.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Benjat2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-745 \" title=\"Benjat2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Benjat2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"282\" height=\"357\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut I got up that Saturday morning, feeling strange, lethargic. Andrew, then 7 years old, had a soccer game. I was too sick to go to the game. I NEVER missed any of our children’s sporting events, so Gregg knew that something was seriously wrong. Gregg took Andrew, and the other children, to the soccer game and left me at home to rest. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrewsoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-746 alignleft\" title=\"Andrewsoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrewsoccer-269x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"223\" height=\"249\" /></a>\n\nI went back to bed and tried to sleep. Then the bleeding started. I called my friend Judy, who is a nurse. She sent her husband Harold to the ballpark to tell Gregg. Judy talked to me, prayed over me and over the baby.\n\nThen I called my doctor, who asked if I was having cramps. I started to tell him, “No.” But before the word came out of my mouth, I felt a spasm grip my abdomen. The next few hours were consumed with cramps and bleeding.\n\nAt some point Gregg laid his hands on my belly and prayed for the baby we were, by that point, obviously losing.\n\nIn one conversation with the doctor, he asked if I’d been sick. “I had a small cold last week,” I told him. “Not much more than a runny nose and a headache.” That virus that had been such a small discomfort to me, had probably been devastating to our baby.\n\nIn between conversations with Judy and Gregg and the doctor, I carried on a long conversaton with God. At first I pleaded for the life of my baby. My Heavenly Father held me close and comforted me. And gently let me know that my little one would soon be with Him.\n\nOn the advice our doctor, we named our baby Kaitlyn Marie. Not because we could be sure that she was a girl - at 15 weeks, we didn’t know the gender - but because we’d already decided on a girl’s name. We hadn’t decided on a boy’s name yet, having run out of boy’s names that we both liked.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_747\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Benjamin with Jonathan on the day of Jonathan&#39;s birth.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-747\" title=\"BenjJonfeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured-300x161.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"161\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen, two years later, on September 24, 1988, our son Jonathan was born. No child can EVER take the place of another child. Kaitlyn was her own person and has her own place in our family. Jonathan is unique and precious in his own way. But we know that if I had carried Kaitlyn to fullterm, we would almost certainly not have gotten pregnant with Jonathan, so soon afterward.\n\nAnd, now in September, we celebrate his birthday. And three days later, I quietly remember Katie, my child I never got to see, but will one day meet and get to know in heaven.\n\nMy heart goes out to Michelle Duggar. It hurts to lose a baby, even when you have 19 - or four - other children. And my heart aches for my friend who has lost two baby girls in the last year. I\'m glad she has her precious (and I do mean <em>precious</em>!) three year old son to ease that loss.','Thoughts on Miscarrying a Baby','','inherit','open','open','','744-revision','','','2011-12-08 21:39:29','2011-12-09 02:39:29','',744,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/08/744-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(750,2,'2011-12-08 21:42:16','2011-12-09 02:42:16','The news today reports that Michelle Duggar, star of the reality show \"19 Kids and Counting\" has miscarried her 20th child. A miscarriage. A lost baby. A broken-hearted mother.\n\nOn September 28, 2011, I received a phone call at work, from one of my favorite young mothers. She told me that she had gone to the doctor that morning for a routine prenatal check-up and the doctor could not find her baby’s heartbeat. Last April, she lost a baby at 20 weeks. And now, she told me, she had apparently also lost this baby, again at 20 weeks. My heart sank.\n\nHow clearly I remember September 27, 1986. 25 years earlier, the day we suffered a miscarriage. I was 3 1/2 months along in my pregnancy - 15 weeks. I had felt the baby move. Had been talking to her. Had been praying over her. Had been daily thanking God for my new precious little one.\n\nShe would have been 22 months or so younger than Benjamin, our fourth child.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_745\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"282\" caption=\"Benjamin at age 2. He is now 26 and finishing his doctorate in Greek and Latin.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Benjat2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-745 \" title=\"Benjat2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Benjat2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"282\" height=\"357\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut I got up that Saturday morning, feeling strange, lethargic. Andrew, then 7 years old, had a soccer game. I was too sick to go to the game. I NEVER missed any of our children’s sporting events, so Gregg knew that something was seriously wrong. Gregg took Andrew, and the other children, to the soccer game and left me at home to rest. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrewsoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-746 alignleft\" title=\"Andrewsoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrewsoccer-269x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"223\" height=\"249\" /></a>\n\nI went back to bed and tried to sleep. Then the bleeding started. I called my friend Judy, who is a nurse. She sent her husband Harold to the ballpark to tell Gregg. Judy talked to me, prayed over me and over the baby.\n\nThen I called my doctor, who asked if I was having cramps. I started to tell him, “No.” But before the word came out of my mouth, I felt a spasm grip my abdomen. The next few hours were consumed with cramps and bleeding.\n\nAt some point Gregg laid his hands on my belly and prayed for the baby we were, by that point, obviously losing.\n\nIn one conversation with the doctor, he asked if I’d been sick. “I had a small cold last week,” I told him. “Not much more than a runny nose and a headache.” That virus that had been such a small discomfort to me, had probably been devastating to our baby.\n\nIn between conversations with Judy and Gregg and the doctor, I carried on a long conversaton with God. At first I pleaded for the life of my baby. My Heavenly Father held me close and comforted me. And gently let me know that my little one would soon be with Him.\n\nOn the advice our doctor, we named our baby Kaitlyn Marie. Not because we could be sure that she was a girl - at 15 weeks, we didn’t know the gender - but because we’d already decided on a girl’s name. We hadn’t decided on a boy’s name yet, having run out of boy’s names that we both liked.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_747\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"791\" caption=\"Benjamin with Jonathan on the day of Jonathan&#39;s birth.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-747\" title=\"BenjJonfeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"791\" height=\"426\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen, two years later, on September 24, 1988, our son Jonathan was born. No child can EVER take the place of another child. Kaitlyn was her own person and has her own place in our family. Jonathan is unique and precious in his own way. But we know that if I had carried Kaitlyn to fullterm, we would almost certainly not have gotten pregnant with Jonathan, so soon afterward.\n\nAnd, now in September, we celebrate his birthday. And three days later, I quietly remember Katie, my child I never got to see, but will one day meet and get to know in heaven.\n\nMy heart goes out to Michelle Duggar. It hurts to lose a baby, even when you have 19 - or four - other children. And my heart aches for my friend who has lost two baby girls in the last year. I\'m glad she has her precious (and I do mean <em>precious</em>!) three year old son to ease that loss.','Thoughts on Miscarrying a Baby','','inherit','open','open','','744-revision-2','','','2011-12-08 21:42:16','2011-12-09 02:42:16','',744,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/08/744-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(751,2,'2011-12-08 21:44:38','2011-12-09 02:44:38','The news today reports that Michelle Duggar, star of the reality show \"19 Kids and Counting\" has miscarried her 20th child. A miscarriage. A lost baby. A broken-hearted mother.\n\nOn September 28, 2011, I received a phone call at work, from one of my favorite young mothers. She told me that she had gone to the doctor that morning for a routine prenatal check-up and the doctor could not find her baby’s heartbeat. Last April, she lost a baby at 20 weeks. And now, she told me, she had apparently also lost this baby, again at 20 weeks. My heart sank.\n\nHow clearly I remember September 27, 1986. 25 years earlier, the day we suffered a miscarriage. I was 3 1/2 months along in my pregnancy - 15 weeks. I had felt the baby move. Had been talking to her. Had been praying over her. Had been daily thanking God for my new precious little one.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_745\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"254\" caption=\"Benjamin at age 2. He is now 26 and finishing his doctorate in Greek and Latin.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Benjat2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-745 \" title=\"Benjat2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Benjat2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"254\" height=\"321\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nShe would have been 22 months or so younger than Benjamin, our fourth child.\n\nBut I got up that Saturday morning, feeling strange, lethargic. Andrew, then 7 years old, had a soccer game. I was too sick to go to the game. I NEVER missed any of our children’s sporting events, so Gregg knew that something was seriously wrong. Gregg took Andrew, and the other children, to the soccer game and left me at home to rest. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrewsoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-746 alignleft\" title=\"Andrewsoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrewsoccer-269x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"223\" height=\"249\" /></a>\n\nI went back to bed and tried to sleep. Then the bleeding started. I called my friend Judy, who is a nurse. She sent her husband Harold to the ballpark to tell Gregg. Judy talked to me, prayed over me and over the baby.\n\nThen I called my doctor, who asked if I was having cramps. I started to tell him, “No.” But before the word came out of my mouth, I felt a spasm grip my abdomen. The next few hours were consumed with cramps and bleeding.\n\nAt some point Gregg laid his hands on my belly and prayed for the baby we were, by that point, obviously losing.\n\nIn one conversation with the doctor, he asked if I’d been sick. “I had a small cold last week,” I told him. “Not much more than a runny nose and a headache.” That virus that had been such a small discomfort to me, had probably been devastating to our baby.\n\nIn between conversations with Judy and Gregg and the doctor, I carried on a long conversaton with God. At first I pleaded for the life of my baby. My Heavenly Father held me close and comforted me. And gently let me know that my little one would soon be with Him.\n\nOn the advice our doctor, we named our baby Kaitlyn Marie. Not because we could be sure that she was a girl - at 15 weeks, we didn’t know the gender - but because we’d already decided on a girl’s name. We hadn’t decided on a boy’s name yet, having run out of boy’s names that we both liked.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_747\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"554\" caption=\"Benjamin with Jonathan on the day of Jonathan&#39;s birth.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-747 \" title=\"BenjJonfeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"554\" height=\"298\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen, two years later, on September 24, 1988, our son Jonathan was born. No child can EVER take the place of another child. Kaitlyn was her own person and has her own place in our family. Jonathan is unique and precious in his own way. But we know that if I had carried Kaitlyn to fullterm, we would almost certainly not have gotten pregnant with Jonathan, so soon afterward.\n\nAnd, now in September, we celebrate his birthday. And three days later, I quietly remember Katie, my child I never got to see, but will one day meet and get to know in heaven.\n\nMy heart goes out to Michelle Duggar. It hurts to lose a baby, even when you have 19 - or four - other children. And my heart aches for my friend who has lost two baby girls in the last year. I\'m glad she has her precious (and I do mean <em>precious</em>!) three year old son to ease that loss.','Thoughts on Miscarrying a Baby','','inherit','open','open','','744-revision-3','','','2011-12-08 21:44:38','2011-12-09 02:44:38','',744,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/08/744-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(752,2,'2011-12-08 21:45:59','2011-12-09 02:45:59','The news today reports that Michelle Duggar, star of the reality show \"19 Kids and Counting\" has miscarried her 20th child. A miscarriage. A lost baby. A broken-hearted mother.\n\nOn September 28, 2011, I received a phone call at work, from one of my favorite young mothers. She told me that she had gone to the doctor that morning for a routine prenatal check-up and the doctor could not find her baby’s heartbeat. Last April, she lost a baby at 20 weeks. And now, she told me, she had apparently also lost this baby, again at 20 weeks. My heart sank.\n\nHow clearly I remember September 27, 1986. 25 years earlier, the day we suffered a miscarriage. I was 3 1/2 months along in my pregnancy - 15 weeks. I had felt the baby move. Had been talking to her. Had been praying over her. Had been daily thanking God for my new precious little one.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_745\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"234\" caption=\"Benjamin at age 2. He is now 26 and finishing his doctorate in Greek and Latin.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Benjat2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-745 \" title=\"Benjat2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Benjat2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"234\" height=\"296\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nShe would have been 22 months or so younger than Benjamin, our fourth child.\n\nBut I got up that Saturday morning, feeling strange, lethargic. Andrew, then 7 years old, had a soccer game. I was too sick to go to the game. I NEVER missed any of our children’s sporting events, so Gregg knew that something was seriously wrong. Gregg took Andrew, and the other children, to the soccer game and left me at home to rest. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrewsoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-746 alignleft\" title=\"Andrewsoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrewsoccer-269x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"223\" height=\"249\" /></a>\n\nI went back to bed and tried to sleep. Then the bleeding started. I called my friend Judy, who is a nurse. She sent her husband Harold to the ballpark to tell Gregg. Judy talked to me, prayed over me and over the baby.\n\nThen I called my doctor, who asked if I was having cramps. I started to tell him, “No.” But before the word came out of my mouth, I felt a spasm grip my abdomen. The next few hours were consumed with cramps and bleeding.\n\nAt some point Gregg laid his hands on my belly and prayed for the baby we were, by that point, obviously losing.\n\nIn one conversation with the doctor, he asked if I’d been sick. “I had a small cold last week,” I told him. “Not much more than a runny nose and a headache.” That virus that had been such a small discomfort to me, had probably been devastating to our baby.\n\nIn between conversations with Judy and Gregg and the doctor, I carried on a long conversaton with God. At first I pleaded for the life of my baby. My Heavenly Father held me close and comforted me. And gently let me know that my little one would soon be with Him.\n\nOn the advice our doctor, we named our baby Kaitlyn Marie. Not because we could be sure that she was a girl - at 15 weeks, we didn’t know the gender - but because we’d already decided on a girl’s name. We hadn’t decided on a boy’s name yet, having run out of boy’s names that we both liked.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_747\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"554\" caption=\"Benjamin with Jonathan on the day of Jonathan&#39;s birth.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-747 \" title=\"BenjJonfeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"554\" height=\"298\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen, two years later, on September 24, 1988, our son Jonathan was born. No child can EVER take the place of another child. Kaitlyn was her own person and has her own place in our family. Jonathan is unique and precious in his own way. But we know that if I had carried Kaitlyn to fullterm, we would almost certainly not have gotten pregnant with Jonathan, so soon afterward.\n\nAnd, now in September, we celebrate his birthday. And three days later, I quietly remember Katie, my child I never got to see, but will one day meet and get to know in heaven.\n\nMy heart goes out to Michelle Duggar. It hurts to lose a baby, even when you have 19 - or four - other children. And my heart aches for my friend who has lost two baby girls in the last year. I\'m glad she has her precious (and I do mean <em>precious</em>!) three year old son to ease that loss.','Michelle Duggar Loses Baby: Thoughts on Miscarriage','','inherit','open','open','','744-revision-4','','','2011-12-08 21:45:59','2011-12-09 02:45:59','',744,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/08/744-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(753,2,'2011-12-08 21:47:06','2011-12-09 02:47:06','The news today reports that Michelle Duggar, star of the reality show \"19 Kids and Counting\" has miscarried her 20th child. A miscarriage. A lost baby. A broken-hearted mother.\r\n\r\nOn September 28, 2011, I received a phone call at work, from one of my favorite young mothers. She told me that she had gone to the doctor that morning for a routine prenatal check-up and the doctor could not find her baby’s heartbeat. Last April, she lost a baby at 20 weeks. And now, she told me, she had apparently also lost this baby, again at 20 weeks. My heart sank.\r\n\r\nHow clearly I remember September 27, 1986. 25 years earlier, the day we suffered a miscarriage. I was 3 1/2 months along in my pregnancy - 15 weeks. I had felt the baby move. Had been talking to her. Had been praying over her. Had been daily thanking God for my new precious little one.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_745\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"187\" caption=\"Benjamin at age 2. He is now 26 and finishing his doctorate in Greek and Latin.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Benjat2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-745  \" title=\"Benjat2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Benjat2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"237\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nShe would have been 22 months or so younger than Benjamin, our fourth child.\r\n\r\nBut I got up that Saturday morning, feeling strange, lethargic. Andrew, then 7 years old, had a soccer game. I was too sick to go to the game. I NEVER missed any of our children’s sporting events, so Gregg knew that something was seriously wrong. Gregg took Andrew, and the other children, to the soccer game and left me at home to rest. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrewsoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-746 alignright\" title=\"Andrewsoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Andrewsoccer-269x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"224\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI went back to bed and tried to sleep. Then the bleeding started. I called my friend Judy, who is a nurse. She sent her husband Harold to the ballpark to tell Gregg. Judy talked to me, prayed over me and over the baby.\r\n\r\nThen I called my doctor, who asked if I was having cramps. I started to tell him, “No.” But before the word came out of my mouth, I felt a spasm grip my abdomen. The next few hours were consumed with cramps and bleeding.\r\n\r\nAt some point Gregg laid his hands on my belly and prayed for the baby we were, by that point, obviously losing.\r\n\r\nIn one conversation with the doctor, he asked if I’d been sick. “I had a small cold last week,” I told him. “Not much more than a runny nose and a headache.” That virus that had been such a small discomfort to me, had probably been devastating to our baby.\r\n\r\nIn between conversations with Judy and Gregg and the doctor, I carried on a long conversaton with God. At first I pleaded for the life of my baby. My Heavenly Father held me close and comforted me. And gently let me know that my little one would soon be with Him.\r\n\r\nOn the advice our doctor, we named our baby Kaitlyn Marie. Not because we could be sure that she was a girl - at 15 weeks, we didn’t know the gender - but because we’d already decided on a girl’s name. We hadn’t decided on a boy’s name yet, having run out of boy’s names that we both liked.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_747\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"554\" caption=\"Benjamin with Jonathan on the day of Jonathan&#39;s birth.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-747 \" title=\"BenjJonfeatured\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjJonfeatured.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"554\" height=\"298\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen, two years later, on September 24, 1988, our son Jonathan was born. No child can EVER take the place of another child. Kaitlyn was her own person and has her own place in our family. Jonathan is unique and precious in his own way. But we know that if I had carried Kaitlyn to fullterm, we would almost certainly not have gotten pregnant with Jonathan, so soon afterward.\r\n\r\nAnd, now in September, we celebrate his birthday. And three days later, I quietly remember Katie, my child I never got to see, but will one day meet and get to know in heaven.\r\n\r\nMy heart goes out to Michelle Duggar. It hurts to lose a baby, even when you have 19 - or four - other children. And my heart aches for my friend who has lost two baby girls in the last year. I\'m glad she has her precious (and I do mean <em>precious</em>!) three year old son to ease that loss.','Michelle Duggar Loses Baby: Thoughts on Miscarriage','','inherit','open','open','','744-revision-5','','','2011-12-08 21:47:06','2011-12-09 02:47:06','',744,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/08/744-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(754,2,'2011-12-10 23:06:44','2011-12-11 04:06:44','Several days ago, I promised more about our family Christmas traditions. But then a study was released about temper tantrums in toddlers. So I wrote a post about that.  And Michelle Duggar miscarried her 20th baby. I had written a post about miscarriages in September, when a friend lost her baby girl - but I\'d never published the post. I edited that article and published it.\r\n\r\nNOW, back to family Christmas traditions. We made Christmas ornaments with our children almost every year.  One year we used a flour-based dough, with red and green macaroni pieces in the white dough. Those turned out nicely, and lasted for about 10 years, before they completely crumbled.  I wish I had at least one  of them, to photograph, so I could show you what they were like.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_762\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"240\" caption=\"These we made from a store-bought kit. Not hard to tell that we didn&#39;t get all the little beads in the little spaces.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stainedglass.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-762 \" title=\"stainedglass\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stainedglass-300x176.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"141\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnother year, we \"baked\" stained glass ornaments, from a kit. The children sprinkled little beads into the metal frames and we popped them in the oven.  The beads melted and formed what looks  like stained glass.\r\n\r\nAnd, for a number of years, we made cinnamon ornaments.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_758\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"210\" caption=\"We didn&#39;t have wood glue on hand, so I used all-purpose glue. The dough is a little smoother with wood glue and shrinks less.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cinnamoningredients.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-758\" title=\"cinnamoningredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cinnamoningredients-300x253.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"177\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nCinnamon Dough Ornaments\r\n\r\ndough:\r\n1 cup cinnamon\r\n1/4 cup wood glue\r\n3/4 cup warm water\r\n1 tsp vegetable oil\r\n\r\nMix all the above.  It will form a stiff dough.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Sprinkle work surface with more cinnamon and knead the dough until it is pliable. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/doughrolledout.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-759 aligncenter\" title=\"doughrolledout\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/doughrolledout-300x243.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"243\" /></a>If the dough crumbles, add more water, at little at a time.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"> <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stars.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-764\" title=\"stars\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stars.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"358\" height=\"270\" /></a>Roll the dough 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes with cookie cutters.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_765\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"346\" caption=\"If you use this type of cookie cutter, you get more detailed designs.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ChristmasTree.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-765  \" title=\"ChristmasTree\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ChristmasTree.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"346\" height=\"343\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Poke a hole in the top, with a drinking straw.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/oncookiesheet.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-763\" title=\"oncookiesheet\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/oncookiesheet-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"322\" height=\"242\" /></a>\r\nDry naturally or in an oven at very low temperature.  Turn periodically to prevent curling.  Ornaments will shrink to 3/4 original size.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">After they are dry, you can paint them, or leave them plain.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/finishedornaments.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-767\" title=\"finishedornaments\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/finishedornaments-300x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" /></a></p>','More Lewis Family Christmas Traditions: Cinnamon Ornaments','','publish','open','open','','more-lewis-family-christmas-traditions-cinnamon-ornaments','','','2011-12-10 23:06:44','2011-12-11 04:06:44','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=754',0,'post','',1),(755,2,'2011-12-10 21:01:04','2011-12-11 02:01:04','Several days ago, I promised more about our family Christmas traditions.','More Lewis Family Christmas Traditions: Cinnamon Ornaments','','inherit','open','open','','754-revision','','','2011-12-10 21:01:04','2011-12-11 02:01:04','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/10/754-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(756,2,'2011-12-10 21:09:44','2011-12-11 02:09:44','Several days ago, I promised more about our family Christmas traditions. But then a study was released about temper tantrums in toddlers. So I wrote a post about that.  And Michelle Duggar had a miscarriage, so I wrote a post about losing a baby.\n\nSo, back to family Christmas traditions. We made Christmas ornaments almost every year.  One year we used a baked dough, with red and green macaroni pieces in the white dough. Those lasted for about 10 years, before they completely crumbled.  I wish I had at least one  of them, to photograph, so I could show you what they were like.\n\nAnother year, we \"baked\" stained glass ornaments, from a kit. The children sprinkled little beads into the metal frames and we popped them in the oven.  The beads melted and formed what looks  like stained glass.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut, for a number of years, we made cinnamon ornaments.\n\nLt. Col. Rick Clifton, our nephew,is now in Iraq from Kuwait. He is helping to get the US military equipment out of Iraq for the US departure from that country. Please pray for Rick and ALL of our troups in harms way. Their Christmas will be spent defending all of us and our freedom to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.\n\nThank you Trinity for caring.\n\nEvelyn Clifton.','More Lewis Family Christmas Traditions: Cinnamon Ornaments','','inherit','open','open','','754-revision-2','','','2011-12-10 21:09:44','2011-12-11 02:09:44','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/10/754-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(757,2,'2011-12-10 21:11:33','2011-12-11 02:11:33','Several days ago, I promised more about our family Christmas traditions. But then a study was released about temper tantrums in toddlers. So I wrote a post about that.  And Michelle Duggar had a miscarriage, so I wrote a post about losing a baby.\n\nSo, back to family Christmas traditions. We made Christmas ornaments almost every year.  One year we used a baked dough, with red and green macaroni pieces in the white dough. Those lasted for about 10 years, before they completely crumbled.  I wish I had at least one  of them, to photograph, so I could show you what they were like.\n\nAnother year, we \"baked\" stained glass ornaments, from a kit. The children sprinkled little beads into the metal frames and we popped them in the oven.  The beads melted and formed what looks  like stained glass.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut, for a number of years, we made cinnamon ornaments.\n\nCinnamon Dough Ornaments\n\ndough:\n1 cup cinnamon\n1/4 cup wood glue\n3/4 cup warm water\n1 tsp vegetable oil\n\nMix all the above.  It will form a stiff dough.  Sprinkle work surface with more cinnamon and knead the dough until it is piable.\nIf the dough crumbes, add more water, at little at a time.\nRoll the dough 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes with cookie cutters.  Poke a hole in the top, with a drinking straw.\nDry naturally or in an oven at very low temperature.  Turn periodically to prevent curling.  Ornaments will shrink to 3/4 original size.','More Lewis Family Christmas Traditions: Cinnamon Ornaments','','inherit','open','open','','754-revision-3','','','2011-12-10 21:11:33','2011-12-11 02:11:33','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/10/754-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(758,2,'2011-12-10 22:17:18','2011-12-11 03:17:18','','cinnamoningredients','','inherit','open','open','','cinnamoningredients','','','2011-12-10 22:17:18','2011-12-11 03:17:18','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cinnamoningredients.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(759,2,'2011-12-10 22:20:28','2011-12-11 03:20:28','','doughrolledout','','inherit','open','open','','doughrolledout','','','2011-12-10 22:20:28','2011-12-11 03:20:28','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/doughrolledout.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(760,2,'2011-12-10 22:21:00','2011-12-11 03:21:00','Several days ago, I promised more about our family Christmas traditions. But then a study was released about temper tantrums in toddlers. So I wrote a post about that.  And Michelle Duggar had a miscarriage, so I wrote a post about losing a baby.\n\nSo, back to family Christmas traditions. We made Christmas ornaments almost every year.  One year we used a baked dough, with red and green macaroni pieces in the white dough. Those lasted for about 10 years, before they completely crumbled.  I wish I had at least one  of them, to photograph, so I could show you what they were like.\n\nAnother year, we \"baked\" stained glass ornaments, from a kit. The children sprinkled little beads into the metal frames and we popped them in the oven.  The beads melted and formed what looks  like stained glass.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut, for a number of years, we made cinnamon ornaments.\n\nCinnamon Dough Ornaments<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cinnamoningredients.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-758\" title=\"cinnamoningredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cinnamoningredients-300x253.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"177\" /></a>\n\ndough:\n1 cup cinnamon\n1/4 cup wood glue\n3/4 cup warm water\n1 tsp vegetable oil\n\nMix all the above.  It will form a stiff dough.\n\nSprinkle work surface with more cinnamon and knead the dough until it is pliable. If the dough crumbles, add more water, at little at a time.\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/doughrolledout.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-759\" title=\"doughrolledout\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/doughrolledout-300x243.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"243\" /></a>\n\nRoll the dough 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes with cookie cutters.  Poke a hole in the top, with a drinking straw.\nDry naturally or in an oven at very low temperature.  Turn periodically to prevent curling.  Ornaments will shrink to 3/4 original size.','More Lewis Family Christmas Traditions: Cinnamon Ornaments','','inherit','open','open','','754-revision-4','','','2011-12-10 22:21:00','2011-12-11 03:21:00','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/10/754-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(761,2,'2011-12-10 22:23:08','2011-12-11 03:23:08','Several days ago, I promised more about our family Christmas traditions. But then a study was released about temper tantrums in toddlers. So I wrote a post about that.  And Michelle Duggar had a miscarriage, so I wrote a post about losing a baby.\n\nSo, back to family Christmas traditions. We made Christmas ornaments almost every year.  One year we used a baked dough, with red and green macaroni pieces in the white dough. Those lasted for about 10 years, before they completely crumbled.  I wish I had at least one  of them, to photograph, so I could show you what they were like.\n\nAnother year, we \"baked\" stained glass ornaments, from a kit. The children sprinkled little beads into the metal frames and we popped them in the oven.  The beads melted and formed what looks  like stained glass.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut, for a number of years, we made cinnamon ornaments.\n\nCinnamon Dough Ornaments<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cinnamoningredients.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-758\" title=\"cinnamoningredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cinnamoningredients-300x253.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"177\" /></a>\n\ndough:\n1 cup cinnamon\n1/4 cup wood glue\n3/4 cup warm water\n1 tsp vegetable oil\n\nMix all the above.  It will form a stiff dough.\n\nSprinkle work surface with more cinnamon and knead the dough until it is pliable. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/doughrolledout.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-759\" title=\"doughrolledout\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/doughrolledout-300x243.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"243\" /></a>If the dough crumbles, add more water, at little at a time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRoll the dough 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes with cookie cutters.  Poke a hole in the top, with a drinking straw.\nDry naturally or in an oven at very low temperature.  Turn periodically to prevent curling.  Ornaments will shrink to 3/4 original size.','More Lewis Family Christmas Traditions: Cinnamon Ornaments','','inherit','open','open','','754-revision-5','','','2011-12-10 22:23:08','2011-12-11 03:23:08','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/10/754-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(762,2,'2011-12-10 22:44:23','2011-12-11 03:44:23','','stainedglass','These we made from a store-bought kit. Not hard to tell that we didn\'t get all the little beads in the little spaces.','inherit','open','open','','stainedglass','','','2011-12-10 22:44:23','2011-12-11 03:44:23','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stainedglass.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(763,2,'2011-12-10 22:52:35','2011-12-11 03:52:35','','oncookiesheet','','inherit','open','open','','oncookiesheet','','','2011-12-10 22:52:35','2011-12-11 03:52:35','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/oncookiesheet.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(764,2,'2011-12-10 22:53:33','2011-12-11 03:53:33','','stars','','inherit','open','open','','stars','','','2011-12-10 22:53:33','2011-12-11 03:53:33','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stars.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(765,2,'2011-12-10 22:55:02','2011-12-11 03:55:02','','ChristmasTree','If you use this type of cookie cutter, you get more detailed designs.','inherit','open','open','','christmastree','','','2011-12-10 22:55:02','2011-12-11 03:55:02','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ChristmasTree.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(766,2,'2011-12-10 22:54:38','2011-12-11 03:54:38','Several days ago, I promised more about our family Christmas traditions. But then a study was released about temper tantrums in toddlers. So I wrote a post about that.  And Michelle Duggar miscarried her 20th baby. I had written a post about miscarriages in September, when a friend lost her baby girl - but I\'d never published the post. I edited that article and published it.\n\nNOW, back to family Christmas traditions. We made Christmas ornaments almost every year.  One year we used a baked dough, with red and green macaroni pieces in the white dough. Those turned out nicely, and lasted for about 10 years, before they completely crumbled.  I wish I had at least one  of them, to photograph, so I could show you what they were like.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_762\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"These we made from a store-bought kit. Not hard to tell that we didn&#39;t get all the little beads in the little spaces.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stainedglass.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-762\" title=\"stainedglass\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stainedglass-300x176.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnother year, we \"baked\" stained glass ornaments, from a kit. The children sprinkled little beads into the metal frames and we popped them in the oven.  The beads melted and formed what looks  like stained glass.\n\nAnd, for a number of years, we made cinnamon ornaments.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_758\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"210\" caption=\"We didn&#39;t have wood glue on hand, so I used all-purpose glue. The dough is a little smoother with wood glue and shrinks less.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cinnamoningredients.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-758\" title=\"cinnamoningredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cinnamoningredients-300x253.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"177\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nCinnamon Dough Ornaments\n\ndough:\n1 cup cinnamon\n1/4 cup wood glue\n3/4 cup warm water\n1 tsp vegetable oil\n\nMix all the above.  It will form a stiff dough.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSprinkle work surface with more cinnamon and knead the dough until it is pliable. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/doughrolledout.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-759\" title=\"doughrolledout\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/doughrolledout-300x243.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"243\" /></a>If the dough crumbles, add more water, at little at a time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Roll the dough 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes with cookie cutters.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stars.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-764\" title=\"stars\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stars.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"448\" height=\"338\" /></a> Poke a hole in the top, with a drinking straw.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/oncookiesheet.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-763\" title=\"oncookiesheet\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/oncookiesheet-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\nDry naturally or in an oven at very low temperature.  Turn periodically to prevent curling.  Ornaments will shrink to 3/4 original size.</p>','More Lewis Family Christmas Traditions: Cinnamon Ornaments','','inherit','open','open','','754-revision-6','','','2011-12-10 22:54:38','2011-12-11 03:54:38','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/10/754-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(767,2,'2011-12-10 23:04:19','2011-12-11 04:04:19','','finishedornaments','','inherit','open','open','','finishedornaments','','','2011-12-10 23:04:19','2011-12-11 04:04:19','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/finishedornaments.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(768,2,'2011-12-10 23:06:38','2011-12-11 04:06:38','Several days ago, I promised more about our family Christmas traditions. But then a study was released about temper tantrums in toddlers. So I wrote a post about that.  And Michelle Duggar miscarried her 20th baby. I had written a post about miscarriages in September, when a friend lost her baby girl - but I\'d never published the post. I edited that article and published it.\n\nNOW, back to family Christmas traditions. We made Christmas ornaments with our children almost every year.  One year we used a flour-based dough, with red and green macaroni pieces in the white dough. Those turned out nicely, and lasted for about 10 years, before they completely crumbled.  I wish I had at least one  of them, to photograph, so I could show you what they were like.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_762\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"240\" caption=\"These we made from a store-bought kit. Not hard to tell that we didn&#39;t get all the little beads in the little spaces.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stainedglass.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-762 \" title=\"stainedglass\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stainedglass-300x176.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"141\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnother year, we \"baked\" stained glass ornaments, from a kit. The children sprinkled little beads into the metal frames and we popped them in the oven.  The beads melted and formed what looks  like stained glass.\n\nAnd, for a number of years, we made cinnamon ornaments.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_758\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"210\" caption=\"We didn&#39;t have wood glue on hand, so I used all-purpose glue. The dough is a little smoother with wood glue and shrinks less.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cinnamoningredients.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-758\" title=\"cinnamoningredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cinnamoningredients-300x253.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"177\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nCinnamon Dough Ornaments\n\ndough:\n1 cup cinnamon\n1/4 cup wood glue\n3/4 cup warm water\n1 tsp vegetable oil\n\nMix all the above.  It will form a stiff dough.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Sprinkle work surface with more cinnamon and knead the dough until it is pliable. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/doughrolledout.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-759 aligncenter\" title=\"doughrolledout\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/doughrolledout-300x243.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"243\" /></a>If the dough crumbles, add more water, at little at a time.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"> <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stars.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-764\" title=\"stars\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stars.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"358\" height=\"270\" /></a>Roll the dough 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes with cookie cutters.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_765\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"346\" caption=\"If you use this type of cookie cutter, you get more detailed designs.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ChristmasTree.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-765  \" title=\"ChristmasTree\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ChristmasTree.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"346\" height=\"343\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Poke a hole in the top, with a drinking straw.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/oncookiesheet.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-763\" title=\"oncookiesheet\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/oncookiesheet-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"322\" height=\"242\" /></a>\nDry naturally or in an oven at very low temperature.  Turn periodically to prevent curling.  Ornaments will shrink to 3/4 original size.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">After they are dry, you can paint them, or leave them plain.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/finishedornaments.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-767\" title=\"finishedornaments\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/finishedornaments-300x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" /></a></p>','More Lewis Family Christmas Traditions: Cinnamon Ornaments','','inherit','open','open','','754-revision-7','','','2011-12-10 23:06:38','2011-12-11 04:06:38','',754,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/10/754-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(827,2,'2011-12-18 23:34:17','2011-12-19 04:34:17','An article in Psychology Today, this week, <a title=\"Letting_Babies_Cry\" href=\"http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201112/dangers-crying-it-out\" target=\"_blank\">“Dangers of ‘Crying it Out’”</a> reports that allowing a baby to “cry it out” in order to go to sleep results in significant harm for children:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>increased risk of ADHD</li>\r\n	<li>diminished brain development (When a baby is stressed, the toxic hormone cortisol, which kills neurons, is released.)</li>\r\n	<li>greater dependence - rather than independence</li>\r\n	<li>less personal confidence</li>\r\n	<li>less trust in the world</li>\r\n	<li>mothers and fathers who have “hardened their hearts” and lost their ability to read and understand the needs of their children</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_828\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Benjamin with me, when he was 2 days old.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjDebi.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-828 \" title=\"BenjDebi\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BenjDebi.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"310\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn an <a title=\"Singing My Babies to Sleep\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/01/singing-my-babies-to-sleep/\">earlier post</a> I explained why I sang my babies to sleep, rather than letting them cry themselves to sleep. That early pattern of responding quickly to meet the needs of our children resulted in: adult children who are all self-confident, responsible, well-adjusted adults. All five have warm relationships with their parents and their siblings. All five are Christians, active in their churches, with an outspoken faith in their Heavenly Father.\r\n\r\nThe Psychology Today article also says that a parenting style that ignores a child’s needs “is more likely to foster a whiney, unhappy, aggressive and/or demanding child, <strong>one who has learned that one must scream to get needs met</strong>. A deep sense of insecurity is likely to stay with them the rest of life.” (emphasis mine)\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\nThe article also states that \"caregivers who habitually respond to the needs of the baby before the baby gets distressed, preventing crying, are more likely to have children who are independent than the opposite.”\r\n\r\nWe certainly found the information in this article to be true for our family. The more we worked to meet the needs of our children - including their needs for boundaries and firm discipline, as well as their needs for affection and warmth - the happier we all were.','I Sang My Babies to Sleep: The Danger of Letting Babies Cry','','publish','open','open','','i-sang-my-babies-to-sleep-the-danger-of-letting-babies-cry','','','2011-12-18 23:34:17','2011-12-19 04:34:17','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=827',0,'post','',0),(770,2,'2011-12-11 18:32:33','2011-12-11 23:32:33','At church today, I had an interesting conversation with a young mother and <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sara.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-772\" title=\"Sara\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sara-156x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"156\" height=\"300\" /></a>father, whose baby daughter is 14 months old. Last Christmas, at two months old, their little girl was too young to know what was happening.  This year, we all agreed, Christmas should be a delight for the three of them.\r\n\r\nThen this mother told me that they plan to follow this advice: the Baby Jesus received three gifts, therefore, each Christmas, they plan to give each of their children three gifts.\r\n\r\nWhat a wonderful idea!\r\n\r\nWhen our children were small, deciding on a number of gifts for each child proved to be something of a dilemma for us. Since we often bought their gifts at garage sales, and therefore spent little money on them, we tended to over-buy.  After all we might spend only $20 on one child, and get 10 gifts for them to open.\r\n\r\nThe two or three years that we did that, opening gifts on Christmas became a long, laborious process.  By the time the last gift was opened, everyone in the family had lost interest and was thoroughly bored.\r\n\r\nAnd our children were somewhat overwhelmed by the numbers of new things. They couldn\'t seem to decide what to play with first. Which lead to quarrels and irritable behavior.\r\n\r\nWe soon learned to scale back on the number of gifts.  I wish we had learned this three-gift idea when our children were small.','Family Christmas Traditions, Part Three: Give Three Gifts','','publish','open','open','','family-christmas-traditions-part-three-give-three-gifts','','','2011-12-11 18:32:33','2011-12-11 23:32:33','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=770',0,'post','',0),(771,2,'2011-12-11 17:44:43','2011-12-11 22:44:43','At church today, I had an interesting conversation with a young mother and father, whose baby daughter is 14 months old. Last Christmas, at two months old, their little girl was too young to know what was happening.  This year, we all agreed, Christmas should be a delight for the three of them.\n\nThen the conversation moved into a discussion','Family Christmas Traditions, Part Three','','inherit','open','open','','770-revision','','','2011-12-11 17:44:43','2011-12-11 22:44:43','',770,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/11/770-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(772,2,'2011-12-11 18:01:09','2011-12-11 23:01:09','','Sara','','inherit','open','open','','sara','','','2011-12-11 18:01:09','2011-12-11 23:01:09','',770,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sara.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(773,2,'2011-12-11 18:10:27','2011-12-11 23:10:27','At church today, I had an interesting conversation with a young mother and <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sara.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-772\" title=\"Sara\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sara-156x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"156\" height=\"300\" /></a>father, whose baby daughter is 14 months old. Last Christmas, at two months old, their little girl was too young to know what was happening.  This year, we all agreed, Christmas should be a delight for the three of them.\n\nThen this mother told me that they plan to follow this advice: the Baby Jesus received three gifts, therefore, each Christmas, they plan to give each of their children three gifts.\n\nWhat a wonderful idea!\n\nWhen our children were small, deciding on a number of gifts for each child proved to be something of a dilemma for us. Since we often bought their gifts at garage sales, and therefore spent little money on them, we tended to over-buy.  After all we might spend only $10-15 on one child, and get 10 gifts for them to open.\n\nThe two or three years that we did that, opening gifts on Christmas became a long, laborious process.  By the time the last gift was opened, everyone in the family had lost interest and was thoroughly bored.\n\nWe soon learned to scale back on the number of gifts.','Family Christmas Traditions, Part Three','','inherit','open','open','','770-revision-2','','','2011-12-11 18:10:27','2011-12-11 23:10:27','',770,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/11/770-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(774,2,'2011-12-11 18:20:51','2011-12-11 23:20:51','At church today, I had an interesting conversation with a young mother and <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sara.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-772\" title=\"Sara\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sara-156x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"156\" height=\"300\" /></a>father, whose baby daughter is 14 months old. Last Christmas, at two months old, their little girl was too young to know what was happening.  This year, we all agreed, Christmas should be a delight for the three of them.\n\nThen this mother told me that they plan to follow this advice: the Baby Jesus received three gifts, therefore, each Christmas, they plan to give each of their children three gifts.\n\nWhat a wonderful idea!\n\nWhen our children were small, deciding on a number of gifts for each child proved to be something of a dilemma for us. Since we often bought their gifts at garage sales, and therefore spent little money on them, we tended to over-buy.  After all we might spend only $10-15 on one child, and get 10 gifts for them to open.\n\nThe two or three years that we did that, opening gifts on Christmas became a long, laborious process.  By the time the last gift was opened, everyone in the family had lost interest and was thoroughly bored.\n\nAnd our children were somewhat overwhelmed by the numbers of new things. They couldn\'t seem to decide what to play with first. Which lead to quarrels and irritable behavior.\n\nWe soon learned to scale back on the number of gifts.  I wish we had learned that three-gift idea when our children were small.','Family Christmas Traditions, Part Three: Give Three Gifts','','inherit','open','open','','770-revision-3','','','2011-12-11 18:20:51','2011-12-11 23:20:51','',770,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/11/770-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(776,2,'2011-12-11 18:30:01','2011-12-11 23:30:01','At church today, I had an interesting conversation with a young mother and <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sara.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-772\" title=\"Sara\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sara-156x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"156\" height=\"300\" /></a>father, whose baby daughter is 14 months old. Last Christmas, at two months old, their little girl was too young to know what was happening.  This year, we all agreed, Christmas should be a delight for the three of them.\n\nThen this mother told me that they plan to follow this advice: the Baby Jesus received three gifts, therefore, each Christmas, they plan to give each of their children three gifts.\n\nWhat a wonderful idea!\n\nWhen our children were small, deciding on a number of gifts for each child proved to be something of a dilemma for us. Since we often bought their gifts at garage sales, and therefore spent little money on them, we tended to over-buy.  After all we might spend only $10-15 on one child, and get 10 gifts for them to open.\n\nThe two or three years that we did that, opening gifts on Christmas became a long, laborious process.  By the time the last gift was opened, everyone in the family had lost interest and was thoroughly bored.\n\nAnd our children were somewhat overwhelmed by the numbers of new things. They couldn\'t seem to decide what to play with first. Which lead to quarrels and irritable behavior.\n\nWe soon learned to scale back on the number of gifts.  I wish we had learned that three-gift idea when our children were small.','Family Christmas Traditions, Part Three: Give Three Gifts','','inherit','open','open','','770-revision-4','','','2011-12-11 18:30:01','2011-12-11 23:30:01','',770,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/11/770-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(775,2,'2011-12-11 18:29:19','2011-12-11 23:29:19','','JonathanNerf','','inherit','open','open','','jonathannerf','','','2011-12-11 18:29:19','2011-12-11 23:29:19','',770,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonathanNerf.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(777,2,'2011-12-11 18:30:14','2011-12-11 23:30:14','At church today, I had an interesting conversation with a young mother and <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sara.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-772\" title=\"Sara\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sara-156x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"156\" height=\"300\" /></a>father, whose baby daughter is 14 months old. Last Christmas, at two months old, their little girl was too young to know what was happening.  This year, we all agreed, Christmas should be a delight for the three of them.\r\n\r\nThen this mother told me that they plan to follow this advice: the Baby Jesus received three gifts, therefore, each Christmas, they plan to give each of their children three gifts.\r\n\r\nWhat a wonderful idea!\r\n\r\nWhen our children were small, deciding on a number of gifts for each child proved to be something of a dilemma for us. Since we often bought their gifts at garage sales, and therefore spent little money on them, we tended to over-buy.  After all we might spend only $10-15 on one child, and get 10 gifts for them to open.\r\n\r\nThe two or three years that we did that, opening gifts on Christmas became a long, laborious process.  By the time the last gift was opened, everyone in the family had lost interest and was thoroughly bored.\r\n\r\nAnd our children were somewhat overwhelmed by the numbers of new things. They couldn\'t seem to decide what to play with first. Which lead to quarrels and irritable behavior.\r\n\r\nWe soon learned to scale back on the number of gifts.  I wish we had learned that three-gift idea when our children were small.','Family Christmas Traditions, Part Three: Give Three Gifts','','inherit','open','open','','770-revision-5','','','2011-12-11 18:30:14','2011-12-11 23:30:14','',770,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/11/770-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1025,2,'2012-02-07 15:16:00','0000-00-00 00:00:00','How to Lower Your Workplace Stress\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBy RUTH MANTELL\r\n\r\nYour workload has increased, so have your boss\'s expectations. But scaling back could mean losing a job.\r\n\r\nTalk about stress.\r\n\r\nPaul Baard, an organizational and motivational psychologist at Fordham University\'s graduate business school in New York, knows just how stressful a work environment can get. He has consulted with athletes in the high-stakes, high-pressure world of professional sports.\r\n\r\nWhat secret has he passed along to those clients? When you are in a slump, you can still contribute by encouraging your teammates.\r\n\r\n- Encourage teammates\r\n- Help others\r\n- Find meaning in your tasks; ask yourself, “Why do I do this work?” That helps your attitude change so you can put aside difficulties and compromise.\r\n- Reduce your expectations.\r\n- See \"challenges,\" not \"problems.\"  Approach work as an opportunity to learn, to take on new challenges.\r\n- Set intermediate goals, to you can derive a sense of accomplishment, and keep pace with longer-term targets.','Lower Work Stress','','draft','open','open','','','','','2012-02-07 15:16:00','2012-02-07 20:16:00','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=1025',0,'post','',0),(1061,2,'2012-02-07 15:15:22','2012-02-07 20:15:22','How to Lower Your Workplace Stress\n\n\n\nBy RUTH MANTELL\n\nYour workload has increased, so have your boss\'s expectations. But scaling back could mean losing a job.\n\nTalk about stress.\n\nPaul Baard, an organizational and motivational psychologist at Fordham University\'s graduate business school in New York, knows just how stressful a work environment can get. He has consulted with athletes in the high-stakes, high-pressure world of professional sports.\n\nWhat secret has he passed along to those clients? When you are in a slump, you can still contribute by encouraging your teammates.\n\n- Encourage teammates\n- Help others\n- Find meaning in your tasks; ask yourself, “Why do I do this work?” That helps your attitude change so you can put aside difficulties and compromise.\n- Reduce your expectations.\n- See \"challenges,\" not \"problems.\"  Approach work as an opportunity to learn, to take on new challenges.\n- Set intermediate goals, to you can derive a sense of accomplishment, and keep pace with longer-term targets.','Lower Work Stress','','inherit','open','open','','1025-revision-2','','','2012-02-07 15:15:22','2012-02-07 20:15:22','',1025,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/02/07/1025-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1062,2,'2012-01-18 22:35:25','2012-01-19 03:35:25','Temperatures have dipped again in Georgia, making it time for another favorite chili, White Chicken Chili, a new dish I\'ve made only the last year or so.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChickChiliingredients.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1051\" title=\"WhiteChickChiliingredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WhiteChickChiliingredients.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\nWhite Chicken Chili\r\n\r\n1 onion, chopped\r\n\r\n1 green pepper, chopped\r\n\r\n2 tablespoons olive oil\r\n\r\n1 pound chicken diced\r\n\r\n1 package White Chicken Chili seasoning mix\r\n\r\n1 cup water\r\n\r\n1 15-ounce can white beans, drained\r\n\r\ntoppings: shredded cheese, sour cream\r\n\r\nSaute the chopped onion and green pepper in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, until onions are transparent.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SauteOnions.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1049\" title=\"SauteOnions\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SauteOnions.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\nAdd the diced chicken pieces. Cook until the chicken is no longer pink.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CookChicken.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1048\" title=\"CookChicken\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CookChicken.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" /></a></p>\r\nAdd water and the seasoning package and stir.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Seasoning.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1047\" title=\"Seasoning\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Seasoning.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"359\" /></a></p>\r\nAdd the white beans. (I used Great Northern beans, but any white bean is fine.)\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AddBeans.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1046\" title=\"AddBeans\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AddBeans.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"291\" /></a></p>\r\nServe with bread and toppings.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/whitechilimeal.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1050\" title=\"whitechilimeal\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/whitechilimeal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"394\" /></a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">In addition to the sour cream and cheese pictured, you may add cilantro, avocado, or green onions.</p>','White Chicken Chili for a Cold Evening','','inherit','open','open','','1043-revision-3','','','2012-01-18 22:35:25','2012-01-19 03:35:25','',1043,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2012/01/18/1043-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(780,2,'2011-12-15 10:31:37','2011-12-15 15:31:37','A 3-year-old boy at PALS (I\'ll call him Caleb) locked his baby sister, and the car keys, in the family car, earlier this week.  His mother (I\'ll call her Ruthann) had strapped her baby in the car seat, then returned to the house to grab the diaper bag and a box of teacher\'s gifts, letting Caleb run back and forth between the car and the house, while she carted her supplies to the car.\n\nOnly to find that Caleb had happily depressed the lock button on the car door and closing the door, before following her back to the house.','','','inherit','open','open','','779-revision','','','2011-12-15 10:31:37','2011-12-15 15:31:37','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/15/779-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(781,2,'2011-12-15 10:45:19','2011-12-15 15:45:19','A 3-year-old boy at PALS (I\'ll call him Caleb) locked his baby sister, and the car keys, in the family car, earlier this week.  His mother (I\'ll call her Ruthann) had dropped her keys on the front seat of the car, before strapping her baby in the car seat. Unaware that Caleb had pushed the lock button on the car door, she closed that door and walked around the car to buckle Caleb in his car seat. And found that door locked. . . all the doors locked, with the keys and the baby inside.\n\nShe had REALLY meant to replace her back-up set of keys, which Caleb had \"lost\" the week before. (She replaced them IMMEDIATELY after this incident.)\n\nIt took two fire trucks and five firemen, ho arrived with flashing lights,  to extricate the baby.  When they arrived Caleb greeted them with \"Hi, guys!!\" and gave them high fives.\n<ul>\n	<li>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"uxjui9_11\" data-name=\"hide_option[1424538]\" data-autosubmit=\"1\"><input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" /></div>\n</div>\n<div data-ft=\"{&quot;type&quot;:33}\"><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/katherine.avery\" data-ft=\"{&quot;type&quot;:35}\" data-hovercard=\"/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1749835412\">Katherine Dasher Avery</a> Noah actually said \"Hi, guys!!\" Gave them high fives and was pleased as punch with all the flashing trucks.</div>\n</div></li>\n</ul>','','','inherit','open','open','','779-revision-2','','','2011-12-15 10:45:19','2011-12-15 15:45:19','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/15/779-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(782,2,'2011-12-15 11:02:58','2011-12-15 16:02:58','A 3-year-old boy at PALS (I\'ll call him Caleb) locked his baby sister, and the car keys, in the family car, earlier this week.  His mother (I\'ll call her Ruthann) had dropped her keys on the front seat of the car, before strapping her baby in the car seat. Unaware that Caleb had pushed the lock button on the car door, she closed that door and walked around the car to buckle Caleb in his car seat. And found that door locked. . . all the doors locked, with the keys and the baby inside.\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><dl id=\"attachment_212\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"width: 137px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-212  \" title=\"Jonmuddysoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer-159x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"127\" height=\"240\" /></a></dt></dl></div>\nRuthann had REALLY meant to replace her back-up set of keys, which Caleb had \"lost\" the week before. (She replaced them IMMEDIATELY after this incident.)\n\nIt took two fire trucks and five firemen, who arrived with flashing lights,  to extricate the baby.  Caleb greeted them with \"Hi, guys!!\" and gave them high fives.\n\nRuthann shared her \"embarrassing\" story to other mothers at PALS yesterday.  And then I shared some stories about Isaac, one of my favorite 3-year-olds, also a child at PALS - with our son Jonathan, twenty years ago.','','','inherit','open','open','','779-revision-3','','','2011-12-15 11:02:58','2011-12-15 16:02:58','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/15/779-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(783,2,'2011-12-15 11:10:20','2011-12-15 16:10:20','A 3-year-old boy at PALS (I\'ll call him Caleb) locked his baby sister, and the car keys, in the family car, earlier this week.  His mother (I\'ll call her Ruthann) had dropped her keys on the front seat of the car, before strapping her baby in the car seat. Unaware that Caleb had pushed the lock button on the car door, she closed that door and walked around the car to buckle Caleb in his car seat. And found that door locked. . . all the doors locked, with the keys and the baby inside.\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><dl id=\"attachment_212\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"width: 137px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-212  \" title=\"Jonmuddysoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer-159x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"127\" height=\"240\" /></a></dt></dl></div>\nRuthann had REALLY meant to replace her back-up set of keys, which Caleb had \"lost\" the week before. (She replaced them IMMEDIATELY after this incident.)\n\nIt took two fire trucks and five firemen, who arrived with flashing lights,  to extricate the baby.  Caleb greeted them with \"Hi, guys!!\" and gave them high fives.\n\nRuthann shared her \"embarrassing\" story to other mothers at PALS yesterday.  And then I shared some stories about Isaac, one of my favorite 3-year-olds, also a child at PALS - with our son Jonathan, twenty years ago.\n\nI told a growing group of PALS mothers about the day Isaac locked himself and the car keys in his house. His mother had carried a load of \"mother stuff\" - those things that all mothers end up carting around with them - to the car.  She returned for Isaac and her car keys.  To find the house locked.  She knocked on the door and Isaac waved and grinned at her. She went from door to door, looking for an unlocked one. No luck. Back to the front door where she knocked and Isaac waved and smiled at her again.\n\nShe finally went across the street to a neighbors house. That retired gentleman returned with her, rang the door bell and Isaac immediately opened the door for him.\n\nIsaac\'s mother had an extra house key made THAT DAY, and found a place to hide it, outside their home.\n\nAnd, then, there was the day Isaac slipped through the bars at the local Burger King playground.','','','inherit','open','open','','779-revision-4','','','2011-12-15 11:10:20','2011-12-15 16:10:20','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/15/779-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(784,2,'2011-12-15 11:11:34','2011-12-15 16:11:34','A 3-year-old boy at PALS (I\'ll call him Caleb) locked his baby sister, and the car keys, in the family car, earlier this week.  His mother (I\'ll call her Ruthann) had dropped her keys on the front seat of the car, before strapping her baby in the car seat. Unaware that Caleb had pushed the lock button on the car door, she closed that door and walked around the car to buckle Caleb in his car seat. And found that door locked. . . all the doors locked, with the keys and the baby inside.\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><dl id=\"attachment_212\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"width: 137px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-212  \" title=\"Jonmuddysoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer-159x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"127\" height=\"240\" /></a></dt></dl></div>\nRuthann had REALLY meant to replace her back-up set of keys, which Caleb had \"lost\" the week before. (She replaced them IMMEDIATELY after this incident.)\n\nIt took two fire trucks and five firemen, who arrived with flashing lights,  to extricate the baby.  Caleb greeted them with \"Hi, guys!!\" and gave them high fives.\n\nTalk about rewarding a little boy for his misbehavior! Ruthann will be fortunate inde\n\nRuthann shared her \"embarrassing\" story to other mothers at PALS yesterday.  And then I shared some stories about Isaac, one of my favorite 3-year-olds, also a child at PALS - with our son Jonathan, twenty years ago.\n\nI told a growing group of PALS mothers about the day Isaac locked himself and the car keys in his house. His mother had carried a load of \"mother stuff\" - those things that all mothers end up carting around with them - to the car.  She returned for Isaac and her car keys.  To find the house locked.  She knocked on the door and Isaac waved and grinned at her. She went from door to door, looking for an unlocked one. No luck. Back to the front door where she knocked and Isaac waved and smiled at her again.\n\nShe finally went across the street to a neighbors house. That retired gentleman returned with her, rang the door bell and Isaac immediately opened the door for him.\n\nIsaac\'s mother had an extra house key made THAT DAY, and found a place to hide it, outside their home.\n\nAnd, then, there was the day Isaac slipped through the bars at the local Burger King playground.','','','inherit','open','open','','779-revision-5','','','2011-12-15 11:11:34','2011-12-15 16:11:34','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/15/779-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(785,2,'2011-12-15 11:22:11','2011-12-15 16:22:11','','FunnyFacesMuddyBoys2','','inherit','open','open','','funnyfacesmuddyboys2','','','2011-12-15 11:22:11','2011-12-15 16:22:11','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/FunnyFacesMuddyBoys2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(786,2,'2011-12-15 11:18:28','2011-12-15 16:18:28','A 3-year-old boy at PALS (I\'ll call him Caleb) locked his baby sister, and the car keys, in the family car, earlier this week.  His mother (I\'ll call her Ruthann) had dropped her keys on the front seat of the car, before strapping her baby in the car seat. Unaware that Caleb had pushed the lock button on the car door, she closed that door and walked around the car to buckle Caleb in his car seat. And found that door locked. . . all the doors locked, with the keys and the baby inside.\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><dl id=\"attachment_212\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"width: 137px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-212  \" title=\"Jonmuddysoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer-159x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"127\" height=\"240\" /></a></dt></dl></div>\nRuthann had REALLY meant to replace her back-up set of keys, which Caleb had \"lost\" the week before. (She replaced them IMMEDIATELY after this incident.)\n\nTwo fire trucks and five firemen arrived with flashing lights,  to extricate the baby.  Caleb greeted them with \"Hi, guys!!\" and gave them high fives.\n\nTalk about rewarding a little boy for his mischievious behavior! Ruthann will be fortunate indeed if Caleb doesn\'t manage to repeat this stunt, hoping to achieve similar success.\n\nRuthann shared her \"embarrassing\" story to other mothers at PALS yesterday.  And then I shared some stories about Isaac, one of my favorite 3-year-olds, also a child at PALS - with our son Jonathan, twenty years ago.\n\nI told a growing group of PALS mothers about the day Isaac locked himself and the car keys in his house. His mother had carried a load of \"mother stuff\" - those things that all mothers end up carting around with them - to the car.  She returned for Isaac and her car keys.  To find the house locked.  She knocked on the door and Isaac waved and grinned at her. She went from door to door, looking for an unlocked one. No luck. Back to the front door where she knocked and Isaac waved and smiled at her again. Around the house again, looking for a door she could break into.\n\nBefore breaking a window to get in, she went across the street to a neighbors house. That retired gentleman returned with her, rang the door bell and Isaac immediately opened the door for him.\n\nIsaac\'s mother had an extra house key made THAT DAY, and found a place to hide it, outside their home.\n\nAnd, then, there was the day Isaac slipped through the bars at the local Burger King playground. His mother was, of course, not skinny enough to slip through that fence.  By the time she raced into and through the fast food restaurant, Isaac was standing in the middle lane of the five-lane thoroughfare in front of the BK, with traffic stopped in both directions.','','','inherit','open','open','','779-revision-6','','','2011-12-15 11:18:28','2011-12-15 16:18:28','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/15/779-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(787,2,'2011-12-15 11:43:05','2011-12-15 16:43:05','','JonIsaacMud','Jonathan and Isaac in the mud, in front of our home, when they were six years old.','inherit','open','open','','jonisaacmud','','','2011-12-15 11:43:05','2011-12-15 16:43:05','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacMud.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(788,2,'2011-12-15 11:44:32','2011-12-15 16:44:32','A 3-year-old boy at PALS (I\'ll call him Caleb) locked his baby sister, and the car keys, in the family car, earlier this week.  His mother (I\'ll call her Ruthann) had dropped her keys on the front seat of the car, before strapping her baby in the car seat. Unaware that Caleb had pushed the lock button on the car door, she closed that door and walked around the car to buckle Caleb in his car seat. And found that door locked. . . all the doors locked, with the keys and the baby inside.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_212\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"127\" caption=\"Jonathan and Isaac in the mud, in front of our home, when they were six years old. Those boys LOVED mud!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-212  \" title=\"Jonmuddysoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer-159x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"127\" height=\"240\" /></a></dt></dl></div>\nRuthann had REALLY meant to replace her back-up set of keys, which Caleb had \"lost\" the week before. (She replaced them IMMEDIATELY after this incident.)\n\nTwo fire trucks and five firemen arrived with flashing lights,  to extricate the baby.  Caleb greeted them with \"Hi, guys!!\" and gave them high fives.\n\nTalk about rewarding a little boy for his mischievous behavior! Ruthann will be fortunate indeed if Caleb doesn\'t manage to repeat this stunt, hoping to achieve similar success.\n\nRuthann shared her \"embarrassing\" story to other mothers at PALS yesterday.  And then I shared some stories about Isaac, one of my favorite 3-year-olds, also a child at PALS - with our son Jonathan, twenty years ago.\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\"><dl id=\"attachment_787\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 402px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacMud.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-787\" title=\"JonIsaacMud\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacMud.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"392\" height=\"598\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI told a growing group of PALS mothers about the day Isaac locked himself and the car keys in his house. His mother had carried a load of \"mother stuff\" - those things that all mothers end up carting around with them - to the car.  She returned for Isaac and her purse, with the car keys.  To find the house locked.  She knocked on the door and Isaac peered out the nearest window, waved and grinned at her. She went from door to door, looking for an unlocked one. No luck. Back to the front door where she knocked and Isaac waved and smiled at her again. Around the house again, looking for a door she could break into.\n\nBefore breaking a window to get in, she went across the street to a neighbor\'s house. That retired gentleman returned with her, rang the door bell and Isaac immediately opened the door for him.\n\nIsaac\'s mother had an extra house key made THAT DAY, and found a place to hide it, outside their home.\n\nAnd, I reminded the 5 or 6 mothers now listening to my stories, Isaac survived to grow up, was his high school valedictorian and is now a grad student at Harvard.\n\nAnd, then, I told the story of the day Isaac slipped through the bars at the local Burger King playground. His mother was, of course, not small enough to slip through that fence.  By the time she raced into and through the fast food restaurant, Isaac was standing in the middle lane of the five-lane thoroughfare in front of the BK, with traffic stopped in both directions.\n\nBut, adding my refrain to the verses of my story, he survived to grow up, was the valedictorian at Rome High, and is now in grad school at Harvard.','','','inherit','open','open','','779-revision-7','','','2011-12-15 11:44:32','2011-12-15 16:44:32','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/15/779-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(789,2,'2011-12-15 11:48:04','2011-12-15 16:48:04','A 3-year-old boy at PALS (I\'ll call him Caleb) locked his baby sister, and the car keys, in the family car, earlier this week.  His mother (I\'ll call her Ruthann) had dropped her keys on the front seat of the car, before strapping her baby in the car seat. Unaware that Caleb had pushed the lock button on the car door, she closed that door and walked around the car to buckle Caleb in his car seat. And found that door locked. . . all the doors locked, with the keys and the baby inside.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_212\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"127\" caption=\"Jonathan and Isaac in the mud, in front of our home, when they were six years old. Those boys LOVED mud!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-212  \" title=\"Jonmuddysoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer-159x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"127\" height=\"240\" /></a></dt></dl></div>\nRuthann had REALLY meant to replace her back-up set of keys, which Caleb had \"lost\" the week before. (She replaced them IMMEDIATELY after this incident.)\n\nTwo fire trucks and five firemen arrived with flashing lights,  to extricate the baby.  Caleb greeted them with \"Hi, guys!!\" and gave them high fives.\n\nTalk about rewarding a little boy for his mischievous behavior! Ruthann will be fortunate indeed if Caleb doesn\'t manage to repeat this stunt, hoping to achieve similar success.\n\nRuthann shared her \"embarrassing\" story to other mothers at PALS yesterday.  And then I shared some stories about Isaac, one of my favorite 3-year-olds, also a child at PALS - with our son Jonathan, twenty years ago.\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\"><dl id=\"attachment_787\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 402px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacMud.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-787\" title=\"JonIsaacMud\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacMud.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"392\" height=\"598\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI told a growing group of PALS mothers about the day Isaac locked himself and the car keys in his house. His mother had carried a load of \"mother stuff\" - those things that mothers end up carting around with them - to the car.  She returned for Isaac and her purse, with the car keys.  To find the house locked.  She knocked on the door and Isaac peered out the nearest window, waved and grinned at her. She went from door to door, looking for an unlocked one. No luck. Back to the front door where she knocked and Isaac waved and smiled at her again. Around the house again, looking for a door she could break into.\n\nBefore breaking a window to get in, she went across the street to a neighbor\'s house. That retired gentleman returned with her, rang the door bell and Isaac immediately opened the door for him.\n\nIsaac\'s mother had an extra house key made THAT DAY, and found a place to hide it, outside their home.\n\nAnd, I reminded the 5 or 6 mothers now listening to my stories, Isaac survived to grow up, was his high school valedictorian and is now a grad student at Harvard.\n\nAnd, then, I told the story of the day Isaac slipped through the bars at the local Burger King playground. His mother was, of course, not small enough to slip through that fence.  By the time she raced into and through the fast food restaurant, Isaac was standing in the middle lane of the five-lane thoroughfare in front of the BK, with traffic stopped in both directions.\n\nBut, adding my refrain to the verses of my story, he survived to grow up, was the valedictorian at Rome High, and is now in grad school at Harvard.\n\n\"You canNOT believe how much better that makes me feel!\" Ruthann told us. \"Caleb will survive and grow up?','','','inherit','open','open','','779-revision-8','','','2011-12-15 11:48:04','2011-12-15 16:48:04','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/15/779-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(884,2,'2011-12-23 22:38:29','0000-00-00 00:00:00','','Christmas Traditions: Ribbon Yarn Necklaces','','draft','open','open','','','','','2011-12-23 22:38:29','2011-12-24 03:38:29','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=884',0,'post','',0),(791,2,'2011-12-15 13:32:27','2011-12-15 18:32:27','','JonIsaacGrad','Jonathan and Isaac the day they graduated from Rome High. Both boys wore the National Honor Socity stole. Isaac was valedictorian.','inherit','open','open','','jonisaacgrad','','','2011-12-15 13:32:27','2011-12-15 18:32:27','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacGrad.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(792,2,'2011-12-15 13:36:38','2011-12-15 18:36:38','A 3-year-old boy at PALS (I\'ll call him Caleb) locked his baby sister, and the car keys, in the family car, earlier this week.  His mother (I\'ll call her Ruthann) had dropped her keys on the front seat of the car, before strapping her baby in the car seat. Unaware that Caleb had pushed the lock button on the car door, she closed that door and walked around the car to buckle Caleb in his car seat. And found that door locked. . . all the doors locked, with the keys and the baby inside.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_212\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"127\" caption=\"Jonathan and Isaac in the mud, in front of our home, when they were six years old. Those boys LOVED mud! And, today, they are both fine 23-year-old men.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-212  \" title=\"Jonmuddysoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer-159x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"127\" height=\"240\" /></a></dt></dl></div>\nRuthann had REALLY meant to replace her back-up set of keys, which Caleb had \"lost\" the week before. (She replaced them IMMEDIATELY after this incident.)\n\nTwo fire trucks and five firemen arrived with flashing lights, to extricate the baby.  Caleb greeted them with \"Hi, guys!!\" and the firemen gave Caleb high fives.\n\nTalk about rewarding a little boy for his mischievous behavior! Ruthann will be fortunate indeed if Caleb doesn\'t manage to repeat this stunt, hoping to achieve similar success.\n\nRuthann shared her \"embarrassing\" story to me and another mother at PALS yesterday.  And then I shared some stories about Isaac, one of my favorite 3-year-olds, also a child at PALS - with our son Jonathan, twenty years ago.\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\"><dl id=\"attachment_787\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 402px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacMud.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-787\" title=\"JonIsaacMud\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacMud.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"392\" height=\"598\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSeveral more moms stopped to listen, as I told about the day Isaac locked himself and the car keys in his house. His mother had carried a load of \"mother stuff\" - those things that mothers end up carting around with them - to the car.  She returned for Isaac and her purse, with the car keys.  To find the house locked.\n\nShe knocked on the door and Isaac peered out the nearest window, waved and grinned at her. She went from door to door, looking for an unlocked one. No luck. Back to the front door where she knocked and Isaac waved and smiled at her again. Around the house again, looking for a door or window where she could break in.\n\nBefore breaking a window, she went across the street to a neighbor\'s house. That retired gentleman returned with her, rang the door bell and Isaac immediately opened the door for him.\n\nIsaac\'s mother had an extra house key made THAT DAY, and found a place to hide it, outside their home.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_791\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Jonathan and Isaac the day they graduated from Rome High. Both boys wore the National Honor Socity stole. Isaac was valedictorian.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacGrad.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-791 \" title=\"JonIsaacGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacGrad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"249\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd, I reminded the 5 or 6 mothers now listening to my stories, Isaac survived to grow up, was his high school valedictorian and is now a grad student at Harvard.\n\nAnd, then, I told the story of the day Isaac slipped through the bars at the local Burger King playground. His mother was, of course, not small enough to slip through that fence.  By the time she raced into and through the fast food restaurant, Isaac was standing in the middle lane of the five-lane thoroughfare in front of the BK, with traffic stopped in both directions.\n\nBut, adding my refrain to the verses of my story, he survived to grow up, was the valedictorian at Rome High, and is now in grad school at Harvard.\n\n\"You canNOT believe how much better that makes me feel!\" Ruthann told us. \"Caleb will survive and grow up?','','','inherit','open','open','','779-revision-9','','','2011-12-15 13:36:38','2011-12-15 18:36:38','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/15/779-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(793,2,'2011-12-15 14:01:53','2011-12-15 19:01:53','A 3-year-old boy at PALS (I\'ll call him Caleb) locked his baby sister, and the car keys, in the family car, earlier this week.  His mother (I\'ll call her Ruthann) had dropped her keys on the front seat of the car, before strapping her baby in the car seat. Unaware that Caleb had pushed the lock button on the car door, she closed that door and walked around the car to buckle Caleb in his car seat. And found that door locked. . . all the doors locked, with the keys and the baby inside.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_212\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"127\" caption=\"Jonathan and Isaac in the mud, in front of our home, when they were six years old. Those boys LOVED mud! And, today, they are both fine 23-year-old men.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-212  \" title=\"Jonmuddysoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer-159x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"127\" height=\"240\" /></a></dt></dl></div>\nRuthann had REALLY meant to replace her back-up set of keys, which Caleb had \"lost\" the week before. (She replaced them IMMEDIATELY after this incident.)\n\nTwo fire trucks and five firemen arrived with flashing lights, to extricate the baby.  Caleb greeted them with \"Hi, guys!!\" and the firemen gave Caleb high fives.\n\nTalk about rewarding a little boy for his mischievous behavior! Ruthann will be fortunate indeed if Caleb doesn\'t manage to repeat this stunt, hoping to achieve similar success.\n\nRuthann shared her \"embarrassing\" story to me and another mother at PALS yesterday.  And then I shared some stories about Isaac, one of my favorite 3-year-olds, also a child at PALS - with our son Jonathan, twenty years ago.\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\"><dl id=\"attachment_787\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 402px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacMud.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-787\" title=\"JonIsaacMud\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacMud.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"392\" height=\"598\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSeveral more moms stopped to listen, as I told about the day Isaac locked himself and the car keys in his house. His mother had carried a load of \"mother stuff\" - those things that mothers end up carting around with them - to the car.  She returned for Isaac and her purse, with the car keys.  To find the house locked.\n\nShe knocked on the door and Isaac peered out the nearest window, waved and grinned at her. She went from door to door, around the house, looking for an unlocked one or an open window. No luck. Back to the front door where she knocked and Isaac waved and smiled at her again. Around the house again, looking for a door or window where she could break in.\n\nBefore breaking a window, she went across the street to a neighbor\'s house. That retired gentleman returned with her, rang the door bell and Isaac immediately opened the door for him.\n\nIsaac\'s mother had an extra house key made THAT DAY, and found a place to hide it, outside their home.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_791\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Jonathan and Isaac the day they graduated from Rome High. Both boys wore the National Honor Society stole. Isaac was valedictorian.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacGrad.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-791 \" title=\"JonIsaacGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacGrad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"249\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd, I reminded the 5 or 6 mothers now listening to my stories, Isaac survived to grow up, was his high school valedictorian and is now a grad student at Harvard.\n\nAnd, then, I told the story of the day Isaac slipped through the bars at the local Burger King playground. His mother was, of course, not small enough to slip through that fence.  By the time she raced into and through the fast food restaurant, she found Isaac standing in the middle lane of the five-lane thoroughfare in front of the BK, with traffic stopped in both directions.\n\nBut, adding my refrain to the verses of my story, he survived to grow up, was the valedictorian at Rome High, and is now in grad school at Harvard.\n\n\"You canNOT believe how much better that makes me feel!\" Ruthann told us. \"Caleb will survive and grow up? He\'ll graduate from high school? Sometimes, at this stage\"','Boys Will Be Boys, Mud and Lost Car Keys','','inherit','open','open','','779-revision-10','','','2011-12-15 14:01:53','2011-12-15 19:01:53','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/15/779-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(794,2,'2011-12-15 14:48:09','2011-12-15 19:48:09','','JonIsaacmud2','Isaac standing, watching Jonathan slide in the mud in front of our house. They were six years old.','inherit','open','open','','jonisaacmud2','','','2011-12-15 14:48:09','2011-12-15 19:48:09','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacmud2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(795,2,'2011-12-15 14:54:17','2011-12-15 19:54:17','A 3-year-old boy at PALS (I\'ll call him Caleb) locked his baby sister, and the car keys, in the family car, earlier this week.  His mother (I\'ll call her Ruthann) had dropped her keys on the front seat of the car, before strapping her baby in the car seat. Unaware that Caleb had pushed the lock button on the car door, she closed that door and walked around the car to buckle Caleb in his car seat. And found that door locked. . . all the doors locked, with the keys and the baby inside.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_212\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"127\" caption=\"Jonathan and Isaac LOVED muT\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-212  \" title=\"Jonmuddysoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer-159x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"127\" height=\"240\" /></a></dt></dl></div>\nRuthann had REALLY meant to replace her back-up set of keys, which Caleb had \"lost\" the week before. (She replaced them IMMEDIATELY after this incident.)\n\nTwo fire trucks and five firemen arrived with flashing lights, to extricate the baby.  Caleb greeted them with \"Hi, guys!!\" and the firemen gave Caleb high fives.\n\nTalk about rewarding a little boy for his mischievous behavior! Ruthann will be fortunate indeed if Caleb doesn\'t manage to repeat this stunt, hoping to achieve similar success.\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Ruthann shared her \"embarrassing\" story to me and another mother at PALS yesterday.  And then I shared some stories about Isaac, one of my favorite 3-year-olds, also a child at PALS - with our son Jonathan, twenty years ago.</p>\n\n<dl id=\"attachment_794\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 408px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacmud2.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-794  \" title=\"JonIsaacmud2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacmud2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"398\" height=\"418\" /></a></dt></dl>Several more moms stopped to listen, as I told about the day Isaac locked himself and the car keys in his house. His mother had carried a load of \"mother stuff\" - those things that mothers end up carting around with them - to the car.  She returned for Isaac and her purse, with the car keys.  To find the house locked.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacMud.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-787\" title=\"JonIsaacMud\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacMud.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"392\" height=\"598\" /></a>\n<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\"><dl id=\"attachment_794\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 507px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\">[/caption]\n\nShe knocked on the door and Isaac peered out the nearest window, waved and grinned at her. She went from door to door, around the house, looking for an unlocked one or an open window. No luck. Back to the front door where she knocked and Isaac waved and smiled at her again. Around the house again, looking for a door or window where she could break in.\n\nBefore breaking a window, she went across the street to a neighbor\'s house. That retired gentleman returned with her, rang the door bell and Isaac immediately opened the door for him.\n\nIsaac\'s mother had an extra house key made THAT DAY, and found a place to hide it, outside their home.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_791\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"480\" caption=\"Jonathan and Isaac the day they graduated from Rome High. Both boys wore the National Honor Society stole. Isaac was valedictorian.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacGrad.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-791 \" title=\"JonIsaacGrad\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/JonIsaacGrad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"249\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd, I reminded the 5 or 6 mothers now listening to my stories, Isaac survived to grow up, was his high school valedictorian and is now a grad student at Harvard.\n\nAnd, then, I told the story of the day Isaac slipped through the bars at the local Burger King playground. His mother was, of course, not small enough to slip through that fence.  By the time she raced into and through the fast food restaurant, she found Isaac standing in the middle lane of the five-lane thoroughfare in front of the BK, with traffic stopped in both directions.\n\nBut, adding my refrain to the verses of my story, he survived to grow up, was the valedictorian at Rome High, and is now in grad school at Harvard.\n\n\"You canNOT believe how much better that makes me feel!\" Ruthann told us. \"Caleb will live to grow up? He\'ll graduate from high school? Sometimes, at this stage of life, I wonder how we will both survive.\"','Boys Will Be Boys, Mud and Lost Car Keys','','inherit','open','open','','779-revision-11','','','2011-12-15 14:54:17','2011-12-15 19:54:17','',779,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/12/15/779-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0);
