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INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2,1,'2011-10-02 21:28:13','2011-10-02 21:28:13','Born in Lexington, Kentucky, the fifth of seven children of Ruth and Charles Shaw, <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Debi_Lewis1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-230\" title=\"Debi_Lewis\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Debi_Lewis1-254x300.jpg\" width=\"203\" height=\"240\" /></a>Deborah Shaw Lewis grew up in Georgia. She attended <a title=\"Asbury_University\" href=\"http://asbury.edu\" target=\"_blank\">Asbury College</a> where she met her husband <a title=\"Gregg_Lewis_books\" href=\"http://gregglewisbooks.com\" target=\"_blank\">Gregg</a>. She taught preschool, wrote preschool curriculum for <a title=\"David_C_Cook\" href=\"http://www.davidccook.com/\" target=\"_blank\">David C. Cook Publishing,</a> directed a daycare center, Winkie Bear Child Development Center, and taught child care courses at <a title=\"Triton_College_River_Grove_Illinois\" href=\"http://www.triton.edu/cgi-bin/r.cgi/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Triton College</a> in River Grove, Illinois.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTwo fertility specialists told Debi and Gregg that they would not be able to have children. Their first child Andrew (now 34) was declared a \"miracle.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_414\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"236\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/A-M-2-yrs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-414 \" title=\"A &amp; M  2 yrs\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/A-M-2-yrs-236x300.jpg\" width=\"236\" height=\"300\" /></a> Andrew at 3 years, Matthew at 2 years old[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen he was followed by <a title=\"Matthew_blog\" href=\"http://alethinologia.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matthew</a> (now 32 and married to <a title=\"Emily_Brown_Lewis_blog\" href=\"http://greensandjeans.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Emily</a>).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"227\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-178 \" title=\"Lisette at 3\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3-227x300.jpg\" width=\"227\" height=\"300\" /></a> Our Precious Lisette, at age 3[/caption]\r\n\r\nLisette (now 30) came along 2 1/2 years later.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"238\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" width=\"238\" height=\"300\" /></a> Jonathan at 1 year and Benjamin at 4 years old[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen Benjamin (now 28) 19 months after Lisette. And 3 1/2 years later,  Jonathan (now 25 and married to Jessica).\r\n\r\nThey are ALL miracles.  All unique gifts from God.\r\n\r\nWith Matthew only  18 months younger than Andrew (to the day) and Benjamin only 19 months younger than Lisette, the Lewis family wore out two double strollers.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"504\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21   \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" width=\"504\" height=\"145\" /></a> Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University[/caption]\r\n\r\nDebi earned her master\'s degree in child development from the <a href=\"http://www.erikson.edu/\" target=\"_blank\">Erikson Institute</a> in Chicago. She is currently the director of <a title=\"PALS_at_Trinity\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/what-makes-pals-unique\" target=\"_blank\">PALS</a>, the mothers\' morning out program at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist__Church_Rome_Georgia\" href=\"http://trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Trinity United Methodist Church </a>in Rome, Georgia. She loves to speak to groups of mothers and to tell stories to young children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_49\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"700\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-best-family_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-49 \" title=\"cropped-best-family_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-best-family_2.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"202\" /></a> Matthew, Emily, Jonathan, Benjamin, Debi, Gregg, Lisette and Andrew, Christmas 2010[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Meet Debi','','publish','open','open','','sample-page','','','2013-10-19 12:12:58','2013-10-19 16:12:58','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?page_id=2',0,'page','',0),(24,2,'2013-10-19 12:06:01','2013-10-19 16:06:01','Born in Lexington, Kentucky, the fifth of seven children of Ruth and Charles Shaw, <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Debi_Lewis1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-230\" title=\"Debi_Lewis\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Debi_Lewis1-254x300.jpg\" width=\"203\" height=\"240\" /></a>Deborah Shaw Lewis grew up in Georgia. She attended <a title=\"Asbury_University\" href=\"http://asbury.edu\" target=\"_blank\">Asbury College</a> where she met her husband <a title=\"Gregg_Lewis_books\" href=\"http://gregglewisbooks.com\" target=\"_blank\">Gregg</a>. She taught preschool, wrote preschool curriculum for <a title=\"David_C_Cook\" href=\"http://www.davidccook.com/\" target=\"_blank\">David C. Cook Publishing,</a> directed a daycare center, Winkie Bear Child Development Center, and taught child care courses at <a title=\"Triton_College_River_Grove_Illinois\" href=\"http://www.triton.edu/cgi-bin/r.cgi/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Triton College</a> in River Grove, Illinois.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTwo fertility specialists told Debi and Gregg that they would not be able to have children. Their first child Andrew (now 34) was declared a \"miracle.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_414\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"236\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/A-M-2-yrs.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-414 \" title=\"A &amp; M  2 yrs\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/A-M-2-yrs-236x300.jpg\" width=\"236\" height=\"300\" /></a> Andrew at 3 years, Matthew at 2 years old[/caption]\n\nThen he was followed by <a title=\"Matthew_blog\" href=\"http://alethinologia.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matthew</a> (now 32 and married to <a title=\"Emily_Brown_Lewis_blog\" href=\"http://greensandjeans.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Emily</a>).\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"227\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-178 \" title=\"Lisette at 3\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3-227x300.jpg\" width=\"227\" height=\"300\" /></a> Our Precious Lisette, at age 3[/caption]\n\nLisette (now 30) came along 2 1/2 years later.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"238\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" width=\"238\" height=\"300\" /></a> Jonathan at 1 year and Benjamin at 4 years old[/caption]\n\nThen Benjamin (now 28) 19 months after Lisette. And 3 1/2 years later,  Jonathan (now 25 and married to Jessica).\n\nThey are ALL miracles.  All unique gifts from God.\n\nWith Matthew only  18 months younger than Andrew (to the day) and Benjamin only 19 months younger than Lisette, the Lewis family wore out two double strollers.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_21\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"504\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-21   \" title=\"cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg\" width=\"504\" height=\"145\" /></a> Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University[/caption]\n\nDebi earned her master\'s degree in child development from the <a href=\"http://www.erikson.edu/\" target=\"_blank\">Erikson Institute</a> in Chicago. She is currently the director of <a title=\"PALS_at_Trinity\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/what-makes-pals-unique\" target=\"_blank\">PALS</a>, the mothers\' morning out program at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist__Church_Rome_Georgia\" href=\"http://trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Trinity United Methodist Church </a>in Rome, Georgia. She loves to speak to groups of mothers and to tell stories to young children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_49\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"700\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-best-family_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-49 \" title=\"cropped-best-family_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-best-family_2.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"202\" /></a> Matthew, Emily, Jonathan, Benjamin, Debi, Gregg, Lisette and Andrew, Christmas 2010[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Meet Debi','','inherit','open','open','','2-autosave','','','2013-10-19 12:06:01','2013-10-19 16:06:01','',2,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=24',0,'revision','',0),(25,2,'2011-10-04 01:05:38','2011-10-04 01:05:38','<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/The-Admiral-Robinson-ZonderKidz-Biography/dp/0310725208/ref=tmm_pap_title_0\" target=\"_blank\">The Admiral: the David Robinson Story</a>, a children\'s biography, Zonderkidz, 2012</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"True_to_His_Word_Bible_Study_Fellowship\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/True-His-Word-Story-Fellowship/dp/1606570897/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317690448&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">True to His Word: the story of Bible Study Fellowship</a>, Authentic Publishing, 2010</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Gifted_Hands_Ben_Carson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Hands-Kids-ZonderKidz-Biography/dp/0310719038/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317688939&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">Gifted Hands: the Ben Carson Story,</a> a children’s biography, Zonderkidz, 2009</li>\r\n	<li>Six books in the “Today’s Heroes” series, Zonderkidz, 2001 - 2002:</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Joni_Eareckson_Tada\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Joni-Eareckson-Tada-Gregg-Lewis/dp/031070300X/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-14\" target=\"_blank\">Joni Eareckson Tada</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Ben_Carson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Carson-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702984/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-3\" target=\"_blank\">Ben Carson</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"David_Robinson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/David-Robinson-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702976/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">David Robinson</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Colin_Powell\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Colin-Powell-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702992/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-4\" target=\"_blank\">Colin Powell</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Brother_Andrew\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Andrew-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310703131/ref=sr_1_18?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-18\" target=\"_blank\">Brother Andrew</a>; and</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Dave_Dravecky\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Dave-Dravecky-Gregg-Lewis/dp/031070314X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-6\" target=\"_blank\">Dave Dravecky </a></li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Wonder-Motherhood-Intimate-Septuplets/dp/0785270485/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-12\" target=\"_blank\">Celebrating the Wonder of Motherhood</a>, Thomas Nelson, 1999</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Seven_From_Heaven_McCaughey\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Heaven-Miracle-McCaughey-Septuplets/dp/0785270493/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317690279&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">Seven from Heaven</a>, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998.</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-10\" target=\"_blank\">Stressbusters for Moms</a>, Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Mother_in_the_Middle_Charmaine_Yoest\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-7\" target=\"_blank\">Mother in the Middle</a>, Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.</li>\r\n	<li>Four books in the “Family Share Together” series by Zondervan Publishing House, 1994:</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_When_You_Were_Little\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Little-Family-Share-Together/dp/0310410711/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-15\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When You Were Little? </a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_When_Parents_Were_Children\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Parents-Children-Family-Together/dp/0310421012/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-16\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When Your Parents Were Children?</a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Grandparents_Were_Young\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Grandparents-Young-Family-Together/dp/0310421217/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-8\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When Your Grandparents Were Young?</a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_How_Family_Got_Started\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Family-Started-Share-Together/dp/031042111X/ref=sr_1_17?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-17\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…How Our Family Got Started?</a></li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a title=\"When_You_Were_Baby\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Baby-Deborah-Lewis/dp/1561451029/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-5\" target=\"_blank\">When You Were A Baby</a>, Zondervan, 1991 &amp; Peachtree Publishers, 1995.</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Motherhood_Stress\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689768&amp;sr=1-13\" target=\"_blank\">Motherhood Stress</a>, Word Publishing, 1989 (HC) &amp; Zondervan Publishing, 1991 (PB)</li>\r\n</ul>','Debi\'s books','','publish','open','open','','debis-books','','','2012-08-23 00:15:43','2012-08-23 04:15:43','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?page_id=25',0,'page','',0),(190,2,'2011-10-30 22:55:23','2011-10-31 02:55:23','New EU safety rules, just now being implemented, require that balloons may not be blown up by unsupervised children, for fear that the child may swallow the balloon and choke.  The same rules apply to party whistles and magnetic fishing games.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_519\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Benjamin, age 4, with his teddy bear. This photo from our book, When You Were a Baby.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/BenjTeddyWYWB.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-519 \" title=\"BenjTeddyWYWB\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/BenjTeddyWYWB-204x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn addition the new EU rules dictate how noisy toys may be - including rattles and musical instruments. The rules even cover teddy bears, which must now be fully washable, lest those mangy stuffed animals harbor germs.\r\n\r\nThe outcry over the new rules centers on how they will inhibit a child’s freedom to play and to explore, restricting the types of play that encourage children to be independent.\r\n\r\nFrank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, warned: \"These bans diminish the experience, both of having fun and learning, by turning play into a danger zone with rules that stifle life and adventure for children.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_518\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\" caption=\"Matthew, age 4, with a sparkler.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSparkler.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-518 \" title=\"MattSparkler\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSparkler-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"210\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd, I would add, increase the stress levels of the mothers who will be expected to abide by the new rules.\r\n\r\nI cannot help but think that of the fears I felt for my children when they were small, balloons and party whistles were not high on the list.  My fears were over pollution, insecticides on apples, school shootings, serious diseases.\r\n\r\nAt the time<em> Motherhood Stress</em> was released, in a survery of its readers, Ladies Home Journal asked mothers, “What worries you most about raising your children?”\r\n43% said “protecting children from drug use”\r\n36% said “the media and peers undercutting parental authority”\r\n29% worried about working and not being at home full-time\r\n20% worried about economic instability\r\n17% were concerned about protecting their children from AIDS\r\n\r\nNothing in that list comes close to including the dangers posed by balloons and/or party whistles!\r\n\r\nFear is stressful.  It’s not as if mothers spend every waking hour in a state of perpetual anxiety over the safety and security of our children.  But we recognize many valid reasons to worry about the welfare of the babies we’ve brought into this dangerous and fallen world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_196\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"204\" caption=\"Our adventuresome DIL Jessica on a motor bike\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-196\" title=\"Jessmotorbike\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike-300x285.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"193\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd yet, as mothers, we know that our children need to face risks and access dangers, even as young children.  A growing body of evidence suggests that newer playgrounds, with “safer” - and therefore less challenging - equipment does not make our children’s lives safer.  Does not even produce fewer serious falls.  Apparently both parents and children overestimate the safety factors and are more prone to attempt risky moves.  And when children become bored wih “safe” playgrounds, they are more likely to play elsewhere, in truly dangerous locations.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_197\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"175\" caption=\"Gregg and Jonathan on a zipline over the Hersey River in Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-197\" title=\"gregg jon zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline-175x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"175\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI remember climbing one of the old, tall climbers on a playground in Griffin, Georgia, in 1956 or 1957, when I would have been either five or six years old. I paused at a point when I still felt safe, close enough to the ground.  Then I remember the thrill of taking that deep breathe and climbing higher, then higher.  Stopping at each level of the climber, to get my courage up to climb another rung.  And then the thrill of reaching the top and knowing that I had conquered that mountain.\r\n\r\nEven now, fifty years later, I clearly remember that sense of victory.  I believe that successes like that, as a child, taught me to be willing to step outside my comfort zone and take on challenges as an adult.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"221\" caption=\"Lisette braved the zipline over the river, by herself\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-198 \" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"288\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the book,<a title=\"Take the Risk\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Take-Risk-Learning-Identify-Acceptable/dp/0310259738/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1318381136&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"> Take the Risk</a>, Dr. Ben Carson says, “Since risk-taking is an almost universal trait of adolescence,the wisest strategy for parent is to offer teenagers controlled, acceptable risk-experiences. . . Teens are driven by human nature to establish, discover and prove who they will be and where they will fit into an adult world.  How will they do that? By exploring, experimenting, practicing and testing all manner of new experiences - and dealing with the incumbent risks.”\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_201\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"263\" caption=\"Matthew, with cousins, canoeing in Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/matt-canoe.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-201\" title=\"matt canoe\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/matt-canoe.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMission trips, white-water rafting, mountain hiking, public performances, acting or speaking, competitive sports - all provide teens with opportunities to challenge themselves, face the possibility of failure, embarassment and disappointment, get themselves out of their comfort zone.  And find out that they can succeed.  And that if they fail, life will go on with other opportunities.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_199\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"224\" caption=\"DIL Jessica white water rafting as a teen\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-199\" title=\"JessWhiteWaterRaft\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs parents, as mothers, we do not want to be so focused on keeping our children safe, that we stunt their emotional or creative growth or limit their potential for leadership and adventure in life.','No More Balloons, Party Whistles for Children, but More Stress for Moms','','publish','open','open','','no-more-balloons-party-whistles-for-children-but-more-stress-for-moms','','','2011-11-05 15:29:02','2011-11-05 19:29:02','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=190',0,'post','',1),(359,2,'2011-10-10 22:39:10','2011-10-11 02:39:10','One of my children’s favorite Halloween treats was also one of the easiest and, relatively nutritious, projects.  We made pumpkins with orange sherbet.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sherbert_cups1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-366\" title=\"sherbert_cups\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sherbert_cups1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"466\" /></a>\r\nAll it took was the sherbet, a round ice cream scoop, some ice cream cones (the ones with flat bottoms, that can stand up, work best), small tootsie rolls, and whatever you want to make the faces on the pumpkins.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sherbert_in_cups1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-367\" title=\"sherbert_in_cups\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sherbert_in_cups1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"589\" /></a>In scooping out the sherbet, to get nice round pumpkins, rinse off the scoop with hot water, between each pumpkin.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tootsies_added1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-368\" title=\"Tootsies_added\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tootsies_added1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"453\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe simplest version is to just have pumpkins - without faces.  A round scoop of orange sherbert, topped with a tootsie roll for a stem - even without extra details, they still look like pumpkins.  And taste delicious.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Sherbert_with_treats2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-370\" title=\"Sherbert_with_treats\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Sherbert_with_treats2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"338\" /></a>\r\n\r\nBut my children liked to go crazy with the details.  Green fruit slices can be sliced again, for fancy leaves near the stem.  And M &amp; Ms, or chocolate chips, licorice or gummy candy can make the face.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Sherbert_finished.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-371\" title=\"Sherbert_finished\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Sherbert_finished.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"496\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sherbert_finished2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-372\" title=\"sherbert_finished2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sherbert_finished2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"803\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Low-Stress Halloween Treats: Orange Sherbet Pumpkins','','publish','open','open','','low-stress-halloween-treats-orange-sherbet-pumpkins','','','2011-11-05 14:49:36','2011-11-05 18:49:36','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=359',0,'post','',0),(7,2,'2011-10-03 01:56:51','2011-10-03 01:56:51','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/?attachment_id=10\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>A parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less than $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largest expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northwest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','publish','open','open','','cost-of-raising-a-child-increases','','','2011-10-18 23:36:53','2011-10-18 23:36:53','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=7',0,'post','',0),(8,2,'2011-10-03 01:39:37','2011-10-03 01:39:37','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\n\nA parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\n\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\n\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\n\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\n\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision','','','2011-10-03 01:39:37','2011-10-03 01:39:37','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=8',0,'revision','',0),(9,2,'2011-10-03 01:41:15','2011-10-03 01:41:15','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\nA parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-2','','','2011-10-03 01:41:15','2011-10-03 01:41:15','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=9',0,'revision','',0),(10,1,'2011-10-03 01:55:09','2011-10-03 01:55:09','','Motherhood Stress','','inherit','open','open','','motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212','','','2011-10-03 01:55:09','2011-10-03 01:55:09','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(11,1,'2011-10-03 01:56:00','2011-10-03 01:56:00','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/?attachment_id=10\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\n\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\n\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\n\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\n\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-3','','','2011-10-03 01:56:00','2011-10-03 01:56:00','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=11',0,'revision','',0),(14,1,'2011-10-03 01:56:51','2011-10-03 01:56:51','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\nA parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-6','','','2011-10-03 01:56:51','2011-10-03 01:56:51','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=14',0,'revision','',0),(12,1,'2011-10-03 01:56:15','2011-10-03 01:56:15','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/?attachment_id=10\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-4','','','2011-10-03 01:56:15','2011-10-03 01:56:15','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=12',0,'revision','',0),(13,2,'2011-10-03 01:56:15','2011-10-03 01:56:15','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/?attachment_id=10\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-5','','','2011-10-03 01:56:15','2011-10-03 01:56:15','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=13',0,'revision','',0),(15,1,'2011-10-03 01:58:08','2011-10-03 01:58:08','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/?attachment_id=10\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nA parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-7','','','2011-10-03 01:58:08','2011-10-03 01:58:08','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=15',0,'revision','',0),(16,2,'2011-10-03 01:58:08','2011-10-03 01:58:08','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/?attachment_id=10\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nA parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-8','','','2011-10-03 01:58:08','2011-10-03 01:58:08','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=16',0,'revision','',0),(17,2,'2011-10-03 02:01:33','2011-10-03 02:01:33','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/?attachment_id=10\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>A parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-9','','','2011-10-03 02:01:33','2011-10-03 02:01:33','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=17',0,'revision','',0),(18,2,'2011-10-03 04:21:21','2011-10-03 04:21:21','http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-Jons-Grad-4-boys.jpg','cropped-Jons-Grad-4-boys.jpg','','inherit','closed','open','','cropped-jons-grad-4-boys-jpg','','','2011-10-03 04:21:21','2011-10-03 04:21:21','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-Jons-Grad-4-boys.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(165,2,'2011-10-08 16:54:47','2011-10-08 16:54:47','http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-FunnyFacesMuddyBoys2.jpg','cropped-FunnyFacesMuddyBoys2.jpg','','inherit','closed','open','','cropped-funnyfacesmuddyboys2-jpg','','','2011-10-08 16:54:47','2011-10-08 16:54:47','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-FunnyFacesMuddyBoys2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(20,2,'2011-10-03 04:38:51','2011-10-03 04:38:51','http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/family_Lewis_Jon_baby.jpg','family_Lewis_Jon_baby.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','family_lewis_jon_baby-jpg','','','2011-10-03 04:38:51','2011-10-03 04:38:51','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/family_Lewis_Jon_baby.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(21,2,'2011-10-03 04:43:17','2011-10-03 04:43:17','http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg','cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg','Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin, in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan graduated from Asbury University','inherit','closed','open','','cropped-family_graduation_2011-jpg','','','2011-10-03 04:43:17','2011-10-03 04:43:17','',2,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_graduation_2011.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(390,2,'2011-10-12 22:06:55','2011-10-13 02:06:55','Some of my favorite childhood memories center around my mother\'s Old Fashioned Tea Cakes.  A southern dish, they are simple, easy-to-make and relatively low-sugar, for such a sweet treat.\r\n\r\nIf you decorate them with icing, the sugar content jumps.  But if you paint them with colored evaporated milk, they are pretty, shiny and delicious, without being laden with sugar.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/tea_cake_ingredients3.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-407\" title=\"tea_cake_ingredients\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/tea_cake_ingredients3-264x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"264\" height=\"300\" /></a>Only six ingredients: shortening; sugar; eggs; milk; vanilla and self-rising flour.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd you just mix those six things together, add enough flour to get a stiff dough.  I find it usually takes another 1 - 1.5 cups of flour to make it the right stiffness.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stiff_batter.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-397\" title=\"stiff_batter\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stiff_batter-277x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"277\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThen roll it out and cut it with cookie cutters.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/rolling_pin.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-398\" title=\"rolling_pin\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/rolling_pin-266x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"266\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI collect cookie cutters. I found nine pumpkin and 2 apple cookie cutters.  I have WAY too many cookie cutters!<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cookie_cutters.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-399\" title=\"cookie_cutters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cookie_cutters-300x277.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"277\" /></a>\r\n\r\nBrush them with colored evaporated milk. Notice that I am NOT neat when I paint these cookies. I dribble colored milk everywhere.  But it cleans right up when I wash the pan, after baking the cookies.  No big deal - NBD, as I used to tell my children. NBD.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/painted_cookie.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-404\" title=\"painted_cookie\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/painted_cookie-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThen bake for 6 minutes or so. Gotta love these simple recipes.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/finished_cookies.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-403\" title=\"finished_cookies\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/finished_cookies-300x257.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"257\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOld Fashioned Tea Cakes\r\n\r\n1 cup shortening\r\n\r\n2 cups sugar\r\n\r\n2 eggs\r\n\r\n1/2 cup milk\r\n\r\n1 teaspoon vanilla\r\n\r\n3 cups self-rising flour\r\n\r\nMix all ingredients together. Add enough self-rising flour to make a stiff dough. (It usually takes another 1 cup to 1.5 cup.)  Roll out on a floured board. Cut with cookie cutters and put on a cookie sheet.\r\n\r\nMix food coloring into a small quantity of evaporated milk, to desired color.  Bush onto the uncooked cookies.\r\n\r\nBake at 400 degrees until brown, 5 or 6 minutes.','More Low-Stress Halloween Treats: Pumpkin Tea Cakes','','publish','open','open','','more-low-stress-halloween-treats-pumpkin-tea-cakes','','','2011-11-05 14:48:13','2011-11-05 18:48:13','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=390',0,'post','',0),(23,2,'2011-10-02 21:28:13','2011-10-02 21:28:13','This is an example page. It\'s different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this:\n\n<blockquote>Hi there! I\'m a bike messenger by day, aspiring actor by night, and this is my blog. I live in Los Angeles, have a great dog named Jack, and I like pi&#241;a coladas. (And gettin\' caught in the rain.)</blockquote>\n\n...or something like this:\n\n<blockquote>The XYZ Doohickey Company was founded in 1971, and has been providing quality doohickies to the public ever since. Located in Gotham City, XYZ employs over 2,000 people and does all kinds of awesome things for the Gotham community.</blockquote>\n\nAs a new WordPress user, you should go to <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-admin/\">your dashboard</a> to delete this page and create new pages for your content. Have fun!','Sample Page','','inherit','open','open','','2-revision','','','2011-10-02 21:28:13','2011-10-02 21:28:13','',2,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=23',0,'revision','',0),(26,2,'2011-10-04 01:05:27','2011-10-04 01:05:27','<ul>\n	<li><a title=\"True_to_His_Word\" href=\"//http://www.amazon.com/True-His-Word-Story-Fellowship/dp/1606570897/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317688796&amp;sr=8-2\" target=\"_blank\">True to His Word: the story of Bible Study Fellowship</a>, Authentic Publishing, 2010</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Gifted_Hands_Ben_Carson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Hands-Kids-ZonderKidz-Biography/dp/0310719038/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317688939&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">Gifted Hands: the Ben Carson Story,</a> a children’s biography, Zonderkidz, 2009</li>\n	<li>Six books in the “Today’s Heroes” series, Zonderkidz, 2001 - 2002:</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Joni_Eareckson_Tada\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Joni-Eareckson-Tada-Gregg-Lewis/dp/031070300X/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-14\" target=\"_blank\">Joni Eareckson Tada</a>;</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Ben_Carson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Carson-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702984/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-3\" target=\"_blank\">Ben Carson</a>;</li>\n	<li><a title=\"David_Robinson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/David-Robinson-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702976/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">David Robinson</a>;</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Colin_Powell\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Colin-Powell-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702992/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-4\" target=\"_blank\">Colin Powell</a>;</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Brother_Andrew\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Andrew-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310703131/ref=sr_1_18?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-18\" target=\"_blank\">Brother Andrew</a>; and</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Dave_Dravecky\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Dave-Dravecky-Gregg-Lewis/dp/031070314X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-6\" target=\"_blank\">Dave Dravecky </a></li>\n	<li><a title=\"Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Wonder-Motherhood-Intimate-Septuplets/dp/0785270485/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-12\" target=\"_blank\">Celebrating the Wonder of Motherhood</a>, Thomas Nelson, 1999</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Seven_From_Heaven_McCaughey\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Heaven-Miracle-McCaughey-Septuplets/dp/0785270493/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317690279&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">Seven from Heaven</a>, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998.</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-10\" target=\"_blank\">Stressbusters for Moms</a>, Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Mother_in_the_Middle_Charmaine_Yoest\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-7\" target=\"_blank\">Mother in the Middle</a>, Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.</li>\n	<li>Four books in the “Family Share Together” series by Zondervan Publishing House, 1994:</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_When_You_Were_Little\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Little-Family-Share-Together/dp/0310410711/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-15\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When You Were Little? </a></li>\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_When_Parents_Were_Children\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Parents-Children-Family-Together/dp/0310421012/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-16\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When Your Parents Were Children?</a></li>\n	<li><a title=\"Grandparents_Were_Young\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Grandparents-Young-Family-Together/dp/0310421217/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-8\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When Your Grandparents Were Young?</a></li>\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_How_Family_Got_Started\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Family-Started-Share-Together/dp/031042111X/ref=sr_1_17?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-17\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…How Our Family Got Started?</a></li>\n	<li><a title=\"When_You_Were_Baby\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Baby-Deborah-Lewis/dp/1561451029/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-5\" target=\"_blank\">When You Were A Baby</a>, Zondervan, 1991 &amp; Peachtree Publishers, 1995.</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Motherhood_Stress\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689768&amp;sr=1-13\" target=\"_blank\">Motherhood Stress</a>, Word Publishing, 1989 (HC) &amp; Zondervan Publishing, 1991 (PB)</li>\n</ul>','Debi\'s books','','inherit','open','open','','25-revision','','','2011-10-04 01:05:27','2011-10-04 01:05:27','',25,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=26',0,'revision','',0),(27,2,'2012-08-23 00:15:39','2012-08-23 04:15:39','<ul>\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/The-Admiral-Robinson-ZonderKidz-Biography/dp/0310725208/ref=tmm_pap_title_0\" target=\"_blank\">The Admiral: the David Robinson Story</a>, a children\'s biography, Zonderkidz, 2012</li>\n	<li><a title=\"True_to_His_Word_Bible_Study_Fellowship\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/True-His-Word-Story-Fellowship/dp/1606570897/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317690448&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">True to His Word: the story of Bible Study Fellowship</a>, Authentic Publishing, 2010</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Gifted_Hands_Ben_Carson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Hands-Kids-ZonderKidz-Biography/dp/0310719038/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317688939&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">Gifted Hands: the Ben Carson Story,</a> a children’s biography, Zonderkidz, 2009</li>\n	<li>Six books in the “Today’s Heroes” series, Zonderkidz, 2001 - 2002:</li>\n</ul>\n<ol>\n	<li><a title=\"Joni_Eareckson_Tada\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Joni-Eareckson-Tada-Gregg-Lewis/dp/031070300X/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-14\" target=\"_blank\">Joni Eareckson Tada</a>;</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Ben_Carson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Carson-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702984/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-3\" target=\"_blank\">Ben Carson</a>;</li>\n	<li><a title=\"David_Robinson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/David-Robinson-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702976/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">David Robinson</a>;</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Colin_Powell\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Colin-Powell-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702992/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-4\" target=\"_blank\">Colin Powell</a>;</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Brother_Andrew\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Andrew-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310703131/ref=sr_1_18?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-18\" target=\"_blank\">Brother Andrew</a>; and</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Dave_Dravecky\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Dave-Dravecky-Gregg-Lewis/dp/031070314X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-6\" target=\"_blank\">Dave Dravecky </a></li>\n</ol>\n<ul>\n	<li><a title=\"Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Wonder-Motherhood-Intimate-Septuplets/dp/0785270485/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-12\" target=\"_blank\">Celebrating the Wonder of Motherhood</a>, Thomas Nelson, 1999</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Seven_From_Heaven_McCaughey\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Heaven-Miracle-McCaughey-Septuplets/dp/0785270493/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317690279&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">Seven from Heaven</a>, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998.</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-10\" target=\"_blank\">Stressbusters for Moms</a>, Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Mother_in_the_Middle_Charmaine_Yoest\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-7\" target=\"_blank\">Mother in the Middle</a>, Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.</li>\n	<li>Four books in the “Family Share Together” series by Zondervan Publishing House, 1994:</li>\n</ul>\n<ol>\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_When_You_Were_Little\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Little-Family-Share-Together/dp/0310410711/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-15\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When You Were Little? </a></li>\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_When_Parents_Were_Children\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Parents-Children-Family-Together/dp/0310421012/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-16\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When Your Parents Were Children?</a></li>\n	<li><a title=\"Grandparents_Were_Young\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Grandparents-Young-Family-Together/dp/0310421217/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-8\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When Your Grandparents Were Young?</a></li>\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_How_Family_Got_Started\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Family-Started-Share-Together/dp/031042111X/ref=sr_1_17?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-17\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…How Our Family Got Started?</a></li>\n</ol>\n<ul>\n	<li><a title=\"When_You_Were_Baby\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Baby-Deborah-Lewis/dp/1561451029/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-5\" target=\"_blank\">When You Were A Baby</a>, Zondervan, 1991 &amp; Peachtree Publishers, 1995.</li>\n	<li><a title=\"Motherhood_Stress\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689768&amp;sr=1-13\" target=\"_blank\">Motherhood Stress</a>, Word Publishing, 1989 (HC) &amp; Zondervan Publishing, 1991 (PB)</li>\n</ul>','Debi\'s books','','inherit','open','open','','25-autosave','','','2012-08-23 00:15:39','2012-08-23 04:15:39','',25,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=27',0,'revision','',0),(28,2,'2011-10-04 01:05:38','2011-10-04 01:05:38','<ul>\r\n	<li><a title=\"True_to_His_Word\" href=\"//http://www.amazon.com/True-His-Word-Story-Fellowship/dp/1606570897/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317688796&amp;sr=8-2\" target=\"_blank\">True to His Word: the story of Bible Study Fellowship</a>, Authentic Publishing, 2010</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Gifted_Hands_Ben_Carson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Hands-Kids-ZonderKidz-Biography/dp/0310719038/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317688939&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">Gifted Hands: the Ben Carson Story,</a> a children’s biography, Zonderkidz, 2009</li>\r\n	<li>Six books in the “Today’s Heroes” series, Zonderkidz, 2001 - 2002:</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Joni_Eareckson_Tada\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Joni-Eareckson-Tada-Gregg-Lewis/dp/031070300X/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-14\" target=\"_blank\">Joni Eareckson Tada</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Ben_Carson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Carson-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702984/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-3\" target=\"_blank\">Ben Carson</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"David_Robinson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/David-Robinson-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702976/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">David Robinson</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Colin_Powell\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Colin-Powell-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702992/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-4\" target=\"_blank\">Colin Powell</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Brother_Andrew\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Andrew-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310703131/ref=sr_1_18?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-18\" target=\"_blank\">Brother Andrew</a>; and</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Dave_Dravecky\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Dave-Dravecky-Gregg-Lewis/dp/031070314X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-6\" target=\"_blank\">Dave Dravecky </a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Wonder-Motherhood-Intimate-Septuplets/dp/0785270485/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-12\" target=\"_blank\">Celebrating the Wonder of Motherhood</a>, Thomas Nelson, 1999</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Seven_From_Heaven_McCaughey\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Heaven-Miracle-McCaughey-Septuplets/dp/0785270493/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317690279&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">Seven from Heaven</a>, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998.</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-10\" target=\"_blank\">Stressbusters for Moms</a>, Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Mother_in_the_Middle_Charmaine_Yoest\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-7\" target=\"_blank\">Mother in the Middle</a>, Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.</li>\r\n	<li>Four books in the “Family Share Together” series by Zondervan Publishing House, 1994:</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_When_You_Were_Little\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Little-Family-Share-Together/dp/0310410711/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-15\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When You Were Little? </a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_When_Parents_Were_Children\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Parents-Children-Family-Together/dp/0310421012/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-16\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When Your Parents Were Children?</a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Grandparents_Were_Young\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Grandparents-Young-Family-Together/dp/0310421217/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-8\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When Your Grandparents Were Young?</a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_How_Family_Got_Started\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Family-Started-Share-Together/dp/031042111X/ref=sr_1_17?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-17\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…How Our Family Got Started?</a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"When_You_Were_Baby\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Baby-Deborah-Lewis/dp/1561451029/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-5\" target=\"_blank\">When You Were A Baby</a>, Zondervan, 1991 &amp; Peachtree Publishers, 1995.</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Motherhood_Stress\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689768&amp;sr=1-13\" target=\"_blank\">Motherhood Stress</a>, Word Publishing, 1989 (HC) &amp; Zondervan Publishing, 1991 (PB)</li>\r\n</ul>','Debi\'s books','','inherit','open','open','','25-revision-2','','','2011-10-04 01:05:38','2011-10-04 01:05:38','',25,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=28',0,'revision','',0),(29,2,'2011-10-04 01:22:36','2011-10-04 01:22:36','http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jons-Grad-4-boys.jpg','Jons-Grad-4-boys.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','jons-grad-4-boys-jpg','','','2011-10-04 01:22:36','2011-10-04 01:22:36','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jons-Grad-4-boys.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(30,2,'2011-10-04 01:23:31','2011-10-04 01:23:31','http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jons-Grad-4-boys1.jpg','Jons-Grad-4-boys1.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','jons-grad-4-boys1-jpg','','','2011-10-04 01:23:31','2011-10-04 01:23:31','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jons-Grad-4-boys1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(31,2,'2011-10-03 19:55:14','2011-10-03 19:55:14','','About Debi','','inherit','open','open','','2-revision-2','','','2011-10-03 19:55:14','2011-10-03 19:55:14','',2,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=31',0,'revision','',0),(32,2,'2011-10-04 01:30:09','2011-10-04 01:30:09','Born in Lexington, Kentucky, the fifth of seven children of Ruth and Charles Shaw, Deborah Shaw Lewis grew up in Georgia. She attended Asbury College where she met her husband Gregg. She taught preschool, wrote preschool curriculum for David C. Cook Publishing, and directed a daycare center, Winkie Bear Child Development Center.\r\n\r\nTwo fertility specialist told Debi and Gregg that they would not be able to have children. Their first child Andrew (now 32) was declared a \"miracle.\" Then he was followed by Matthew (now 30 and married to Emily Brown Lewis), then Lisette (now 28), then Benjamin (now 27), then Jonathan (now 23 and married to Jessica Young Lewis).\r\n\r\nDebi earned her master\'s degree from the Erikson Institute in Chicago. She is currently the director of PALS, the mothers\' morning out program at Trinity United Methodist Church in Rome, Georgia. She loves to speak to groups of mothers and to tell stories to young children.','About Debi','','inherit','open','open','','2-revision-3','','','2011-10-04 01:30:09','2011-10-04 01:30:09','',2,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=32',0,'revision','',0),(33,2,'2011-10-04 01:31:44','2011-10-04 01:31:44','Born in Lexington, Kentucky, the fifth of seven children of Ruth and Charles Shaw, Deborah Shaw Lewis grew up in Georgia. She attended Asbury College where she met her husband Gregg. She taught preschool, wrote preschool curriculum for David C. Cook Publishing, and directed a daycare center, Winkie Bear Child Development Center.\r\n\r\nTwo fertility specialists told Debi and Gregg that they would not be able to have children. Their first child Andrew (now 32) was declared a \"miracle.\" Then he was followed by Matthew (now 30 and married to Emily Brown Lewis), then Lisette (now 28), then Benjamin (now 27), then Jonathan (now 23 and married to Jessica Young Lewis).\r\n\r\nDebi earned her master\'s degree from the Erikson Institute in Chicago. She is currently the director of PALS, the mothers\' morning out program at Trinity United Methodist Church in Rome, Georgia. She loves to speak to groups of mothers and to tell stories to young children.','About Debi','','inherit','open','open','','2-revision-4','','','2011-10-04 01:31:44','2011-10-04 01:31:44','',2,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=33',0,'revision','',0),(34,2,'2011-10-05 20:30:40','2011-10-05 20:30:40','Don\'t you love the advice you get when you are a mother?  From relatives, aunts, uncles, mothers, cousins . . .  from friends and neighbors . . .  from strangers in the grocery store. . .  from books, magazine and websites.  So many people feel free to give advice to mothers.\r\n\r\nOccasionally the advice is just what we need.  But so many times, the shoe just doesn\'t fit. Below is a selection of some of the worst advice given to mothers of babies.  I hope it gives you a chuckle.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_66\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"400\" caption=\"from Stressbusters for Moms, by Deborah Shaw Lewis\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-66\" title=\"Worst advice\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"604\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<blockquote><strong>Worst Advice I Ever Heard ... on Babies</strong>\r\n\r\n\'You\'re going to starve that baby.\'\r\nThis from my mother every time she saw me breastfeed my baby.\r\n<em>R.F., mother of three, ages 17-months, 3 and soon to be newborn</em>.\r\n\r\n\'Just let her cry!\'\r\nMy daughter had newborn colic for several months. I discovered that both she and I were happier if I held her.\r\n<em>J.T., mother of two grown children, two grandchildren.</em>\r\n\r\n\'Don\'t let your baby suck his thumb!\'\r\nRidiculous! Thumb-suckers are usually happy babies.\r\n<em>C.N., mother of two, ages 13, 15.</em>\r\n\r\n\'Make them walk early.\'\r\nThis friend has always had ways to force children to learn to walk. My children walked when they were ready. And it was <em>not</em> an indication of their intelligence!\r\n<em>K.V., mother of two, 2,5</em>\r\n\r\n\'You play with your baby too much.\'\r\nThis is <em>not</em> possible.\r\n<em>L.S., mother of four, 8, 10, 14, 16</em></blockquote>\r\n<a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317851357&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>','Worst Advice for Moms with Babies','','publish','open','open','','worst-advice-for-moms-with-babies','','','2011-10-19 08:08:22','2011-10-19 08:08:22','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=34',0,'post','',1),(35,2,'2011-10-04 02:37:16','2011-10-04 02:37:16','http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-MomStressLogo2.jpg','cropped-MomStressLogo2.jpg','','inherit','closed','open','','cropped-momstresslogo2-jpg','','','2011-10-04 02:37:16','2011-10-04 02:37:16','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-MomStressLogo2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(166,2,'2011-10-08 17:05:43','2011-10-08 17:05:43','http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg','cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg','Lisette, Jonathan, Matthew, Emily, Gregg, Debi and Andrew on 7-7-2007','inherit','closed','open','','cropped-emilymattwed-jpg','','','2011-10-08 17:05:43','2011-10-08 17:05:43','',446,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-EmilyMattWed.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(167,2,'2011-10-08 19:25:05','2011-10-08 19:25:05','','halloween  costume','Amanda, Matthew and Josh','inherit','open','open','','halloween_costume-2','','','2011-10-08 19:25:05','2011-10-08 19:25:05','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/halloween_costume1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(38,2,'2011-10-28 03:07:15','2011-10-28 07:07:15','A certain amount of novelty can be a plus on any job. Cuts down on boredom, stimulates creativity and productivity. But an excess of unpredictability creates tremendous stress.\r\n\r\nCould there be any job more unpredictable than motherhood?\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_528\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Matthew at age 2, playing in the sprinkler\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSprinkler.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-528 \" title=\"MattSprinkler\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSprinkler-296x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"198\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI remember the day I checked on 17 month old Matthew and found him playing happily on top of our old upright piano.  Just moments before, he\'d been happily marching around the kitchen and into the living room, down a short hall and back into the kitchen - round and round, in and out of the kitchen where I was fixing supper.\r\n\r\nNo mystery how he climbed onto the piano bench, or from the piano bench to the piano keys.  But how on earth did he scale the distance from the keys to the tops of that old piano?  And why?\r\n\r\nI could only thank God that I checked on him BEFORE he decided to take a head-first dive from that height!\r\n\r\nAnd then there was the evening I fixed everyone hot chocolate. I found three matching cups for our (then) four children.  The fourth cup was yellow, Benjamin\'s favorite color.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_529\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Benjamin, age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-529\" title=\"Benj3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj3yr-209x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I handed Benjamin his cocoa in his favorite color cup.  And he pitched a fit.  Went to bed without his treat, rather than drink hot cocoa from a yellow cup.\r\n\r\nSo much for a pleasant evening snack routine!\r\n\r\nMotherhood brought me much more joy than I ever thought possible - but more unpredictability, too.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n. . . from <a title=\"Motherhood_Stress\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_10\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></a> by Deborah Shaw Lewis\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','You Never Know What Will Happen Next. . . ','','publish','open','open','','you-never-know-what-will-happen-next','','','2011-11-05 22:24:32','2011-11-06 02:24:32','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=38',0,'post','',0),(39,2,'2011-10-04 03:06:38','2011-10-04 03:06:38','A certain amount of novelty can be a plus on any job. Cuts down on boredom, stimulates creativity and productivity. But an excess of unpredictability creates tremendous stress.\n\nCould there be any job more unpredictable than motherhood?\n\nI remember the day I checked on 17 month old Matthew and found him playing happily on top of our old upright piano.  Just moments before, he\'d been happily marching around the kitchen and into the living room, down a short hall and back into the kitchen - round and round, in and out of the kitchen where I was fixing supper.\n\nNo mystery how he climbed onto the piano bench, or from the piano bench to the piano keys.  But how on earth did he scale the distance from the keys to the tops of that old piano?  And why?\n\nI could only thank God that I checked on him BEFORE he decided to take a head-first dive from that height!\n\nAnd then there was the evening I fixed everyone hot chocolate. I found three matching cups for our (then) four children.  The fourth cup was yellow, Benjamin\'s favorite color.  So I handed Benjamin his cocoa in his favorite color cup.  And he pitched a fit.  Went to bed without his treat, rather than drink hot cocoa from a yellow cup.\n\nSo much for a pleasant evening snack routine!\n\nMotherhood brought me much more joy than I ever thought possible - but more unpredictability, too.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n. . . from\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','You Never Know What Will Happen Next. . . ','','inherit','open','open','','38-revision','','','2011-10-04 03:06:38','2011-10-04 03:06:38','',38,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=39',0,'revision','',0),(40,2,'2011-10-04 03:44:59','2011-10-04 03:44:59','Andrew, our first child, was 6 months old and he was crying, and crying and crying. Usually a happy baby, we knew something was wrong. At home, we would have taken him to his pediatrician.  But we weren\'t at home.  We were in a hotel, a nice hotel, in a resort area, on a beautiful lake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_42\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"242\" caption=\"Andrew when he was a year old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-42\" title=\"Andrew _ one_year_old\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old-242x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"242\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis was supposed to be an fun, family outing for Andrew and me, a family outing mixed with business for my husband.  We hadn\'t planned on mixing misery in with our fun.\r\n\r\nBut Andrew was miserable, and consequently, so were we.  And probably too, all those poor folks who had also come to that lovely hotel for a pleasant weekend.  And were instead also listening to - not as closely as Gregg and I were, but hearing none the less - a baby scream.\r\n\r\nOne of the most unpleasant sounds in the world is the sound of a baby crying.  Normal adult instincts demand that you do something, anything to keep a baby from crying.\r\n\r\nGregg and I may have been closer to that unpleasant sound, but we were also able to do something.  We were rocking, patting, singing, nursing, rubbing his tummy.  The other poor people being subjected to the noise could not see our efforts, didn\'t know if we were even really trying to help.  Maybe someone thought we had abandoned our baby.  Maybe someone thought we were sleeping through the din.\r\n\r\nAt some point, after 11 p.m., we took Andrew for a drive, hoping the car ride would put him to sleep.  It didn\'t.\r\n\r\nSo, back to the hotel and our bed.  But with no more success in calming our precious baby than before.\r\n\r\nFinally, around 1 a.m., the phone rang. The hotel desk informed us that people were complaining about the crying baby.  Gregg and I looked at each other.  We were doing all we could think to do. We weren\'t even angry with the people who complained.  They didn\'t know how hard we were trying to quiet our baby.\r\n\r\nBy two o\'clock, Andrew had screamed himself to sleep.  And we were all able at last to sleep. By the next morning, Andrew was our happy, cheerful baby again.  We were never sure exactly what was wrong with him that night.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_45\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-45\" title=\"Andrew and Jonathan graduate from Asbury University\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo, if you were in that hotel, back in the Spring of 1980, at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, and remember being kept awake by a screaming baby, please accept our apology for your disturbed sleep. We really were doing all we could do to quiet our crying child.','Crying Baby at a Hotel: What do you do?','','publish','open','open','','crying-baby-at-a-hotel-what-do-you-do','','','2011-10-19 00:05:25','2011-10-19 00:05:25','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=40',0,'post','',0),(41,2,'2011-10-04 03:44:41','2011-10-04 03:44:41','Andrew, our first child, was 6 months old and he was crying, and crying and crying. Usually a happy baby, we knew something was wrong. At home, we would have taken him to his pediatrician.  But we weren\'t at home.  We were in a hotel, a nice hotel, in a resort area, on a beautiful lake.\n\nThis was supposed to be an fun, family outing for Andrew and me, a family outing mixed with business for my husband.  We hadn\'t planned on mixing misery in with our fun.\n\nBut Andrew was miserable, and consequently, so were we.  And probably too, all those poor folks who had also come to that lovely hotel for a pleasant weekend.  And were instead also listening to - not as closely as Gregg and I were, but hearing none the less - a baby scream.\n\nOne of the most unpleasant sounds in the world is the sound of a baby crying.  Normal adult instincts demand that you do something, anything to keep a baby from crying.\n\nGregg and I may have been closer to that unpleasant sound, but we were also able to do something.  We were rocking, patting, singing, nursing, rubbing his tummy.  The other poor people being subjected to the noise could not see our efforts, didn\'t know if we were even really trying to help.  Maybe someone thought we had abandoned our baby.  Maybe someone thought we were sleeping through the din.\n\nAt some point, after 11 p.m., we took Andrew for a drive, hoping the car ride would put him to sleep.  It didn\'t.\n\nSo, back to the hotel and our bed.  But with no more success in calming our precious baby than before.\n\nFinally, around 1 a.m., the phone rang. The hotel desk informed us that people were complaining about the crying baby.  Gregg and I looked at each other.  We were doing all we could think to do. We weren\'t even angry with the people who complained.  They didn\'t know how hard we were trying to quiet our baby.\n\nBy two o\'clock, Andrew had screamed himself to sleep.  And we were all able at last to sleep. By the next morning, Andrew was our happy, cheerful baby again.  We were never sure exactly what was wrong with him that night.\n\nSo, if you were in that hotel, back in the Spring of 1980, at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, and remember being kept awake by a screaming baby, please accept our apology for your disturbed sleep. We really were doing all','Crying Baby at a Hotel . . . What do you do?','','inherit','open','open','','40-revision','','','2011-10-04 03:44:41','2011-10-04 03:44:41','',40,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=41',0,'revision','',0),(42,2,'2011-10-04 03:57:00','2011-10-04 03:57:00','','Andrew','Andrew when he was a year old','inherit','open','open','','andrew-1-year-old','','','2011-10-04 03:57:00','2011-10-04 03:57:00','',40,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(43,2,'2011-10-06 02:32:25','2011-10-06 02:32:25','Andrew, our first child, was 6 months old and he was crying, and crying and crying. Usually a happy baby, we knew something was wrong. At home, we would have taken him to his pediatrician.  But we weren\'t at home.  We were in a hotel, a nice hotel, in a resort area, on a beautiful lake.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_42\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"242\" caption=\"Andrew when he was a year old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-42\" title=\"Andrew _ one_year_old\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old-242x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"242\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThis was supposed to be an fun, family outing for Andrew and me, a family outing mixed with business for my husband.  We hadn\'t planned on mixing misery in with our fun.\n\nBut Andrew was miserable, and consequently, so were we.  And probably too, all those poor folks who had also come to that lovely hotel for a pleasant weekend.  And were instead also listening to - not as closely as Gregg and I were, but hearing none the less - a baby scream.\n\nOne of the most unpleasant sounds in the world is the sound of a baby crying.  Normal adult instincts demand that you do something, anything to keep a baby from crying.\n\nGregg and I may have been closer to that unpleasant sound, but we were also able to do something.  We were rocking, patting, singing, nursing, rubbing his tummy.  The other poor people being subjected to the noise could not see our efforts, didn\'t know if we were even really trying to help.  Maybe someone thought we had abandoned our baby.  Maybe someone thought we were sleeping through the din.\n\nAt some point, after 11 p.m., we took Andrew for a drive, hoping the car ride would put him to sleep.  It didn\'t.\n\nSo, back to the hotel and our bed.  But with no more success in calming our precious baby than before.\n\nFinally, around 1 a.m., the phone rang. The hotel desk informed us that people were complaining about the crying baby.  Gregg and I looked at each other.  We were doing all we could think to do. We weren\'t even angry with the people who complained.  They didn\'t know how hard we were trying to quiet our baby.\n\nBy two o\'clock, Andrew had screamed himself to sleep.  And we were all able at last to sleep. By the next morning, Andrew was our happy, cheerful baby again.  We were never sure exactly what was wrong with him that night.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_45\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-45\" title=\"Andrew and Jonathan graduate from Asbury University\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSo, if you were in that hotel, back in the Spring of 1980, at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, and remember being kept awake by a screaming baby, please accept our apology for your disturbed sleep. We really were doing all we could do to quiet our crying child.','Crying Baby at a Hotel: What do you do?','','inherit','open','open','','40-autosave','','','2011-10-06 02:32:25','2011-10-06 02:32:25','',40,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=43',0,'revision','',0),(44,2,'2011-10-04 04:03:46','2011-10-04 04:03:46','','Andrewgrad','','inherit','open','open','','andrewgrad','','','2011-10-04 04:03:46','2011-10-04 04:03:46','',40,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(45,2,'2011-10-04 04:05:34','2011-10-04 04:05:34','Taken following Andrew and Jonathan\'s college graduation, May 2011','Andrew and Jonathan graduate from Asbury University','Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan both graduated from Asbury University','inherit','open','open','','andrewgrad-2','','','2011-10-04 04:05:34','2011-10-04 04:05:34','',40,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(46,2,'2011-10-04 03:44:59','2011-10-04 03:44:59','Andrew, our first child, was 6 months old and he was crying, and crying and crying. Usually a happy baby, we knew something was wrong. At home, we would have taken him to his pediatrician.  But we weren\'t at home.  We were in a hotel, a nice hotel, in a resort area, on a beautiful lake.\r\n\r\nThis was supposed to be an fun, family outing for Andrew and me, a family outing mixed with business for my husband.  We hadn\'t planned on mixing misery in with our fun.\r\n\r\nBut Andrew was miserable, and consequently, so were we.  And probably too, all those poor folks who had also come to that lovely hotel for a pleasant weekend.  And were instead also listening to - not as closely as Gregg and I were, but hearing none the less - a baby scream.\r\n\r\nOne of the most unpleasant sounds in the world is the sound of a baby crying.  Normal adult instincts demand that you do something, anything to keep a baby from crying.\r\n\r\nGregg and I may have been closer to that unpleasant sound, but we were also able to do something.  We were rocking, patting, singing, nursing, rubbing his tummy.  The other poor people being subjected to the noise could not see our efforts, didn\'t know if we were even really trying to help.  Maybe someone thought we had abandoned our baby.  Maybe someone thought we were sleeping through the din.\r\n\r\nAt some point, after 11 p.m., we took Andrew for a drive, hoping the car ride would put him to sleep.  It didn\'t.\r\n\r\nSo, back to the hotel and our bed.  But with no more success in calming our precious baby than before.\r\n\r\nFinally, around 1 a.m., the phone rang. The hotel desk informed us that people were complaining about the crying baby.  Gregg and I looked at each other.  We were doing all we could think to do. We weren\'t even angry with the people who complained.  They didn\'t know how hard we were trying to quiet our baby.\r\n\r\nBy two o\'clock, Andrew had screamed himself to sleep.  And we were all able at last to sleep. By the next morning, Andrew was our happy, cheerful baby again.  We were never sure exactly what was wrong with him that night.\r\n\r\nSo, if you were in that hotel, back in the Spring of 1980, at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, and remember being kept awake by a screaming baby, please accept our apology for your disturbed sleep. We really were doing all we could do to quiet our crying child.','Crying Baby at a Hotel . . . What do you do?','','inherit','open','open','','40-revision-2','','','2011-10-04 03:44:59','2011-10-04 03:44:59','',40,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=46',0,'revision','',0),(47,2,'2011-10-04 01:32:29','2011-10-04 01:32:29','Born in Lexington, Kentucky, the fifth of seven children of Ruth and Charles Shaw, Deborah Shaw Lewis grew up in Georgia. She attended Asbury College where she met her husband Gregg. She taught preschool, wrote preschool curriculum for David C. Cook Publishing, and directed a daycare center, Winkie Bear Child Development Center.\r\n\r\nTwo fertility specialists told Debi and Gregg that they would not be able to have children. Their first child Andrew (now 32) was declared a \"miracle.\" Then he was followed by Matthew (now 30 and married to Emily Brown Lewis), then Lisette (now 28), then Benjamin (now 27), then Jonathan (now 23 and married to Jessica Young Lewis).  They were ALL miracles.\r\n\r\nDebi earned her master\'s degree from the Erikson Institute in Chicago. She is currently the director of PALS, the mothers\' morning out program at Trinity United Methodist Church in Rome, Georgia. She loves to speak to groups of mothers and to tell stories to young children.','About Debi','','inherit','open','open','','2-revision-5','','','2011-10-04 01:32:29','2011-10-04 01:32:29','',2,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=47',0,'revision','',0),(48,2,'2011-10-04 14:53:33','2011-10-04 14:53:33','Born in Lexington, Kentucky, the fifth of seven children of Ruth and Charles Shaw, Deborah Shaw Lewis grew up in Georgia. She attended <a title=\"Asbury_University\" href=\"http://asbury.edu\" target=\"_blank\">Asbury College</a> where she met her husband <a title=\"Gregg_Lewis_books\" href=\"http://gregglewisbooks.com\" target=\"_blank\">Gregg</a>. She taught preschool, wrote preschool curriculum for David C. Cook Publishing, and directed a daycare center, Winkie Bear Child Development Center.\r\n\r\nTwo fertility specialists told Debi and Gregg that they would not be able to have children. Their first child Andrew (now 32) was declared a \"miracle.\" Then he was followed by Matthew (now 30 and married to Emily Brown Lewis), then Lisette (now 28), then Benjamin (now 27), then Jonathan (now 23 and married to Jessica Young Lewis).  They were ALL miracles.\r\n\r\nDebi earned her master\'s degree from the <a href=\"http://www.erikson.edu/\" target=\"_blank\">Erikson Institute</a> in Chicago. She is currently the director of <a title=\"PALS_at_Trinity\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/what-makes-pals-unique\" target=\"_blank\">PALS</a>, the mothers\' morning out program at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist__Church_Rome_Georgia\" href=\"http://trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Trinity United Methodist Church</a> in Rome, Georgia. She loves to speak to groups of mothers and to tell stories to young children.','About Debi','','inherit','open','open','','2-revision-6','','','2011-10-04 14:53:33','2011-10-04 14:53:33','',2,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=48',0,'revision','',0),(49,2,'2011-10-04 16:44:53','2011-10-04 16:44:53','http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-best-family_2.jpg','cropped-best-family_2.jpg','Lisette, Jonathan, Benjamin, Debi, Gregg, Emily, Matthew at Christmas 2010','inherit','closed','open','','cropped-best-family_2-jpg','','','2011-10-04 16:44:53','2011-10-04 16:44:53','',2,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-best-family_2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(50,2,'2011-10-04 17:18:09','2011-10-04 17:18:09','http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_portraits2.jpg','cropped-family_portraits2.jpg','','inherit','closed','open','','cropped-family_portraits2-jpg','','','2011-10-04 17:18:09','2011-10-04 17:18:09','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-family_portraits2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(51,2,'2011-10-04 17:21:48','2011-10-04 17:21:48','http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-Matt_grad_family.jpg','cropped-Matt_grad_family.jpg','','inherit','closed','open','','cropped-matt_grad_family-jpg','','','2011-10-04 17:21:48','2011-10-04 17:21:48','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-Matt_grad_family.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(52,2,'2011-10-04 01:08:22','2011-10-04 01:08:22','<ul>\r\n	<li><a title=\"True_to_His_Word_Bible_Study_Fellowship\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/True-His-Word-Story-Fellowship/dp/1606570897/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317690448&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">True to His Word: the story of Bible Study Fellowship</a>, Authentic Publishing, 2010</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Gifted_Hands_Ben_Carson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Hands-Kids-ZonderKidz-Biography/dp/0310719038/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317688939&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">Gifted Hands: the Ben Carson Story,</a> a children’s biography, Zonderkidz, 2009</li>\r\n	<li>Six books in the “Today’s Heroes” series, Zonderkidz, 2001 - 2002:</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Joni_Eareckson_Tada\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Joni-Eareckson-Tada-Gregg-Lewis/dp/031070300X/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-14\" target=\"_blank\">Joni Eareckson Tada</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Ben_Carson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Carson-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702984/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-3\" target=\"_blank\">Ben Carson</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"David_Robinson\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/David-Robinson-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702976/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">David Robinson</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Colin_Powell\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Colin-Powell-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310702992/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-4\" target=\"_blank\">Colin Powell</a>;</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Brother_Andrew\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Andrew-Gregg-Lewis/dp/0310703131/ref=sr_1_18?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-18\" target=\"_blank\">Brother Andrew</a>; and</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Dave_Dravecky\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Dave-Dravecky-Gregg-Lewis/dp/031070314X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-6\" target=\"_blank\">Dave Dravecky </a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Wonder-Motherhood-Intimate-Septuplets/dp/0785270485/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-12\" target=\"_blank\">Celebrating the Wonder of Motherhood</a>, Thomas Nelson, 1999</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Seven_From_Heaven_McCaughey\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Heaven-Miracle-McCaughey-Septuplets/dp/0785270493/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317690279&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">Seven from Heaven</a>, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998.</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-10\" target=\"_blank\">Stressbusters for Moms</a>, Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Mother_in_the_Middle_Charmaine_Yoest\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-7\" target=\"_blank\">Mother in the Middle</a>, Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.</li>\r\n	<li>Four books in the “Family Share Together” series by Zondervan Publishing House, 1994:</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_When_You_Were_Little\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Little-Family-Share-Together/dp/0310410711/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-15\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When You Were Little? </a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_When_Parents_Were_Children\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Parents-Children-Family-Together/dp/0310421012/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-16\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When Your Parents Were Children?</a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Grandparents_Were_Young\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Grandparents-Young-Family-Together/dp/0310421217/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-8\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…When Your Grandparents Were Young?</a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Family_Storytelling_How_Family_Got_Started\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Family-Started-Share-Together/dp/031042111X/ref=sr_1_17?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689865&amp;sr=1-17\" target=\"_blank\">Did I Ever Tell You About…How Our Family Got Started?</a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"When_You_Were_Baby\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Baby-Deborah-Lewis/dp/1561451029/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689061&amp;sr=1-5\" target=\"_blank\">When You Were A Baby</a>, Zondervan, 1991 &amp; Peachtree Publishers, 1995.</li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Motherhood_Stress\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317689768&amp;sr=1-13\" target=\"_blank\">Motherhood Stress</a>, Word Publishing, 1989 (HC) &amp; Zondervan Publishing, 1991 (PB)</li>\r\n</ul>','Debi\'s books','','inherit','open','open','','25-revision-3','','','2011-10-04 01:08:22','2011-10-04 01:08:22','',25,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=52',0,'revision','',0),(53,1,'2011-10-04 03:07:15','2011-10-04 03:07:15','A certain amount of novelty can be a plus on any job. Cuts down on boredom, stimulates creativity and productivity. But an excess of unpredictability creates tremendous stress.\r\n\r\nCould there be any job more unpredictable than motherhood?\r\n\r\nI remember the day I checked on 17 month old Matthew and found him playing happily on top of our old upright piano.  Just moments before, he\'d been happily marching around the kitchen and into the living room, down a short hall and back into the kitchen - round and round, in and out of the kitchen where I was fixing supper.\r\n\r\nNo mystery how he climbed onto the piano bench, or from the piano bench to the piano keys.  But how on earth did he scale the distance from the keys to the tops of that old piano?  And why?\r\n\r\nI could only thank God that I checked on him BEFORE he decided to take a head-first dive from that height!\r\n\r\nAnd then there was the evening I fixed everyone hot chocolate. I found three matching cups for our (then) four children.  The fourth cup was yellow, Benjamin\'s favorite color.  So I handed Benjamin his cocoa in his favorite color cup.  And he pitched a fit.  Went to bed without his treat, rather than drink hot cocoa from a yellow cup.\r\n\r\nSo much for a pleasant evening snack routine!\r\n\r\nMotherhood brought me much more joy than I ever thought possible - but more unpredictability, too.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n. . . from Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','You Never Know What Will Happen Next. . . ','','inherit','open','open','','38-revision-2','','','2011-10-04 03:07:15','2011-10-04 03:07:15','',38,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=53',0,'revision','',0),(54,2,'2011-11-01 03:27:12','2011-11-01 07:27:12','Stress is now being labeled as the \'<a title=\"Stress_Black_Death\" href=\"http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2045309/Stress-Top-cause-workplace-sickness-dubbed-Black-Death-21st-century.html\" target=\"_blank\">Black Death of the 21st century</a>,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reason for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already struggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I owed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"motherhood_stress_book\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317856568&amp;sr=1-2\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"motherhoodstress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a><em></em>','Motherhood Stress: Bad as the Black Death?','','publish','open','open','','motherhood-stress-as-bad-as-the-black-death','','','2011-11-05 16:56:09','2011-11-05 20:56:09','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=54',0,'post','',0),(55,2,'2011-10-05 03:26:15','2011-10-05 03:26:15','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reson for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\n\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\n\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\n\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn. What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already stuggling with motherhood stress!\n\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I woed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ult</em>','Motherhood Stress. . . as Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision','','','2011-10-05 03:26:15','2011-10-05 03:26:15','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=55',0,'revision','',0),(56,2,'2011-11-05 15:32:23','2011-11-05 19:32:23','Stress is now being labeled as the \'<a title=\"Stress_Black_Death\" href=\"http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2045309/Stress-Top-cause-workplace-sickness-dubbed-Black-Death-21st-century.html\" target=\"_blank\">Black Death of the 21st century</a>,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reason for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\n\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\n\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already struggling with motherhood stress!\n\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\n\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\n\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I owed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>\n\n<a title=\"motherhood_stress_book\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317856568&amp;sr=1-2\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"motherhoodstress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a><em></em>','Motherhood Stress: Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-autosave','','','2011-11-05 15:32:23','2011-11-05 19:32:23','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=56',0,'revision','',0),(57,2,'2011-10-05 12:41:52','2011-10-05 12:41:52','','The Lewis family in 1990','','inherit','open','open','','family_lewis_jon_baby','','','2011-10-05 12:41:52','2011-10-05 12:41:52','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/family_Lewis_Jon_baby1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(58,2,'2011-10-05 03:27:12','2011-10-05 03:27:12','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reson for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn. What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already stuggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I woed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>','Motherhood Stress. . . as Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-2','','','2011-10-05 03:27:12','2011-10-05 03:27:12','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=58',0,'revision','',0),(59,2,'2011-10-05 12:43:53','2011-10-05 12:43:53','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reson for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/family_Lewis_Jon_baby1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-57\" title=\"The Lewis family in 1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/family_Lewis_Jon_baby1-300x119.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"119\" /></a>\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn. What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already stuggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I woed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>','Motherhood Stress. . . as Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-3','','','2011-10-05 12:43:53','2011-10-05 12:43:53','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=59',0,'revision','',0),(60,2,'2011-10-05 12:44:49','2011-10-05 12:44:49','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reson for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/family_Lewis_Jon_baby1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-57\" title=\"The Lewis family in 1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/family_Lewis_Jon_baby1-300x119.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"119\" /></a>But, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn. What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already stuggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I woed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>','Motherhood Stress. . . as Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-4','','','2011-10-05 12:44:49','2011-10-05 12:44:49','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=60',0,'revision','',0),(61,2,'2011-10-05 12:50:27','2011-10-05 12:50:27','','The Lewis family in 1990','The Lewis family in 1990','inherit','open','open','','family_pic_1990','','','2011-10-05 12:50:27','2011-10-05 12:50:27','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(62,2,'2011-10-05 12:48:49','2011-10-05 12:48:49','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reson for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/family_Lewis_Jon_baby1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-57\" title=\"The Lewis family in 1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/family_Lewis_Jon_baby1-300x119.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"119\" /></a>But, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn. What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already stuggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I woed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>','Motherhood Stress. . . as Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-5','','','2011-10-05 12:48:49','2011-10-05 12:48:49','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=62',0,'revision','',0),(63,2,'2011-10-05 12:53:26','2011-10-05 12:53:26','','Motherhood Stress','Published in 1989 in hardback by Word Publishing. The paperback was published by Zondervan Publishing.','inherit','open','open','','motherhoodstress','','','2011-10-05 12:53:26','2011-10-05 12:53:26','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(64,2,'2011-10-05 12:51:53','2011-10-05 12:51:53','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reson for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already stuggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I woed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>','Motherhood Stress. . . as Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-6','','','2011-10-05 12:51:53','2011-10-05 12:51:53','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=64',0,'revision','',0),(65,2,'2011-10-04 15:01:43','2011-10-04 15:01:43','Born in Lexington, Kentucky, the fifth of seven children of Ruth and Charles Shaw, Deborah Shaw Lewis grew up in Georgia. She attended <a title=\"Asbury_University\" href=\"http://asbury.edu\" target=\"_blank\">Asbury College</a> where she met her husband <a title=\"Gregg_Lewis_books\" href=\"http://gregglewisbooks.com\" target=\"_blank\">Gregg</a>. She taught preschool, wrote preschool curriculum for <a title=\"David_C_Cook\" href=\"http://www.davidccook.com/\" target=\"_blank\">David C. Cook Publishing</a>, and directed a daycare center, Winkie Bear Child Development Center.\r\n\r\nTwo fertility specialists told Debi and Gregg that they would not be able to have children. Their first child Andrew (now 32) was declared a \"miracle.\" Then he was followed by <a title=\"Matthew_blog\" href=\"http://alethinologia.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matthew</a> (now 30 and married to <a title=\"Emily_Brown_Lewis_blog\" href=\"http://greensandjeans.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Emily Brown Lewis</a>), then Lisette (now 28), then Benjamin (now 27), then Jonathan (now 23 and married to Jessica Young Lewis).  They were ALL miracles.\r\n\r\nDebi earned her master\'s degree from the <a href=\"http://www.erikson.edu/\" target=\"_blank\">Erikson Institute</a> in Chicago. She is currently the director of <a title=\"PALS_at_Trinity\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/what-makes-pals-unique\" target=\"_blank\">PALS</a>, the mothers\' morning out program at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist__Church_Rome_Georgia\" href=\"http://trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Trinity United Methodist Church</a> in Rome, Georgia. She loves to speak to groups of mothers and to tell stories to young children.','About Debi','','inherit','open','open','','2-revision-7','','','2011-10-04 15:01:43','2011-10-04 15:01:43','',2,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=65',0,'revision','',0),(66,2,'2011-10-05 20:29:56','2011-10-05 20:29:56','','Worst advice','from Stressbusters for Moms, by Deborah Shaw Lewis','inherit','open','open','','worst-advice','','','2011-10-05 20:29:56','2011-10-05 20:29:56','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(67,2,'2011-10-05 20:29:06','2011-10-05 20:29:06','Don\'t you love the advice you get when you are a mother?  From relatives, aunts, uncles, mothers, cousins. . . from friends and neighbors. . . from strangers in the grocery store. . . from books, magazine and websites.  So many people feel free to give advice to mothers.\n\nOccasionally the advice is just what we need.  But so many times, the shoe just doesn\'t fit. Below is a selection','Worst Advice for Moms with Babies','','inherit','open','open','','34-revision','','','2011-10-05 20:29:06','2011-10-05 20:29:06','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=67',0,'revision','',0),(68,2,'2011-10-05 21:48:16','2011-10-05 21:48:16','','stressbusters cover','Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)','inherit','open','open','','stressbusters_cover','','','2011-10-05 21:48:16','2011-10-05 21:48:16','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(69,2,'2011-10-06 19:57:01','2011-10-06 19:57:01','Don\'t you love the advice you get when you are a mother?  From relatives, aunts, uncles, mothers, cousins . . .  from friends and neighbors . . .  from strangers in the grocery store. . .  from books, magazine and websites.  So many people feel free to give advice to mothers.\n\nOccasionally the advice is just what we need.  But so many times, the shoe just doesn\'t fit. Below is a selection of some of the worst advice given to mothers of babies.  I hope it gives you a chuckle.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_66\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"400\" caption=\"from Stressbusters for Moms, by Deborah Shaw Lewis\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-66\" title=\"Worst advice\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"604\" /></a>[/caption]\n<blockquote><strong>Worst Advice I Ever Heard ... on Babies</strong>\n\n\'You\'re going to starve that baby.\'\nThis from my mother every time she saw me breastfeed my baby.\n<em>R.F., mother of three, ages 17-months, 3 and soon to be newborn</em>.\n\n\'Just let her cry!\'\nMy daughter had newborn colic for several months. I discovered that both she and I were if I held her.\n<em>J.T., mother of two grown children, two grandchildren.</em>\n\n\'Don\'t let your baby suck his thumb!\'\nRidiculous! Thumb-suckers are usually happy babies.\n<em>C.N., mother of two, ages 13, 15.</em>\n\n\'Make them walk early.\'\nThis friend has always had ways to force children to learn to walk. My children walked when they were ready. And it was <em>not</em> an indication of their intelligence!\n<em>K.V., mother of two, 2,5</em>\n\n\'You play with your baby too much.\'\nThis is <em>not</em> possible.\n<em>L.S., mother of four, 8, 10, 14, 16</em></blockquote>\n<a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317851357&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>','Worst Advice for Moms with Babies','','inherit','open','open','','34-autosave','','','2011-10-06 19:57:01','2011-10-06 19:57:01','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=69',0,'revision','',0),(70,2,'2011-10-05 20:30:40','2011-10-05 20:30:40','Don\'t you love the advice you get when you are a mother?  From relatives, aunts, uncles, mothers, cousins. . . from friends and neighbors. . . from strangers in the grocery store. . . from books, magazine and websites.  So many people feel free to give advice to mothers.\r\n\r\nOccasionally the advice is just what we need.  But so many times, the shoe just doesn\'t fit. Below is a selection of some of the worst advice given to mothers of babies.  I hope it gives you a chuckle.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_66\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"400\" caption=\"from Stressbusters for Moms, by Deborah Shaw Lewis\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-66\" title=\"Worst advice\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"604\" /></a>[/caption]','Worst Advice for Moms with Babies','','inherit','open','open','','34-revision-2','','','2011-10-05 20:30:40','2011-10-05 20:30:40','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=70',0,'revision','',0),(71,2,'2011-10-05 12:54:42','2011-10-05 12:54:42','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reson for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already stuggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I woed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"motherhoodstress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a><em></em>','Motherhood Stress. . . as Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-7','','','2011-10-05 12:54:42','2011-10-05 12:54:42','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=71',0,'revision','',0),(72,2,'2011-10-05 23:19:13','2011-10-05 23:19:13','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reason for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already stuggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I woed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"motherhood_stress_book\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317856568&amp;sr=1-2\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"motherhoodstress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a><em></em>','Motherhood Stress. . . as Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-8','','','2011-10-05 23:19:13','2011-10-05 23:19:13','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=72',0,'revision','',0),(73,2,'2011-10-05 21:49:59','2011-10-05 21:49:59','Don\'t you love the advice you get when you are a mother?  From relatives, aunts, uncles, mothers, cousins. . . from friends and neighbors. . . from strangers in the grocery store. . . from books, magazine and websites.  So many people feel free to give advice to mothers.\r\n\r\nOccasionally the advice is just what we need.  But so many times, the shoe just doesn\'t fit. Below is a selection of some of the worst advice given to mothers of babies.  I hope it gives you a chuckle.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_66\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"400\" caption=\"from Stressbusters for Moms, by Deborah Shaw Lewis\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-66\" title=\"Worst advice\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"604\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317851357&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>','Worst Advice for Moms with Babies','','inherit','open','open','','34-revision-3','','','2011-10-05 21:49:59','2011-10-05 21:49:59','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=73',0,'revision','',0),(74,2,'2011-10-05 23:20:56','2011-10-05 23:20:56','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reason for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already stuggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I owed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"motherhood_stress_book\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317856568&amp;sr=1-2\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"motherhoodstress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a><em></em>','Motherhood Stress. . . as Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-9','','','2011-10-05 23:20:56','2011-10-05 23:20:56','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=74',0,'revision','',0),(75,1,'2011-10-06 00:48:46','2011-10-06 00:48:46','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reason for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already stuggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I owed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"motherhood_stress_book\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317856568&amp;sr=1-2\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"motherhoodstress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a><em></em>','Motherhood Stress: as Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-10','','','2011-10-06 00:48:46','2011-10-06 00:48:46','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=75',0,'revision','',0),(76,1,'2011-10-04 04:08:30','2011-10-04 04:08:30','Andrew, our first child, was 6 months old and he was crying, and crying and crying. Usually a happy baby, we knew something was wrong. At home, we would have taken him to his pediatrician.  But we weren\'t at home.  We were in a hotel, a nice hotel, in a resort area, on a beautiful lake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_42\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"242\" caption=\"Andrew when he was a year old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-42\" title=\"Andrew _ one_year_old\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old-242x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"242\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis was supposed to be an fun, family outing for Andrew and me, a family outing mixed with business for my husband.  We hadn\'t planned on mixing misery in with our fun.\r\n\r\nBut Andrew was miserable, and consequently, so were we.  And probably too, all those poor folks who had also come to that lovely hotel for a pleasant weekend.  And were instead also listening to - not as closely as Gregg and I were, but hearing none the less - a baby scream.\r\n\r\nOne of the most unpleasant sounds in the world is the sound of a baby crying.  Normal adult instincts demand that you do something, anything to keep a baby from crying.\r\n\r\nGregg and I may have been closer to that unpleasant sound, but we were also able to do something.  We were rocking, patting, singing, nursing, rubbing his tummy.  The other poor people being subjected to the noise could not see our efforts, didn\'t know if we were even really trying to help.  Maybe someone thought we had abandoned our baby.  Maybe someone thought we were sleeping through the din.\r\n\r\nAt some point, after 11 p.m., we took Andrew for a drive, hoping the car ride would put him to sleep.  It didn\'t.\r\n\r\nSo, back to the hotel and our bed.  But with no more success in calming our precious baby than before.\r\n\r\nFinally, around 1 a.m., the phone rang. The hotel desk informed us that people were complaining about the crying baby.  Gregg and I looked at each other.  We were doing all we could think to do. We weren\'t even angry with the people who complained.  They didn\'t know how hard we were trying to quiet our baby.\r\n\r\nBy two o\'clock, Andrew had screamed himself to sleep.  And we were all able at last to sleep. By the next morning, Andrew was our happy, cheerful baby again.  We were never sure exactly what was wrong with him that night.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_45\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-45\" title=\"Andrew and Jonathan graduate from Asbury University\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo, if you were in that hotel, back in the Spring of 1980, at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, and remember being kept awake by a screaming baby, please accept our apology for your disturbed sleep. We really were doing all we could do to quiet our crying child.','Crying Baby at a Hotel . . . What do you do?','','inherit','open','open','','40-revision-3','','','2011-10-04 04:08:30','2011-10-04 04:08:30','',40,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=76',0,'revision','',0),(77,1,'2011-10-06 00:51:09','2011-10-06 00:51:09','Andrew, our first child, was 6 months old and he was crying, and crying and crying. Usually a happy baby, we knew something was wrong. At home, we would have taken him to his pediatrician.  But we weren\'t at home.  We were in a hotel, a nice hotel, in a resort area, on a beautiful lake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_42\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"242\" caption=\"Andrew when he was a year old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-42\" title=\"Andrew _ one_year_old\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old-242x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"242\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis was supposed to be an fun, family outing for Andrew and me, a family outing mixed with business for my husband.  We hadn\'t planned on mixing misery in with our fun.\r\n\r\nBut Andrew was miserable, and consequently, so were we.  And probably too, all those poor folks who had also come to that lovely hotel for a pleasant weekend.  And were instead also listening to - not as closely as Gregg and I were, but hearing none the less - a baby scream.\r\n\r\nOne of the most unpleasant sounds in the world is the sound of a baby crying.  Normal adult instincts demand that you do something, anything to keep a baby from crying.\r\n\r\nGregg and I may have been closer to that unpleasant sound, but we were also able to do something.  We were rocking, patting, singing, nursing, rubbing his tummy.  The other poor people being subjected to the noise could not see our efforts, didn\'t know if we were even really trying to help.  Maybe someone thought we had abandoned our baby.  Maybe someone thought we were sleeping through the din.\r\n\r\nAt some point, after 11 p.m., we took Andrew for a drive, hoping the car ride would put him to sleep.  It didn\'t.\r\n\r\nSo, back to the hotel and our bed.  But with no more success in calming our precious baby than before.\r\n\r\nFinally, around 1 a.m., the phone rang. The hotel desk informed us that people were complaining about the crying baby.  Gregg and I looked at each other.  We were doing all we could think to do. We weren\'t even angry with the people who complained.  They didn\'t know how hard we were trying to quiet our baby.\r\n\r\nBy two o\'clock, Andrew had screamed himself to sleep.  And we were all able at last to sleep. By the next morning, Andrew was our happy, cheerful baby again.  We were never sure exactly what was wrong with him that night.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_45\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-45\" title=\"Andrew and Jonathan graduate from Asbury University\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo, if you were in that hotel, back in the Spring of 1980, at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, and remember being kept awake by a screaming baby, please accept our apology for your disturbed sleep. We really were doing all we could do to quiet our crying child.','Crying Baby at a Hotel: What do you do?','','inherit','open','open','','40-revision-4','','','2011-10-06 00:51:09','2011-10-06 00:51:09','',40,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=77',0,'revision','',0),(104,2,'2011-10-06 02:32:17','2011-10-06 02:32:17','A certain amount of novelty can be a plus on any job. Cuts down on boredom, stimulates creativity and productivity. But an excess of unpredictability creates tremendous stress.\r\n\r\nCould there be any job more unpredictable than motherhood?\r\n\r\nI remember the day I checked on 17 month old Matthew and found him playing happily on top of our old upright piano.  Just moments before, he\'d been happily marching around the kitchen and into the living room, down a short hall and back into the kitchen - round and round, in and out of the kitchen where I was fixing supper.\r\n\r\nNo mystery how he climbed onto the piano bench, or from the piano bench to the piano keys.  But how on earth did he scale the distance from the keys to the tops of that old piano?  And why?\r\n\r\nI could only thank God that I checked on him BEFORE he decided to take a head-first dive from that height!\r\n\r\nAnd then there was the evening I fixed everyone hot chocolate. I found three matching cups for our (then) four children.  The fourth cup was yellow, Benjamin\'s favorite color.  So I handed Benjamin his cocoa in his favorite color cup.  And he pitched a fit.  Went to bed without his treat, rather than drink hot cocoa from a yellow cup.\r\n\r\nSo much for a pleasant evening snack routine!\r\n\r\nMotherhood brought me much more joy than I ever thought possible - but more unpredictability, too.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n. . . from Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','You Never Know What Will Happen Next. . . ','','inherit','open','open','','38-revision-4','','','2011-10-06 02:32:17','2011-10-06 02:32:17','',38,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=104',0,'revision','',0),(78,1,'2011-10-06 00:47:22','2011-10-06 00:47:22','Don\'t you love the advice you get when you are a mother?  From relatives, aunts, uncles, mothers, cousins. . .  from friends and neighbors. . .  from strangers in the grocery store. . .  from books, magazine and websites.  So many people feel free to give advice to mothers.\r\n\r\nOccasionally the advice is just what we need.  But so many times, the shoe just doesn\'t fit. Below is a selection of some of the worst advice given to mothers of babies.  I hope it gives you a chuckle.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_66\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"400\" caption=\"from Stressbusters for Moms, by Deborah Shaw Lewis\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-66\" title=\"Worst advice\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"604\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317851357&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>','Worst Advice for Moms with Babies','','inherit','open','open','','34-revision-4','','','2011-10-06 00:47:22','2011-10-06 00:47:22','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=78',0,'revision','',0),(79,1,'2011-10-06 00:50:11','2011-10-06 00:50:11','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reason for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already stuggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I owed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"motherhood_stress_book\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317856568&amp;sr=1-2\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"motherhoodstress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a><em></em>','Motherhood Stress: as Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-11','','','2011-10-06 00:50:11','2011-10-06 00:50:11','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=79',0,'revision','',0),(80,1,'2011-10-06 00:54:56','2011-10-06 00:54:56','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reason for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already stuggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I owed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"motherhood_stress_book\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317856568&amp;sr=1-2\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"motherhoodstress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a><em></em>','Motherhood Stress: Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-12','','','2011-10-06 00:54:56','2011-10-06 00:54:56','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=80',0,'revision','',0),(511,2,'2011-11-05 14:43:26','2011-11-05 18:43:26','<a title=\"Dentist_buys_back_Halloween_candy\" href=\"http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20111023/NEWS01/110230301/-1/7daysarchives/Dentist-buy-back-Halloween-candy\" target=\"_blank\">A dentist in the Nashville, Tennessee area </a>is offering money in exchange for Halloween candy. His purpose, of course, is to reduce the sugar children consume, and improve their dental health. And, probably, gain new patients.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_319\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My niece Amanda as a clown\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Amanda_halloween.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-319 \" title=\"Amanda_halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Amanda_halloween-300x235.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"235\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFor parents who do not live near Nashville, what should you do to limit the candy your child eats at Halloween.\r\n\r\n* Have a favorite meal for an early supper, before trick-or-treating.\r\n* Give out non-candy items - spider rings, pencils, fake tattoos, stick on gems, crayons, erasers, etc.\r\n* Host a Halloween party, shifting the focus onto games and fun, rather than just acquiring candy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_161\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"243\" caption=\"Benjamin at age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_21.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-161\" title=\"Benj_halloween_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_21-243x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n* Go to a Trunk or Treat event, where your child will play games and socialize, in addition to trick-or-treat. More and more churches host these, providing games and food, in addition to a limited arena for getting candy.\r\n\r\n* Set your rules about the candy: when it can be eaten (after a meal) and how many pieces.\r\n\r\n* Set a limit on how long you\'ll keep the left-over candy. Plan to give it away or throw it away after 2 or 3 days.  Perhaps you know a teacher who would love to have candy to give out as rewards to her students.\r\n\r\n* Relax and enjoy the holiday and do not stress out too much over your child\'s sugar intake.','Dentist Buys Candy from Trick-or-Treaters','','inherit','open','open','','317-revision-6','','','2011-11-05 14:43:26','2011-11-05 18:43:26','',317,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/317-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(82,1,'2011-10-06 00:53:13','2011-10-06 00:53:13','Don\'t you love the advice you get when you are a mother?  From relatives, aunts, uncles, mothers, cousins . . .  from friends and neighbors . . .  from strangers in the grocery store. . .  from books, magazine and websites.  So many people feel free to give advice to mothers.\r\n\r\nOccasionally the advice is just what we need.  But so many times, the shoe just doesn\'t fit. Below is a selection of some of the worst advice given to mothers of babies.  I hope it gives you a chuckle.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_66\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"400\" caption=\"from Stressbusters for Moms, by Deborah Shaw Lewis\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-66\" title=\"Worst advice\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"604\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317851357&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>','Worst Advice for Moms with Babies','','inherit','open','open','','34-revision-5','','','2011-10-06 00:53:13','2011-10-06 00:53:13','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=82',0,'revision','',0),(83,1,'2011-10-06 00:57:34','2011-10-06 00:57:34','Don\'t you love the advice you get when you are a mother?  From relatives, aunts, uncles, mothers, cousins . . .  from friends and neighbors . . .  from strangers in the grocery store. . .  from books, magazine and websites.  So many people feel free to give advice to mothers.\r\n\r\nOccasionally the advice is just what we need.  But so many times, the shoe just doesn\'t fit. Below is a selection of some of the worst advice given to mothers of babies.  I hope it gives you a chuckle.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_66\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"400\" caption=\"from Stressbusters for Moms, by Deborah Shaw Lewis\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-66\" title=\"Worst advice\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"604\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317851357&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>','Worst Advice for Moms with Babies','','inherit','open','open','','34-revision-6','','','2011-10-06 00:57:34','2011-10-06 00:57:34','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=83',0,'revision','',0),(84,1,'2011-10-06 01:04:19','2011-10-06 01:04:19','Don\'t you love the advice you get when you are a mother?  From relatives, aunts, uncles, mothers, cousins . . .  from friends and neighbors . . .  from strangers in the grocery store. . .  from books, magazine and websites.  So many people feel free to give advice to mothers.\r\n\r\nOccasionally the advice is just what we need.  But so many times, the shoe just doesn\'t fit. Below is a selection of some of the worst advice given to mothers of babies.  I hope it gives you a chuckle.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_66\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"400\" caption=\"from Stressbusters for Moms, by Deborah Shaw Lewis\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-66\" title=\"Worst advice\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"604\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<strong>Worst Advice I Ever Heard ... on Babies</strong>\r\n\r\n\'You\'re going to starve that baby.\'\r\nThis from my mother every time she saw me breastfeed my baby.\r\n<em>R.F., mother of three, ages 17-months, 3 and soon to be newborn</em>.\r\n\r\n\'Just let her cry!\'\r\nMy daughter had newborn colic for several months. I discovered that both she and I were if I held her.\r\n<em>J.T., mother of two grown children, two grandchildren.</em>\r\n\r\n\'Don\'t let your baby suck his thumb!\'\r\nRidiculous! Thumb-suckers are usually happy babies.\r\n<em>C.N., mother of two, ages 13, 15.</em></blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317851357&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>','Worst Advice for Moms with Babies','','inherit','open','open','','34-revision-7','','','2011-10-06 01:04:19','2011-10-06 01:04:19','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=84',0,'revision','',0),(85,1,'2011-10-06 01:05:33','2011-10-06 01:05:33','Don\'t you love the advice you get when you are a mother?  From relatives, aunts, uncles, mothers, cousins . . .  from friends and neighbors . . .  from strangers in the grocery store. . .  from books, magazine and websites.  So many people feel free to give advice to mothers.\r\n\r\nOccasionally the advice is just what we need.  But so many times, the shoe just doesn\'t fit. Below is a selection of some of the worst advice given to mothers of babies.  I hope it gives you a chuckle.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_66\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"400\" caption=\"from Stressbusters for Moms, by Deborah Shaw Lewis\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-66\" title=\"Worst advice\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"604\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<strong>Worst Advice I Ever Heard ... on Babies</strong>\r\n\r\n\'You\'re going to starve that baby.\'\r\nThis from my mother every time she saw me breastfeed my baby.\r\n<em>R.F., mother of three, ages 17-months, 3 and soon to be newborn</em>.\r\n\r\n\'Just let her cry!\'\r\nMy daughter had newborn colic for several months. I discovered that both she and I were if I held her.\r\n<em>J.T., mother of two grown children, two grandchildren.</em>\r\n\r\n\'Don\'t let your baby suck his thumb!\'\r\nRidiculous! Thumb-suckers are usually happy babies.\r\n<em>C.N., mother of two, ages 13, 15.</em></blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317851357&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n','Worst Advice for Moms with Babies','','inherit','open','open','','34-revision-8','','','2011-10-06 01:05:33','2011-10-06 01:05:33','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=85',0,'revision','',0),(86,1,'2011-10-06 01:10:35','2011-10-06 01:10:35','Don\'t you love the advice you get when you are a mother?  From relatives, aunts, uncles, mothers, cousins . . .  from friends and neighbors . . .  from strangers in the grocery store. . .  from books, magazine and websites.  So many people feel free to give advice to mothers.\r\n\r\nOccasionally the advice is just what we need.  But so many times, the shoe just doesn\'t fit. Below is a selection of some of the worst advice given to mothers of babies.  I hope it gives you a chuckle.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_66\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"400\" caption=\"from Stressbusters for Moms, by Deborah Shaw Lewis\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-66\" title=\"Worst advice\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"604\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<strong>Worst Advice I Ever Heard ... on Babies</strong>\r\n\r\n\'You\'re going to starve that baby.\'\r\nThis from my mother every time she saw me breastfeed my baby.\r\n<em>R.F., mother of three, ages 17-months, 3 and soon to be newborn</em>.\r\n\r\n\'Just let her cry!\'\r\nMy daughter had newborn colic for several months. I discovered that both she and I were if I held her.\r\n<em>J.T., mother of two grown children, two grandchildren.</em>\r\n\r\n\'Don\'t let your baby suck his thumb!\'\r\nRidiculous! Thumb-suckers are usually happy babies.\r\n<em>C.N., mother of two, ages 13, 15.</em>\r\n\r\n\'Make them walk early.\'\r\nThis friend has always had ways to force children to learn to walk. My children walked when they were ready. And it was <em>not</em> an indication of their intelligence!\r\n<em>K.V., mother of two, 2,5</em>\r\n\r\n\'You play with your baby too much.\'\r\nThis is <em>not</em> possible.\r\n<em>L.S., mother of four, 8, 10, 14, 16</em>\r\n\r\n</blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317851357&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n','Worst Advice for Moms with Babies','','inherit','open','open','','34-revision-9','','','2011-10-06 01:10:35','2011-10-06 01:10:35','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=86',0,'revision','',0),(87,2,'2011-10-06 02:04:14','2011-10-06 02:04:14','<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I LOVE telling my children stories about themselves. And they loved to hear those stories where they were the stars. Some of our best times when my children were little were the evenings when I told them stories about themselves.<a title=\"When You Were Little\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Little-Family-Share-Together/dp/0310410711/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317894145&amp;sr=8-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-96\" title=\"When_You_Were_Little_Cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_You_Were_Little_Cover1-300x252.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"252\" /></a><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_You_Were_Little_Cover.jpg\">\r\n</a></p>\r\nIn our book <em>Did I Ever Tell You About When You Were Little</em>, we gave this advice:\r\n\r\nTell your child about a day when he was little that didn\'t turn out the way you expected it to.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>What did you have planned for that day?</li>\r\n	<li>How did your plans begin to go wrong?</li>\r\n	<li>What other people were there?</li>\r\n	<li>What did your child do either to help or hinder your plans?</li>\r\n	<li>Describe the rest of the day.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_92\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"When You Were Little page 64\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_pg_64.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-92\" title=\"When_Little_pg_64\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_pg_64-300x261.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"261\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_93\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"When You Were Little page 65\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_page_64.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-93\" title=\"When_Little_page_64\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_page_64-300x262.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"262\" /></a>[/caption]</li>\r\n</ul>','Telling Stories About My Children','','publish','open','open','','telling-stories-about-my-children','','','2011-10-06 09:43:24','2011-10-06 09:43:24','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=87',0,'post','',0),(88,2,'2011-10-06 01:23:41','2011-10-06 01:23:41','I LOVE telling my children stories about themselves. And they loved to hear those stories where they were the stars.','Telling Stories About My Children','','inherit','open','open','','87-revision','','','2011-10-06 01:23:41','2011-10-06 01:23:41','',87,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=88',0,'revision','',0),(89,2,'2011-10-06 01:25:22','2011-10-06 01:25:22','I LOVE telling my children stories about themselves. And they loved to hear those stories where they were the stars. Some of our best times when my children were little were the evenings','Telling Stories About My Children','','inherit','open','open','','87-revision-2','','','2011-10-06 01:25:22','2011-10-06 01:25:22','',87,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=89',0,'revision','',0),(205,2,'2011-10-13 11:44:29','2011-10-13 11:44:29','','DADD','Don\'t you LOVE it!?!','inherit','open','open','','dadd','','','2011-10-13 11:44:29','2011-10-13 11:44:29','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DADD.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(92,2,'2011-10-06 01:59:42','2011-10-06 01:59:42','','When_Little_pg_64','When You Were Little page 64','inherit','open','open','','when_little_pg_64','','','2011-10-06 01:59:42','2011-10-06 01:59:42','',87,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_pg_64.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(93,2,'2011-10-06 02:01:13','2011-10-06 02:01:13','','When_Little_page_64','When You Were Little page 65','inherit','open','open','','when_little_page_64','','','2011-10-06 02:01:13','2011-10-06 02:01:13','',87,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_page_64.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(94,2,'2011-10-06 02:03:00','2011-10-06 02:03:00','','When_You_Were_Little_Cover','','inherit','open','open','','when_you_were_little_cover','','','2011-10-06 02:03:00','2011-10-06 02:03:00','',87,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_You_Were_Little_Cover.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(95,2,'2011-10-06 02:03:36','2011-10-06 02:03:36','I LOVE telling my children stories about themselves. And they loved to hear those stories where they were the stars. Some of our best times when my children were little were the evenings when I told them stories about themselves.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_You_Were_Little_Cover.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-94\" title=\"When_You_Were_Little_Cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_You_Were_Little_Cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"420\" /></a>\n\nIn our book <em>Did I Ever Tell You About When You Were Little</em>, we gave this advice:\n\nTell your child about a day when he was little that didn\'t turn out the way you expected it to.\n<ul>\n	<li>What did you have planned for that day?</li>\n	<li>How did your plans begin to go wrong?</li>\n	<li>What other people were there?</li>\n	<li>What did your child do either to help or hinder your plans?</li>\n	<li>Describe the rest of the day.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_92\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"When You Were Little page 64\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_pg_64.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-92\" title=\"When_Little_pg_64\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_pg_64-300x261.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"261\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_93\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"When You Were Little page 65\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_page_64.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-93\" title=\"When_Little_page_64\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_page_64-300x262.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"262\" /></a>[/caption]</li>\n</ul>','Telling Stories About My Children','','inherit','open','open','','87-revision-3','','','2011-10-06 02:03:36','2011-10-06 02:03:36','',87,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=95',0,'revision','',0),(96,2,'2011-10-06 02:05:22','2011-10-06 02:05:22','','When_You_Were_Little_Cover','','inherit','open','open','','when_you_were_little_cover-2','','','2011-10-06 02:05:22','2011-10-06 02:05:22','',87,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_You_Were_Little_Cover1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(97,2,'2011-10-06 09:44:35','2011-10-06 09:44:35','<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I LOVE telling my children stories about themselves. And they loved to hear those stories where they were the stars. Some of our best times when my children were little were the evenings when I told them stories about themselves.<a title=\"When You Were Little\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/About-Little-Family-Share-Together/dp/0310410711/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317894145&amp;sr=8-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-96\" title=\"When_You_Were_Little_Cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_You_Were_Little_Cover1-300x252.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"252\" /></a><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_You_Were_Little_Cover.jpg\">\n</a></p>\nIn our book <em>Did I Ever Tell You About When You Were Little</em>, we gave this advice:\n\nTell your child about a day when he was little that didn\'t turn out the way you expected it to.\n<ul>\n	<li>What did you have planned for that day?</li>\n	<li>How did your plans begin to go wrong?</li>\n	<li>What other people were there?</li>\n	<li>What did your child do either to help or hinder your plans?</li>\n	<li>Describe the rest of the day.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_92\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"When You Were Little page 64\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_pg_64.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-92\" title=\"When_Little_pg_64\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_pg_64-300x261.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"261\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_93\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"When You Were Little page 65\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_page_64.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-93\" title=\"When_Little_page_64\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_page_64-300x262.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"262\" /></a>[/caption]</li>\n</ul>','Telling Stories About My Children','','inherit','open','open','','87-autosave','','','2011-10-06 09:44:35','2011-10-06 09:44:35','',87,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=97',0,'revision','',0),(98,2,'2011-10-06 02:04:14','2011-10-06 02:04:14','<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I LOVE telling my children stories about themselves. And they loved to hear those stories where they were the stars. Some of our best times when my children were little were the evenings when I told them stories about themselves.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_You_Were_Little_Cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-94 aligncenter\" title=\"When_You_Were_Little_Cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_You_Were_Little_Cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"399\" height=\"336\" /></a></p>\r\nIn our book <em>Did I Ever Tell You About When You Were Little</em>, we gave this advice:\r\n\r\nTell your child about a day when he was little that didn\'t turn out the way you expected it to.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>What did you have planned for that day?</li>\r\n	<li>How did your plans begin to go wrong?</li>\r\n	<li>What other people were there?</li>\r\n	<li>What did your child do either to help or hinder your plans?</li>\r\n	<li>Describe the rest of the day.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_92\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"When You Were Little page 64\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_pg_64.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-92\" title=\"When_Little_pg_64\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_pg_64-300x261.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"261\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_93\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"When You Were Little page 65\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_page_64.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-93\" title=\"When_Little_page_64\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_page_64-300x262.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"262\" /></a>[/caption]</li>\r\n</ul>','Telling Stories About My Children','','inherit','open','open','','87-revision-4','','','2011-10-06 02:04:14','2011-10-06 02:04:14','',87,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=98',0,'revision','',0),(99,2,'2011-10-06 01:11:08','2011-10-06 01:11:08','Don\'t you love the advice you get when you are a mother?  From relatives, aunts, uncles, mothers, cousins . . .  from friends and neighbors . . .  from strangers in the grocery store. . .  from books, magazine and websites.  So many people feel free to give advice to mothers.\r\n\r\nOccasionally the advice is just what we need.  But so many times, the shoe just doesn\'t fit. Below is a selection of some of the worst advice given to mothers of babies.  I hope it gives you a chuckle.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_66\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"400\" caption=\"from Stressbusters for Moms, by Deborah Shaw Lewis\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-66\" title=\"Worst advice\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"604\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<strong>Worst Advice I Ever Heard ... on Babies</strong>\r\n\r\n\'You\'re going to starve that baby.\'\r\nThis from my mother every time she saw me breastfeed my baby.\r\n<em>R.F., mother of three, ages 17-months, 3 and soon to be newborn</em>.\r\n\r\n\'Just let her cry!\'\r\nMy daughter had newborn colic for several months. I discovered that both she and I were if I held her.\r\n<em>J.T., mother of two grown children, two grandchildren.</em>\r\n\r\n\'Don\'t let your baby suck his thumb!\'\r\nRidiculous! Thumb-suckers are usually happy babies.\r\n<em>C.N., mother of two, ages 13, 15.</em>\r\n\r\n\'Make them walk early.\'\r\nThis friend has always had ways to force children to learn to walk. My children walked when they were ready. And it was <em>not</em> an indication of their intelligence!\r\n<em>K.V., mother of two, 2,5</em>\r\n\r\n\'You play with your baby too much.\'\r\nThis is <em>not</em> possible.\r\n<em>L.S., mother of four, 8, 10, 14, 16</em>\r\n\r\n</blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317851357&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n','Worst Advice for Moms with Babies','','inherit','open','open','','34-revision-10','','','2011-10-06 01:11:08','2011-10-06 01:11:08','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=99',0,'revision','',0),(100,2,'2011-10-06 00:55:17','2011-10-06 00:55:17','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reason for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already struggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I owed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"motherhood_stress_book\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317856568&amp;sr=1-2\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"motherhoodstress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a><em></em>','Motherhood Stress: Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-13','','','2011-10-06 00:55:17','2011-10-06 00:55:17','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=100',0,'revision','',0),(101,2,'2011-10-06 02:09:35','2011-10-06 02:09:35','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reason for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already struggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I owed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"motherhood_stress_book\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317856568&amp;sr=1-2\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"motherhoodstress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a><em></em>','Motherhood Stress: Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-14','','','2011-10-06 02:09:35','2011-10-06 02:09:35','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=101',0,'revision','',0),(102,2,'2011-10-06 00:51:40','2011-10-06 00:51:40','Andrew, our first child, was 6 months old and he was crying, and crying and crying. Usually a happy baby, we knew something was wrong. At home, we would have taken him to his pediatrician.  But we weren\'t at home.  We were in a hotel, a nice hotel, in a resort area, on a beautiful lake.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_42\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"242\" caption=\"Andrew when he was a year old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-42\" title=\"Andrew _ one_year_old\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-1-year-old-242x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"242\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis was supposed to be an fun, family outing for Andrew and me, a family outing mixed with business for my husband.  We hadn\'t planned on mixing misery in with our fun.\r\n\r\nBut Andrew was miserable, and consequently, so were we.  And probably too, all those poor folks who had also come to that lovely hotel for a pleasant weekend.  And were instead also listening to - not as closely as Gregg and I were, but hearing none the less - a baby scream.\r\n\r\nOne of the most unpleasant sounds in the world is the sound of a baby crying.  Normal adult instincts demand that you do something, anything to keep a baby from crying.\r\n\r\nGregg and I may have been closer to that unpleasant sound, but we were also able to do something.  We were rocking, patting, singing, nursing, rubbing his tummy.  The other poor people being subjected to the noise could not see our efforts, didn\'t know if we were even really trying to help.  Maybe someone thought we had abandoned our baby.  Maybe someone thought we were sleeping through the din.\r\n\r\nAt some point, after 11 p.m., we took Andrew for a drive, hoping the car ride would put him to sleep.  It didn\'t.\r\n\r\nSo, back to the hotel and our bed.  But with no more success in calming our precious baby than before.\r\n\r\nFinally, around 1 a.m., the phone rang. The hotel desk informed us that people were complaining about the crying baby.  Gregg and I looked at each other.  We were doing all we could think to do. We weren\'t even angry with the people who complained.  They didn\'t know how hard we were trying to quiet our baby.\r\n\r\nBy two o\'clock, Andrew had screamed himself to sleep.  And we were all able at last to sleep. By the next morning, Andrew was our happy, cheerful baby again.  We were never sure exactly what was wrong with him that night.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_45\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-45\" title=\"Andrew and Jonathan graduate from Asbury University\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo, if you were in that hotel, back in the Spring of 1980, at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, and remember being kept awake by a screaming baby, please accept our apology for your disturbed sleep. We really were doing all we could do to quiet our crying child.','Crying Baby at a Hotel: What do you do?','','inherit','open','open','','40-revision-5','','','2011-10-06 00:51:40','2011-10-06 00:51:40','',40,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=102',0,'revision','',0),(103,2,'2011-10-04 19:47:54','2011-10-04 19:47:54','A certain amount of novelty can be a plus on any job. Cuts down on boredom, stimulates creativity and productivity. But an excess of unpredictability creates tremendous stress.\r\n\r\nCould there be any job more unpredictable than motherhood?\r\n\r\nI remember the day I checked on 17 month old Matthew and found him playing happily on top of our old upright piano.  Just moments before, he\'d been happily marching around the kitchen and into the living room, down a short hall and back into the kitchen - round and round, in and out of the kitchen where I was fixing supper.\r\n\r\nNo mystery how he climbed onto the piano bench, or from the piano bench to the piano keys.  But how on earth did he scale the distance from the keys to the tops of that old piano?  And why?\r\n\r\nI could only thank God that I checked on him BEFORE he decided to take a head-first dive from that height!\r\n\r\nAnd then there was the evening I fixed everyone hot chocolate. I found three matching cups for our (then) four children.  The fourth cup was yellow, Benjamin\'s favorite color.  So I handed Benjamin his cocoa in his favorite color cup.  And he pitched a fit.  Went to bed without his treat, rather than drink hot cocoa from a yellow cup.\r\n\r\nSo much for a pleasant evening snack routine!\r\n\r\nMotherhood brought me much more joy than I ever thought possible - but more unpredictability, too.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n. . . from Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','You Never Know What Will Happen Next. . . ','','inherit','open','open','','38-revision-3','','','2011-10-04 19:47:54','2011-10-04 19:47:54','',38,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=103',0,'revision','',0),(107,2,'2011-10-03 02:01:33','2011-10-03 02:01:33','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/?attachment_id=10\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>A parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-10','','','2011-10-03 02:01:33','2011-10-03 02:01:33','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=107',0,'revision','',0),(105,2,'2011-11-05 22:22:48','2011-11-06 02:22:48','A certain amount of novelty can be a plus on any job. Cuts down on boredom, stimulates creativity and productivity. But an excess of unpredictability creates tremendous stress.\n\nCould there be any job more unpredictable than motherhood?\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_528\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Matthew at age 2, playing in the sprinkler\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSprinkler.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-528 \" title=\"MattSprinkler\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSprinkler-296x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"198\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI remember the day I checked on 17 month old Matthew and found him playing happily on top of our old upright piano.  Just moments before, he\'d been happily marching around the kitchen and into the living room, down a short hall and back into the kitchen - round and round, in and out of the kitchen where I was fixing supper.\n\nNo mystery how he climbed onto the piano bench, or from the piano bench to the piano keys.  But how on earth did he scale the distance from the keys to the tops of that old piano?  And why?\n\nI could only thank God that I checked on him BEFORE he decided to take a head-first dive from that height!\n\nAnd then there was the evening I fixed everyone hot chocolate. I found three matching cups for our (then) four children.  The fourth cup was yellow, Benjamin\'s favorite color.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_529\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Benjamin, age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-529\" title=\"Benj3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj3yr-209x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSo I handed Benjamin his cocoa in his favorite color cup.  And he pitched a fit.  Went to bed without his treat, rather than drink hot cocoa from a yellow cup.\n\nSo much for a pleasant evening snack routine!\n\nMotherhood brought me much more joy than I ever thought possible - but more unpredictability, too.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n. . . from <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','You Never Know What Will Happen Next. . . ','','inherit','open','open','','38-autosave','','','2011-11-05 22:22:48','2011-11-06 02:22:48','',38,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=105',0,'revision','',0),(106,2,'2011-10-06 02:33:10','2011-10-06 02:33:10','<p>A certain amount of novelty can be a plus on any job. Cuts down on boredom, stimulates creativity and productivity. But an excess of unpredictability creates tremendous stress.</p>\r\n<p>Could there be any job more unpredictable than motherhood?</p>\r\n<p>I remember the day I checked on 17 month old Matthew and found him playing happily on top of our old upright piano.  Just moments before, he\'d been happily marching around the kitchen and into the living room, down a short hall and back into the kitchen - round and round, in and out of the kitchen where I was fixing supper.</p>\r\n<p>No mystery how he climbed onto the piano bench, or from the piano bench to the piano keys.  But how on earth did he scale the distance from the keys to the tops of that old piano?  And why?</p>\r\n<p>I could only thank God that I checked on him BEFORE he decided to take a head-first dive from that height!</p>\r\n<p>And then there was the evening I fixed everyone hot chocolate. I found three matching cups for our (then) four children.  The fourth cup was yellow, Benjamin\'s favorite color.  So I handed Benjamin his cocoa in his favorite color cup.  And he pitched a fit.  Went to bed without his treat, rather than drink hot cocoa from a yellow cup.</p>\r\n<p>So much for a pleasant evening snack routine!</p>\r\n<p>Motherhood brought me much more joy than I ever thought possible - but more unpredictability, too.</p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>. . . from Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n','You Never Know What Will Happen Next. . . ','','inherit','open','open','','38-revision-5','','','2011-10-06 02:33:10','2011-10-06 02:33:10','',38,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=106',0,'revision','',0),(108,2,'2011-10-06 02:36:01','2011-10-06 02:36:01','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/?attachment_id=10\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>A parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-11','','','2011-10-06 02:36:01','2011-10-06 02:36:01','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=108',0,'revision','',0),(635,2,'2011-11-19 07:22:06','2011-11-19 12:22:06','Rose and Daniel Wagner were out walking in the Pennsylvania town of Oakmont, near Pittsburg, when Daniel was hit by a . . . pumpkin.\r\n\r\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]\r\n\r\nI love pumpkins!\r\n\r\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.\r\n\r\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.\"\r\n\r\nPumpkins should NOT be used as weapons!\r\n\r\nEven in a prank.\r\n\r\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.\r\n\r\nThe episode was caught on the surveillance camera at a school nearby and the vehicle, an SUV, was recognized.\r\n\r\nThe pranksters are  being lauded for coming forward, but will face fines and community service. They will also make restitution to the injured man.\r\n\r\nDaniel suffered a concussion. He continues to recover.\r\n\r\nThe poor pumpkin used in the prank was broken. It was admitted into police evidence.','Attack of the Pumpkin','','publish','open','open','','attack-of-the-pumpkin','','','2011-11-19 07:22:06','2011-11-19 12:22:06','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=635',0,'post','',0),(110,2,'2011-10-06 02:29:52','2011-10-06 02:29:52','Stress is now being labeled as the \'Black Death of the 21st century,\' eclipsing stroke, heart attack, cancer and back problems as the most common reason for a worker taking long-term sick leave.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_61\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"236\" caption=\"The Lewis family in 1990\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-61\" title=\"Family_pic_1990\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Family_pic_1990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"184\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, what happens when the stress is motherhood stress?\r\n\r\nMotherhood, that precious, joyful, but very stressful job from which a woman rarely gets to take “sick leave.”\r\n\r\nAnd what is currently being listed as one of life’s major stressors? A \"sense of heightened pressure as a result of the prolonged economic downturn.\" What an additional stress the current economy places on mothers, who are already struggling with motherhood stress!\r\n\r\n<em>Hidden Stressor: Financial Responsibility </em>\r\n\r\n<em>Whether or not the husband is the primary breadwinner in the family, most mothers serve the role of chief purchasing agent. Even when a husband writes the monthly checks, it’s almost always the mother who’s in charge of buying food, clothes and medical services. So even if it’s Dad who balances the checkbook, it’s Mom who has to make sure it does balance. </em>\r\n\r\n<em>A memorable example shared by a mother of two preschoolers and whose family strained from one paycheck to the next: “One day, a neighborhood kids came to the door to collect on a Jump-a-thon pledge. She said I owed her seven dollars. I thought I owed only half that, but I’d misread the pledge. She was right. And I didn’t have seven dollars to give her. I scrounged around the house and finally came up with it, but it took our milk money for the week. I gave her the money, closed the door and just bawled. I’d made a stupid little mistake and it cost us $3.50 we didn’t have.”  - From <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession</span></em>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"motherhood_stress_book\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Stress-Encouragement-Ultimate-Profession/dp/0849906717/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317856568&amp;sr=1-2\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"motherhoodstress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a><em></em>','Motherhood Stress: Bad as the Black Death?','','inherit','open','open','','54-revision-15','','','2011-10-06 02:29:52','2011-10-06 02:29:52','',54,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=110',0,'revision','',0),(111,2,'2011-10-06 02:06:31','2011-10-06 02:06:31','<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I LOVE telling my children stories about themselves. And they loved to hear those stories where they were the stars. Some of our best times when my children were little were the evenings when I told them stories about themselves.<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_You_Were_Little_Cover1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-96\" title=\"When_You_Were_Little_Cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_You_Were_Little_Cover1-300x252.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"252\" /></a><a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_You_Were_Little_Cover.jpg\">\r\n</a></p>\r\nIn our book <em>Did I Ever Tell You About When You Were Little</em>, we gave this advice:\r\n\r\nTell your child about a day when he was little that didn\'t turn out the way you expected it to.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>What did you have planned for that day?</li>\r\n	<li>How did your plans begin to go wrong?</li>\r\n	<li>What other people were there?</li>\r\n	<li>What did your child do either to help or hinder your plans?</li>\r\n	<li>Describe the rest of the day.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_92\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"When You Were Little page 64\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_pg_64.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-92\" title=\"When_Little_pg_64\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_pg_64-300x261.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"261\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_93\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"When You Were Little page 65\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_page_64.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-93\" title=\"When_Little_page_64\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/When_Little_page_64-300x262.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"262\" /></a>[/caption]</li>\r\n</ul>','Telling Stories About My Children','','inherit','open','open','','87-revision-5','','','2011-10-06 02:06:31','2011-10-06 02:06:31','',87,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=111',0,'revision','',0),(113,2,'2011-10-06 11:58:32','2011-10-06 11:58:32','','Seven_From_Heaven_cover','Seven from Heaven','inherit','open','open','','seven_from_heaven_cover','','','2011-10-06 11:58:32','2011-10-06 11:58:32','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Seven_From_Heaven_cover.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(114,2,'2011-10-06 12:01:27','2011-10-06 12:01:27','','Seven_From_Heaven_cover','','inherit','open','open','','seven_from_heaven_cover-2','','','2011-10-06 12:01:27','2011-10-06 12:01:27','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Seven_From_Heaven_cover1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(552,2,'2011-11-05 18:10:46','2011-11-05 22:10:46','Why motherhood <strong><em>stress</em></strong>, when I LOVE being a mother, find great <strong><em>joy</em></strong> in my children? Because I expected the joy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_258\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette and Debi, still in our Sunday church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-258\" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing_1\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing_1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe stress came as a shock.\r\n\r\nBefore our first baby, Andrew, was born, I enjoyed imagining what my life as a mom would be like. I never thought it would be like relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas for a few years; but I didn\'t think of it as \"work\" either.\r\n\r\nI dreamed of outings to the park and visits to the library and wonderful afternoons in a warm kitchen baking cookies with my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_488\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Matthew, age 3, breaking an egg to bake cookies\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-488\" title=\"MatthewBaking\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MatthewBaking-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd the house in the background of all my dreams was always spotlessly clean, because, after all, I planned to \"stay home\" to raise my children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_209\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"195\" caption=\"Andrew, age 4, licking the beaters, while the cookies are in the oven.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-e1319130982226.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-209\" title=\"Andrew lickingbeaters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy reality included parks and library trips and baking and other wonderful things: cuddling children; reading stories; playing games. I had no idea how much I would enjoy breastfeeding my babies.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"The day Lisette was born. That&#39;s Andrew nose-to-nose with his new sister and Matthew peering over his shoulder.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-457\" title=\"LisetteBornAM\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LisetteBornAM1-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn my wildest fantasies of motherhood, I could never have imagined all the joys of my reality. From the rush of tender feeling I got when my nursing babies looked up into my eyes and grinned their first toothless grins. To the intense joy of watching our youngest son Jonathan walk across a stage to accept his college degree, following just steps after his oldest brother Andrew.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_45\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Lisette, Andrew, Jonathan, Jessica and Benjamin in May 2011, when Andrew and Jonathan both graduated from Asbury University\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-e1317701202375.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-45\" title=\"Andrew and Jonathan graduate from Asbury University\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrewgrad1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYet my reality included experiences which were NOT a part of my dreams. I never realized how much time I would spend changing diapers, washing clothes, and more clothes, wiping up spills, picking up toys, driving children everywhere, pinching pennies between paychecks.\r\n\r\nI did not envision <strong><em>ever</em></strong> yelling at my children in frustration. Or walking out the door to take my children to a park and feeling guilty for the messy house I was leaving behind.\r\n\r\nWhen my oldest children were young, I taught child development classes at Triton College, usually just one course a semester. After one particularly stressful morning with my children, I headed in to teach about \"Playing with Kids All Day: Job Stress in Early Childhood Education.\" The list of job stresses for teachers of young children included:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>an excess of novelty and uncertainty</li>\r\n	<li>lack of control</li>\r\n	<li>high expectations</li>\r\n	<li> ideals vs. reality</li>\r\n	<li>no clear guidelines or measures for success</li>\r\n	<li> low status and low pay</li>\r\n	<li>poor accountability</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAnd it hit me that the stresses for working with children all day applied to being the mother of children as well.\r\n\r\nEarlier that week I\'d taken more than an hour to get my (then) two children ready to go to the grocery store. We\'d first searched the whole house for Andrew\'s shoes. The first time we got in the car, Andrew announced that he need to go to the bathroom again. Back in the house for that. Back out to the car, I got Andrew strapped in. But as I strapped Matthew into his car seat, my nose informed me that he was messy.\r\n\r\nBack into the house to change a diaper. Then the phone rang. I talked to a friend briefly and felt as if I\'d cut her off short. Then back out to the car. I had both children buckled in their car seats and was backing out of the driveway when I noticed the clock in the car. It was nearly noon. I knew better than to take to hungry children to a grocery store. So I pulled back up to the house, unbuckled my two boys and headed into the house. Where I hung up our coats, sat down and cried.\r\n\r\nThat college lecture was the beginning of a several year process of talking to other mothers - rich mothers and poor mothers, new mothers and grandmothers, at-home mothers and mothers with two careers, single mothers and happily married women with wonderfully supportive husbands. The mere mention of the two words \"motherhood\" and \"stress\" in the same sentence invariably brought on an outpouring of feelings and stories.\r\n\r\nAll mothers feel motherhood stress.\r\n\r\nSo I wrote a book on the subject.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_63\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Published in 1989 in hardback by Word Publishing. The paperback was published by Zondervan Publishing.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-63\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhoodstress-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd another book.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_68\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, endorsed by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Wonder Motherhood\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd another book.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_181\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Published by Zondervan Publishing, co-authored with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently president of Americans United for Life\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMotherhood certainly has its wonderful times. But it is more than \"playing with kids all day.\"\r\n\r\nIt is hard work. Important work. Stressful work.\r\n\r\nIt\'s important for mothers, and fathers, to understand motherhood stress.\r\n\r\nSo, if you are a mom with young children, also shocked by the stress of motherhood, or a dad, wondering why your wife is so stressed-out, please check back here occasionally for information and support, that we hope will help you deal with motherhood stress, and find encouragement in the ultimate helping profession.    - <a title=\"Meet Debi\" href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/sample-page/\" target=\"_blank\">Deborah Shaw Lewis</a>','Why Motherhood Stress, Not Joy?','','inherit','open','open','','498-revision-4','','','2011-11-05 18:10:46','2011-11-05 22:10:46','',498,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/498-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(551,2,'2011-11-05 17:27:58','2011-11-05 21:27:58','A certain amount of novelty can be a plus on any job. Cuts down on boredom, stimulates creativity and productivity. But an excess of unpredictability creates tremendous stress.\r\n\r\nCould there be any job more unpredictable than motherhood?\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_528\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"196\" caption=\"Matthew at age 2, playing in the sprinkler\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSprinkler.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-528 \" title=\"MattSprinkler\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSprinkler-296x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"198\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI remember the day I checked on 17 month old Matthew and found him playing happily on top of our old upright piano.  Just moments before, he\'d been happily marching around the kitchen and into the living room, down a short hall and back into the kitchen - round and round, in and out of the kitchen where I was fixing supper.\r\n\r\nNo mystery how he climbed onto the piano bench, or from the piano bench to the piano keys.  But how on earth did he scale the distance from the keys to the tops of that old piano?  And why?\r\n\r\nI could only thank God that I checked on him BEFORE he decided to take a head-first dive from that height!\r\n\r\nAnd then there was the evening I fixed everyone hot chocolate. I found three matching cups for our (then) four children.  The fourth cup was yellow, Benjamin\'s favorite color.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_529\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"209\" caption=\"Benjamin, age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj3yr.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-529\" title=\"Benj3yr\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj3yr-209x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I handed Benjamin his cocoa in his favorite color cup.  And he pitched a fit.  Went to bed without his treat, rather than drink hot cocoa from a yellow cup.\r\n\r\nSo much for a pleasant evening snack routine!\r\n\r\nMotherhood brought me much more joy than I ever thought possible - but more unpredictability, too.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n. . . from Motherhood Stress, Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','You Never Know What Will Happen Next. . . ','','inherit','open','open','','38-revision-9','','','2011-11-05 17:27:58','2011-11-05 21:27:58','',38,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/05/38-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(117,2,'2011-10-06 12:48:25','2011-10-06 12:48:25','The phone call came in early 1998, from literary agent Wes Yoder, of <a title=\"Ambassador_Agency_Wes_Yoder\" href=\"http://www.ambassadorspeakers.com/ACP/index.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">the Ambassador Agency</a>. Would we be interested in writing a book, telling the story of Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey and the birth of their septuplets? Would we? Would we ever!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Seven_From_Heaven_cover2.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-118\" title=\"Seven_From_Heaven_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Seven_From_Heaven_cover2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>Like the rest of the world, we had been following the story of the miracle of seven babies.\r\n\r\nSoon we found ourselves on a plane to Iowa. We walked into the McCaughey home, then a pretty 760 square foot ranch, in the company of Wes, their agent. We washed our hands and someone handed Brandon to me. Then the introductions began.\r\n\r\nWe made 5 trips to Iowa over the months that we worked on writing two books with Bobbi and Kenny. And during those months, the babies went from tiny little ones in arms, to crawling. On our last visit to Iowa, Kenny and Joel were pulling up and looked to be only days away from taking their first steps. And the McCaughey family had just moved into their new, much larger home.\r\n\r\nThose months of talking with the McCaughey\'s were a gift from God. We were blessed to witness their faith and their joy with their precious children. We saw first hand their wonderful approach to parenting, demonstrated in this excerpt from Celebrating the Wonder of Motherhood:\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For You formed my inward parts;</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">You covered me in my mother\'s womb.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Marvelous are Your works. - Psalm 139:13-14 NKJV</p>\r\nReading this verse, there can be no doubt about whether or not God has a purpose for our lives. Right from the beginning He is fashioning a wonderful work. Each of my children is fearfully and wonderfully made. And our family -- the way He has put us all together -- is also a marvelous work of God. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-119\" title=\"Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>','Telling the Story of the McCaughey Septuplets','','publish','open','open','','telling-the-story-of-the-mccaughey-septuplets','','','2011-10-20 17:20:42','2011-10-20 17:20:42','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=117',0,'post','',0),(118,2,'2011-10-06 12:42:39','2011-10-06 12:42:39','','Seven from Heaven','','inherit','open','open','','seven_from_heaven_cover-3','','','2011-10-06 12:42:39','2011-10-06 12:42:39','',117,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Seven_From_Heaven_cover2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(119,2,'2011-10-06 12:46:34','2011-10-06 12:46:34','','Celebrating Wonder Motherhood','','inherit','open','open','','celebrating_wonder_motherhood','','','2011-10-06 12:46:34','2011-10-06 12:46:34','',117,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(120,2,'2011-10-06 12:48:10','2011-10-06 12:48:10','The phone call came in early 1998, from literary agent Wes Yoder, of the Ambassador Agency. Would we be interested in writing a book, telling the story of Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey and the birth of their septuplets? Would we? Would we ever!\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Seven_From_Heaven_cover2.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-118\" title=\"Seven_From_Heaven_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Seven_From_Heaven_cover2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>Like the rest of the world, we had been following the story of the miracle of seven babies.\n\nSoon we found ourselves on a plane to Iowa. We walked into the McCaughey home, then a pretty 760 square foot ranch, in the company of Wes, their agent. We washed our hands and someone handed Brandon to me. Then the introductions began.\n\nWe made 5 trips to Iowa over the months that we worked on writing two books with Bobbi and Kenny. And during those months, the babies went from tiny little ones in arms, to crawling. On our last visit to Iowa, Kenny and Joel were pulling up and looked to be only days away from taking their first steps. And the McCaughey family had just moved into their new, much larger home.\n\nThose months of talking with the McCaughey\'s were a gift from God. We were blessed to witness their faith and their joy with their precious children. We saw first hand their wonderful approach to parenting, demonstrated in this excerpt from Celebrating the Wonder of Motherhood:\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For You formed my inward parts;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">You covered me in my mother\'s womb.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Marvelous are Your works. - Psalm 139:13-14 NKJV</p>\nReading this verse, there can be no doubt about whether or not God has a purpose for our lives. Right from the beginning He is fashioning a wonderful work. Each of my children is fearfully and wonderfully made. And our family -- the way He has put us all together -- is also a marvelous work of God. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-119\" title=\"Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>','Telling the Story of the McCaughey Septuplets','','inherit','open','open','','117-revision','','','2011-10-06 12:48:10','2011-10-06 12:48:10','',117,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=120',0,'revision','',0),(121,2,'2011-10-06 12:51:06','2011-10-06 12:51:06','The phone call came in early 1998, from literary agent Wes Yoder, of <a title=\"Ambassador_Agency_Wes_Yoder\" href=\"http://www.ambassadorspeakers.com/ACP/index.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">the Ambassador Agency</a>. Would we be interested in writing a book, telling the story of Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey and the birth of their septuplets? Would we? Would we ever!\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Seven_From_Heaven_cover2.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-118\" title=\"Seven_From_Heaven_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Seven_From_Heaven_cover2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>Like the rest of the world, we had been following the story of the miracle of seven babies.\n\nSoon we found ourselves on a plane to Iowa. We walked into the McCaughey home, then a pretty 760 square foot ranch, in the company of Wes, their agent. We washed our hands and someone handed Brandon to me. Then the introductions began.\n\nWe made 5 trips to Iowa over the months that we worked on writing two books with Bobbi and Kenny. And during those months, the babies went from tiny little ones in arms, to crawling. On our last visit to Iowa, Kenny and Joel were pulling up and looked to be only days away from taking their first steps. And the McCaughey family had just moved into their new, much larger home.\n\nThose months of talking with the McCaughey\'s were a gift from God. We were blessed to witness their faith and their joy with their precious children. We saw first hand their wonderful approach to parenting, demonstrated in this excerpt from Celebrating the Wonder of Motherhood:\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For You formed my inward parts;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">You covered me in my mother\'s womb.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Marvelous are Your works. - Psalm 139:13-14 NKJV</p>\nReading this verse, there can be no doubt about whether or not God has a purpose for our lives. Right from the beginning He is fashioning a wonderful work. Each of my children is fearfully and wonderfully made. And our family -- the way He has put us all together -- is also a marvelous work of God. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-119\" title=\"Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>','Telling the Story of the McCaughey Septuplets','','inherit','open','open','','117-autosave','','','2011-10-06 12:51:06','2011-10-06 12:51:06','',117,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=121',0,'revision','',0),(122,2,'2011-10-06 12:48:25','2011-10-06 12:48:25','The phone call came in early 1998, from literary agent Wes Yoder, of the Ambassador Agency. Would we be interested in writing a book, telling the story of Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey and the birth of their septuplets? Would we? Would we ever!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Seven_From_Heaven_cover2.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-118\" title=\"Seven_From_Heaven_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Seven_From_Heaven_cover2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>Like the rest of the world, we had been following the story of the miracle of seven babies.\r\n\r\nSoon we found ourselves on a plane to Iowa. We walked into the McCaughey home, then a pretty 760 square foot ranch, in the company of Wes, their agent. We washed our hands and someone handed Brandon to me. Then the introductions began.\r\n\r\nWe made 5 trips to Iowa over the months that we worked on writing two books with Bobbi and Kenny. And during those months, the babies went from tiny little ones in arms, to crawling. On our last visit to Iowa, Kenny and Joel were pulling up and looked to be only days away from taking their first steps. And the McCaughey family had just moved into their new, much larger home.\r\n\r\nThose months of talking with the McCaughey\'s were a gift from God. We were blessed to witness their faith and their joy with their precious children. We saw first hand their wonderful approach to parenting, demonstrated in this excerpt from Celebrating the Wonder of Motherhood:\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For You formed my inward parts;</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">You covered me in my mother\'s womb.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Marvelous are Your works. - Psalm 139:13-14 NKJV</p>\r\nReading this verse, there can be no doubt about whether or not God has a purpose for our lives. Right from the beginning He is fashioning a wonderful work. Each of my children is fearfully and wonderfully made. And our family -- the way He has put us all together -- is also a marvelous work of God. <a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-119\" title=\"Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Celebrating_Wonder_Motherhood.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" /></a>','Telling the Story of the McCaughey Septuplets','','inherit','open','open','','117-revision-2','','','2011-10-06 12:48:25','2011-10-06 12:48:25','',117,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=122',0,'revision','',0),(207,2,'2011-10-30 02:59:48','2011-10-30 06:59:48','Supermom: You know who I’m talking about.  She does it all. Her house is always clean. Her children are always dressed in matching clothes, with no stains.  She’s managed to keep her figure.  She never, ever loses her temper with her children.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_214\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Lisette with Debi, still in their church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-214 \" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"175\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd she’s on the fast track at work, blazing new paths for women in the workplace. Bringing in that extra income that helps her family’s finances stay healthy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_209\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"186\" caption=\"Andrew helping me bake cookies at age 4\"]<img class=\"size-large wp-image-209  \" title=\"Andrew lickingbeaters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-666x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"186\" height=\"286\" />[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">All the while baking cookies with her children and sewing their halloween costumes.</p>\r\nWe may hate her, but she’s the myth most women feel pressured to emulate.\r\n\r\nIn a new study from the University of Washington, entitled <a title=\"Supermom_myth_depressed\" href=\"http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/23/working-women-who-subscribe-to-the-supermom-myth-are-more-likely-to-be-depressed/\" target=\"_blank\">“Even Supermoms Get the Blues,” </a>researcher Katrina Leupp reports that women who believe the myth---that they can juggle children, home, husband, career and volunteer work with perfection --- end up more depressed than other moms.\r\n\r\nAccording to Leupp, the University of Washington sociology graduate student who authored the study and presented her research in August at the American Sociological Association\'s annual meeting: “Ascribing to an ideal that women can do it all… increased the level of depressive symptoms compared to women who were more skeptical of whether or not work and family can be balanced.\"\r\n\r\n\"Women are sold a story that they can do it all, but most workplaces are still designed for employees without child-care responsibilities,\" Leupp reported.\r\n\r\nSome of her suggestions were:\r\n- Go into motherhood with more realistic expectations; realize that it won’t be easy.\r\n\r\n- Don’t buy into the \"supermom\" complex; don’t pressure yourself to be an overachiever in all aspects of life.\r\n\r\n- Delegate some of your responsibilities. Let someone else run the bake sale.  Ask your husband to do his share of folding the laundry.\r\n\r\n- Let a few things slide.\r\n\r\n- Limit your work-outside-the-home hours when you can.\r\n\r\nAnd here are some other suggestions, from my book, <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Stressbusters for Moms</em></a>:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_212\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Jonathan after a soccer game\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-212  \" title=\"Jonmuddysoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"395\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n“Remind yourself that you are not perfect. Your  husband is not perfect.  Your children won’t be perfect. Let love be the undercurrent running through the times of frustration and turmoil.” <em>- P. B., mother of two, ages 3 &amp; 5</em>\r\n\r\n“Good mothers some in many styles. Know your style and build on your strengths. This can free you from the trap of comparing yourself to other moms.” <em>- Diane Eble, A Life You Can Love</em>\r\n\r\n“Anticipate your children’s needs. Before I’d take my baby into a store, I would sit and nurse him, so he wouldn’t be hungry in the middle of shopping.  Later I learned to start my grocery trip down the aisle that led toward the bathrooms. Then five to ten minutes into grocery shopping, I’d take my preschoolers into the restroom with me, and let the power of suggestion take care of that stress.”  <em>- Deborah Shaw Lewis</em>\r\n\r\n“Pick your fights carefully. There will be disagreements galore while your child is growing up. Look at each situation and ask, “Will this decision matter in ten years?” If it will, stand your ground.  If it won’t, let your child make his or her own decision.  If the kid end up with blue hair or a weird haircut, it will grow back.”  <em>- P. W., mother of one, age 17</em>\r\n\r\n“Don’t obsess! Nobody does this parenting thing perfectly. Give yourself a break and don’t dwell on mistakes or fears.”  <em>A. L., mother of one, age 1</em>\r\n\r\n“Get into a weekly Bible study that has decent child care. You will gain wisdom and encouragement, and you will build a network of Christian women to share and support you as a mother.”  <em>D. S., mother of four, ages 12, 16, 17, 19</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Some material above was adapted from <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&amp;field-keywords=Mother+in+the+Middle+Yoest&amp;x=0&amp;y=0\" target=\"_blank\">Mother in the Middle</a> by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest.</em>','The Supermom Delusion','','publish','open','open','','the-supermom-delusion','','','2011-11-05 14:46:42','2011-11-05 18:46:42','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=207',0,'post','',0),(124,2,'2011-10-06 16:55:43','2011-10-06 16:55:43','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is <a href=\"http://www.pumpkinsusa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Pumpkin Patch</a>.\r\n\r\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist_Church_Rome_GA\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">our church</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a title=\"Trinity United Methodist Church, Rome, Georgia\" href=\"http://trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFourteen years ago, Grant Magness, our youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\r\n\r\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\r\n\r\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\r\n\r\nFor a couple of  years, our son Andrew carved 35-40 pumpkins a year!  You can see a video of him carving for a group of children <a title=\"Andrew_carving_pumpkin\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/carving-pumpkin\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\" caption=\"Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\r\n\r\nPumpkins remind me that God can use anyone or anything, even pumpkins, to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes, people of different ages, get together and get to know each other pulling 2000 pumpkins off a truck, or working in the Patch.\r\n\r\nPeople who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" caption=\"2000 pumpkins come off the truck and down long lines onto the pallets on the front lawn of Trinity UMC, Rome, GA\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-133\" title=\"Tayler_Jay_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"413\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe read the book, <a title=\"Pumpkin_Patch_Parable\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400308461/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=0785277226&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=10N0X05RE6VFTGXRFMDM\" target=\"_blank\">The Pumpkin Patch Parable</a>, to preschool groups.  That book describes how, like a carver cleans the yucky stuff, the pulp and the seeds, out of a pumpkin, God can clean us up inside.  And like the farmer puts a candle in the carved pumpkin to make a shining jack-o-lantern, God puts His light inside His children.\r\n\r\nWhat amazing Good News!','Big, Little, Huge:   I LOVE Pumpkins','','publish','open','open','','pumpkins-big-little-huge-i-love-pumpkins','','','2011-10-19 00:12:55','2011-10-19 00:12:55','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=124',0,'post','',0),(125,2,'2011-10-06 16:13:51','2011-10-06 16:13:51','','Pumpkin Patch','','inherit','open','open','','trinity_pumpkins','','','2011-10-06 16:13:51','2011-10-06 16:13:51','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(126,2,'2011-10-06 16:14:30','2011-10-06 16:14:30','','Trinity_pumpkins','Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009','inherit','open','open','','trinity_pumpkins-2','','','2011-10-06 16:14:30','2011-10-06 16:14:30','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(127,2,'2011-10-06 16:24:38','2011-10-06 16:24:38','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a one ton pumpkin. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\n\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is the Pumpkin Patch.\n\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at our church.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"291\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126\" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"291\" height=\"202\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nFourteen years ago, a young youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\n\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\n\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\n\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those chilrden','Pumpkins, Big, Little, Huge: I LOVE Pumpkins','','inherit','open','open','','124-revision','','','2011-10-06 16:24:38','2011-10-06 16:24:38','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=127',0,'revision','',0),(128,2,'2011-10-06 16:39:56','2011-10-06 16:39:56','','Patch_storytelling','Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin','inherit','open','open','','patch_storytelling','','','2011-10-06 16:39:56','2011-10-06 16:39:56','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(129,2,'2011-10-06 16:49:27','2011-10-06 16:49:27','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\n\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is the Pumpkin Patch.\n\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at our church.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nFourteen years ago, a young youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\n\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\n\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\" caption=\"Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\n\nPumpkin remind me that God can use anyone or anything to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes get together and get to know each other in the Patch.  People who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\n\nWe read the book, The Pumpkin Patch Parable, to preschool groups.','Pumpkins, Big, Little, Huge: I LOVE Pumpkins','','inherit','open','open','','124-revision-2','','','2011-10-06 16:49:27','2011-10-06 16:49:27','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=129',0,'revision','',0),(130,2,'2011-10-06 16:54:44','2011-10-06 16:54:44','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\n\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is <a href=\"http://www.pumpkinsusa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Pumpkin Patch</a>.\n\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at our church.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nFourteen years ago, a young youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\n\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\n\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\" caption=\"Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\n\nPumpkin remind me that God can use anyone or anything to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes get together and get to know each other in the Patch.  People who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\n\nWe read the book, The Pumpkin Patch Parable, to preschool groups.  That book describes how, like a pumpkin carver cleans the yucky stuff, the pulp and the seeds, out of a pumpkin, God can clean us up inside.  And like the farmer puts a candle in the carved pumpkin to make a shining jack-o-lantern, God puts His light inside His children.','Pumpkins, Big, Little, Huge: I LOVE Pumpkins','','inherit','open','open','','124-revision-3','','','2011-10-06 16:54:44','2011-10-06 16:54:44','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=130',0,'revision','',0),(131,2,'2012-09-28 08:03:25','2012-09-28 12:03:25','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\n\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is <a href=\"http://www.pumpkinsusa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Pumpkin Patch</a>.\n\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist_Church_Rome_GA\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">our church</a>.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\"]<a title=\"Trinity United Methodist Church, Rome, Georgia\" href=\"http://trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a> Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009[/caption]\n\nFourteen years ago, Grant Magness, our youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\n\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\n\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\n\nFor a couple of  years, our son Andrew carved 35-40 pumpkins a year!  You can see a video of him carving for a group of children <a title=\"Andrew_carving_pumpkin\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/carving-pumpkin\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a> Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin[/caption]\n\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\n\nPumpkins remind me that God can use anyone or anything, even pumpkins, to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes, people of different ages, get together and get to know each other pulling 2000 pumpkins off a truck, or working in the Patch.\n\nPeople who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-133\" title=\"Tayler_Jay_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"413\" /></a> 2000 pumpkins come off the truck and down long lines onto the pallets on the front lawn of Trinity UMC, Rome, GA[/caption]\n\nWe read the book, <a title=\"Pumpkin_Patch_Parable\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400308461/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=0785277226&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=10N0X05RE6VFTGXRFMDM\" target=\"_blank\">The Pumpkin Patch Parable</a>, to preschool groups.  That book describes how, like a carver cleans the yucky stuff, the pulp and the seeds, out of a pumpkin, God can clean us up inside.  And like the farmer puts a candle in the carved pumpkin to make a shining jack-o-lantern, God puts His light inside His children.\n\nWhat amazing Good News!','Big, Little, Huge:   I LOVE Pumpkins','','inherit','open','open','','124-autosave','','','2012-09-28 08:03:25','2012-09-28 12:03:25','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=131',0,'revision','',0),(132,2,'2011-10-06 16:55:43','2011-10-06 16:55:43','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is <a href=\"http://www.pumpkinsusa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Pumpkin Patch</a>.\r\n\r\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at our church.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFourteen years ago, a young youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\r\n\r\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\r\n\r\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\" caption=\"Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\r\n\r\nPumpkin remind me that God can use anyone or anything to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes get together and get to know each other in the Patch.  People who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\r\n\r\nWe read the book, <a title=\"Pumpkin_Patch_Parable\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400308461/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=0785277226&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=10N0X05RE6VFTGXRFMDM\" target=\"_blank\">The Pumpkin Patch Parable</a>, to preschool groups.  That book describes how, like a pumpkin carver cleans the yucky stuff, the pulp and the seeds, out of a pumpkin, God can clean us up inside.  And like the farmer puts a candle in the carved pumpkin to make a shining jack-o-lantern, God puts His light inside His children.','Pumpkins, Big, Little, Huge: I LOVE Pumpkins','','inherit','open','open','','124-revision-4','','','2011-10-06 16:55:43','2011-10-06 16:55:43','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=132',0,'revision','',0),(133,2,'2011-10-06 17:02:50','2011-10-06 17:02:50','','Tayler_Jay_pumpkins','Taylor passing a pumpkin to Jay - not throwing it!','inherit','open','open','','tayler_jay_pumpkins','','','2011-10-06 17:02:50','2011-10-06 17:02:50','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(134,2,'2011-10-06 16:59:23','2011-10-06 16:59:23','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is <a href=\"http://www.pumpkinsusa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Pumpkin Patch</a>.\r\n\r\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at our church.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFourteen years ago, a young youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\r\n\r\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\r\n\r\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\" caption=\"Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\r\n\r\nPumpkin remind me that God can use anyone or anything to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes get together and get to know each other in the Patch.  People who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\r\n\r\nWe read the book, <a title=\"Pumpkin_Patch_Parable\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400308461/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=0785277226&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=10N0X05RE6VFTGXRFMDM\" target=\"_blank\">The Pumpkin Patch Parable</a>, to preschool groups.  That book describes how, like a pumpkin carver cleans the yucky stuff, the pulp and the seeds, out of a pumpkin, God can clean us up inside.  And like the farmer puts a candle in the carved pumpkin to make a shining jack-o-lantern, God puts His light inside His children.','Pumpkins, Big, Little, Huge: I LOVE Pumpkins','','inherit','open','open','','124-revision-5','','','2011-10-06 16:59:23','2011-10-06 16:59:23','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=134',0,'revision','',0),(135,2,'2011-10-06 17:07:22','2011-10-06 17:07:22','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is <a href=\"http://www.pumpkinsusa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Pumpkin Patch</a>.\r\n\r\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist_Church_Rome_GA\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">our church</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFourteen years ago, Grant Magness, our youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\r\n\r\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\r\n\r\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\" caption=\"Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\r\n\r\nPumpkins remind me that God can use anyone or anything, even pumpkins, to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes, people of different ages, get together and get to know each other pulling 2000 pumpkins off a truck, or working in the Patch.\r\n\r\nPeople who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" caption=\"2000 pumpkins come off the truck and down long lines onto the pallets on the front lawn of Trinity UMC, Rome, GA\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-133\" title=\"Tayler_Jay_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"413\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe read the book, <a title=\"Pumpkin_Patch_Parable\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400308461/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=0785277226&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=10N0X05RE6VFTGXRFMDM\" target=\"_blank\">The Pumpkin Patch Parable</a>, to preschool groups.  That book describes how, like a pumpkin carver cleans the yucky stuff, the pulp and the seeds, out of a pumpkin, God can clean us up inside.  And like the farmer puts a candle in the carved pumpkin to make a shining jack-o-lantern, God puts His light inside His children.','Pumpkins, Big, Little, Huge: I LOVE Pumpkins','','inherit','open','open','','124-revision-6','','','2011-10-06 17:07:22','2011-10-06 17:07:22','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=135',0,'revision','',0),(136,2,'2011-10-06 17:13:33','2011-10-06 17:13:33','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is <a href=\"http://www.pumpkinsusa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Pumpkin Patch</a>.\r\n\r\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist_Church_Rome_GA\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">our church</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFourteen years ago, Grant Magness, our youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\r\n\r\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\r\n\r\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\r\n\r\nFor a couple of  years, our son Andrew carved 35-40 pumpkins a year!  You can see a video of him carving for a group of children <a title=\"Andrew_carving_pumpkin\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/carving-pumpkin\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\" caption=\"Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\r\n\r\nPumpkins remind me that God can use anyone or anything, even pumpkins, to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes, people of different ages, get together and get to know each other pulling 2000 pumpkins off a truck, or working in the Patch.\r\n\r\nPeople who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" caption=\"2000 pumpkins come off the truck and down long lines onto the pallets on the front lawn of Trinity UMC, Rome, GA\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-133\" title=\"Tayler_Jay_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"413\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe read the book, <a title=\"Pumpkin_Patch_Parable\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400308461/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=0785277226&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=10N0X05RE6VFTGXRFMDM\" target=\"_blank\">The Pumpkin Patch Parable</a>, to preschool groups.  That book describes how, like a pumpkin carver cleans the yucky stuff, the pulp and the seeds, out of a pumpkin, God can clean us up inside.  And like the farmer puts a candle in the carved pumpkin to make a shining jack-o-lantern, God puts His light inside His children.','Pumpkins, Big, Little, Huge: I LOVE Pumpkins','','inherit','open','open','','124-revision-7','','','2011-10-06 17:13:33','2011-10-06 17:13:33','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=136',0,'revision','',0),(137,2,'2011-10-06 02:08:29','2011-10-06 02:08:29','Don\'t you love the advice you get when you are a mother?  From relatives, aunts, uncles, mothers, cousins . . .  from friends and neighbors . . .  from strangers in the grocery store. . .  from books, magazine and websites.  So many people feel free to give advice to mothers.\r\n\r\nOccasionally the advice is just what we need.  But so many times, the shoe just doesn\'t fit. Below is a selection of some of the worst advice given to mothers of babies.  I hope it gives you a chuckle.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_66\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"400\" caption=\"from Stressbusters for Moms, by Deborah Shaw Lewis\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-66\" title=\"Worst advice\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Worst-advice.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"604\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<blockquote><strong>Worst Advice I Ever Heard ... on Babies</strong>\r\n\r\n\'You\'re going to starve that baby.\'\r\nThis from my mother every time she saw me breastfeed my baby.\r\n<em>R.F., mother of three, ages 17-months, 3 and soon to be newborn</em>.\r\n\r\n\'Just let her cry!\'\r\nMy daughter had newborn colic for several months. I discovered that both she and I were if I held her.\r\n<em>J.T., mother of two grown children, two grandchildren.</em>\r\n\r\n\'Don\'t let your baby suck his thumb!\'\r\nRidiculous! Thumb-suckers are usually happy babies.\r\n<em>C.N., mother of two, ages 13, 15.</em>\r\n\r\n\'Make them walk early.\'\r\nThis friend has always had ways to force children to learn to walk. My children walked when they were ready. And it was <em>not</em> an indication of their intelligence!\r\n<em>K.V., mother of two, 2,5</em>\r\n\r\n\'You play with your baby too much.\'\r\nThis is <em>not</em> possible.\r\n<em>L.S., mother of four, 8, 10, 14, 16</em></blockquote>\r\n<a title=\"Stressbusters_for_Moms\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1317851357&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-68\" title=\"stressbusters_cover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stressbusters_cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>','Worst Advice for Moms with Babies','','inherit','open','open','','34-revision-11','','','2011-10-06 02:08:29','2011-10-06 02:08:29','',34,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=137',0,'revision','',0),(138,2,'2011-10-06 02:36:01','2011-10-06 02:36:01','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/?attachment_id=10\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>A parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-12','','','2011-10-06 02:36:01','2011-10-06 02:36:01','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=138',0,'revision','',0),(139,2,'2011-10-06 19:59:13','2011-10-06 19:59:13','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/?attachment_id=10\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>A parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less than $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-13','','','2011-10-06 19:59:13','2011-10-06 19:59:13','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=139',0,'revision','',0),(140,2,'2011-10-06 19:59:13','2011-10-06 19:59:13','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/?attachment_id=10\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>A parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less than $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largets expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-14','','','2011-10-06 19:59:13','2011-10-06 19:59:13','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=140',0,'revision','',0),(141,2,'2011-10-06 20:00:10','2011-10-06 20:00:10','A child born to a mid-income family in 2010 will cost $226,920 (or $286, 860 with inflation) for his family raise him, providing him with food, shelter and basic necessities for his first 17 years, according to the latest Expenditures on Children by Families report by United States Department of Agriculture.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/?attachment_id=10\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10\" title=\"Motherhood Stress\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/motherhood_stress_book_cover_3212-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"Motherhood Stress\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" /></a>A parent’s income changes their cost of raising a child. A family that earns less than $57,600 will spend $163,440. on a child over the next 17 years.  If the family income is $57,600 to $99,730, their cost will be $226,920.  And if their income is more than $99,730, their child-rearing costs will be $377.040.\r\n\r\nThe cost per year changes, increasing each year as the child gets older. For a middle-income, two-parent family the cost increases from $11,880 to $13,830 per year.\r\n\r\nHousing is the largest expense (31 percent), followed by child care and education (17 percent, then food (16 percent).  And these cost-of-raising-a-child estimates do not include pregnancy costs, or the cost of a college education.\r\n\r\nWhere you live influences your child-rearing costs. Families in the South or in rural areas have lower costs.  Those who live in the Northwest urban areas have the highest costs.\r\n\r\nAnd the more children per family, the less that family pays per child, with children sharing bedrooms and clothing and toy being passed down to younger children.','Cost of Raising a Child Increases','','inherit','open','open','','7-revision-15','','','2011-10-06 20:00:10','2011-10-06 20:00:10','',7,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=141',0,'revision','',0),(142,2,'2011-10-06 17:15:00','2011-10-06 17:15:00','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is <a href=\"http://www.pumpkinsusa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Pumpkin Patch</a>.\r\n\r\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist_Church_Rome_GA\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">our church</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFourteen years ago, Grant Magness, our youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\r\n\r\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\r\n\r\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\r\n\r\nFor a couple of  years, our son Andrew carved 35-40 pumpkins a year!  You can see a video of him carving for a group of children <a title=\"Andrew_carving_pumpkin\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/carving-pumpkin\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\" caption=\"Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\r\n\r\nPumpkins remind me that God can use anyone or anything, even pumpkins, to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes, people of different ages, get together and get to know each other pulling 2000 pumpkins off a truck, or working in the Patch.\r\n\r\nPeople who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" caption=\"2000 pumpkins come off the truck and down long lines onto the pallets on the front lawn of Trinity UMC, Rome, GA\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-133\" title=\"Tayler_Jay_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"413\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe read the book, <a title=\"Pumpkin_Patch_Parable\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400308461/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=0785277226&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=10N0X05RE6VFTGXRFMDM\" target=\"_blank\">The Pumpkin Patch Parable</a>, to preschool groups.  That book describes how, like a carver cleans the yucky stuff, the pulp and the seeds, out of a pumpkin, God can clean us up inside.  And like the farmer puts a candle in the carved pumpkin to make a shining jack-o-lantern, God puts His light inside His children.\r\n\r\nWhat amazing Good News!','Pumpkins, Big, Little, Huge: I LOVE Pumpkins','','inherit','open','open','','124-revision-8','','','2011-10-06 17:15:00','2011-10-06 17:15:00','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=142',0,'revision','',0),(147,2,'2011-10-08 02:25:15','2011-10-08 02:25:15','With Halloween approaching, mothers across the country are beginning to<a title=\"Halloween_Costumes\" href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\"> think of costumes</a>. Estimates are that American parents will spend <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\">one billion dollars</a> on Halloween costumes this year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_154\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Three Year Old Spiderman\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-154 \" title=\"spiderman\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSome well-prepared parents have already bought costumes for their children. Unfortunately buying ahead does not guarantee that your child will still want to wear that costume on Halloween.\r\n\r\nSome creative seamstress-mothers are planning to sew up some costumes. And the well-prepared-seamstress-mamas have already finished sewing the costumes. We truly hope, for those mothers\' sakes, that their children will still be willing to wear those costumes on October 31.\r\n\r\nAnd some mothers out there are stressed-out about their children\'s Halloween costumes.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_167\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"235\" caption=\"Amanda, Matthew and Josh\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/halloween_costume1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-167\" title=\"halloween_costume\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/halloween_costume1-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"235\" height=\"166\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was never good at arranging my children\'s Halloween costumes ahead of time. In part because I am a spur-of-the-moment person. And in part because my children could never make up their minds.\r\n\r\nI remember the year that Andrew couldn’t decide between being a cowboy and being a clown. He facilated back and forth, for three or four days he\'d be sure he wanted to be a clown.  Then the next few days, he\'d have decided on the cowboy costume.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_151\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"219\" caption=\"Andrew as a Cowboy Clown\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-151 \" title=\"Andrew_cowboy_clown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown-274x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"219\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the end he decided on being a cowboy clown.\r\n\r\nWhatever the final decision, we never had a lot of money to spend on costumes for five children. I quickly discovered that my children never felt cheated, never ever seemed to even mind, that they didn’t get a pre-made commercial costume. We always had so much fun creating costumes from scratch. Or, at least, almost from scratch.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_149\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"243\" caption=\"Benjamin as a happy witch\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-149\" title=\"Benj_halloween_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2-243x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe year Benjamin dressed up as a witch, he wore one of his Dad’s black t-shirts, a one-dollar black witch hat and carried a broom we’d gotten for a quarter at a yard sale. The broom had originally been a Christmas decoration, with a bow and bells on it. We easily removed the red decor, and, voila, a perfect witch\'s broom.\r\n\r\nMy children were intrigued that I had been able to see a potential Halloween broom in a Christmas decoration. They began to see yard sale items in a different light after that.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-150\" title=\"Benj_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1-166x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"166\" height=\"300\" /></a>But Benjamin\'s favorite costume was the football outfit that was handed down to him from his cousin Josh. Benjamin idolized Josh and had enjoyed watching Josh play football in that outfit. He was in seventh heaven to be able to wear that for Halloween several years later. And, of course, it became a favorite dress-up item long after October was over.\r\n\r\nHalloween costumes became a fun and creative adventure with my children.  What could we find at yard sales that we could turn into parts of costumes or props to go with costumes? And what could we find around the house that would fit into the picture?\r\n\r\nSuperman pajamas worked as a superman outfit for my nephew Josh one year.  And then he wore them for months as his favorite pajamas.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_152\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"187\" caption=\"Josh in his Superman Pajamas, with the famous red cape\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-152\" title=\"Josh_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween-187x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy mother sat down one day and made red capes for the three grandsons: my Andrew and Matthew and my nephew Josh, who were within 18 months of each other.  My children got YEARS of play out of those capes.  Josh wore his red cape with the superman pajamas.\r\n\r\nI am now long past the days of choosing Halloween costumes for my children.  But each year, as the director of a mother\'s morning out program, I get to see what children are wearing for Halloween.  One of my favorite costumes of recent years was the little girl, the fourth child in her family, who came to the Halloween party dressed as \"Thing Four.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_155\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"249\" caption=\"Thing Four - What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-155\" title=\"Lucy_Thing_4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4-300x259.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"215\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHer costume was a one-piece outfit, with a felt circle on which her mom had written THING 4.  The felt circle was loosely stitched onto the outfit so that the circle could easily be removed and the outfit return to regular use. Then a can of hair paint had turned her hair bright blue.  Cost of the Halloween costume? Fifty cents for the white felt and $2 for the can of spray hair color.','Halloween Costumes Through the Years','','publish','open','open','','halloween-costumes-through-the-years','','','2011-10-18 23:58:04','2011-10-18 23:58:04','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=147',0,'post','',0),(143,2,'2011-10-06 20:23:50','2011-10-06 20:23:50','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is <a href=\"http://www.pumpkinsusa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Pumpkin Patch</a>.\r\n\r\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist_Church_Rome_GA\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">our church</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFourteen years ago, Grant Magness, our youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\r\n\r\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\r\n\r\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\r\n\r\nFor a couple of  years, our son Andrew carved 35-40 pumpkins a year!  You can see a video of him carving for a group of children <a title=\"Andrew_carving_pumpkin\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/carving-pumpkin\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\" caption=\"Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\r\n\r\nPumpkins remind me that God can use anyone or anything, even pumpkins, to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes, people of different ages, get together and get to know each other pulling 2000 pumpkins off a truck, or working in the Patch.\r\n\r\nPeople who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" caption=\"2000 pumpkins come off the truck and down long lines onto the pallets on the front lawn of Trinity UMC, Rome, GA\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-133\" title=\"Tayler_Jay_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"413\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe read the book, <a title=\"Pumpkin_Patch_Parable\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400308461/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=0785277226&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=10N0X05RE6VFTGXRFMDM\" target=\"_blank\">The Pumpkin Patch Parable</a>, to preschool groups.  That book describes how, like a carver cleans the yucky stuff, the pulp and the seeds, out of a pumpkin, God can clean us up inside.  And like the farmer puts a candle in the carved pumpkin to make a shining jack-o-lantern, God puts His light inside His children.\r\n\r\nWhat amazing Good News!','Pumpkins, Big, Little, Huge:   I LOVE Pumpkins','','inherit','open','open','','124-revision-9','','','2011-10-06 20:23:50','2011-10-06 20:23:50','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=143',0,'revision','',0),(144,2,'2011-10-06 22:21:06','2011-10-06 22:21:06','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is <a href=\"http://www.pumpkinsusa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Pumpkin Patch</a>.\r\n\r\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist_Church_Rome_GA\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">our church</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFourteen years ago, Grant Magness, our youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\r\n\r\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\r\n\r\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\r\n\r\nFor a couple of  years, our son Andrew carved 35-40 pumpkins a year!  You can see a video of him carving for a group of children <a title=\"Andrew_carving_pumpkin\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/carving-pumpkin\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\" caption=\"Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\r\n\r\nPumpkins remind me that God can use anyone or anything, even pumpkins, to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes, people of different ages, get together and get to know each other pulling 2000 pumpkins off a truck, or working in the Patch.\r\n\r\nPeople who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" caption=\"2000 pumpkins come off the truck and down long lines onto the pallets on the front lawn of Trinity UMC, Rome, GA\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-133\" title=\"Tayler_Jay_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"413\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe read the book, <a title=\"Pumpkin_Patch_Parable\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400308461/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=0785277226&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=10N0X05RE6VFTGXRFMDM\" target=\"_blank\">The Pumpkin Patch Parable</a>, to preschool groups.  That book describes how, like a carver cleans the yucky stuff, the pulp and the seeds, out of a pumpkin, God can clean us up inside.  And like the farmer puts a candle in the carved pumpkin to make a shining jack-o-lantern, God puts His light inside His children.\r\n\r\nWhat amazing Good News!','Pumpkins, Big, Little, Huge:   I LOVE Pumpkinsins,','','inherit','open','open','','124-revision-10','','','2011-10-06 22:21:06','2011-10-06 22:21:06','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=144',0,'revision','',0),(145,2,'2011-10-06 22:21:09','2011-10-06 22:21:09','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is <a href=\"http://www.pumpkinsusa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Pumpkin Patch</a>.\r\n\r\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist_Church_Rome_GA\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">our church</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFourteen years ago, Grant Magness, our youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\r\n\r\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\r\n\r\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\r\n\r\nFor a couple of  years, our son Andrew carved 35-40 pumpkins a year!  You can see a video of him carving for a group of children <a title=\"Andrew_carving_pumpkin\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/carving-pumpkin\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\" caption=\"Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\r\n\r\nPumpkins remind me that God can use anyone or anything, even pumpkins, to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes, people of different ages, get together and get to know each other pulling 2000 pumpkins off a truck, or working in the Patch.\r\n\r\nPeople who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" caption=\"2000 pumpkins come off the truck and down long lines onto the pallets on the front lawn of Trinity UMC, Rome, GA\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-133\" title=\"Tayler_Jay_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"413\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe read the book, <a title=\"Pumpkin_Patch_Parable\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400308461/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=0785277226&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=10N0X05RE6VFTGXRFMDM\" target=\"_blank\">The Pumpkin Patch Parable</a>, to preschool groups.  That book describes how, like a carver cleans the yucky stuff, the pulp and the seeds, out of a pumpkin, God can clean us up inside.  And like the farmer puts a candle in the carved pumpkin to make a shining jack-o-lantern, God puts His light inside His children.\r\n\r\nWhat amazing Good News!','Pumpkins, Big, Little, Huge:   I LOVE Pumpkinsins,','','inherit','open','open','','124-revision-11','','','2011-10-06 22:21:09','2011-10-06 22:21:09','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=145',0,'revision','',0),(146,2,'2011-10-06 22:21:54','2011-10-06 22:21:54','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is <a href=\"http://www.pumpkinsusa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Pumpkin Patch</a>.\r\n\r\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist_Church_Rome_GA\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">our church</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFourteen years ago, Grant Magness, our youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\r\n\r\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\r\n\r\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\r\n\r\nFor a couple of  years, our son Andrew carved 35-40 pumpkins a year!  You can see a video of him carving for a group of children <a title=\"Andrew_carving_pumpkin\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/carving-pumpkin\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\" caption=\"Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\r\n\r\nPumpkins remind me that God can use anyone or anything, even pumpkins, to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes, people of different ages, get together and get to know each other pulling 2000 pumpkins off a truck, or working in the Patch.\r\n\r\nPeople who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" caption=\"2000 pumpkins come off the truck and down long lines onto the pallets on the front lawn of Trinity UMC, Rome, GA\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-133\" title=\"Tayler_Jay_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"413\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe read the book, <a title=\"Pumpkin_Patch_Parable\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400308461/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=0785277226&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=10N0X05RE6VFTGXRFMDM\" target=\"_blank\">The Pumpkin Patch Parable</a>, to preschool groups.  That book describes how, like a carver cleans the yucky stuff, the pulp and the seeds, out of a pumpkin, God can clean us up inside.  And like the farmer puts a candle in the carved pumpkin to make a shining jack-o-lantern, God puts His light inside His children.\r\n\r\nWhat amazing Good News!','Pumpkins, Big, Little, Huge:   I LOVE Pumpkins','','inherit','open','open','','124-revision-12','','','2011-10-06 22:21:54','2011-10-06 22:21:54','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=146',0,'revision','',0),(148,2,'2011-10-08 01:40:05','2011-10-08 01:40:05','','Benj_Halloween','','inherit','open','open','','benj_halloween','','','2011-10-08 01:40:05','2011-10-08 01:40:05','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(149,2,'2011-10-08 01:40:26','2011-10-08 01:40:26','','Benj_halloween_2','Benjamin as a happy witch','inherit','open','open','','benj_halloween_2','','','2011-10-08 01:40:26','2011-10-08 01:40:26','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(150,2,'2011-10-08 01:43:02','2011-10-08 01:43:02','','Benj_Halloween','','inherit','open','open','','benj_halloween-2','','','2011-10-08 01:43:02','2011-10-08 01:43:02','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(151,2,'2011-10-08 01:44:08','2011-10-08 01:44:08','','Andrew_cowboy_clown','Andrew as a Cowboy Clown','inherit','open','open','','andrew_cowboy_clown','','','2011-10-08 01:44:08','2011-10-08 01:44:08','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(152,2,'2011-10-08 01:52:10','2011-10-08 01:52:10','','Josh_Halloween','Josh in his Superman Pajamas, with the famous red cape','inherit','open','open','','josh_halloween','','','2011-10-08 01:52:10','2011-10-08 01:52:10','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(153,2,'2011-10-08 01:53:22','2011-10-08 01:53:22','','halloween_costume','','inherit','open','open','','halloween_costume','','','2011-10-08 01:53:22','2011-10-08 01:53:22','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/halloween_costume.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(154,2,'2011-10-08 01:54:04','2011-10-08 01:54:04','','spiderman','Three Year Old Spiderman','inherit','open','open','','spiderman','','','2011-10-08 01:54:04','2011-10-08 01:54:04','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(155,2,'2011-10-08 02:21:04','2011-10-08 02:21:04','','Lucy_Thing_4','Thing Four - What a cutie!','inherit','open','open','','lucy_thing_4','','','2011-10-08 02:21:04','2011-10-08 02:21:04','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(156,2,'2011-10-08 02:24:27','2011-10-08 02:24:27','With Halloween approaching, mothers across the country are beginning to<a title=\"Halloween_Costumes\" href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\"> think of costumes</a>. Estimates are that American parents will spend <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\">one billion dollars</a> on Halloween costumes this year.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_154\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Three Year Old Spiderman\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-154 \" title=\"spiderman\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSome well-prepared parents have already bought costumes for their children. Some creative seamstress-mothers are planning to sew up some costumes. And the well-prepared-seamstress-mamas have already finished sewing the costumes.\n\nAnd some mothers out there are stressed-out about their children\'s costumes for October 31.\n\nI was never good at arranging my children\'s Halloween costumes ahead of time. In part because I am a spur-of-the-moment person. And in part because my children could never make up their minds.\n\nI remember the year that Andrew couldn’t decide between being a cowboy and being a clown. He facilated back and forth, for three or four days he\'d be sure he wanted to be a clown.  Then the next few days, he\'d have decided on the cowboy costume.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_151\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"274\" caption=\"Andrew as a Cowboy Clown\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-151\" title=\"Andrew_cowboy_clown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown-274x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"274\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn the end he decided on being a cowboy clown.\n\nWhatever the final decsion, we never had much money to spend on costumes for five children. I quickly discovered that my children never felt cheated, never ever seemed to even mind, that they didn’t get a pre-made commercial costume. We always had so much fun creating costumes from scratch. Or, at least, almost from scratch.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_149\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"243\" caption=\"Benjamin as a happy witch\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-149\" title=\"Benj_halloween_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2-243x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe year Benjamin dressed up as a witch, he wore one of his Dad’s black t-shirts, a one-dollar black witch hat and carried a broom we’d gotten for a quarter at a yard sale. The broom had originally been a Christmas decoration, with a bow and bells on it. We easily removed the red decor, and, voila, a perfect witch\'s broom.\n\nMy children were intrigued that I had been able to see a potential Halloween broom in a Christmas decoration. They began to see yard sale items in a different light after that.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-150\" title=\"Benj_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1-166x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"166\" height=\"300\" /></a>But Benjamin\'s favorite costume was the football outfit that was handed down to him from his cousin Josh. Benjamin idolized Josh and had enjoyed watching Josh play football in that outfit. He was in seventh heaven to be able to wear that for Halloween several years later. And, of course, it became a favorite dress-up item long after October was over.\n\nHalloween costumes became a fun and creative adventure with my children.  What could we find at yard sales that we could turn into parts of costumes or props to go with costumes? And what could we find around the house that would fit into the picture?\n\nSuperman pajamas worked as a superman outfit for my nephew Josh one year.  And then he wore them for months as his favorite pajamas.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_152\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"187\" caption=\"Josh in his Superman Pajamas, with the famous red cape\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-152\" title=\"Josh_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween-187x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy mother sat down one day and made red capes for the three grandsons: my Andrew and Matthew and my nephew Josh, who were within 18 months of each other.  My children got YEARS of play out of those capes.  Josh wore his red cape with the superman pajamas.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am now long past the days of choosing Halloween costumes for my children.  But each year, as the director of a mother\'s morning out program, I get to see what children are wearing for Halloween.  One of my favorite costumes of recent years was the little girl, the fourth child in her family, who came to the Halloween party dressed as \"Thing Four.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_155\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"249\" caption=\"Thing Four - What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-155\" title=\"Lucy_Thing_4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4-300x259.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"215\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nHer costume was a one-piece outfit, with a felt circle on which her mom had written THING 4.  Then a can of hair paint had turned her hair bright blue.  Cost of the Halloween costume? Fifty cents for the white felt','Halloween Costumes Through the Years','','inherit','open','open','','147-revision','','','2011-10-08 02:24:27','2011-10-08 02:24:27','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=156',0,'revision','',0),(157,2,'2011-10-09 06:51:10','2011-10-09 06:51:10','With Halloween approaching, mothers across the country are beginning to<a title=\"Halloween_Costumes\" href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\"> think of costumes</a>. Estimates are that American parents will spend <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\">one billion dollars</a> on Halloween costumes this year.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_154\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Three Year Old Spiderman\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-154 \" title=\"spiderman\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSome well-prepared parents have already bought costumes for their children. Unfortunately buying ahead does not guarantee that your child will still want to wear that costume on Halloween.\n\nSome creative seamstress-mothers are planning to sew up some costumes. And the well-prepared-seamstress-mamas have already finished sewing the costumes. We truly hope, for those mothers\' sakes, that their children will still be willing to wear those costumes on October 31.\n\nAnd some mothers out there are stressed-out about their children\'s Halloween costumes.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_167\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"235\" caption=\"Amanda, Matthew and Josh\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/halloween_costume1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-167\" title=\"halloween_costume\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/halloween_costume1-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"235\" height=\"166\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI was never good at arranging my children\'s Halloween costumes ahead of time. In part because I am a spur-of-the-moment person. And in part because my children could never make up their minds.\n\nI remember the year that Andrew couldn’t decide between being a cowboy and being a clown. He facilated back and forth, for three or four days he\'d be sure he wanted to be a clown.  Then the next few days, he\'d have decided on the cowboy costume.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_151\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"219\" caption=\"Andrew as a Cowboy Clown\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-151 \" title=\"Andrew_cowboy_clown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown-274x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"219\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn the end he decided on being a cowboy clown.\n\nWhatever the final decision, we never had a lot of money to spend on costumes for five children. I quickly discovered that my children never felt cheated, never ever seemed to even mind, that they didn’t get a pre-made commercial costume. We always had so much fun creating costumes from scratch. Or, at least, almost from scratch.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_149\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"243\" caption=\"Benjamin as a happy witch\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-149\" title=\"Benj_halloween_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2-243x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe year Benjamin dressed up as a witch, he wore one of his Dad’s black t-shirts, a one-dollar black witch hat and carried a broom we’d gotten for a quarter at a yard sale. The broom had originally been a Christmas decoration, with a bow and bells on it. We easily removed the red decor, and, voila, a perfect witch\'s broom.\n\nMy children were intrigued that I had been able to see a potential Halloween broom in a Christmas decoration. They began to see yard sale items in a different light after that.\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-150\" title=\"Benj_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1-166x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"166\" height=\"300\" /></a>But Benjamin\'s favorite costume was the football outfit that was handed down to him from his cousin Josh. Benjamin idolized Josh and had enjoyed watching Josh play football in that outfit. He was in seventh heaven to be able to wear that for Halloween several years later. And, of course, it became a favorite dress-up item long after October was over.\n\nHalloween costumes became a fun and creative adventure with my children.  What could we find at yard sales that we could turn into parts of costumes or props to go with costumes? And what could we find around the house that would fit into the picture?\n\nSuperman pajamas worked as a superman outfit for my nephew Josh one year.  And then he wore them for months as his favorite pajamas.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_152\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"187\" caption=\"Josh in his Superman Pajamas, with the famous red cape\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-152\" title=\"Josh_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween-187x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy mother sat down one day and made red capes for the three grandsons: my Andrew and Matthew and my nephew Josh, who were within 18 months of each other.  My children got YEARS of play out of those capes.  Josh wore his red cape with the superman pajamas.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am now long past the days of choosing Halloween costumes for my children.  But each year, as the director of a mother\'s morning out program, I get to see what children are wearing for Halloween.  One of my favorite costumes of recent years was the little girl, the fourth child in her family, who came to the Halloween party dressed as \"Thing Four.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_155\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"249\" caption=\"Thing Four - What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-155\" title=\"Lucy_Thing_4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4-300x259.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"215\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nHer costume was a one-piece outfit, with a felt circle on which her mom had written THING 4.  The felt circle was loosely stitched onto the outfit so that the circle could easily be removed and the outfit return to regular use. Then a can of hair paint had turned her hair bright blue.  Cost of the Halloween costume? Fifty cents for the white felt and $2 for the can of spray hair color.','Halloween Costumes Through the Years','','inherit','open','open','','147-autosave','','','2011-10-09 06:51:10','2011-10-09 06:51:10','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=157',0,'revision','',0),(158,2,'2011-10-08 02:25:15','2011-10-08 02:25:15','With Halloween approaching, mothers across the country are beginning to<a title=\"Halloween_Costumes\" href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\"> think of costumes</a>. Estimates are that American parents will spend <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\">one billion dollars</a> on Halloween costumes this year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_154\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Three Year Old Spiderman\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-154 \" title=\"spiderman\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSome well-prepared parents have already bought costumes for their children. Some creative seamstress-mothers are planning to sew up some costumes. And the well-prepared-seamstress-mamas have already finished sewing the costumes.\r\n\r\nAnd some mothers out there are stressed-out about their children\'s costumes for October 31.\r\n\r\nI was never good at arranging my children\'s Halloween costumes ahead of time. In part because I am a spur-of-the-moment person. And in part because my children could never make up their minds.\r\n\r\nI remember the year that Andrew couldn’t decide between being a cowboy and being a clown. He facilated back and forth, for three or four days he\'d be sure he wanted to be a clown.  Then the next few days, he\'d have decided on the cowboy costume.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_151\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"274\" caption=\"Andrew as a Cowboy Clown\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-151\" title=\"Andrew_cowboy_clown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown-274x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"274\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the end he decided on being a cowboy clown.\r\n\r\nWhatever the final decsion, we never had much money to spend on costumes for five children. I quickly discovered that my children never felt cheated, never ever seemed to even mind, that they didn’t get a pre-made commercial costume. We always had so much fun creating costumes from scratch. Or, at least, almost from scratch.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_149\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"243\" caption=\"Benjamin as a happy witch\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-149\" title=\"Benj_halloween_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2-243x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe year Benjamin dressed up as a witch, he wore one of his Dad’s black t-shirts, a one-dollar black witch hat and carried a broom we’d gotten for a quarter at a yard sale. The broom had originally been a Christmas decoration, with a bow and bells on it. We easily removed the red decor, and, voila, a perfect witch\'s broom.\r\n\r\nMy children were intrigued that I had been able to see a potential Halloween broom in a Christmas decoration. They began to see yard sale items in a different light after that.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-150\" title=\"Benj_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1-166x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"166\" height=\"300\" /></a>But Benjamin\'s favorite costume was the football outfit that was handed down to him from his cousin Josh. Benjamin idolized Josh and had enjoyed watching Josh play football in that outfit. He was in seventh heaven to be able to wear that for Halloween several years later. And, of course, it became a favorite dress-up item long after October was over.\r\n\r\nHalloween costumes became a fun and creative adventure with my children.  What could we find at yard sales that we could turn into parts of costumes or props to go with costumes? And what could we find around the house that would fit into the picture?\r\n\r\nSuperman pajamas worked as a superman outfit for my nephew Josh one year.  And then he wore them for months as his favorite pajamas.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_152\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"187\" caption=\"Josh in his Superman Pajamas, with the famous red cape\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-152\" title=\"Josh_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween-187x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy mother sat down one day and made red capes for the three grandsons: my Andrew and Matthew and my nephew Josh, who were within 18 months of each other.  My children got YEARS of play out of those capes.  Josh wore his red cape with the superman pajamas.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am now long past the days of choosing Halloween costumes for my children.  But each year, as the director of a mother\'s morning out program, I get to see what children are wearing for Halloween.  One of my favorite costumes of recent years was the little girl, the fourth child in her family, who came to the Halloween party dressed as \"Thing Four.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_155\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"249\" caption=\"Thing Four - What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-155\" title=\"Lucy_Thing_4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4-300x259.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"215\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHer costume was a one-piece outfit, with a felt circle on which her mom had written THING 4.  Then a can of hair paint had turned her hair bright blue.  Cost of the Halloween costume? Fifty cents for the white felt and $2 for the can of spray hair color.','Halloween Costumes Through the Years','','inherit','open','open','','147-revision-2','','','2011-10-08 02:25:15','2011-10-08 02:25:15','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=158',0,'revision','',0),(159,2,'2011-10-08 02:32:08','2011-10-08 02:32:08','With Halloween approaching, mothers across the country are beginning to<a title=\"Halloween_Costumes\" href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\"> think of costumes</a>. Estimates are that American parents will spend <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\">one billion dollars</a> on Halloween costumes this year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_154\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Three Year Old Spiderman\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-154 \" title=\"spiderman\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSome well-prepared parents have already bought costumes for their children. Unfortunately buying ahead does not guarantee that your child will still want to wear that costume on Halloween.\r\n\r\nSome creative seamstress-mothers are planning to sew up some costumes. And the well-prepared-seamstress-mamas have already finished sewing the costumes. We truly hope, for those mothers\' sakes, that their children will still be willing to wear those costumes on October 31.\r\n\r\nAnd some mothers out there are stressed-out about their children\'s Halloween costumes.\r\n\r\nI was never good at arranging my children\'s Halloween costumes ahead of time. In part because I am a spur-of-the-moment person. And in part because my children could never make up their minds.\r\n\r\nI remember the year that Andrew couldn’t decide between being a cowboy and being a clown. He facillated back and forth, for three or four days he\'d be sure he wanted to be a clown.  Then the next few days, he\'d have decided on the cowboy costume.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_151\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"219\" caption=\"Andrew as a Cowboy Clown\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-151 \" title=\"Andrew_cowboy_clown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown-274x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"219\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the end he decided on being a cowboy clown.\r\n\r\nWhatever the final decsion, we never had a lot of money to spend on costumes for five children. I quickly discovered that my children never felt cheated, never ever seemed to even mind, that they didn’t get a pre-made commercial costume. We always had so much fun creating costumes from scratch. Or, at least, almost from scratch.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_149\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"243\" caption=\"Benjamin as a happy witch\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-149\" title=\"Benj_halloween_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2-243x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe year Benjamin dressed up as a witch, he wore one of his Dad’s black t-shirts, a one-dollar black witch hat and carried a broom we’d gotten for a quarter at a yard sale. The broom had originally been a Christmas decoration, with a bow and bells on it. We easily removed the red decor, and, voila, a perfect witch\'s broom.\r\n\r\nMy children were intrigued that I had been able to see a potential Halloween broom in a Christmas decoration. They began to see yard sale items in a different light after that.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-150\" title=\"Benj_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1-166x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"166\" height=\"300\" /></a>But Benjamin\'s favorite costume was the football outfit that was handed down to him from his cousin Josh. Benjamin idolized Josh and had enjoyed watching Josh play football in that outfit. He was in seventh heaven to be able to wear that for Halloween several years later. And, of course, it became a favorite dress-up item long after October was over.\r\n\r\nHalloween costumes became a fun and creative adventure with my children.  What could we find at yard sales that we could turn into parts of costumes or props to go with costumes? And what could we find around the house that would fit into the picture?\r\n\r\nSuperman pajamas worked as a superman outfit for my nephew Josh one year.  And then he wore them for months as his favorite pajamas.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_152\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"187\" caption=\"Josh in his Superman Pajamas, with the famous red cape\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-152\" title=\"Josh_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween-187x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy mother sat down one day and made red capes for the three grandsons: my Andrew and Matthew and my nephew Josh, who were within 18 months of each other.  My children got YEARS of play out of those capes.  Josh wore his red cape with the superman pajamas.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am now long past the days of choosing Halloween costumes for my children.  But each year, as the director of a mother\'s morning out program, I get to see what children are wearing for Halloween.  One of my favorite costumes of recent years was the little girl, the fourth child in her family, who came to the Halloween party dressed as \"Thing Four.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_155\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"249\" caption=\"Thing Four - What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-155\" title=\"Lucy_Thing_4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4-300x259.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"215\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHer costume was a one-piece outfit, with a felt circle on which her mom had written THING 4.  Then a can of hair paint had turned her hair bright blue.  Cost of the Halloween costume? Fifty cents for the white felt and $2 for the can of spray hair color.','Halloween Costumes Through the Years','','inherit','open','open','','147-revision-3','','','2011-10-08 02:32:08','2011-10-08 02:32:08','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=159',0,'revision','',0),(160,2,'2011-10-08 13:29:39','2011-10-08 13:29:39','With Halloween approaching, mothers across the country are beginning to<a title=\"Halloween_Costumes\" href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\"> think of costumes</a>. Estimates are that American parents will spend <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\">one billion dollars</a> on Halloween costumes this year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_154\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Three Year Old Spiderman\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-154 \" title=\"spiderman\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSome well-prepared parents have already bought costumes for their children. Unfortunately buying ahead does not guarantee that your child will still want to wear that costume on Halloween.\r\n\r\nSome creative seamstress-mothers are planning to sew up some costumes. And the well-prepared-seamstress-mamas have already finished sewing the costumes. We truly hope, for those mothers\' sakes, that their children will still be willing to wear those costumes on October 31.\r\n\r\nAnd some mothers out there are stressed-out about their children\'s Halloween costumes.\r\n\r\nI was never good at arranging my children\'s Halloween costumes ahead of time. In part because I am a spur-of-the-moment person. And in part because my children could never make up their minds.\r\n\r\nI remember the year that Andrew couldn’t decide between being a cowboy and being a clown. He facillated back and forth, for three or four days he\'d be sure he wanted to be a clown.  Then the next few days, he\'d have decided on the cowboy costume.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_151\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"219\" caption=\"Andrew as a Cowboy Clown\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-151 \" title=\"Andrew_cowboy_clown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown-274x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"219\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the end he decided on being a cowboy clown.\r\n\r\nWhatever the final decsion, we never had a lot of money to spend on costumes for five children. I quickly discovered that my children never felt cheated, never ever seemed to even mind, that they didn’t get a pre-made commercial costume. We always had so much fun creating costumes from scratch. Or, at least, almost from scratch.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_149\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"243\" caption=\"Benjamin as a happy witch\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-149\" title=\"Benj_halloween_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2-243x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe year Benjamin dressed up as a witch, he wore one of his Dad’s black t-shirts, a one-dollar black witch hat and carried a broom we’d gotten for a quarter at a yard sale. The broom had originally been a Christmas decoration, with a bow and bells on it. We easily removed the red decor, and, voila, a perfect witch\'s broom.\r\n\r\nMy children were intrigued that I had been able to see a potential Halloween broom in a Christmas decoration. They began to see yard sale items in a different light after that.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-150\" title=\"Benj_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1-166x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"166\" height=\"300\" /></a>But Benjamin\'s favorite costume was the football outfit that was handed down to him from his cousin Josh. Benjamin idolized Josh and had enjoyed watching Josh play football in that outfit. He was in seventh heaven to be able to wear that for Halloween several years later. And, of course, it became a favorite dress-up item long after October was over.\r\n\r\nHalloween costumes became a fun and creative adventure with my children.  What could we find at yard sales that we could turn into parts of costumes or props to go with costumes? And what could we find around the house that would fit into the picture?\r\n\r\nSuperman pajamas worked as a superman outfit for my nephew Josh one year.  And then he wore them for months as his favorite pajamas.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_152\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"187\" caption=\"Josh in his Superman Pajamas, with the famous red cape\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-152\" title=\"Josh_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween-187x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy mother sat down one day and made red capes for the three grandsons: my Andrew and Matthew and my nephew Josh, who were within 18 months of each other.  My children got YEARS of play out of those capes.  Josh wore his red cape with the superman pajamas.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am now long past the days of choosing Halloween costumes for my children.  But each year, as the director of a mother\'s morning out program, I get to see what children are wearing for Halloween.  One of my favorite costumes of recent years was the little girl, the fourth child in her family, who came to the Halloween party dressed as \"Thing Four.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_155\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"249\" caption=\"Thing Four - What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-155\" title=\"Lucy_Thing_4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4-300x259.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"215\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHer costume was a one-piece outfit, with a felt circle on which her mom had written THING 4.  The felt circle was loosely stitched onto the outfit so that the circle could easily be removed and the outfit return to regular use. Then a can of hair paint had turned her hair bright blue.  Cost of the Halloween costume? Fifty cents for the white felt and $2 for the can of spray hair color.','Halloween Costumes Through the Years','','inherit','open','open','','147-revision-4','','','2011-10-08 13:29:39','2011-10-08 13:29:39','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=160',0,'revision','',0),(161,2,'2011-10-08 13:47:01','2011-10-08 13:47:01','','Benj_halloween_2','Benjamin at age 3','inherit','open','open','','benj_halloween_2-2','','','2011-10-08 13:47:01','2011-10-08 13:47:01','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_21.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(162,2,'2011-10-08 13:39:22','2011-10-08 13:39:22','With Halloween approaching, mothers across the country are beginning to<a title=\"Halloween_Costumes\" href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\"> think of costumes</a>. Estimates are that American parents will spend <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\">one billion dollars</a> on Halloween costumes this year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_154\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Three Year Old Spiderman\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-154 \" title=\"spiderman\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSome well-prepared parents have already bought costumes for their children. Unfortunately buying ahead does not guarantee that your child will still want to wear that costume on Halloween.\r\n\r\nSome creative seamstress-mothers are planning to sew up some costumes. And the well-prepared-seamstress-mamas have already finished sewing the costumes. We truly hope, for those mothers\' sakes, that their children will still be willing to wear those costumes on October 31.\r\n\r\nAnd some mothers out there are stressed-out about their children\'s Halloween costumes.\r\n\r\nI was never good at arranging my children\'s Halloween costumes ahead of time. In part because I am a spur-of-the-moment person. And in part because my children could never make up their minds.\r\n\r\nI remember the year that Andrew couldn’t decide between being a cowboy and being a clown. He facillated back and forth, for three or four days he\'d be sure he wanted to be a clown.  Then the next few days, he\'d have decided on the cowboy costume.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_151\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"219\" caption=\"Andrew as a Cowboy Clown\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-151 \" title=\"Andrew_cowboy_clown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown-274x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"219\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the end he decided on being a cowboy clown.\r\n\r\nWhatever the final decsion, we never had a lot of money to spend on costumes for five children. I quickly discovered that my children never felt cheated, never ever seemed to even mind, that they didn’t get a pre-made commercial costume. We always had so much fun creating costumes from scratch. Or, at least, almost from scratch.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_149\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"243\" caption=\"Benjamin as a happy witch\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-149\" title=\"Benj_halloween_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2-243x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe year Benjamin dressed up as a witch, he wore one of his Dad’s black t-shirts, a one-dollar black witch hat and carried a broom we’d gotten for a quarter at a yard sale. The broom had originally been a Christmas decoration, with a bow and bells on it. We easily removed the red decor, and, voila, a perfect witch\'s broom.\r\n\r\nMy children were intrigued that I had been able to see a potential Halloween broom in a Christmas decoration. They began to see yard sale items in a different light after that.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-150\" title=\"Benj_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1-166x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"166\" height=\"300\" /></a>But Benjamin\'s favorite costume was the football outfit that was handed down to him from his cousin Josh. Benjamin idolized Josh and had enjoyed watching Josh play football in that outfit. He was in seventh heaven to be able to wear that for Halloween several years later. And, of course, it became a favorite dress-up item long after October was over.\r\n\r\nHalloween costumes became a fun and creative adventure with my children.  What could we find at yard sales that we could turn into parts of costumes or props to go with costumes? And what could we find around the house that would fit into the picture?\r\n\r\nSuperman pajamas worked as a superman outfit for my nephew Josh one year.  And then he wore them for months as his favorite pajamas.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_152\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"187\" caption=\"Josh in his Superman Pajamas, with the famous red cape\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-152\" title=\"Josh_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween-187x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy mother sat down one day and made red capes for the three grandsons: my Andrew and Matthew and my nephew Josh, who were within 18 months of each other.  My children got YEARS of play out of those capes.  Josh wore his red cape with the superman pajamas.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am now long past the days of choosing Halloween costumes for my children.  But each year, as the director of a mother\'s morning out program, I get to see what children are wearing for Halloween.  One of my favorite costumes of recent years was the little girl, the fourth child in her family, who came to the Halloween party dressed as \"Thing Four.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_155\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"249\" caption=\"Thing Four - What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-155\" title=\"Lucy_Thing_4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4-300x259.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"215\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHer costume was a one-piece outfit, with a felt circle on which her mom had written THING 4.  The felt circle was loosely stitched onto the outfit so that the circle could easily be removed and the outfit return to regular use. Then a can of hair paint had turned her hair bright blue.  Cost of the Halloween costume? Fifty cents for the white felt and $2 for the can of spray hair color.','Halloween Costumes Through the Years','','inherit','open','open','','147-revision-5','','','2011-10-08 13:39:22','2011-10-08 13:39:22','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=162',0,'revision','',0),(168,2,'2011-10-08 13:53:24','2011-10-08 13:53:24','With Halloween approaching, mothers across the country are beginning to<a title=\"Halloween_Costumes\" href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\"> think of costumes</a>. Estimates are that American parents will spend <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\">one billion dollars</a> on Halloween costumes this year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_154\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Three Year Old Spiderman\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-154 \" title=\"spiderman\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSome well-prepared parents have already bought costumes for their children. Unfortunately buying ahead does not guarantee that your child will still want to wear that costume on Halloween.\r\n\r\nSome creative seamstress-mothers are planning to sew up some costumes. And the well-prepared-seamstress-mamas have already finished sewing the costumes. We truly hope, for those mothers\' sakes, that their children will still be willing to wear those costumes on October 31.\r\n\r\nAnd some mothers out there are stressed-out about their children\'s Halloween costumes.\r\n\r\nI was never good at arranging my children\'s Halloween costumes ahead of time. In part because I am a spur-of-the-moment person. And in part because my children could never make up their minds.\r\n\r\nI remember the year that Andrew couldn’t decide between being a cowboy and being a clown. He facillated back and forth, for three or four days he\'d be sure he wanted to be a clown.  Then the next few days, he\'d have decided on the cowboy costume.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_151\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"219\" caption=\"Andrew as a Cowboy Clown\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-151 \" title=\"Andrew_cowboy_clown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown-274x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"219\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the end he decided on being a cowboy clown.\r\n\r\nWhatever the final decsion, we never had a lot of money to spend on costumes for five children. I quickly discovered that my children never felt cheated, never ever seemed to even mind, that they didn’t get a pre-made commercial costume. We always had so much fun creating costumes from scratch. Or, at least, almost from scratch.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_149\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"243\" caption=\"Benjamin as a happy witch\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-149\" title=\"Benj_halloween_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2-243x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe year Benjamin dressed up as a witch, he wore one of his Dad’s black t-shirts, a one-dollar black witch hat and carried a broom we’d gotten for a quarter at a yard sale. The broom had originally been a Christmas decoration, with a bow and bells on it. We easily removed the red decor, and, voila, a perfect witch\'s broom.\r\n\r\nMy children were intrigued that I had been able to see a potential Halloween broom in a Christmas decoration. They began to see yard sale items in a different light after that.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-150\" title=\"Benj_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1-166x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"166\" height=\"300\" /></a>But Benjamin\'s favorite costume was the football outfit that was handed down to him from his cousin Josh. Benjamin idolized Josh and had enjoyed watching Josh play football in that outfit. He was in seventh heaven to be able to wear that for Halloween several years later. And, of course, it became a favorite dress-up item long after October was over.\r\n\r\nHalloween costumes became a fun and creative adventure with my children.  What could we find at yard sales that we could turn into parts of costumes or props to go with costumes? And what could we find around the house that would fit into the picture?\r\n\r\nSuperman pajamas worked as a superman outfit for my nephew Josh one year.  And then he wore them for months as his favorite pajamas.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_152\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"187\" caption=\"Josh in his Superman Pajamas, with the famous red cape\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-152\" title=\"Josh_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween-187x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy mother sat down one day and made red capes for the three grandsons: my Andrew and Matthew and my nephew Josh, who were within 18 months of each other.  My children got YEARS of play out of those capes.  Josh wore his red cape with the superman pajamas.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am now long past the days of choosing Halloween costumes for my children.  But each year, as the director of a mother\'s morning out program, I get to see what children are wearing for Halloween.  One of my favorite costumes of recent years was the little girl, the fourth child in her family, who came to the Halloween party dressed as \"Thing Four.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_155\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"249\" caption=\"Thing Four - What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-155\" title=\"Lucy_Thing_4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4-300x259.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"215\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHer costume was a one-piece outfit, with a felt circle on which her mom had written THING 4.  The felt circle was loosely stitched onto the outfit so that the circle could easily be removed and the outfit return to regular use. Then a can of hair paint had turned her hair bright blue.  Cost of the Halloween costume? Fifty cents for the white felt and $2 for the can of spray hair color.','Halloween Costumes Through the Years','','inherit','open','open','','147-revision-7','','','2011-10-08 13:53:24','2011-10-08 13:53:24','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=168',0,'revision','',0),(216,2,'2011-10-15 18:57:48','2011-10-15 18:57:48','I borrowed my brother Terrell’s car last week.  Our car was in the shop.  Terry drove his pick-up truck to work, so that I could drive his car for a couple of days.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_217\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"278\" caption=\"Terry, Debi and Carol, circa 1955\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/TerryDebiCarol55.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-217\" title=\"TerryDebiCarol55\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/TerryDebiCarol55-291x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"278\" height=\"287\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFor those days, I pulled into our carport, got out of the driver’s side and walked into my house.  Then, each time I went to get into or out of the car, I approached the driver’s side and got out of it from the driver’s side.\r\n\r\nNever once did I get in or out of the passenger side.  Until it was time to pick our car up from the mechanic and return Terry’s car.  Then Gregg got into the driver’s side and I walked around to the passenger side of my brother’s car.  And saw the new, fresh-looking scrape on that side of the car.\r\n\r\nOh. No.\r\n\r\nHad it been there before we borrowed the car?  I am appallingly unobservant of such things.  It might have been there and I just didn’t see it.  If Gregg and I were talking while we got into the car, the day we borrowed it -- and we probably were talking -- I would have been focued on our conversation, not on what the car looked like.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_218\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Janice holding Beth, Carol in front of Joan, Terry, Debi and Mother, who was pregnant with David at the time\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/EverybodyBeach57.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-218\" title=\"EverybodyBeach57\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/EverybodyBeach57-300x269.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"269\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut, since the scrape looked new, I thought, someone probably scraped my brother’s car, while it was parked somewhere, while it was in my care.  (If it had been scraped while I was in the car, I would have noticed. I may be unobservant, but not THAT clueless!)\r\n\r\nSo I called my brother.  I got an answering machine, so I left a message.  Had he looked at the passenger side of his car? (He is, after all, my brother and like me in many ways.)  Had he seen the scrape?  Had it been there before we borrowed his car?  Please give me a call. I want to make it right.\r\n\r\nFinally, last night, I was at my mother’s house, sitting in an easy chair across from her, my feet propped up on one side of a large ottoman.  My mother’s feet were propped up on the other side of the same ottoman.  That is how we often sit while she and I are visiting.\r\n\r\nWe discussed our recent trip to Ellijay, Georgia for apples.  And the book of Mother’s blogposts (<a href=\"http://www.ruthlace.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">from Ruthlace</a>) that is almost completely finished.  And my recent funny stories from work.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_225\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"777\" caption=\"Daddy with David, Terry, Carol, Beth and Debi in front of Joan, Mother. That&#39;s my dog Hercules in front of us. We&#39;re in front of our home in Ellijay, circa 1960\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/FamPicEllijay.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-225\" title=\"FamPicEllijay\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/FamPicEllijay.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"777\" height=\"585\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy mother and I never run out of things to talk about together!\r\n\r\nAfter we’d exhausted all those topics of conversation, I remembered to tell her the story of the scrape on the side of Terry’s car.  And that I hadn’t heard from Terry since I’d left the message a couple of days ago.  Mother picked up her phone and called him.  She asked him how he was doing and how his week had been.  Then asked him about the car.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_220\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"227\" caption=\"Carol, Daddy holding David, Beth, Debi and Terry, circa 1960\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Daddy5sibs1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-220\" title=\"Daddy5sibs\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Daddy5sibs1-300x267.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"227\" height=\"203\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n“Oh,” he told her, “I got Debi’s message, but I haven’t had time to go out and look at that car.  I don’t remember a scrape on that side of the car.  But it doesn’t matter one way or the other.”  And he and Mother chatted on the phone for another few minutes about other things.\r\n\r\nI love my brother!  I love all my siblings - there are seven of us.  My mother tells people, when they ask, Why seven children?, seven is the Biblical number for perfection.\r\n\r\nGregg and I lived in an apartment, early in our married life, where the owner of the apartment was not on speaking terms with her son.  They had quarrelled over the ownership of a boat, following her husband’s funeral.  And, after the quarrel this mother and her son went several years without a word between them.  In fact, if our landlord saw her grandchildren in a store, their mother, her daughter-in-law, would hustle the children out of the store and away from their grandmother. Without speaking.\r\n\r\nI. Cannot. Imagine. Such. Stupidity.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_221\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"584\" caption=\"Beth, Carol, Mama Shaw, Joan, Debi, Janice on the front row, Terry, Daddy, Mother and David in the back. Taken at Mama and Daddy&#39;s 45th anniversary celebration. The last such picture taken before my Father&#39;s death in 1986.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sibMamaShawDadMama45thAnniv.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-221\" title=\"sibMamaShawDadMama45thAnniv\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sibMamaShawDadMama45thAnniv-1024x746.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"584\" height=\"425\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nLast week, a young mother told me that she was raised by her grandparents, both of whom have recently died.  Her mother, she shared, lives here in our town, but has little or nothing to do with her, or her two precious children.\r\n\r\nHow is it possible for ANYONE to be as foolish as that woman?\r\n\r\nI cannot imagine living in the same town with my grandchildren and having nothing to do with them.\r\n\r\nYou should see those two adorable children!  A grandmother should be captivated by that one child’s dimples.  I am not that child’s grandmother and I am captivated by her dimples.  She smiles all the time and I want to get out my camera and take pictures of her grin and her dimples.  And I am not related to her.\r\n\r\nHow does anyone live without his family?\r\n\r\nI NEED my family.  All my brothers and sisters.  And my mother.\r\n\r\nWhen we get together and start telling stories, each one of the seven of us -eight when you add in my mother - adds their own remembered details, their own personal feelings about each shared memory.  Each of us bring a unique richness to the blend that is our family.\r\n\r\nI have trouble imagining the relationship poverty of people who have only one sibling.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_222\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"711\" caption=\"Joan, Terry and Carol on Daddy&#39;s lap, Mother holding me as a baby and Janice.  Joan is holding a doll. Circa 1952.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/FamilyDebiBaby.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-222\" title=\"FamilyDebiBaby\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/FamilyDebiBaby.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"711\" height=\"484\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI am so rich in family ties that I did not hesitate to call my brother and borrow his car.  I did not in any way stress out about it.  Even after I saw the scrape, I did not stress too much.  I felt bad that his car was damaged.  But I never, ever worried that such a small matter would interfere with our relationship.\r\n\r\nI love my brother Terry and I know that he loves me.\r\n\r\nI am WEALTHY in the love of my family.  And no money in the world can compare with that wealth.','Borrowing my Brother\'s Car','','publish','open','open','','borrowing-my-brothers-car','','','2011-10-23 19:49:03','2011-10-23 23:49:03','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=216',0,'post','',0),(164,2,'2011-10-08 13:51:06','2011-10-08 13:51:06','<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_21.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-161\" title=\"Benj_halloween_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_21-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>With Halloween approaching, mothers across the country are beginning to<a title=\"Halloween_Costumes\" href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\"> think of costumes</a>. Estimates are that American parents will spend <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\">one billion dollars</a> on Halloween costumes this year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_154\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Three Year Old Spiderman\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-154 \" title=\"spiderman\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSome well-prepared parents have already bought costumes for their children. Unfortunately buying ahead does not guarantee that your child will still want to wear that costume on Halloween.\r\n\r\nSome creative seamstress-mothers are planning to sew up some costumes. And the well-prepared-seamstress-mamas have already finished sewing the costumes. We truly hope, for those mothers\' sakes, that their children will still be willing to wear those costumes on October 31.\r\n\r\nAnd some mothers out there are stressed-out about their children\'s Halloween costumes.\r\n\r\nI was never good at arranging my children\'s Halloween costumes ahead of time. In part because I am a spur-of-the-moment person. And in part because my children could never make up their minds.\r\n\r\nI remember the year that Andrew couldn’t decide between being a cowboy and being a clown. He facillated back and forth, for three or four days he\'d be sure he wanted to be a clown.  Then the next few days, he\'d have decided on the cowboy costume.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_151\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"219\" caption=\"Andrew as a Cowboy Clown\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-151 \" title=\"Andrew_cowboy_clown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown-274x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"219\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the end he decided on being a cowboy clown.\r\n\r\nWhatever the final decsion, we never had a lot of money to spend on costumes for five children. I quickly discovered that my children never felt cheated, never ever seemed to even mind, that they didn’t get a pre-made commercial costume. We always had so much fun creating costumes from scratch. Or, at least, almost from scratch.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_149\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"243\" caption=\"Benjamin as a happy witch\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-149\" title=\"Benj_halloween_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2-243x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe year Benjamin dressed up as a witch, he wore one of his Dad’s black t-shirts, a one-dollar black witch hat and carried a broom we’d gotten for a quarter at a yard sale. The broom had originally been a Christmas decoration, with a bow and bells on it. We easily removed the red decor, and, voila, a perfect witch\'s broom.\r\n\r\nMy children were intrigued that I had been able to see a potential Halloween broom in a Christmas decoration. They began to see yard sale items in a different light after that.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-150\" title=\"Benj_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1-166x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"166\" height=\"300\" /></a>But Benjamin\'s favorite costume was the football outfit that was handed down to him from his cousin Josh. Benjamin idolized Josh and had enjoyed watching Josh play football in that outfit. He was in seventh heaven to be able to wear that for Halloween several years later. And, of course, it became a favorite dress-up item long after October was over.\r\n\r\nHalloween costumes became a fun and creative adventure with my children.  What could we find at yard sales that we could turn into parts of costumes or props to go with costumes? And what could we find around the house that would fit into the picture?\r\n\r\nSuperman pajamas worked as a superman outfit for my nephew Josh one year.  And then he wore them for months as his favorite pajamas.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_152\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"187\" caption=\"Josh in his Superman Pajamas, with the famous red cape\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-152\" title=\"Josh_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween-187x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy mother sat down one day and made red capes for the three grandsons: my Andrew and Matthew and my nephew Josh, who were within 18 months of each other.  My children got YEARS of play out of those capes.  Josh wore his red cape with the superman pajamas.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am now long past the days of choosing Halloween costumes for my children.  But each year, as the director of a mother\'s morning out program, I get to see what children are wearing for Halloween.  One of my favorite costumes of recent years was the little girl, the fourth child in her family, who came to the Halloween party dressed as \"Thing Four.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_155\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"249\" caption=\"Thing Four - What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-155\" title=\"Lucy_Thing_4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4-300x259.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"215\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHer costume was a one-piece outfit, with a felt circle on which her mom had written THING 4.  The felt circle was loosely stitched onto the outfit so that the circle could easily be removed and the outfit return to regular use. Then a can of hair paint had turned her hair bright blue.  Cost of the Halloween costume? Fifty cents for the white felt and $2 for the can of spray hair color.','Halloween Costumes Through the Years','','inherit','open','open','','147-revision-6','','','2011-10-08 13:51:06','2011-10-08 13:51:06','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=164',0,'revision','',0),(169,2,'2011-10-06 22:22:59','2011-10-06 22:22:59','Pumpkin farmers, I hear, are competing to be the first to grow a <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/garden/the-race-to-grow-the-one-ton-pumpkin.html?_r=2&amp;partner=MYWAY&amp;ei=5065\" target=\"_blank\">one ton pumpkin</a>. What a feat that will be!  I would love to see that pumpkin.  Because I love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nIn part because I love Fall. The moderate weather, the beautiful Fall leaves.  My birthday is in the Fall.  But the main reason I have fallen so completely in love with pumpkins is <a href=\"http://www.pumpkinsusa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Pumpkin Patch</a>.\r\n\r\nSpecifically the Pumpkin Patch at <a title=\"Trinity_United_Methodist_Church_Rome_GA\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/\" target=\"_blank\">our church</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_126\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"233\" caption=\"Pumpkin Patch at Trinity United Methodist, Rome, GA, 2009\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-126 \" title=\"Trinity_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Trinity_pumpkins1-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"162\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFourteen years ago, Grant Magness, our youth minister walked into a youth council meeting and talked to us enthusiastically about the possibility of selling pumpkins, on the front lawn of our church, to raise money for the youth program.  At that point we had three children in the youth group - the reason I was a member of the youth council.\r\n\r\nA church selling pumpkins didn\'t seem like a good idea to me. But I loved that youth minister and was, therefore, willing to keep my mouth shut and to give his idea a try. That taught me to keep my mouth shut more often!\r\n\r\n2011 is our fourteenth year of selling pumpkins.  Each year we have around 1500 children come for field trips.  The field trips consist of 30 minutes of storytelling and music and another 30 minutes of children \"in the Patch\" - finding a tall pumpkin, then a short, fat pumpkin, then one with lumpy-bumps, then watching a pumpkin being carved.  If the children are very brave, they put their hands down inside the pumpkin and pull out a handful of slimy pulp and seeds.\r\n\r\nFor a couple of  years, our son Andrew carved 35-40 pumpkins a year!  You can see a video of him carving for a group of children <a title=\"Andrew_carving_pumpkin\" href=\"http://www.trinityumcrome.org/content/carving-pumpkin\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_128\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"499\" caption=\"Susan telling a story, Andrew waiting to carve a pumpkin\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-128\" title=\"Patch_storytelling\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Patch_storytelling.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"499\" height=\"304\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd my Octobers for the past 14 years have included storytelling for about half of those children. I love the storytelling and I love seeing all those children, with their smiling, excited faces, running through the pumpkins and having a happy time.\r\n\r\nPumpkins remind me that God can use anyone or anything, even pumpkins, to reach out to His people. Members of our church who attend different worship services and different Sunday School classes, people of different ages, get together and get to know each other pulling 2000 pumpkins off a truck, or working in the Patch.\r\n\r\nPeople who otherwise have little or nothing to do with a church, come and buy a pumpkin and experience joy on God\'s property.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_133\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" caption=\"2000 pumpkins come off the truck and down long lines onto the pallets on the front lawn of Trinity UMC, Rome, GA\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-133\" title=\"Tayler_Jay_pumpkins\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tayler_Jay_pumpkins.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"413\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe read the book, <a title=\"Pumpkin_Patch_Parable\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400308461/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=0785277226&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=10N0X05RE6VFTGXRFMDM\" target=\"_blank\">The Pumpkin Patch Parable</a>, to preschool groups.  That book describes how, like a carver cleans the yucky stuff, the pulp and the seeds, out of a pumpkin, God can clean us up inside.  And like the farmer puts a candle in the carved pumpkin to make a shining jack-o-lantern, God puts His light inside His children.\r\n\r\nWhat amazing Good News!','Big, Little, Huge:   I LOVE Pumpkins','','inherit','open','open','','124-revision-13','','','2011-10-06 22:22:59','2011-10-06 22:22:59','',124,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=169',0,'revision','',0),(170,2,'2011-10-29 01:46:00','2011-10-29 05:46:00','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish.<a title=\"Steve_Jobs_Children_quote\" href=\"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/steve-jobs-final-wish-to-get-to-know-his-children-before-it-was-too-late-2367355.html\" target=\"_blank\"> According to Omish</a>, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\r\n\r\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em> What a great description of being a parent!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"222\" height=\"222\" /></a>For our book, <a title=\"Mother_in_the_middle\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Mother in the Middle</em></a>, Dr. Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\r\n\r\nThat book begins with my personal story of motherhood:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"207\" caption=\"Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-173\" title=\"AM&amp;L L6months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"273\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\r\n\r\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Our Precious Lisette, at age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"269\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\r\n\r\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\r\n\r\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\r\n\r\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\r\n\r\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered our baby a gift from God.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"202\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-174\" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"282\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\r\n\r\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\r\n\r\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"205\" caption=\"Jonathan (1 year) and Benjamin (4)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\r\n\r\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.\r\n\r\nadapted from <em>Mother in the Middle</em> by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest','Steve Jobs: Children 10,000 Times Better than Anything','','publish','open','open','','children-10000-times-better-than-anything-else','','','2011-11-05 18:05:36','2011-11-05 22:05:36','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=170',0,'post','',0),(171,2,'2011-10-09 01:45:32','2011-10-09 01:45:32','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish. According to Omish, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\n\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em> What a great description of being a parent!\n\nFor our book, Mother in the Middle, Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\n\nThat book begins my personal story of motherhood:\n\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\n\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\n\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\n\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\n\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\n\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\n\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered it a gift from God.\n\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\n\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\n\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\n\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\n\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.','Children: 10,000 Times Better than Anything Else','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision','','','2011-10-09 01:45:32','2011-10-09 01:45:32','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=171',0,'revision','',0),(172,2,'2011-11-05 17:00:08','2011-11-05 21:00:08','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish.<a title=\"Steve_Jobs_Children_quote\" href=\"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/steve-jobs-final-wish-to-get-to-know-his-children-before-it-was-too-late-2367355.html\" target=\"_blank\"> According to Omish</a>, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\n\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em>What a great description of being a parent!\n\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"222\" height=\"222\" /></a>For our book, <a title=\"Mother_in_the_middle\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Mother in the Middle</em></a>, Dr. Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\n\nThat book begins with my personal story of motherhood:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"207\" caption=\"Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-173\" title=\"AM&amp;L L6months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"273\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\n\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Our Precious Lisette, at age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"269\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\n\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\n\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\n\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\n\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered our baby a gift from God.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"202\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-174\" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"282\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\n\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\n\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"205\" caption=\"Jonathan (1 year) and Benjamin (4)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\n\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.\n\nadapted from <em>Mother in the Middle</em> by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest','Steve Jobs: Children 10,000 Times Better than Anything','','inherit','open','open','','170-autosave','','','2011-11-05 17:00:08','2011-11-05 21:00:08','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=172',0,'revision','',0),(173,2,'2011-10-09 01:53:35','2011-10-09 01:53:35','','Andrew, Matthew, Lisette','Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles','inherit','open','open','','aml-l6months','','','2011-10-09 01:53:35','2011-10-09 01:53:35','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(174,2,'2011-10-09 01:55:26','2011-10-09 01:55:26','','Andrew 6mo','Andrew at 6 months old','inherit','open','open','','andrew-6mo','','','2011-10-09 01:55:26','2011-10-09 01:55:26','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(175,2,'2011-10-09 01:57:13','2011-10-09 01:57:13','','Jon and Ben portrait 1989','Jonathan at 1 year and Benjamin at 4 years old','inherit','open','open','','jon-and-ben-portrait-1989','','','2011-10-09 01:57:13','2011-10-09 01:57:13','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(176,2,'2011-10-09 01:46:00','2011-10-09 01:46:00','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish. According to Omish, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\r\n\r\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em> What a great description of being a parent!\r\n\r\nFor our book, Mother in the Middle, Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\r\n\r\nThat book begins my personal story of motherhood:\r\n\r\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\r\n\r\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\r\n\r\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\r\n\r\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\r\n\r\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\r\n\r\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\r\n\r\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered it a gift from God.\r\n\r\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\r\n\r\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\r\n\r\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\r\n\r\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\r\n\r\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.','Children: 10,000 Times Better than Anything Else','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision-2','','','2011-10-09 01:46:00','2011-10-09 01:46:00','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=176',0,'revision','',0),(177,2,'2011-10-09 01:58:26','2011-10-09 01:58:26','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish. According to Omish, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\r\n\r\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em>What a great description of being a parent!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"207\" caption=\"Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-173\" title=\"AM&amp;L L6months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"273\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFor our book, Mother in the Middle, Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\r\n\r\nThat book begins my personal story of motherhood:\r\n\r\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\r\n\r\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\r\n\r\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\r\n\r\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\r\n\r\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\r\n\r\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\r\n\r\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered it a gift from God.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"202\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-174\" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"282\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\r\n\r\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\r\n\r\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"205\" caption=\"Jonathan (1 year) and Benjamin (4)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\r\n\r\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.','Children: 10,000 Times Better than Anything Else','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision-3','','','2011-10-09 01:58:26','2011-10-09 01:58:26','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=177',0,'revision','',0),(178,2,'2011-10-09 02:04:26','2011-10-09 02:04:26','','Lisette at 3','Our Precious Lisette, at age 3','inherit','open','open','','lisette-at-3','','','2011-10-09 02:04:26','2011-10-09 02:04:26','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(179,2,'2011-10-09 02:02:21','2011-10-09 02:02:21','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish.<a title=\"Steve_Jobs_Children_quote\" href=\"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/steve-jobs-final-wish-to-get-to-know-his-children-before-it-was-too-late-2367355.html\" target=\"_blank\"> According to Omish</a>, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\r\n\r\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em>What a great description of being a parent!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"207\" caption=\"Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-173\" title=\"AM&amp;L L6months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"273\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFor our book, Mother in the Middle, Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\r\n\r\nThat book begins my personal story of motherhood:\r\n\r\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\r\n\r\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\r\n\r\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\r\n\r\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\r\n\r\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\r\n\r\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\r\n\r\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered it a gift from God.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"202\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-174\" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"282\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\r\n\r\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\r\n\r\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"205\" caption=\"Jonathan (1 year) and Benjamin (4)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\r\n\r\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.','Children: 10,000 Times Better than Anything Else','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision-4','','','2011-10-09 02:02:21','2011-10-09 02:02:21','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=179',0,'revision','',0),(180,2,'2011-10-09 02:05:27','2011-10-09 02:05:27','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish.<a title=\"Steve_Jobs_Children_quote\" href=\"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/steve-jobs-final-wish-to-get-to-know-his-children-before-it-was-too-late-2367355.html\" target=\"_blank\"> According to Omish</a>, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\r\n\r\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em>What a great description of being a parent!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"207\" caption=\"Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-173\" title=\"AM&amp;L L6months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"273\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFor our book, Mother in the Middle, Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\r\n\r\nThat book begins my personal story of motherhood:\r\n\r\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\r\n\r\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Our Precious Lisette, at age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"269\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\r\n\r\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\r\n\r\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\r\n\r\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\r\n\r\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered our baby a gift from God.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"202\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-174\" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"282\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\r\n\r\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\r\n\r\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"205\" caption=\"Jonathan (1 year) and Benjamin (4)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\r\n\r\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.','Children: 10,000 Times Better than Anything Else','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision-5','','','2011-10-09 02:05:27','2011-10-09 02:05:27','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=180',0,'revision','',0),(181,2,'2011-10-09 02:14:19','2011-10-09 02:14:19','','MotherInThe MiddleCover','Published by Zondervan Publishing, co-authored with Dr. Charmaine Yoest, currently president of Americans United for Life','inherit','open','open','','motherinthe-middlecover','','','2011-10-09 02:14:19','2011-10-09 02:14:19','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(182,2,'2011-10-09 02:11:37','2011-10-09 02:11:37','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish.<a title=\"Steve_Jobs_Children_quote\" href=\"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/steve-jobs-final-wish-to-get-to-know-his-children-before-it-was-too-late-2367355.html\" target=\"_blank\"> According to Omish</a>, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\r\n\r\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em>What a great description of being a parent!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"207\" caption=\"Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-173\" title=\"AM&amp;L L6months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"273\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nFor our book, <a title=\"Mother_in_the_middle\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Mother in the Middle</em></a>, Dr. Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\r\n\r\nThat book begins my personal story of motherhood:\r\n\r\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\r\n\r\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Our Precious Lisette, at age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"269\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\r\n\r\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\r\n\r\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\r\n\r\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\r\n\r\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered our baby a gift from God.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"202\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-174\" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"282\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\r\n\r\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\r\n\r\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"205\" caption=\"Jonathan (1 year) and Benjamin (4)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\r\n\r\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.','Children: 10,000 Times Better than Anything Else','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision-6','','','2011-10-09 02:11:37','2011-10-09 02:11:37','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=182',0,'revision','',0),(183,2,'2011-10-09 02:15:47','2011-10-09 02:15:47','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish.<a title=\"Steve_Jobs_Children_quote\" href=\"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/steve-jobs-final-wish-to-get-to-know-his-children-before-it-was-too-late-2367355.html\" target=\"_blank\"> According to Omish</a>, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\r\n\r\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em>What a great description of being a parent!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"222\" height=\"222\" /></a>For our book, <a title=\"Mother_in_the_middle\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Mother in the Middle</em></a>, Dr. Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\r\n\r\nThat book begins my personal story of motherhood:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"207\" caption=\"Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-173\" title=\"AM&amp;L L6months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"273\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\r\n\r\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Our Precious Lisette, at age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"269\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\r\n\r\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\r\n\r\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\r\n\r\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\r\n\r\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered our baby a gift from God.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"202\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-174\" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"282\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\r\n\r\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\r\n\r\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"205\" caption=\"Jonathan (1 year) and Benjamin (4)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\r\n\r\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.','Children: 10,000 Times Better than Anything Else','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision-7','','','2011-10-09 02:15:47','2011-10-09 02:15:47','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=183',0,'revision','',0),(184,2,'2011-10-09 02:19:20','2011-10-09 02:19:20','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish.<a title=\"Steve_Jobs_Children_quote\" href=\"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/steve-jobs-final-wish-to-get-to-know-his-children-before-it-was-too-late-2367355.html\" target=\"_blank\"> According to Omish</a>, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\r\n\r\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em>What a great description of being a parent!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"222\" height=\"222\" /></a>For our book, <a title=\"Mother_in_the_middle\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Mother in the Middle</em></a>, Dr. Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\r\n\r\nThat book begins with my personal story of motherhood:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"207\" caption=\"Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-173\" title=\"AM&amp;L L6months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"273\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\r\n\r\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Our Precious Lisette, at age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"269\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\r\n\r\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\r\n\r\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\r\n\r\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\r\n\r\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered our baby a gift from God.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"202\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-174\" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"282\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\r\n\r\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\r\n\r\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"205\" caption=\"Jonathan (1 year) and Benjamin (4)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\r\n\r\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.\r\n\r\nadapted from <em>Mother in the Middle</em> by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest','Steve Jobs: Children 10,000 Times Better than Anything Else','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision-8','','','2011-10-09 02:19:20','2011-10-09 02:19:20','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=184',0,'revision','',0),(185,2,'2011-10-08 19:26:39','2011-10-08 19:26:39','With Halloween approaching, mothers across the country are beginning to<a title=\"Halloween_Costumes\" href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\"> think of costumes</a>. Estimates are that American parents will spend <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/44788550/?slide=1\" target=\"_blank\">one billion dollars</a> on Halloween costumes this year.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_154\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"199\" caption=\"Three Year Old Spiderman\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-154 \" title=\"spiderman\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spiderman-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSome well-prepared parents have already bought costumes for their children. Unfortunately buying ahead does not guarantee that your child will still want to wear that costume on Halloween.\r\n\r\nSome creative seamstress-mothers are planning to sew up some costumes. And the well-prepared-seamstress-mamas have already finished sewing the costumes. We truly hope, for those mothers\' sakes, that their children will still be willing to wear those costumes on October 31.\r\n\r\nAnd some mothers out there are stressed-out about their children\'s Halloween costumes.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_167\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"235\" caption=\"Amanda, Matthew and Josh\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/halloween_costume1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-167\" title=\"halloween_costume\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/halloween_costume1-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"235\" height=\"166\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was never good at arranging my children\'s Halloween costumes ahead of time. In part because I am a spur-of-the-moment person. And in part because my children could never make up their minds.\r\n\r\nI remember the year that Andrew couldn’t decide between being a cowboy and being a clown. He facillated back and forth, for three or four days he\'d be sure he wanted to be a clown.  Then the next few days, he\'d have decided on the cowboy costume.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_151\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"219\" caption=\"Andrew as a Cowboy Clown\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-151 \" title=\"Andrew_cowboy_clown\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew_cowboy_clown-274x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"219\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the end he decided on being a cowboy clown.\r\n\r\nWhatever the final decsion, we never had a lot of money to spend on costumes for five children. I quickly discovered that my children never felt cheated, never ever seemed to even mind, that they didn’t get a pre-made commercial costume. We always had so much fun creating costumes from scratch. Or, at least, almost from scratch.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_149\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"243\" caption=\"Benjamin as a happy witch\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-149\" title=\"Benj_halloween_2\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_halloween_2-243x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe year Benjamin dressed up as a witch, he wore one of his Dad’s black t-shirts, a one-dollar black witch hat and carried a broom we’d gotten for a quarter at a yard sale. The broom had originally been a Christmas decoration, with a bow and bells on it. We easily removed the red decor, and, voila, a perfect witch\'s broom.\r\n\r\nMy children were intrigued that I had been able to see a potential Halloween broom in a Christmas decoration. They began to see yard sale items in a different light after that.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-150\" title=\"Benj_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Benj_Halloween1-166x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"166\" height=\"300\" /></a>But Benjamin\'s favorite costume was the football outfit that was handed down to him from his cousin Josh. Benjamin idolized Josh and had enjoyed watching Josh play football in that outfit. He was in seventh heaven to be able to wear that for Halloween several years later. And, of course, it became a favorite dress-up item long after October was over.\r\n\r\nHalloween costumes became a fun and creative adventure with my children.  What could we find at yard sales that we could turn into parts of costumes or props to go with costumes? And what could we find around the house that would fit into the picture?\r\n\r\nSuperman pajamas worked as a superman outfit for my nephew Josh one year.  And then he wore them for months as his favorite pajamas.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_152\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"187\" caption=\"Josh in his Superman Pajamas, with the famous red cape\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-152\" title=\"Josh_Halloween\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Josh_Halloween-187x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy mother sat down one day and made red capes for the three grandsons: my Andrew and Matthew and my nephew Josh, who were within 18 months of each other.  My children got YEARS of play out of those capes.  Josh wore his red cape with the superman pajamas.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am now long past the days of choosing Halloween costumes for my children.  But each year, as the director of a mother\'s morning out program, I get to see what children are wearing for Halloween.  One of my favorite costumes of recent years was the little girl, the fourth child in her family, who came to the Halloween party dressed as \"Thing Four.\"\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_155\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"249\" caption=\"Thing Four - What a cutie!\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-155\" title=\"Lucy_Thing_4\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lucy_Thing_4-300x259.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"215\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHer costume was a one-piece outfit, with a felt circle on which her mom had written THING 4.  The felt circle was loosely stitched onto the outfit so that the circle could easily be removed and the outfit return to regular use. Then a can of hair paint had turned her hair bright blue.  Cost of the Halloween costume? Fifty cents for the white felt and $2 for the can of spray hair color.','Halloween Costumes Through the Years','','inherit','open','open','','147-revision-8','','','2011-10-08 19:26:39','2011-10-08 19:26:39','',147,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=185',0,'revision','',0),(186,2,'2011-10-09 20:44:35','2011-10-09 20:44:35','http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-FamilyAtJJwedding.jpg','cropped-FamilyAtJJwedding.jpg','','inherit','closed','open','','cropped-familyatjjwedding-jpg','','','2011-10-09 20:44:35','2011-10-09 20:44:35','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-FamilyAtJJwedding.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(187,2,'2011-10-09 21:01:38','2011-10-09 21:01:38','http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-AMLBJpreschoolcollage2.jpg','cropped-AMLBJpreschoolcollage2.jpg','','inherit','closed','open','','cropped-amlbjpreschoolcollage2-jpg','','','2011-10-09 21:01:38','2011-10-09 21:01:38','',0,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cropped-AMLBJpreschoolcollage2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(188,2,'2011-10-09 02:23:44','2011-10-09 02:23:44','Not long before he died, Steve Jobs went out to eat sushi with his friend Dean Omish.<a title=\"Steve_Jobs_Children_quote\" href=\"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/steve-jobs-final-wish-to-get-to-know-his-children-before-it-was-too-late-2367355.html\" target=\"_blank\"> According to Omish</a>, “I asked him if he was glad that he had kids, and he said, \'It\'s 10,000 times better than anything I\'ve ever done\'.\"\r\n\r\n<em>Ten thousand times better than anything I’ve ever done.</em>What a great description of being a parent!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-181\" title=\"MotherInThe MiddleCover\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MotherInThe-MiddleCover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"222\" height=\"222\" /></a>For our book, <a title=\"Mother_in_the_middle\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Middle-Searching-Peace-Mommy/dp/0310206928\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Mother in the Middle</em></a>, Dr. Charmaine Yoest and I interviewed dozens of mothers, discussing the value of motherhood.  From Madison Avenue Executives to small-town factory workers, from successful entrepreneurs to Kmart clerks. The mothers who were the happiest were women who had a vision for the significance of their roles in the lives of their children. They considered their work as mothers to be \"my greatest work\" and \"the most important thing I will ever do.\"\r\n\r\nThat book begins with my personal story of motherhood:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_173\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"207\" caption=\"Matthew and Andrew playing with Lisette - our first three miracles\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-173\" title=\"AM&amp;L L6months\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AML-L6months-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"273\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nDeborah: I always knew that I wanted to have children. . . .When I fell in love with my husband Gregg, I always told him I wanted twenty-five children. I was only half joking.\r\n\r\nFour and a half years after we married, we decided it was time to try to get pregnant. After a year, we saw the first in a long series of doctors. We became familiar with a wide variety of medical tests that intruded into our intimate lives.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"203\" caption=\"Our Precious Lisette, at age 3\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-178\" title=\"Lisette at 3\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lisette-at-3-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"269\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd every month I wasn’t pregnant I grieved.\r\n\r\nMy longing for a baby was like an intense personal hunger than nothing else could fill. On more than one occasion, I left doctors’ offices and wept with an intensity I had never known before.\r\n\r\nTwo different fertility specialists informed us that we would probably never have children.\r\n\r\nMy emotional frame of mind made it very difficult to continue to work in day care. At my center, I saw children coming and going each day who were hungry for their mothers’ time and attention, in somewhat the same way I was hungry for a baby. I resigned to start graduate work in early childhood education.\r\n\r\nIn December that same year, I learned I was pregnant. Our doctor called it a “miracle.” We considered our baby a gift from God.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_174\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"202\" caption=\"Andrew at 6 months old\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-174\" title=\"Andrew 6mo\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-6mo-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"282\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNothing, not even the emotional turmoil of our infertility experience, prepared me for the intensity of childbirth. Holding our son, Andrew, looking into his eyes, was exhilarating, earth shattering, life changing, empowering. The way in which I viewed life was forever changed.\r\n\r\nEighteen months later we had a second miracle: Matthew. To my astonishment, his birth was just as exhilarating, life changing, incredible.\r\n\r\nAnd our lives filled up with miracles: two and a half years later Lisette joined our lives. Nineteen months after that, Benjamin surprised us by coming nine days early. Jonathan came along three years after Benjamin. And with each child came joy, tears, laughter, incredible strength and a life of rich texture and variety.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_175\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"205\" caption=\"Jonathan (1 year) and Benjamin (4)\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-175\" title=\"Jon and Ben portrait 1989\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jon-and-Ben-portrait-1989-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNo two of them are alike. Each brings individual style and personality into our family mix. Each has enriched my life beyond measure. I cannot imagine my life without any one of them.\r\n\r\nThey are, to quote Steve Jobs, 10,000 times better than anything else I’ve ever done.\r\n\r\nadapted from <em>Mother in the Middle</em> by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest','Steve Jobs: Children 10,000 Times Better than Anything Else','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision-9','','','2011-10-09 02:23:44','2011-10-09 02:23:44','',170,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=188',0,'revision','',0),(191,2,'2011-10-10 22:54:14','2011-10-10 22:54:14','New EU safety rules, just now being implemented, require that balloons may not be blown up by unsupervised children, for fear that the child may swallow the balloon and choke.  The same rules apply to party whistles and magnetic fishing games.\nIn addition the new EU rules dictate how noisy toys may be - including rattles and musical instruments.\n\nThe outcry over the new rules seems to center on how they will restrict a child’s freedom to play and to explore, restricting the types of play that encourage children to be independent.\n\nFrank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, warned: \"These bans diminish the experience, both of having fun and learning, by turning play into a danger zone with rules that stifle life and adventure for children.\"\n\nAnd, I wouuld add, increase the stress levels of the mothers who will be expected to abide by the new rules.','No More Balloons, Party Whistles for Children, but More Stress for Moms','','inherit','open','open','','190-revision','','','2011-10-10 22:54:14','2011-10-10 22:54:14','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=191',0,'revision','',0),(192,2,'2011-11-05 15:23:01','2011-11-05 19:23:01','New EU safety rules, just now being implemented, require that balloons may not be blown up by unsupervised children, for fear that the child may swallow the balloon and choke.  The same rules apply to party whistles and magnetic fishing games.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_519\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Benjamin, age 4, with his teddy bear. This photo from our book, When You Were a Baby.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/BenjTeddyWYWB.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-519 \" title=\"BenjTeddyWYWB\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/BenjTeddyWYWB-204x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn addition the new EU rules dictate how noisy toys may be - including rattles and musical instruments. The rules even cover teddy bears, which must now be fully washable, lest those mangy stuffed animals harbor germs.\n\nThe outcry over the new rules centers on how they will inhibit a child’s freedom to play and to explore, restricting the types of play that encourage children to be independent.\n\nFrank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, warned: \"These bans diminish the experience, both of having fun and learning, by turning play into a danger zone with rules that stifle life and adventure for children.\"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_518\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\" caption=\"Matthew, age 4, with a sparkler.\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSparkler.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-518 \" title=\"MattSparkler\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MattSparkler-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"210\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd, I would add, increase the stress levels of the mothers who will be expected to abide by the new rules.\n\nI cannot help but think that of the fears I felt for my children when they were small, balloons and party whistles were not high on the list.  My fears were over pollution, insecticides on apples, school shootings, serious diseases.\n\nAt the time<em> Motherhood Stress</em> was released, in a survery of its readers, Ladies Home Journal asked mothers, “What worries you most about raising your children?”\n43% said “protecting children from drug use”\n36% said “the media and peers undercutting parental authority”\n29% worried about working and not being at home full-time\n20% worried about economic instability\n17% were concerned about protecting their children from AIDS\n\nNothing in that list comes close to including the dangers posed by balloons and/or party whistles!\n\nFear is stressful.  It’s not as if mothers spend every waking hour in a state of perpetual anxiety over the safety and security of our children.  But we recognize many valid reasons to worry about the welfare of the babies we’ve brought into this dangerous and fallen world.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_196\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"204\" caption=\"Our adventuresome DIL Jessica on a motor bike\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-196\" title=\"Jessmotorbike\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike-300x285.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"193\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd yet, as mothers, we know that our children need to face risks and access dangers, even as young children.  A growing body of evidence suggests that newer playgrounds, with “safer” - and therefore less challenging - equipment does not make our children’s lives safer.  Does not even produce fewer serious falls.  Apparently both parents and children overestimate the safety factors and are more prone to attempt risky moves.  And when children become bored wih “safe” playgrounds, they are more likely to play elsewhere, in truly dangerous locations.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_197\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"175\" caption=\"Gregg and Jonathan on a zipline over the Hersey River in Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-197\" title=\"gregg jon zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline-175x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"175\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI remember climbing one of the old, tall climbers on a playground in Griffin, Georgia, in 1956 or 1957, when I would have been either five or six years old. I paused at a point when I still felt safe, close enough to the ground.  Then I remember the thrill of taking that deep breathe and climbing higher, then higher.  Stopping at each level of the climber, to get my courage up to climb another rung.  And then the thrill of reaching the top and knowing that I had conquered that mountain.\n\nEven now, fifty years later, I clearly remember that sense of victory.  I believe that successes like that, as a child, taught me to be willing to step outside my comfort zone and take on challenges as an adult.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"221\" caption=\"Lisette braved the zipline over the river, by herself\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-198 \" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"288\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn the book,<a title=\"Take the Risk\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Take-Risk-Learning-Identify-Acceptable/dp/0310259738/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1318381136&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"> Take the Risk</a>, Dr. Ben Carson says, “Since risk-taking is an almost universal trait of adolescence,the wisest strategy for parent is to offer teenagers controlled, acceptable risk-experiences. . . Teens are driven by human nature to establish, discover and prove who they will be and where they will fit into an adult world.  How will they do that? By exploring, experimenting, practicing and testing all manner of new experiences - and dealing with the incumbent risks.”\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_201\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"263\" caption=\"Matthew, with cousins, canoeing in Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/matt-canoe.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-201\" title=\"matt canoe\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/matt-canoe.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMission trips, white-water rafting, mountain hiking, public performances, acting or speaking, competitive sports - all provide teens with opportunities to challenge themselves, face the possibility of failure, embarassment and disappointment, get themselves out of their comfort zone.  And find out that they can succeed.  And that if they fail, life will go on with other opportunities.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_199\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"224\" caption=\"DIL Jessica white water rafting as a teen\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-199\" title=\"JessWhiteWaterRaft\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAs parents, as mothers, we do not want to be so focused on keeping our children safe, that we stunt their emotional or creative growth or limit their potential for leadership and adventure in life.','No More Balloons, Party Whistles for Children, but More Stress for Moms','','inherit','open','open','','190-autosave','','','2011-11-05 15:23:01','2011-11-05 19:23:01','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=192',0,'revision','',0),(193,2,'2011-10-10 22:55:23','2011-10-10 22:55:23','New EU safety rules, just now being implemented, require that balloons may not be blown up by unsupervised children, for fear that the child may swallow the balloon and choke.  The same rules apply to party whistles and magnetic fishing games.\r\nIn addition the new EU rules dictate how noisy toys may be - including rattles and musical instruments.\r\n\r\nThe outcry over the new rules seems to center on how they will restrict a child’s freedom to play and to explore, restricting the types of play that encourage children to be independent.\r\n\r\nFrank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, warned: \"These bans diminish the experience, both of having fun and learning, by turning play into a danger zone with rules that stifle life and adventure for children.\"\r\n\r\nAnd, I wouuld add, increase the stress levels of the mothers who will be expected to abide by the new rules.','No More Balloons, Party Whistles for Children, but More Stress for Moms','','inherit','open','open','','190-revision-2','','','2011-10-10 22:55:23','2011-10-10 22:55:23','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=193',0,'revision','',0),(194,2,'2011-10-10 22:59:26','2011-10-10 22:59:26','New EU safety rules, just now being implemented, require that balloons may not be blown up by unsupervised children, for fear that the child may swallow the balloon and choke.  The same rules apply to party whistles and magnetic fishing games.\r\n\r\nIn addition the new EU rules dictate how noisy toys may be - including rattles and musical instruments. And how dirty a teddy bear can be: now all teddy bears must be fully washable, lest that mangy stuffed animal spread infection.\r\n\r\nThe outcry over the new rules seems to center on how they will restrict a child’s freedom to play and to explore, restricting the types of play that encourage children to be independent.\r\n\r\nFrank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, warned: \"These bans diminish the experience, both of having fun and learning, by turning play into a danger zone with rules that stifle life and adventure for children.\"\r\n\r\nAnd, I wouuld add, increase the stress levels of the mothers who will be expected to abide by the new rules.','No More Balloons, Party Whistles for Children, but More Stress for Moms','','inherit','open','open','','190-revision-3','','','2011-10-10 22:59:26','2011-10-10 22:59:26','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=194',0,'revision','',0),(196,2,'2011-10-12 01:12:30','2011-10-12 01:12:30','','Jess','Jessica on a motor bike','inherit','open','open','','jessmotorbike','','','2011-10-12 01:12:30','2011-10-12 01:12:30','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(197,2,'2011-10-12 01:22:29','2011-10-12 01:22:29','','gregg jon zipline','Gregg and Jonathan on a zipline over the Hersey River in Michigan','inherit','open','open','','gregg-jon-zipline','','','2011-10-12 01:22:29','2011-10-12 01:22:29','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(198,2,'2011-10-12 01:24:14','2011-10-12 01:24:14','','lisette zipline','Lisette braved the zipline over the river, by herself','inherit','open','open','','lisette-zipline','','','2011-10-12 01:24:14','2011-10-12 01:24:14','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(199,2,'2011-10-12 01:29:40','2011-10-12 01:29:40','','JessWhiteWaterRaft','DIL Jessica white water rafting as a teen','inherit','open','open','','jesswhitewaterraft','','','2011-10-12 01:29:40','2011-10-12 01:29:40','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(200,2,'2011-10-11 00:09:21','2011-10-11 00:09:21','New EU safety rules, just now being implemented, require that balloons may not be blown up by unsupervised children, for fear that the child may swallow the balloon and choke.  The same rules apply to party whistles and magnetic fishing games.\r\n\r\nIn addition the new EU rules dictate how noisy toys may be - including rattles and musical instruments. And how dirty a teddy bear can be: now all teddy bears must be fully washable, lest that mangy stuffed animal spread infection.\r\n\r\nThe outcry over the new rules seems to center on how they will restrict a child’s freedom to play and to explore, restricting the types of play that encourage children to be independent.\r\n\r\nFrank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, warned: \"These bans diminish the experience, both of having fun and learning, by turning play into a danger zone with rules that stifle life and adventure for children.\"\r\n\r\nAnd, I wouuld add, increase the stress levels of the mothers who will be expected to abide by the new rules.','No More Balloons, Party Whistles for Children, but More Stress for Moms','','inherit','open','open','','190-revision-4','','','2011-10-11 00:09:21','2011-10-11 00:09:21','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=200',0,'revision','',0),(201,2,'2011-10-12 01:34:36','2011-10-12 01:34:36','','matt canoe','Matthew, with cousins, canoeing in Michigan','inherit','open','open','','matt-canoe','','','2011-10-12 01:34:36','2011-10-12 01:34:36','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/matt-canoe.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(202,2,'2011-10-12 01:30:57','2011-10-12 01:30:57','New EU safety rules, just now being implemented, require that balloons may not be blown up by unsupervised children, for fear that the child may swallow the balloon and choke.  The same rules apply to party whistles and magnetic fishing games.\r\n\r\nIn addition the new EU rules dictate how noisy toys may be - including rattles and musical instruments.The rules even cover teddybears, which must now be fully washable, lest those mangy stuffed animals harbor germs.\r\n\r\nThe outcry over the new rules centers on how they will inhibit a child’s freedom to play and to explore, restricting the types of play that encourage children to be independent.\r\n\r\nFrank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, warned: \"These bans diminish the experience, both of having fun and learning, by turning play into a danger zone with rules that stifle life and adventure for children.\"\r\n\r\nAnd, I would add, increase the stress levels of the mothers who will be expected to abide by the new rules.\r\n\r\nI cannot help but think that of the fears I felt for my children when they were small, balloons and party whistles were not high on the list.  My fears were over pollution, insecticides on apples, school shootings, serious diseases.\r\n\r\nAt the time<em> Motherhood Stress</em> was released, in a survery of its readers, Ladies Home Journal asked mothers, “What worries you most about raising your children?”\r\n43% said “protecting children from drug use”\r\n36% said “the media and peers undercutting parental authority”\r\n29% worried about working and not being at home full-time\r\n20% worried about economic instability\r\n17% were concerned about protecting their children from AIDS\r\n\r\nNothing in that list comes close to including the dangers posed by balloons and/or party whistles!\r\n\r\nFear is stressful.  It’s not as if mothers spend every waking hour in a state of perpetual anxiety over the safety and security of our children.  But we recognize many valid reasons to worry about the welfare of the babies we’ve brought into this dangerous and fallen world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_196\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"204\" caption=\"Our adventuresome DIL Jessica on a motor bike\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-196\" title=\"Jessmotorbike\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike-300x285.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"193\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd yet, as mothers, we know that our children need to face risks and access dangers, even as young children.  A growing body of evidence suggests that newer playgrounds, with “safer” - and therefore less challenging - equipment does not make our children’s lives safer.  Does not even produce fewer serious falls.  Apparently both parents and children overestimate the safety factors and are more prone to attempt risky moves.  And when children become bored wih “safe” playgrounds, they are more likely to play elsewhere, in truly dangerous locations.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_197\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"175\" caption=\"Gregg and Jonathan on a zipline over the Hersey River in Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-197\" title=\"gregg jon zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline-175x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"175\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI remember climbing one of the old, tall climbers on a playground in Griffin, Georgia, in 1956 or 1957, when I would have been either five or six years old. I paused at a point when I still felt safe, close enough to the ground.  Then I remember the thrill of taking that deep breathe and climbing higher, then higher.  Stopping at each level of the climber, to get my courage up to climb another rung.  And then the thrill of reaching the top and knowing that I had conquered that mountain.\r\n\r\nEven now, fifty years later, I clearly remember that sense of victory.  I believe that successes like that, as a child, taught me to be willing to step outside my comfort zone and take on challenges as an adult.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"230\" caption=\"Lisette braved the zipline over the river, by herself\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-198\" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"230\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the book,<a title=\"Take the Risk\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Take-Risk-Learning-Identify-Acceptable/dp/0310259738/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1318381136&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"> Take the Risk</a>, Dr. Ben Carson says, “Since risk-taking is an almost universal trait of adolescence,the wisest strategy for parent is to offer teenagers controlled, acceptable risk-experiences. . . Teens are driven by human nature to establish, discover and prove who they will be and where they will fit into an adult world.  How will they do that? By exploring, experimenting, practicing and testing all manner of new experiences - and dealing with the incumbent risks.”\r\n\r\nMission trips, white-water rafting, mountain hiking, public performances, acting or speaking, competitive sports - all provide teens with opportunities to challenge themselves, face the possibility of failure, embarassment and disappointment, get themselves out of their comfort zone.  And find out that they can succeed.  And that if they fail, life will go on with other opportunities.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_199\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"224\" caption=\"DIL Jessica white water rafting as a teen\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-199\" title=\"JessWhiteWaterRaft\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs parents, as mothers, we do not want to be so focused on keeping our children safe, that we stunt their emotional or creative growth or limit their potential for leadership and adventure in life.','No More Balloons, Party Whistles for Children, but More Stress for Moms','','inherit','open','open','','190-revision-5','','','2011-10-12 01:30:57','2011-10-12 01:30:57','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=202',0,'revision','',0),(203,2,'2011-10-12 01:35:53','2011-10-12 01:35:53','New EU safety rules, just now being implemented, require that balloons may not be blown up by unsupervised children, for fear that the child may swallow the balloon and choke.  The same rules apply to party whistles and magnetic fishing games.\r\n\r\nIn addition the new EU rules dictate how noisy toys may be - including rattles and musical instruments.The rules even cover teddybears, which must now be fully washable, lest those mangy stuffed animals harbor germs.\r\n\r\nThe outcry over the new rules centers on how they will inhibit a child’s freedom to play and to explore, restricting the types of play that encourage children to be independent.\r\n\r\nFrank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, warned: \"These bans diminish the experience, both of having fun and learning, by turning play into a danger zone with rules that stifle life and adventure for children.\"\r\n\r\nAnd, I would add, increase the stress levels of the mothers who will be expected to abide by the new rules.\r\n\r\nI cannot help but think that of the fears I felt for my children when they were small, balloons and party whistles were not high on the list.  My fears were over pollution, insecticides on apples, school shootings, serious diseases.\r\n\r\nAt the time<em> Motherhood Stress</em> was released, in a survery of its readers, Ladies Home Journal asked mothers, “What worries you most about raising your children?”\r\n43% said “protecting children from drug use”\r\n36% said “the media and peers undercutting parental authority”\r\n29% worried about working and not being at home full-time\r\n20% worried about economic instability\r\n17% were concerned about protecting their children from AIDS\r\n\r\nNothing in that list comes close to including the dangers posed by balloons and/or party whistles!\r\n\r\nFear is stressful.  It’s not as if mothers spend every waking hour in a state of perpetual anxiety over the safety and security of our children.  But we recognize many valid reasons to worry about the welfare of the babies we’ve brought into this dangerous and fallen world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_196\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"204\" caption=\"Our adventuresome DIL Jessica on a motor bike\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-196\" title=\"Jessmotorbike\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jessmotorbike-300x285.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"193\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd yet, as mothers, we know that our children need to face risks and access dangers, even as young children.  A growing body of evidence suggests that newer playgrounds, with “safer” - and therefore less challenging - equipment does not make our children’s lives safer.  Does not even produce fewer serious falls.  Apparently both parents and children overestimate the safety factors and are more prone to attempt risky moves.  And when children become bored wih “safe” playgrounds, they are more likely to play elsewhere, in truly dangerous locations.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_197\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"175\" caption=\"Gregg and Jonathan on a zipline over the Hersey River in Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-197\" title=\"gregg jon zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gregg-jon-zipline-175x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"175\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI remember climbing one of the old, tall climbers on a playground in Griffin, Georgia, in 1956 or 1957, when I would have been either five or six years old. I paused at a point when I still felt safe, close enough to the ground.  Then I remember the thrill of taking that deep breathe and climbing higher, then higher.  Stopping at each level of the climber, to get my courage up to climb another rung.  And then the thrill of reaching the top and knowing that I had conquered that mountain.\r\n\r\nEven now, fifty years later, I clearly remember that sense of victory.  I believe that successes like that, as a child, taught me to be willing to step outside my comfort zone and take on challenges as an adult.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_198\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"221\" caption=\"Lisette braved the zipline over the river, by herself\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-198 \" title=\"lisette zipline\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lisette-zipline-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"288\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the book,<a title=\"Take the Risk\" href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Take-Risk-Learning-Identify-Acceptable/dp/0310259738/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1318381136&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\"> Take the Risk</a>, Dr. Ben Carson says, “Since risk-taking is an almost universal trait of adolescence,the wisest strategy for parent is to offer teenagers controlled, acceptable risk-experiences. . . Teens are driven by human nature to establish, discover and prove who they will be and where they will fit into an adult world.  How will they do that? By exploring, experimenting, practicing and testing all manner of new experiences - and dealing with the incumbent risks.”\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_201\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"263\" caption=\"Matthew, with cousins, canoeing in Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/matt-canoe.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-201\" title=\"matt canoe\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/matt-canoe.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMission trips, white-water rafting, mountain hiking, public performances, acting or speaking, competitive sports - all provide teens with opportunities to challenge themselves, face the possibility of failure, embarassment and disappointment, get themselves out of their comfort zone.  And find out that they can succeed.  And that if they fail, life will go on with other opportunities.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_199\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"224\" caption=\"DIL Jessica white water rafting as a teen\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-199\" title=\"JessWhiteWaterRaft\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JessWhiteWaterRaft-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"149\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs parents, as mothers, we do not want to be so focused on keeping our children safe, that we stunt their emotional or creative growth or limit their potential for leadership and adventure in life.','No More Balloons, Party Whistles for Children, but More Stress for Moms','','inherit','open','open','','190-revision-6','','','2011-10-12 01:35:53','2011-10-12 01:35:53','',190,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=203',0,'revision','',0),(638,2,'2011-11-18 22:29:29','2011-11-19 03:29:29','','PumpkinBoy','','inherit','open','open','','pumpkinboy','','','2011-11-18 22:29:29','2011-11-19 03:29:29','',635,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PumpkinBoy.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(639,2,'2011-11-18 22:12:57','2011-11-19 03:12:57','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 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-3','','','2011-11-18 22:12:57','2011-11-19 03:12:57','',635,'http://motherhoodstress.com/2011/11/18/635-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(208,2,'2011-10-14 01:48:53','2011-10-14 01:48:53','Supermom: You know who I’m talking about.  She does it all. Her house is always clean. Her children are always dressed in matching clothes, with no stains.  She’s managed to keep her figure.  She never, ever loses her temper with her children.\n\nAnd she’s on the fast track at work, blazing new paths for women in the workplace. Bringing in that extra income that helps her family’s finances stay healthy.\n\nAll the while baking cookies with her children and sewing their halloween costumes.\n\nWe may hate her, but she’s the myth most women feel pressured to emulate.\n\nAnd then there’s the stay-at-home mom.  The woman in the page-boy, chauffeuring her kids in the Dodge mini-van.  We’re not really sure what she does all day.  We know the bonbons and soap operas are a cliche, but, well, who does watch those soaps?  (adapted from Mother in the Middle by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest)\n\nIn a new study from the University of Washington, entitled “Even Supermoms Get the Blues,” women who believe the myth---that they can juggle children, home, husband, career and volunteer work with perfection --- end up more depressed than other moms.\n\nAccording to Katrina Leupp, the University of Washington sociology graduate student who authored the study and presented her research in August at the American Sociological Association\'s annual meeting: “Ascribing to an ideal that women can do it all… increased the level of depressive symptoms compared to women who were more skeptical of whether or not work and family can be balanced.\"\n\n\"Women are sold a story that they can do it all, but most workplaces are still designed for employees without child-care responsibilities,\" Leupp reported.\n\nSome of her suggestions were:\n- Go into motherhood with more realistic expectations; realize that it won’t be easy.\n\n- Don’t buy into the \"supermom\" complex; don’t pressure yourself to be an overachievers in all aspects of life.\n\n- Delegate some of your responsibilities. Let someone else run the bake sale.  Ask your husband to do his share of folding the laundry.\n\n- Let a few things slide.\n\n- Limit your work-outside-the-home hours when you can.\n\nAnd here are some other suggestions, from my books, Stressbusters for Moms:\n\n“Remind yourself that you are not perfect. Your  husband is not perfect.  Your children won’t be perfect. Let love be the undercurrent running through the times of frustration and turmoil.” - P. B., mother of two, ages 3 &amp; 5\n\n“Good mothes some in many stiles. Know your style and build on your strenths. This can free you from the trap of comparing yourself to other moms.” - Diane Eble, A Life You Can Love\n\n“Anticipate your children’s needs. Before I’d take my baby into a store, I would sit and nurse him, so he wouldn’t be hungry in the middle of shopping.  Later I learned to start my grocery trip down the aisle that led toward the bathrooms. Then five to ten minutes into grocery shopping, I’d take my preschoolers into the restroom with me, and let the power of suggestion take care of that stress.”  - Deborah Shaw Lewis\n\n“Pick your fights carefully. There will be disagreements galore while your child is growing up. Look at each situation and ask, “Will this decision matter in ten years?” If it will, stand your ground.  If it won’t, let your child make his or her own decision.  If the kid end up with blue hair or a weird haircut, it will grow back.”  - P. W., mother of one, age 17\n\n“Don’t obsess! Nobody does this parenting thing perfectly. Give yourself a break and don’t dwell on mistakes or fears.”  A. L., mother of one, age 1\n\n“Get into a weekly Bible study that has decent child care. You will gain wisdom and encouragement, andyou will build a network of Christian women to share and support you as a mother.”  D. S., mother of four, ages 12, 16, 17, 19','The Supermom Delusion','','inherit','open','open','','207-revision','','','2011-10-14 01:48:53','2011-10-14 01:48:53','',207,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=208',0,'revision','',0),(209,2,'2011-10-14 02:42:21','2011-10-14 02:42:21','','Andrew lickingbeaters','Andrew, age 4, licking the beaters, while the cookies are in the oven.','inherit','open','open','','andrew-lickingbeaters','','','2011-10-14 02:42:21','2011-10-14 02:42:21','',207,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(210,2,'2011-10-14 02:51:38','2011-10-14 02:51:38','Supermom: You know who I’m talking about.  She does it all. Her house is always clean. Her children are always dressed in matching clothes, with no stains.  She’s managed to keep her figure.  She never, ever loses her temper with her children.\n\nAnd she’s on the fast track at work, blazing new paths for women in the workplace. Bringing in that extra income that helps her family’s finances stay healthy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_209\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"280\" caption=\"Andrew helping me bake cookies at age 4\"]<img class=\"size-large wp-image-209 \" title=\"Andrew lickingbeaters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-666x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"280\" height=\"430\" />[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">All the while baking cookies with her children and sewing their halloween costumes.</p>\nWe may hate her, but she’s the myth most women feel pressured to emulate.\n\nAnd then there’s the stay-at-home mom.  The woman in the page-boy, chauffeuring her kids in the Dodge mini-van.  We’re not really sure what she does all day.  We know the bonbons and soap operas are a cliche, but, well, who does watch those soaps? <em></em>\n\nIn a new study from the University of Washington, entitled “Even Supermoms Get the Blues,” researcher Katrina Leupp reports that women who believe the myth---that they can juggle children, home, husband, career and volunteer work with perfection --- end up more depressed than other moms.\n\nAccording to Leupp, the University of Washington sociology graduate student who authored the study and presented her research in August at the American Sociological Association\'s annual meeting: “Ascribing to an ideal that women can do it all… increased the level of depressive symptoms compared to women who were more skeptical of whether or not work and family can be balanced.\"\n\n\"Women are sold a story that they can do it all, but most workplaces are still designed for employees without child-care responsibilities,\" Leupp reported.\n\nSome of her suggestions were:\n- Go into motherhood with more realistic expectations; realize that it won’t be easy.\n\n- Don’t buy into the \"supermom\" complex; don’t pressure yourself to be an overachiever in all aspects of life.\n\n- Delegate some of your responsibilities. Let someone else run the bake sale.  Ask your husband to do his share of folding the laundry.\n\n- Let a few things slide.\n\n- Limit your work-outside-the-home hours when you can.\n\nAnd here are some other suggestions, from my book, <em>Stressbusters for Moms</em>:\n\n“Remind yourself that you are not perfect. Your  husband is not perfect.  Your children won’t be perfect. Let love be the undercurrent running through the times of frustration and turmoil.” - P. B., mother of two, ages 3 &amp; 5\n\n“Good mothers some in many styles. Know your style and build on your strengths. This can free you from the trap of comparing yourself to other moms.” - Diane Eble, A Life You Can Love\n\n“Anticipate your children’s needs. Before I’d take my baby into a store, I would sit and nurse him, so he wouldn’t be hungry in the middle of shopping.  Later I learned to start my grocery trip down the aisle that led toward the bathrooms. Then five to ten minutes into grocery shopping, I’d take my preschoolers into the restroom with me, and let the power of suggestion take care of that stress.”  <em>- Deborah Shaw Lewis</em>\n\n“Pick your fights carefully. There will be disagreements galore while your child is growing up. Look at each situation and ask, “Will this decision matter in ten years?” If it will, stand your ground.  If it won’t, let your child make his or her own decision.  If the kid end up with blue hair or a weird haircut, it will grow back.”  <em>- P. W., mother of one, age 17</em>\n\n“Don’t obsess! Nobody does this parenting thing perfectly. Give yourself a break and don’t dwell on mistakes or fears.”  <em>A. L., mother of one, age 1</em>\n\n“Get into a weekly Bible study that has decent child care. You will gain wisdom and encouragement, and you will build a network of Christian women to share and support you as a mother.”  <em>D. S., mother of four, ages 12, 16, 17, 19</em>\n\n<em>Some material above was adapted from Mother in the Middle by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest.</em>','The Supermom Delusion','','inherit','open','open','','207-revision-2','','','2011-10-14 02:51:38','2011-10-14 02:51:38','',207,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=210',0,'revision','',0),(211,2,'2011-10-14 02:59:33','2011-10-14 02:59:33','Supermom: You know who I’m talking about.  She does it all. Her house is always clean. Her children are always dressed in matching clothes, with no stains.  She’s managed to keep her figure.  She never, ever loses her temper with her children.\n\nAnd she’s on the fast track at work, blazing new paths for women in the workplace. Bringing in that extra income that helps her family’s finances stay healthy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_209\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"224\" caption=\"Andrew helping me bake cookies at age 4\"]<img class=\"size-large wp-image-209  \" title=\"Andrew lickingbeaters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-666x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"344\" />[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">All the while baking cookies with her children and sewing their halloween costumes.</p>\nWe may hate her, but she’s the myth most women feel pressured to emulate.\n\nIn a new study from the University of Washington, entitled <a title=\"Supermom_myth_depressed\" href=\"http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/23/working-women-who-subscribe-to-the-supermom-myth-are-more-likely-to-be-depressed/\" target=\"_blank\">“Even Supermoms Get the Blues,” </a>researcher Katrina Leupp reports that women who believe the myth---that they can juggle children, home, husband, career and volunteer work with perfection --- end up more depressed than other moms.\n\nAccording to Leupp, the University of Washington sociology graduate student who authored the study and presented her research in August at the American Sociological Association\'s annual meeting: “Ascribing to an ideal that women can do it all… increased the level of depressive symptoms compared to women who were more skeptical of whether or not work and family can be balanced.\"\n\n\"Women are sold a story that they can do it all, but most workplaces are still designed for employees without child-care responsibilities,\" Leupp reported.\n\nSome of her suggestions were:\n- Go into motherhood with more realistic expectations; realize that it won’t be easy.\n\n- Don’t buy into the \"supermom\" complex; don’t pressure yourself to be an overachiever in all aspects of life.\n\n- Delegate some of your responsibilities. Let someone else run the bake sale.  Ask your husband to do his share of folding the laundry.\n\n- Let a few things slide.\n\n- Limit your work-outside-the-home hours when you can.\n\nAnd here are some other suggestions, from my book, <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Stressbusters for Moms</em></a>:\n\n“Remind yourself that you are not perfect. Your  husband is not perfect.  Your children won’t be perfect. Let love be the undercurrent running through the times of frustration and turmoil.” <em>- P. B., mother of two, ages 3 &amp; 5</em>\n\n“Good mothers some in many styles. Know your style and build on your strengths. This can free you from the trap of comparing yourself to other moms.” <em>- Diane Eble, A Life You Can Love</em>\n\n“Anticipate your children’s needs. Before I’d take my baby into a store, I would sit and nurse him, so he wouldn’t be hungry in the middle of shopping.  Later I learned to start my grocery trip down the aisle that led toward the bathrooms. Then five to ten minutes into grocery shopping, I’d take my preschoolers into the restroom with me, and let the power of suggestion take care of that stress.”  <em>- Deborah Shaw Lewis</em>\n\n“Pick your fights carefully. There will be disagreements galore while your child is growing up. Look at each situation and ask, “Will this decision matter in ten years?” If it will, stand your ground.  If it won’t, let your child make his or her own decision.  If the kid end up with blue hair or a weird haircut, it will grow back.”  <em>- P. W., mother of one, age 17</em>\n\n“Don’t obsess! Nobody does this parenting thing perfectly. Give yourself a break and don’t dwell on mistakes or fears.”  <em>A. L., mother of one, age 1</em>\n\n“Get into a weekly Bible study that has decent child care. You will gain wisdom and encouragement, and you will build a network of Christian women to share and support you as a mother.”  <em>D. S., mother of four, ages 12, 16, 17, 19</em>\n\n<em>Some material above was adapted from <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&amp;field-keywords=Mother+in+the+Middle+Yoest&amp;x=0&amp;y=0\" target=\"_blank\">Mother in the Middle</a> by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest.</em>','The Supermom Delusion','','inherit','open','open','','207-revision-3','','','2011-10-14 02:59:33','2011-10-14 02:59:33','',207,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=211',0,'revision','',0),(212,2,'2011-10-14 03:19:55','2011-10-14 03:19:55','','Jonmuddysoccer','Jonathan after a soccer game when he was 7 years old.','inherit','open','open','','jonmuddysoccer','','','2011-10-14 03:19:55','2011-10-14 03:19:55','',207,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(213,2,'2011-10-25 08:13:27','2011-10-25 12:13:27','Supermom: You know who I’m talking about.  She does it all. Her house is always clean. Her children are always dressed in matching clothes, with no stains.  She’s managed to keep her figure.  She never, ever loses her temper with her children.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_214\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"240\" caption=\"Lisette with Debi, still in their church clothes\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-214 \" title=\"LisetteDebiPorchswing\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"175\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd she’s on the fast track at work, blazing new paths for women in the workplace. Bringing in that extra income that helps her family’s finances stay healthy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_209\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"186\" caption=\"Andrew helping me bake cookies at age 4\"]<img class=\"size-large wp-image-209  \" title=\"Andrew lickingbeaters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-666x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"186\" height=\"286\" />[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">All the while baking cookies with her children and sewing their halloween costumes.</p>\nWe may hate her, but she’s the myth most women feel pressured to emulate.\n\nIn a new study from the University of Washington, entitled <a title=\"Supermom_myth_depressed\" href=\"http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/23/working-women-who-subscribe-to-the-supermom-myth-are-more-likely-to-be-depressed/\" target=\"_blank\">“Even Supermoms Get the Blues,” </a>researcher Katrina Leupp reports that women who believe the myth---that they can juggle children, home, husband, career and volunteer work with perfection --- end up more depressed than other moms.\n\nAccording to Leupp, the University of Washington sociology graduate student who authored the study and presented her research in August at the American Sociological Association\'s annual meeting: “Ascribing to an ideal that women can do it all… increased the level of depressive symptoms compared to women who were more skeptical of whether or not work and family can be balanced.\"\n\n\"Women are sold a story that they can do it all, but most workplaces are still designed for employees without child-care responsibilities,\" Leupp reported.\n\nSome of her suggestions were:\n- Go into motherhood with more realistic expectations; realize that it won’t be easy.\n\n- Don’t buy into the \"supermom\" complex; don’t pressure yourself to be an overachiever in all aspects of life.\n\n- Delegate some of your responsibilities. Let someone else run the bake sale.  Ask your husband to do his share of folding the laundry.\n\n- Let a few things slide.\n\n- Limit your work-outside-the-home hours when you can.\n\nAnd here are some other suggestions, from my book, <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Stressbusters for Moms</em></a>:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_212\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"210\" caption=\"Jonathan after a soccer game\"]<a href=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-212  \" title=\"Jonmuddysoccer\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Jonmuddysoccer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"395\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n“Remind yourself that you are not perfect. Your  husband is not perfect.  Your children won’t be perfect. Let love be the undercurrent running through the times of frustration and turmoil.” <em>- P. B., mother of two, ages 3 &amp; 5</em>\n\n“Good mothers some in many styles. Know your style and build on your strengths. This can free you from the trap of comparing yourself to other moms.” <em>- Diane Eble, A Life You Can Love</em>\n\n“Anticipate your children’s needs. Before I’d take my baby into a store, I would sit and nurse him, so he wouldn’t be hungry in the middle of shopping.  Later I learned to start my grocery trip down the aisle that led toward the bathrooms. Then five to ten minutes into grocery shopping, I’d take my preschoolers into the restroom with me, and let the power of suggestion take care of that stress.”  <em>- Deborah Shaw Lewis</em>\n\n“Pick your fights carefully. There will be disagreements galore while your child is growing up. Look at each situation and ask, “Will this decision matter in ten years?” If it will, stand your ground.  If it won’t, let your child make his or her own decision.  If the kid end up with blue hair or a weird haircut, it will grow back.”  <em>- P. W., mother of one, age 17</em>\n\n“Don’t obsess! Nobody does this parenting thing perfectly. Give yourself a break and don’t dwell on mistakes or fears.”  <em>A. L., mother of one, age 1</em>\n\n“Get into a weekly Bible study that has decent child care. You will gain wisdom and encouragement, and you will build a network of Christian women to share and support you as a mother.”  <em>D. S., mother of four, ages 12, 16, 17, 19</em>\n\n<em>Some material above was adapted from <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&amp;field-keywords=Mother+in+the+Middle+Yoest&amp;x=0&amp;y=0\" target=\"_blank\">Mother in the Middle</a> by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest.</em>','The Supermom Delusion','','inherit','open','open','','207-autosave','','','2011-10-25 08:13:27','2011-10-25 12:13:27','',207,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=213',0,'revision','',0),(214,2,'2011-10-14 03:21:52','2011-10-14 03:21:52','','Debi with Lisette','Lisette with Debi, still in their church clothes','inherit','open','open','','lisettedebiporchswing','','','2011-10-14 03:21:52','2011-10-14 03:21:52','',207,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LisetteDebiPorchswing.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(215,2,'2011-10-14 02:59:48','2011-10-14 02:59:48','Supermom: You know who I’m talking about.  She does it all. Her house is always clean. Her children are always dressed in matching clothes, with no stains.  She’s managed to keep her figure.  She never, ever loses her temper with her children.\r\n\r\nAnd she’s on the fast track at work, blazing new paths for women in the workplace. Bringing in that extra income that helps her family’s finances stay healthy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_209\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"224\" caption=\"Andrew helping me bake cookies at age 4\"]<img class=\"size-large wp-image-209  \" title=\"Andrew lickingbeaters\" src=\"http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andrew-lickingbeaters-666x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"344\" />[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">All the while baking cookies with her children and sewing their halloween costumes.</p>\r\nWe may hate her, but she’s the myth most women feel pressured to emulate.\r\n\r\nIn a new study from the University of Washington, entitled <a title=\"Supermom_myth_depressed\" href=\"http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/23/working-women-who-subscribe-to-the-supermom-myth-are-more-likely-to-be-depressed/\" target=\"_blank\">“Even Supermoms Get the Blues,” </a>researcher Katrina Leupp reports that women who believe the myth---that they can juggle children, home, husband, career and volunteer work with perfection --- end up more depressed than other moms.\r\n\r\nAccording to Leupp, the University of Washington sociology graduate student who authored the study and presented her research in August at the American Sociological Association\'s annual meeting: “Ascribing to an ideal that women can do it all… increased the level of depressive symptoms compared to women who were more skeptical of whether or not work and family can be balanced.\"\r\n\r\n\"Women are sold a story that they can do it all, but most workplaces are still designed for employees without child-care responsibilities,\" Leupp reported.\r\n\r\nSome of her suggestions were:\r\n- Go into motherhood with more realistic expectations; realize that it won’t be easy.\r\n\r\n- Don’t buy into the \"supermom\" complex; don’t pressure yourself to be an overachiever in all aspects of life.\r\n\r\n- Delegate some of your responsibilities. Let someone else run the bake sale.  Ask your husband to do his share of folding the laundry.\r\n\r\n- Let a few things slide.\r\n\r\n- Limit your work-outside-the-home hours when you can.\r\n\r\nAnd here are some other suggestions, from my book, <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Stress-Busters-Moms-Deborah-Shaw-Lewis/dp/0310205662\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Stressbusters for Moms</em></a>:\r\n\r\n“Remind yourself that you are not perfect. Your  husband is not perfect.  Your children won’t be perfect. Let love be the undercurrent running through the times of frustration and turmoil.” <em>- P. B., mother of two, ages 3 &amp; 5</em>\r\n\r\n“Good mothers some in many styles. Know your style and build on your strengths. This can free you from the trap of comparing yourself to other moms.” <em>- Diane Eble, A Life You Can Love</em>\r\n\r\n“Anticipate your children’s needs. Before I’d take my baby into a store, I would sit and nurse him, so he wouldn’t be hungry in the middle of shopping.  Later I learned to start my grocery trip down the aisle that led toward the bathrooms. Then five to ten minutes into grocery shopping, I’d take my preschoolers into the restroom with me, and let the power of suggestion take care of that stress.”  <em>- Deborah Shaw Lewis</em>\r\n\r\n“Pick your fights carefully. There will be disagreements galore while your child is growing up. Look at each situation and ask, “Will this decision matter in ten years?” If it will, stand your ground.  If it won’t, let your child make his or her own decision.  If the kid end up with blue hair or a weird haircut, it will grow back.”  <em>- P. W., mother of one, age 17</em>\r\n\r\n“Don’t obsess! Nobody does this parenting thing perfectly. Give yourself a break and don’t dwell on mistakes or fears.”  <em>A. L., mother of one, age 1</em>\r\n\r\n“Get into a weekly Bible study that has decent child care. You will gain wisdom and encouragement, and you will build a network of Christian women to share and support you as a mother.”  <em>D. S., mother of four, ages 12, 16, 17, 19</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Some material above was adapted from <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&amp;field-keywords=Mother+in+the+Middle+Yoest&amp;x=0&amp;y=0\" target=\"_blank\">Mother in the Middle</a> by Deborah Shaw Lewis and Charmaine Crouse Yoest.</em>','The Supermom Delusion','','inherit','open','open','','207-revision-4','','','2011-10-14 02:59:48','2011-10-14 02:59:48','',207,'http://motherhoodstress.com/?p=215',0,'revision','',0),(217,2,'2011-10-15 18:43:44','2011-10-15 18:43:44','','Terry, Debi and Carol','Terry, Debi and Carol, circa 1955','inherit','open','open','','terrydebicarol55','','','2011-10-15 18:43:44','2011-10-15 18:43:44','',216,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/TerryDebiCarol55.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(218,2,'2011-10-15 18:45:42','2011-10-15 18:45:42','','EverybodyBeach57','Janice holding Beth, Carol in front of Joan, Terry, Debi and Mother, who was pregnant with David at the time','inherit','open','open','','everybodybeach57','','','2011-10-15 18:45:42','2011-10-15 18:45:42','',216,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/EverybodyBeach57.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(219,2,'2011-10-15 18:47:39','2011-10-15 18:47:39','','Daddy5sibs','','inherit','open','open','','daddy5sibs','','','2011-10-15 18:47:39','2011-10-15 18:47:39','',216,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Daddy5sibs.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(220,2,'2011-10-15 18:48:06','2011-10-15 18:48:06','','Daddy5sibs','Carol, Daddy holding David, Beth, Debi and Terry, circa 1960','inherit','open','open','','daddy5sibs-2','','','2011-10-15 18:48:06','2011-10-15 18:48:06','',216,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Daddy5sibs1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(221,2,'2011-10-15 18:50:59','2011-10-15 18:50:59','','sibMamaShawDadMama45thAnniv','Beth, Carol, Mama Shaw, Joan, Debi, Janice on the front row, Terry, Daddy, Mother and David in the back. Taken at Mama and Daddy\'s 45th anniversary celebration. The last such picture taken before my Father\'s death in 1986','inherit','open','open','','sibmamashawdadmama45thanniv','','','2011-10-15 18:50:59','2011-10-15 18:50:59','',216,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sibMamaShawDadMama45thAnniv.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(222,2,'2011-10-15 18:54:22','2011-10-15 18:54:22','','FamilyDebiBaby','Joan, Terry, Daddy, Carol, Mother holding me as a baby.  Joan is holding a doll.','inherit','open','open','','familydebibaby','','','2011-10-15 18:54:22','2011-10-15 18:54:22','',216,'http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/FamilyDebiBaby.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),