by Claudine As many of us know April is Autism Awareness Month. As April draws to a close I wanted to take an opportunity to again highlight a special story that was first published in 2008. This special story was written and shared by my incredible sister-in-law. When this article was first written in April 2008 Joe Jr. was 16 years-old. Today he is 21 years-old and is thriving as a college junior who will graduate in May 2014. He works hard at school, he is busy every summer at his job and he is currently debating whether he wants to continue on to get his master's degree. He is beyond amazing! I am a firm believer that his successes in life are due in large part to early intervention, loving and engaged parents, an all-star sister and, of course, his own amazing efforts! I hope you find my sister-in-law's journey to be moving and inspirational. Joseph was born on November 19, 1991; he was named after two great men in this world, his Father and his Grandfather. Second in line to his sister Stephanie, just 12 months his senior. Joe is currently 16 years old and a sophomore at our local PUBLIC school; I emphasize PUBLIC because like all children afflicted with Autism, we were facing huge odds that Joe would one-day talk, let alone attend Public High School. He is a nut for sports and, although does not play them, can tell you every fact and statistic there is to know on every team, player or division. He currently takes stats for the girl's Basketball team and boys Softball at his High School. He loves Drama, Girls and has performed in many school productions. Like all teenagers, is anxious to drive and just passed his permit test in the state of NJ. Joe is liked and admired by everyone and is the most outgoing child. Always wanting to be a part or lend a helping hand. Most important, he is happy. This was NOT how it all began........
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by Micaela A Baby Affair, the metro area’s definitive boutique luxury consumer event for the modern moms and moms-to-be, is coming Sunday, March 17, 2013 to the Long View Gallery, in Washington D.C. The event features:
by ClaudineAfter years away from The Little Gym, I recently returned to sign my toddler up for the Birds class. It was like a wonderful homecoming. Here is the back story. The Little Gym was my first foray into the sometimes-scary world of playgroups, movement classes and the baby band hour at local coffee houses. I was a bit nervous as a new mother to go to these events solo. Yes…I now see how absurd my fears were, but at the time the thought of walking into a room full of strangers, who would clearly be better mothers than I was, seemed very overwhelming. Apprehension aside, I needed to do something social with my new bundle of joy. I desperately wanted to get out of the house after my first daughter was born. I was lonely. All of my friends were still working and didn’t have kids. I was a fish out of water. I wanted to find an activity that had a small fixed group of people that met weekly. I wasn’t ready to start rocking at Jammin Java. Call me crazy but I don’t think your infant should have to wear earplugs in order for you to meet people. Don’t get me wrong; I came to love kiddie rock in later years. I might have joined a local playgroup but, at the time, my idea of play was a night out in Arlington or Adams Morgan. I truly had NO IDEA that mommy playgroups existed. If it wasn't listed in a local parent's magazine, it was invisible to me. Hey, why do you think I started the website…for people like me! by Micaela Forget about breastfeeding vs. formula, stay-at-home vs working, I am waging the newest mom war on the Pinterest Moms. This morning, while my kids were eating breakfast in their pajamas ten minutes before we needed to get out the door, I was making a lunch for my kindergartner. My son watched me get the knife out the drawer and asked, "Can you make my sandwich into a different shape?" I sliced the sandwich down the middle and said, "Look...triangles!" by Claudine Nice title…right? Well let’s face facts it is true. There are some wicked women out there and (shudder) some are even moms! Until I recently had my second child…I had sort of forgotten about the bitch factor that exists in Mommyland. I have lived in the area for 12 years, have two children and, thankfully, a large circle of friends that I cherish. I haven’t much thought about the ruthless shrews that made my life miserable when I was a new mom. While woman everywhere can be nasty and mean (as can men) I am specifically talking about bitchy moms with young children.
You know the ones that I am talking about. They glide into every kiddie class with the greatest of ease. They smile at their posse, exchange pleasantries with the instructor and often don’t give a newbie even a glance. I first met these types of women when I had my daughter six years ago. It was the strangest feeling…even though I was able to easily make friends in high school, college and then at the work place these mommy bitches weren’t having it. Man…they staked their claim at the park, playgroup, mall play areas and even the damn grocery store. by Claudine I want to first start off by saying that this blog is NOT meant to bash working mothers. I have the greatest respect for all mothers. We all have our challenges and we are ALL doing the best we can to raise kind, decent, loving, intelligent and thoughtful human beings who will one day eat their vegetables, avoid doing bodily harm to their siblings and listen to us. Hey…dare to dream. This venom filled blog goes out to those people who still truly believe that stay-at-home moms don’t work. Watch out…I have a lot to say! By AmyRecently I sat down for a cup of tea with Amanda Carroll and her adorable baby girl Zoe to talk about the joys and challenges of raising three children (Emily 4, Andy 2, and Zoe 5 months) while co-hosting the WGTS 91.9 Morning Show, volunteering at church, taking time for herself, and spending grown-up time with hubby. It is definitely a challenge and Amanda makes it clear that she does NOT have it all figured out. But you could have fooled me...from all appearances she's managing extraordinarily well. Arriving bright-eyed and all smiles with baby carrier on one arm and bags on another, you'd never guess that this mother of three had already put in a morning's work on the radio, squeezed in a work-out, and managed to arrive at the cafe by 10:00 a.m. looking terrific. Remembering back to the days when I was still toting around my third baby, I assure you, I could not have pulled all this off with a smile, on time, and certainly not with matching clothes and lipstick. So where do her supermom powers come from? Let's find out...
The Gift of Stay-at-Home Time Before her husband's job transfer brought them to the DC metro area, Amanda, her husband, and their baby girl Emily lived in Texas where Amanda hosted a Christian music radio show. When the radio station eliminated its flexible work hours, however, Amanda made the difficult decision to quit and stay home full-time with her daughter. Unexpectedly finding herself without the career that she loved, Amanda had to adjust to what others sometimes dismissively call being "just a mom." Although leaving journalism had not been "the plan", spending time with her daughter was a revelation that made Amanda appreciate the gift of time with her daughter. New motherhood is never easy, but Amanda found that her daughter had much to teach her about taking it slow and living for the moment. As she wrote in her blog following her station departure, Thank you God, for changing our plans. Forgive me for ever protesting and thinking that my plans were better. Maybe someday later Mommy will get invited to the White House Correspondents dinner, talk over the announcements, be bored, and eat dry chicken. For now, Mommy will stay home with Emmie and learn about deep love, commitment, stability, and experience the ultimate joy that comes from laughter with your children. In spite of her appreciation for the time with her daughter, Amanda's dreams of journalism didn't disappear all together. The Dream Job After moving to the DC metro area Amanda and her husband were blessed with their second child, Andy. And although Amanda was now committed to staying at home with her children, she recognized her need to express herself creatively. So, when Takoma Park's WGTS 91.9 called Amanda in search a cohost for their family morning show, she knew immediately that it was an opportunity sent from above. Thankfully, this time around her employer understood her family's needs. "The station wanted a real mom to do the show and was prepared to make the necessary accommodations to make it work." To enable her to work from home WGTS set-up a full studio in Amanda's home, including a webcam and a highspeed connection so that she could broadcast live and interact with her co-host right from her basement. Now, instead of leaving the house before the crack of dawn and commuting to work, she can happily broadcast her show, in her pajamas, while folding laundry. Brilliant! And she wouldn't have it any other way. By getting most of her work done in the morning, she still gets to "play tea party, put diapers on Elmo," and "sing made up songs in the car on the way to the grocery store" with her kids. Working Mother Guilt As ideal as her arrangement seems, it is not always smooth sailing. Although Amanda has a wonderful nanny to take care of the children while she is doing her morning show, she definitely has Mom-guilt at not being there when the kids wake up, being able to help them get ready for school, or give them a kiss goodbye in the morning. There have been "oops!" moments too, like when Amanda got a call from her daughter's preschool teacher informing her that Emily forgot to wear underpants under her dress that day. Of course, that could have happened even if Amanda had been the one getting her children off to school in the morning, but it didn't make Amanda feel any better that her daughter's bare bottom had been "hangin' out in the breeze." Small misses like that hit the core feelings of guilt for all mothers when they cannot personally care for their children every hour of the day. Still, work has also helped her to project a strong role model for her children. "I'm not sure they even know I work now, but one day they will," and will surely be proud. Countering Depression With Joy As she candidly discusses in her blog, there have been very difficult times too. Even before the hormones of motherhood hit, she confronted chemical imbalances that caused depression. I lived for years with depression and was literally miserable every day, until I took action. I got help from a doctor and work everyday to be happy! These days, when things get hard its her children's joy upon waking up each morning that gives her strength and renewed positivity. Especially when she finds herself rushing through the days activities, it is often one of the children who will bring her back to the simple joys and of the world: whether it be stopping to inspect an insect, sing a song, or watch a construction site in progress. Taking Care of Herself Work has also become a kind of therapy. She is grateful to have a career that allows her a creative outlet while helping others. By sharing her experiences and talking about family issues both on her radio show and blog she does just that. "Sometimes," she says, "you can just look at another mom and tell she is having a hard time, not getting enough sleep, or spending enough time taking care of herself." Helping other moms to feel good about themselves is one of the reasons Amanda is committed to doing the radio show. To ensure she practices what she preaches, Amanda exercises regularly (and loves that her gym has childcare!) and as a special treat enjoys a manicure-pedicure, sometimes together with her older daughter. "It is SO important to feel good about yourself." As any family knows, if mommy isn't happy, nobody is. Mentoring Mom's Advice: Get Out! Amanda also stressed the importance of having the support of a "mentor Mom". Amanda's mentor mom, Patty, is a wonderful neighbor and mom of four who is always there to prepare her for the next "phase". Patty has "been-there-done-that" and so it's reassuring to have her advice along the way of motherhood's unexpected challenges. Once, when Amanda was feeling particularly blue, Patty recommended a "field trip" day. She reminded me that just because you are labeled as a stay-at-home-mom...doesn't mean you actually have to stay at home all the time! It's so great to get out and experience something new with your children...especially nature. Forgo the routine of motherhood for a day, get out of your rut, and give your family an experience. After an exhilarating outing to Great Falls in Virginia, Amanda's spirits were lifted and she resolved to take regular field trips with her kids. There is so much to do in the DC area that is accessible to kids, so her family tries to go on a field trip to a museum or park whenever they can. Yes, it's a huge hassle getting the three kids in the car, parking, dealing with diapers, snacks, and all of that. But, there is nothing better than having a wonderful time with your kids as they explore something new. What makes such outings with three multiple children possible, of course, is Amanda's much adored Bob double stroller. As she confessed, "I cannot imagine life without that stroller. I worry about the family car being stolen not because I care about the car, but because I REALLY LOVE that stroller!" Parenting Style As for her parenting style, Amanda is not into flash cards or creating the perfect baby genius. Instead, her family spends time together riding bikes, playing soccer, and generally enjoying the outdoors. There is a lot of pressure in the DC metro area to achieve and succeed, but she wants her kids to relax and enjoy childhood while they still can. Reading time is also very important and she likes to share the books she loved as a child, especially the Berenstain Bears. They also enjoy the Llama books, the Anansi the Spider series, The Kissing Hand, and of course, as most little girls do, Emily really likes Pinkalicious. Although it's sometimes bittersweet watching her children grow-up so fast, Amanda strongly believes in encouraging their independence. That includes helping themselves around the house. At the suggestion of her mother-in-law, she brought a mini-fridge into the kitchen so that the kids could easily help themselves to snacks. She warns that she ends up buying a lot of juice boxes, but having the kids learn to help themselves is worth it. As with all families, getting the kids to help pick-up their own toys is a challenge. But having a place for everything and making a game of cleaning up certainly helps. Secrets Revealed In addition to her career, wonderful nanny, mentoring friends, and strong faith, her husband gives her ongoing strength and support. Amanda acknowledges she is blessed to have a husband who is truly engaged with their children and present in their world. Does her home-life make into onto the air? "Absolutely, but my husband has veto power. Not EVERYTHING needs to be out there." But, "obviously," she reveals, "there are some things that are fair game." Like the time he suggested to save money on a baby gate he installed a bungee-cord rig at the bottom of the stairs instead. "That was too good to pass up and definitely made it on the air!" So what is Amanda's secret? Everyone has their own sources of strength, but clearly what she and other happy moms have in common is a strong support network AND a sense of humor. Thanks Amanda! For more inspiration check out Amanda's radio show weekday mornings on WGTS 91.9 and her blog athttp://amandacarroll.wordpress.com/. For the Holidays: Amanda's Tips on Encouraging Kindness and Gratitude in Children Although her children are still young, Amanda has already started gently guiding her children towards expressions of kindness and gratitude. Because the holidays are approaching we asked her to share some of the ways her children are learning to help others during the holidays and throughout the year:
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