Top 5 Articles of January 2012
Counting down from 5 to 1, here are January 2012′s top 5 most popular articles. If you missed them, take a moment to check them out!
Accepting Imperfection
Sometimes we get a little too obsessed with perfection. Perfect children, perfect dinner, perfect schedule, and (of course) a perfectly clean and organized home. Then we look at reality! Here's my new definition of perfection.
The Blindfolded Mommy
Family goals and family games can help us feel appreciated and most of all, loved.
Sometimes…
Sometimes all you can do is lower your expectations, go with the flow, and embrace reality with all its rough, raw edges.
Lower Expectations = More Happiness
As moms, we think, “This is going to be a wonderful day – I'm going to get all this stuff done and have magical moments with my children...” and we end up disappointed somewhere along the way. While it's great to be positive, it's also great to be realistic!
Wonder if You Can Keep On Going?
Life has it’s ups and downs, but this heart-wrenching ride has taught me about acceptance, courage, and that it’s okay to pretend.
Books and Charts To Stop The Fighting
Although watching people fight seems to be a national past time (on TV, in political debates, and all over the tabloids), I don't know a single person who enjoys the fighting at home. Sometimes it feels like there's no hope in sight. (But there is . . . keep reading.)
Bless this Mess
With four children and lots of responsibilities between me and my husband, life often moves too fast for us to stay on top of the stuff in our house 100 percent. My thought: In order to love the mess that is your house, all you need to do is focus on its beauty.
Are You Depressed?
Are you depressed? If so, you’re not the only one. In fact, the third Monday of every January (this coming week) has been dubbed “Blue Monday” since 2005. Just check out this article to see how you can put the "blues" behind you.
Four Key Habits Moms Don’t Want To Live Without
Do you find yourself discouraged about motherhood more often than not? We are willing to bet that these four habits will help you see your work as a mom with the perspective you deserve.
A Conscious Pace
One little Daisy Scout meeting a week...no problem, right? Wrong! Read how one mother discovered and accepted the pace she needed to set for her family.
Accepting Single Motherhood
The power of acceptance is something every mom needs but, I have to think it is especially valuable to single mothers who learn to accept and even embrace their new reality.
Fat and Happy
Thinking about The Power of Acceptance, here's a question: Have you learned to accept your physical self? Extra maternal fat and all? It's been more than three years since my last child and I'm still hanging onto those last 10 pounds. But, is it really such a big deal?
A House is Not A Home
What happens when your girlish dreams of the perfect home don't come true? That's the reality for many mothers in today's economic climate. But is it possible to be an amazing mother and have a satisfying family life without the perfect home? Absolutely YES!!!
When Motherhood Doesn’t Turn Out as Planned – Part 2 – Episode 25
We all know that motherhood is the best improv show out there. And things rarely turn out as planned. So in the midst of all the chaos and unmet expectations, how can The Power of Acceptance influence us as wives and mothers? What specific things can we do to become healthier, happier women? When a...
A food processor or a cute coat – neither is necessarily better
It's hard not to compare and find ourselves and our lives lacking. But if we can accept that just because something is different doesn't mean it's better or worse, things get easier. Would you rather have a cute coat or a food processor? It depends...
Book Summary: Real Moms Love To Eat
Corn on the cob for a mid-afternoon snack? I would never have thought of that. In this book there are plenty of easy and helpful tips for a well-fed, slimmer, and happier you.
It’s Not Just You
Have you ever looked at the imperfections in your life and asked, "Is it just me?" In case you're ever feeling like "it's just you," here are a few ideas of comfort.
It’s Okay If I Can’t Beat Lance Armstrong
If you were riding next to Lance Armstrong, would you berate yourself for being slow? Our skills are all unique. Here are three simple suggestions that can help us enhance our capacities--without comparing our ourselves to the “supermoms”.
When Motherhood Doesn’t Turn Out as Planned – Episode 24
Have you ever wondered how your reality ended up so far from your plans? Join Whitney Winter and April Perry in a lively chat where they share their best ideas and discover the power that comes from accepting the not-so-perfect parts of our lives.
Blooming Goals
Here are 2 secrets that have helped me make and keep resolutions and goals. First, I focus on making goals that have an end. My second secret is a fun little program on The Power of Moms website called the "Bloom Game." If you haven't tried it yet, give it a try!
Breastfeeding In Public
Currently, forty-five states protect a mother’s right to breastfeed in public. To show support for nursing mothers, hundreds of mothers gathered across the United States to stage a “nurse-in” by collectively breastfeeding their babies in public. Here's what I think.
And Yet…I Will Not Wish Away Today
Have you ever thought that getting your heart broken or not being voted Homecoming queen can actually help you be a better mother? Life is filled with discouragement and obstacles, and how we choose to handle them has a lasting effect on ourselves and families.
Road Trips and New Year’s Goals
While some things change as you move from one stage to the next, other challenges remain the same. I think finding a balance between getting personal work done and being fully present for our children is something mothers will always struggle with
The Power of Acceptance
Remember what a great mom you were when you were pregnant with your first child? Life B.C. (Before Children) was full of hope and promise. Then your baby was born and real life began, bringing with it the inevitable struggles of life no mother escapes.
Straight Talk : Beauty, Brains, or Both?
From excessive accessories to underage make up, it seems young girls are increasingly more obsessed with their looks. Don't get me wrong, I like to look nice too but, is that what I want myself or my daughters to be known for?
Introduction to the Power of Moments
Discovering the power of moments is about learning to "live in the moment" — to recognize and make meaningful those brief moments in time with our families, especially our young children who grow up so fast.
Smudges on My Shirt
When I first became a mother, I never planned on looking like a mother. Reality set in after two or three weeks with my first child, but I have still tried to keep a relatively clean appearance--just so I still feel like a person.
Welcome to Holland
Lately I have been thinking a lot about raising a child with a disability. Recently I heard that an old college friend had a baby that was born with some severe disabilities, and I have really been pondering about it and just thought I'd share my take on this.
Be Sure to Add Mom to Your Resume
A year ago it was time for me to venture back into corporate America. I had spent three years working for the most demanding boss on the face of the earth: my son. I learned quickly that getting employers to find you interesting takes clever maneuvering.
Big Things are Made out of Little Things
As I studied third world development and international relations in my undergraduate studies (at Wellesley College near Boston) and went on to study what education is and what more it could be with my Masters (at Harvard University), I figured out a whole lot of seemingly brilliant solutions to many vital issues. But somehow I...
Spiritual Sundays: An Unexpected Request
Editor’s Note: The Power of Moms is a website for mothers of all religions (and for mothers who are not necessarily religious). Each Sunday, we post a spiritual essay, and we would love to gather a wide variety of perspectives and ideas. Our goal is to be respectful of all beliefs while simultaneously offering opportunities...
Creating a Family
Submitted by Heather Spencer As a teenager, I had this idea of how my adulthood would look. Marriage. Children. Perfection. It was difficult to wake up one day after fifteen years of marriage and realize that 2/3 of my life goals had still not happened. My husband, Greg, and I went through years of infertility...
If All Else Fails, Just Give Up
Did I really just type that title? Aren’t we supposed to keep trying and never give up? The younger, more optimistic version of me would be appalled that I now view giving up as a viable strategy. It’s not that I’m jaded now. It’s just that I’m realizing that some things are not worth the...
But Doesn’t EVERY 8-year-old Have An I-Pod Touch?
Our country’s obsession with “stuff” is driving me crazy. My children have always been happy with what they have, but in the past 24 hours, I’ve been hearing way too much of this: “I’m the only person in my class without an iPod Touch.” “Two of my friends have go-carts. Why don’t we have one?”...
What Did You Just Say?
“Why can’t you get up earlier?” “Look at that belly!” “I can’t believe you’re putting that junk food in your children’s lunch.” “No time to exercise again–you’re always running behind schedule.” “Why can’t you get the house clean the night before?” “Good moms don’t put their children in front of a screen while they get their...
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
In our family, all of us (including me) often have a hard time accepting the basic but sad fact that you can’t always get what you want. One day, as I found myself telling the kids “I’m sorry, but we don’t always get what we want” again and again, a certain song came to mind....
The Broiled Zucchini Cake and Other Adventures
My Aunt Mary taught me to make the most delicious chocolate zucchini cake I have ever tasted. I could eat it for every meal…every day…for weeks. My self-control is in jeopardy when the cake and I are in the same room, so I only make it for special occasions when I am sure someone else...
A Goal You Can Keep
Lose the last 10 pounds. Organize the family photos. Make a recipe binder from all those loose scraps of paper. Get in bed every weeknight by 10 p.m. (so I can get up at 6 a.m. to exercise in order to lose the last 10 pounds … ). Blah, blah, blah. What do all...
It’s Going to be Hard – and that’s OK
This has been a crazy week. We’ve had conflicting events involving family members pretty much every evening; one son has needed tons of help with homework every afternoon while the neighbors keep coming over to play; I’m still unpacking a few boxes from our recent move and the pictures leaning against the walls are crying...
I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough – Episode 5
Does your situation, family, house, or life ever drive you crazy? Do you ever feel sub-par, behind the game, or like you’ll never “arrive”? Throughout the month of January, The Power of Moms is focusing on The Power of Acceptance–accepting ourselves, our family members, and our life situations. This also includes having realistic expectations and...
Good Enough
When I was eight years old, I started taking piano lessons from the same woman that had instructed my sister, four years my senior. My sister is a very gifted musician. At twelve years old, she demonstrated noticeable and noteworthy talent. It was obviously a gift–music would always be a part of her future. For...
Fresh Flowers and Bedtime
I spent the other evening with a group of 12-15 ladies in a party-type setting. Though I had a great time, and came home with a few great gifts, the insight I brought home with me is of far greater value… While one of the ladies was presenting her gift item, she mentioned how much...
Expectation vs. Reality
The other day I had a melt-down. A straight out adult temper tantrum. I had HAD IT! After coming home from work one night, I walked into my kitchen to discover a tornado had demolished it while I was gone. It couldn’t have been like that when I left, could it? There were dishes in the...
Boundaries
When I was in college majoring in social psychology, I did a term project on women and depression. I found this project extremely enlightening and helpful in forming my consciousness of what to avoid in the future. In one of my classes, we were shown a day in the life of a mother of 5...
Eye of the Beholder
Sometimes my kids are angels and sometimes they are not (I could use a more descriptive word here, but I am trying to think happy thoughts). Lately I have been thinking about my perception of people, places, things and situations. I realized I am the beholder and I see what I most want to see....
Being A Mother Helped Me Find Joy Again
Submitted by Leslie Harkness: When Aaron and I were married in August 2002, our hopes and dreams of starting a family felt so close and we started trying to have a baby right away. After a few disappointing years, loads of tests and surgery… in March 2005, we were finally pregnant because of the miracle...
I’m No Better Than You Are
Recently in a meeting, I happened to glance at the notes that were being taken by a lady in front of me. Several of the notes she had written down were goals to be a better mother to her children. I suddenly became squeamish in my seat. It wasn’t the goals themselves that caused my discomfort,...
Stale Hamburger Buns
Last Sunday I wrestled through my church meeting with five children. This included a baby who woke up earlier than usual and was far past due for a nap, a three year old that had too much energy, two sisters wanting to argue for an hour straight, and an eight year old who kept...
Lost and Found: On Becoming A Mother
I have read more than enough articles in parenting magazines that have dealt with the topic of women feeling like they “lost their identity” when they became mothers. I’ve also overheard mothers say, “I feel like I lost a part of myself after motherhood” or “I just don’t know who I am, or remember who...
Life Is Like Candyland
My family teaches me lessons beyond what I could possibly learn on my own. Today that teaching happened in the midst of a game of Candyland. Spencer and I played it for the first time this morning, and he had a great time singing about the colors, flipping the cards, pointing out the treats on...
Better Together
There’s a song by Jack Johnson that says, “It’s always better when we’re together.” I know Jack was referring to the love of his life, but lately I’ve thought of this in terms of our sisterhood of women. I’ve noticed lately how much we women sometimes just do things on our own. Why do we...
My Quiver Is Full
I took a pregnancy test tonight. I didn’t really think I could be pregnant, but what else was I to think when my cycle was late and I felt nauseous? As a young girl playing house, I often wondered how many children I would have. The closer I got to becoming a real mom, I...
Life’s Plain, Common Work
Life’s Plain, Common Work The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and...
Center Stage
Lately I find myself reading a lot of articles about successful women. I won’t lie. I envy those women. They are women recognized for their brilliance, talent, ingenuity, drive, and charisma, along with many other enviable qualities. Women do amazing things. Women earn gold medals. Women head corporations with billions of dollars in revenue. Women...
Be Kind to Yourself
I am my own harshest critic. There is a voice in my head that is always ready and willing to critique how I am doing as a mom. It is often heard saying things such as: Are you really putting that in your son’s lunch? Hello? You haven’t spent any quality time with your kids...
The Other Mothers
You see them everywhere you go. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They appear harmless, even friendly. You’ve been exposed to them your entire life but they still have the power to intimidate you. They’re in the grocery store, the car pool line, the park, even your own...
Silly Putty and Fudge Pops
Life has been busy lately. My 17-month-old son is an active “climber,” my husband is gone often with work and civic duties, and I spin in circles most days–going from the school drop-off to the store, hoping to exercise and shower before dinnertime. My home and family need me so much, so I try to simplify...
My Story
I recognize that when a mother comes to a website like this, she immediately asks herself, “Who is running this website? Do we have anything in common? Can I trust her?” So I’m taking this opportunity to introduce myself a little bit, to share my story, and hopefully inspire others to join me in this...
Dorothy, the Tree, and Me
We recently lost our goldfish, Dorothy. Yes, I know that goldfish aren’t meant to last long, but this wasn’t just an ordinary fish. About two weeks after I miscarried our fourth child, our family was in a bit of a slump. My youngest children constantly begged for a dog (since they couldn’t have...
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