|
365 PHOTO CHALLENGE by Sarah
My best friend Amelia told me about something called the 365 Photo Challenge that was taking place on
Flickr this year, it sounded really cool so I started googling like mad trying to find out more about it. I found that
it has been done in recent years across the globe, usually individually. This fact got my brain working and I thought,
how cool would it be if we could get a group of women together to chronicle their lives with one picture a day for 365 days.
First I tried sending out inquiries on Yahoo Answers, but the report police kept deleting my questions (their
loss!) so then I resigned myself to just having as many friends and family participate as possible. Amelia signed on
and so did my Mom. I was super excited, wow, three women working together to create something beautiful, I thought,
how empowering!
I went to bed that night and lay awake thinking about the project, the fine details, potential
problems, and I figured why not advertise on a few blogs I really like, we may get a few more interested women, the more the
merrier right? I asked the owners of List of the Day (LOTD) and True Wife Confessions (TWC) to place a call out to their
readers to see if anyone would be interested in participating with us.
I was not prepared, at all.
About five minutes after LOTD and TWC posted my call for women, my inbox was flooded. Each time I would
answer one inquiry I would have another waiting in my inbox, this went on for two hours. I went to bed with a smile
on my face and goosebumps on my arms. When I woke up I had another 20 emails from women interested in the Project.
It was the same as the day before, I would answer an email and another one would be in my inbox. My entire day was spent
talking to women who thought the idea was fantastic. Biographies and introductory pictures started piling in and as
I added each one I would look at the site and it was all I could do to keep myself from squealing with excitement. I
actually DID squeal quite a few time, like every time I added a new woman!
Four days later we have 32 women committed
to the project with bios and pictures on the blog. I have 50 women still considering taking part and 6 who have committed
but have not submitted their bios and pictures yet. We have a Yahoo Group and in the last few days we have posted over
150 messages to each other. We are all working together to come up with a name for our Project that is meaningful to
all of us.
Thirty nine strong, talented, smart, beautiful women from everywhere as excited about this project
as I am. Thirty nine women who believe in the power of this project as much as I do. Thirty nine women working
together on a project that is not just mine, but all of ours, equally, in every way.
I thought 3 would be empowering,
what does that make 39 and counting?
Lauren's Interview by Claudi in California I'm Lauren and I'm 25, married to Josh who is 24. Our little Sophie
is 21 months; her 2nd birthday is October 12. :) Hopefully we get pregnant again this year! -How
do you deal with mommy stress? I love to
read and do puzzles, they help me relax! Baking is also an outlet, and I really love to feed people my treats.
:) And there's nothing like a hot bath... -What do you do for yourself? Basically the same things I listed under mommy stress-relievers! I also really like certain aspects of YA,
like when someone is having problems nursing and wants the help of experienced breastfeeders, or has nipple thrush.
I went through that agony for months, no thanks to idiotic doctors, so once I found out about Grapefruit Seed Extract (from
a Dr who is ALSO a board-certified Lactation Consultant!), I was thrilled! And now I consider it a mini-mission of mine
to spread the word, lol!! As for happy addictions, I love
love LOVE to shop!! It can get bad quickly, but I've been really good for a while. It's all about moderation
and living within my means, even though buying purses and shoes is so much fun! :) -Do you think your parents screwed you
up, and are you afraid of doing the same to your kid? No,
but they did do some things I will try not to. I'm an oldest child, and that was hard. I was the example for
my sisters, and often expected to be perfect. It was a lot of pressure! I think being the guinea pig child is
always hard, on both parent AND child.
I love my parents though, and have countless wonderful childhood memories,
not to mention a great relationship with them as an adult. I don't feel very screwed up!! :) And I'm
not really scared of screwing up Sophie, though I know I'm far from perfect. -As a mom, we grow and learn every
day, is there something looking back that you wish you could've done differently for your child? And, maybe
you'll do that differently if you have another? I can't pick out anything specific off the top of my head, but I know I've learned SO much, and
still am, and will with all future kids. My feelings about it are to do the best you can, and follow your heart, along
with doing lots of research!! When it comes to finding what I feel is best for Sophie, I just can't get enough research.
:) -As you raise your child, do you think that 'mom will always be right' or do you think mom has lessons
to learn yet? Will you be open to do things differently if you child requests/requires it? NO one is always right!!! Lol!! Yes, I will try to treat Sophie and
future children the way I think is best, and once they are old enough to reason with, I want to hear their opinions and requests.
Sure, much of the time it'll be things like "I know you don't want to clean your room, but YOU made that mess
and YOU will clean it!! Love you!!!" :) We'll see what unfolds! -There is a lot of controversy these days
about so many things in the parenting world. I know that some people have very strong opinions, which is fine, but why
do you think that divide is so great? Hmm, good
question. I'd say that most people have passions, and sometimes the way things get phrased can feel really hurtful
or offensive to those who disagree, even if that's not the intention! It's tough, because on the one hand I
love the diversity of the world. On the other hand, there are issues I'm so fervently for or against, that it's
hard not to be upset at times. Maybe that's just my view on things!
-If your daughter grew up and married
someone just like your husband,
who treats her exactly how your husband treats you, would that man be
good enough
for her? Explain why or why not. OH YEAH.
I often say the only man to EVER treat me so well is my daddy! Josh is very kind, honest, hardworking and a blast to
hang out with!! I know we'll grow old together and I'm looking forward to the years ahead. As Sophie grows
up, I'm so happy that she'll have Josh as an example of a good man. :)
-How did you know your husband/partner
was the right person to have a
child with? Now that you actually have kids with him, do you feel he
is a good
father? Right from the beginning with Josh I was
impressed with his wisdom, patience, and playfulness. He had a rough childhood, what with both parents struggling with
drug/alcohol addictions, then a nasty divorce when he was 4. He hasn't seen his dad since (BASTARD!...Ok, sorry!!),
and his mom had a succession of iffy boyfriends. We discussed children and fathers when we dated, and he was determined
he'd NEVER be like his dad and ditch his children.
He's a fantastic daddy!! He cuddles, changes
diapers, gives baths, sings goofy made-up songs, and is so patient yet firm with Sophie. I know I'm blessed
to have him and can't wait to have more of his babies. :)
-If you and your partner died,
who would you want to raise your kid(s)?
I think I'd prefer my parents, since they are happily married and
one of them could be around as a proxy SAHM or SAHD. I really would want my MIL to share the custody though, since I
love her so much! :) The great thing is that they live 5 minutes away from each other, so it'd be totally
feasible.
|
 |
Going Back to School by Cat in Maine A friend told me, a while back, that
she was going back to school. I congratulated her on her accomplishment and, as a lot of mothers would, asked her how she
planned on going to school when she has two children to care for and no second vehicle. Well,
it seems that she applied to a college that offers on line degrees. Still I wondered with the price and all if it would ever
be possible for me. I looked into it figuring it would be the same hassle that I've gone
through in the past and the same scams. Well, it wasn't actually. I am on my way to an
Associates degree in health care Administration with a focus on Medical records. I noticed
a few things that I needed though, the obvious paper issues, and then there is printer ink, and if you don't have one,
a computer. Usually organizational stuff like folders, binders etc. There is one other key thing that makes college work. Having a great support system for when things get rough and
you feel like giving up. My husband, even with his own dilemmas, has been there since day one as my coach. I would love to give more information about Axia College of University of Phoenix. Going Back To Work by Tanya in Wisconsin
1.
Extra money
2. Is my baby going to be OK with just Daddy or whomever they're being
taken care of by?
3. Yay...some social interaction!
4. Yay...adult conversation
5. Breathing time...you can't
be a Mom 24/7
These are the things that I thought of when I worked and I really, really
miss it...especially
the social interaction and breathing time.
 Charting for Conception
by Carol in Wisconsin Charting is an excellent way of planning the conception of your child. This
is the method I chose when my husband and I were ready to conceive our baby. It simply involves taking
your temperature each day, keeping track of your cervical mucus, noting when your period begins and each time you have sex. It’s
an excellent way of increasing your odds of conception during your more fertile time of the month. It also
puts you more in touch with your body and it’s said that women who are aware of their fertile time can conceive in less
than three or four months, roughly 2 – 3 earlier than those who don’t chart. And, if you’re
anything like me, the sooner the better when you’re ready and conditions are right to become pregnant. During ovulation,
your body releases progesterone, which is a hormone that slightly raises your temperature a day or two after ovulation –
usually only by .1 or .2 degrees. Then your temperature will stay elevated until your next cycle begins.
However, if you do get pregnant during that cycle, your temperature will stay elevated beyond that. You begin
taking your temperature, basal body temperature, on the first day of your period. Take it at the same time
each day, before you get out of bed. Then you write down your temperature.
The cervical mucus changes throughout the month, usually for a
normal 28-day cycle it goes something like this: Day 1 – 5 menstruation Day 6 – 9 dry with little or no mucus Day 10 –
12 sticky, thick mucus appears Day 13 – 15 mucus becomes thin and with the consistency of egg whites.
THIS IS THE MOST FERTILE STAGE. Day 16 – 21 mucus becomes stick and thick again Day 22- 28 dry To check for
the mucus all you need to do is check the tissue paper when you go to the bathroom. You should be able
to tell from that. There are two websites that I’ve found where you can keep track of your temperature
and mucus. The sites will create charts for you and help you figure out your most fertile days.
They are: www.mycycle.com and www.fertililtyfriend.com.
Interview of Rachele by Claudi
in California Please start with a short intro. I'm Rachele, 23 years old, and I live in a little valley in Oregon. My husband Forrest
is 24, and we've been together over 5 years. Our daughter Brooklyn is 3 and a half, and our daughter Charlotte will
be 6 months soon. I'm a SAHM, and also recently became a ChaCha guide, to make a little extra money in my free time
online. Forrest is a mechanic for now, but is working towards a better job at a titanium plant. How have your views of the world changed since becoming a parent?
Yes,
I'm suddenly much more aware of how everything around my children them may effect them. What is best for their body?
What is best for their mind? What is best for their spirit? I take decisions a lot more seriously now, and its
sometimes a little daunting to know I've got to combat all the garbage out there in this world, and raise two young ladies
despite all of it. I try to give them the best physical, mental, and emotional nourishment that I can provide, and I
hope it equips them well enough for life on this planet.
If your daughter grew up and married someone just like your husband,
who treats her exactly how your husband
treats you, would that man be
good enough for her? Explain why or why not.
I
would be very happy for her. Forrest supports me, keeps me laughing every day, never stops telling me how he feels about
me, and is an amazing dad to boot! Of course, every parent wants something better for their child, lol. So maybe
I would want her guy to have a better job, but not if he was a work-a-holic or anything. I'd want her to have a
guy who put her and their family first, and I think she is getting a great example of that from her daddy.
How did you know your husband/partner was the right person to have a
child
with? Now that you actually have kids with him, do you feel he
is a good father?
His
friends and family thought I was crazy for thinking Forrest could ever settle down, but I knew the parts of his personality that
no one else got to see. When Brooklyn was born, he couldn't stop weeping from the moment he laid eyes on her.
I knew I'd chosen the right guy all along, but he has turned out to be above and beyond my expectations! That was
one of the best moments of my life. Its especially meaningful to me to see the love between my daughters and their daddy,
because I didn't have my own dad around when I was little. I had no idea how strong the bond could be! It
means the world to me that my daughters have someone so special in their lives. If you had the resources to cure all cancer, eradicate AIDS, or end poverty, which one would you do and why? Honestly,
this may be kind of a twisted view but... I think curing AIDS or cancer might cause a serious population issue for our world.
If that many more people stayed alive, it might bite us in the butt. So I suppose I'm going to have to say poverty.
I'd rather not play God at all though.
If
you were a candy, what kind would you be? Kit-Kat. I have layers,
lol. Kinda like ogres and onions *wink* Are you more
apt to meet friends for drinks or dinner? Dinner at our place. We like
to get together, eat, watch movies, play video games, talk, watch the kids run around. I haven't gone out for a
drink in a couple years, lol! What was the last book you
read cover to cover? I just finished "Host" by Stephenie Meyer,
the same author who wrote the Twilight series. I love all her books, and I'm really hoping that when the Twilight
movie comes out, they do the book justice! Just last night, I started reading "Flowers in the Attic".
I love to read! What was your favorite subject in highschool
and where did you like to sit in class? I loved art! I took every art
class offered. I ran out of options my senior year, so the art teacher let me have a free period where I could just
do whatever I wanted, as long as it was artistic. Forrest would often ditch his class to let me draw on his face and/or
arms. The first time his mom met me, he had tribal-looking designs covering half his face, courtesy of me, lol.
First thing she said was "Please tell me that isn't a tattoo!", lol. I always preferred the back of the
class. I'm not all that social. I like a small tight group of friends, and I don't like to stand out in
a crowd. If you could go back in time and start something
over or change something would you? If so what would it be? I would spend
more time with my grandpa. I would write down the stories that he used to tell me. I really miss him. You have a dependable babysitter for an entire week and a all expense paid trip
where would you go and who would you take? Hmmm... well first of all,
I'm only going once Charlotte is off the boob, lol! After that... I'd LOVE to go on a honeymoon with Forrest!
We've never really gotten to take a trip together, so that would be awesome. Maybe a cruise? Do they make
cruises that go to Ireland, because that would be extra awesome!
|
|
