About this column:
About this column: Being a mother is a difficult job but the good thing is that there are other moms out there to which we can all relate. This weekly rotating column will feature the writing of four phenomenal women—Angela Atkinson, a mom that runs her own business from home, Helena Hewlett, a stay-at-home mother, Marsha Hays, a mother of teens and Candice Macko, a single mother.I was raised to believe that I could and should have everything I want. I still believe that is true, but have had to temper that with a heaping dose of reality. I will not always be perfect at everything I do, but I will be the best I can be at everything, as long as I manage my life, and don’t let it manage me! As parents, we not only have to manage our own schedules, but those of our children as well. The more activities in which we let our kids become involved, the more hectic our days become. Having a second driver in my daughter has been a significant help, as has the after-school …
When I was younger, I absolutely loved snow days. A snow day meant I could sleep in or spend time outside building a snowman with my brothers. I was a snow angel and I loved simply walking through the woods enjoying how crisp and beautiful everything was when covered in snow. When my teens were younger and had to be constantly supervised, I both loved and dreaded these days. It meant I either had to stay home from work or pay the before/after school sitter a lot more to keep three kids all day. Sometimes it was cheaper to call off work! Now though, my kids are all old enough to be left home …
In the spirit of what is probably the New Year's Resolution uttered more than any other, I have been experimenting with ways to reduce the fat in everything my three children and I eat. Everyone could stand to eat healthier, whatever their own personal motivations. The first thing to do is READ the labels ... on everything. It is often very simple to make something healthier just by omitting the butter or margarine when it is prepared. My kids love to eat stuffing, but it says to add one-fourth cup of butter when you cook it!! That adds about 40 grams of fat to six servings! If instead of …
Well 2011 is here and if you haven't decided on a resolution, now is the time to begin pondering your New Year's resolutions. I want to make resolutions that are not only reasonable, but ones that are attainable and more importantly–MAINTAINABLE! My first resolution for '11 is to put not only a "date" night, or afternoon, for each of my kids on my Outlook calendar, but also a family night at least every other month where we go do something together. These outings may be as simple as taking my nearly 17-year old daughter to Joe Muggs, inside Books A Million at St. Louis Mills Mall, for coffee…
