Archive for September, 2009
September 30th, 2009, 2:30 pm by Michelle Reese
 I had to pass these along. I found a few craft ideas on other mom blogs that may be tried in the Reese household during fall break. One idea I saw is creating butterfly or fairy wings. The other idea shows how to make cute-cute-cute toadstools. When we get ours done, I’ll post photos.
Another blog I just found shows ideas with pumpkins - fake ones that is. I LOVE fall. That’s why my husband and I chose November for our wedding. That’s why each fall I try to run away with the kids to the Arizona mountains or to Indiana to see my grandparents. That’s why I will probably be making these adorable pumpkin topiaries sometime in the next month. Now, when will I have time to fit my scrapbooking in?
Posted in: Michelle Reese • crafts • fairy wings • fall break • Fun with the kids • home time • toadstools | Post a Comment »
September 30th, 2009, 1:53 pm by Michelle Reese
 A mom in Michigan is under fire because state regulators say she is violating childcare law there. Each morning, the woman’s neighbors bring their children to her house for care before the bus arrives. Then the woman takes all the children to the bus stop. But the state says that because she is not licensed, and the care is ongoing for more than four weeks (Michigan’s statute), she is breaking the law.
According to Susan Wilkins, the executive director for Arizona’s Association for Supportive Child Care, the Michigan woman may also be breaking the law in Arizona, but it’s a fine line.
In Arizona you cannot care for more than four children (who are not your own) at any point in time without being regulated if you’re receiving compensation for that care, Wilkins said. And compensation may be the “exchange of goods or services,” such as a “you watch my kids, I’ll watch yours,” situation.
“If she’s doing it for absolutely no money, she would probably be exempt,” Wilkins said. “But that would be a fine line.”
The laws are in place, she said, for the safety of the children. That’s why there are regulations, she said.
“If you have five children in your home and you’re caring for them in your home every morning, what safety do you have in place? Are you doing anything with curriculum for the kids or are they watching television? Are you giving them a snack? There’s all kinds of things to consider,” she said.
Group home care licensing is required for anyone who cares for between five and 10 children (not their own), she said. That is set up by the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Office of Child Care Licensing.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • Arizona law • Being a mom • child care • kids at home • School time | Post a Comment »
September 29th, 2009, 8:33 am by Michelle Reese
 Well, if for no other reason than a “Been there, done that” feeling, I want to pass along notice of an author speaking at a local bookstore next week.
(As in, after giving birth to my two children and not knowing what happened to my brain capacity, I’ve “been there and done that!”)
Changing Hands in Tempe is hosting Adrienne Hedger, the author of “If These Boobs Could Talk: A Little Humor to Pump Up the Breastfeeding Mom.” Hedger’s newest book is, “Momnesia: A Humorous Guide to Surviving Your Post-Baby Brain.”
She will discuss lack of sleep, hormone overload, and diminished memory ability. Her new book is described as, ”This hilarious how-to guide, full of coping tips, brain boosters, diagrams, and anecdotes, can help moms reclaim their own thoughts. More importantly, Momnesia buoys a mom’s sense of humor as she leaves her car keys in the freezer, forgets her husband’s name, or accidentally runs over the diaper bag (again).”
Hedger will speak at 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 S McClintock Drive, Tempe.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • " author • "Momnesia • Adrienne Hedger • Being a mom • book • Changing Hands Bookstore • Time for mom | Post a Comment »
September 28th, 2009, 12:22 pm by Michelle Reese
I found a new online resource for moms (well, new to me!). It’s called Mamapedia. I just spent a few minutes browsing through it. Users can post questions (such as, “How do I keep a house with five children clean?”) and other users give advice.
It was fairly easy to use. There are some areas that require registration, but it looked like you could search through reader/user content easily without doing that. Anyone who has the time might find fun and useful ideas at this Web site.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • Being a mom • life with kids • News for parents • parenting tips • words of wisdom | Post a Comment »
September 28th, 2009, 10:21 am by Michelle Reese
 I confess: I bribed my kids this weekend.
On Saturday evening. we hit the store to pick up food. While there, I discovered a flu shot clinic.
Knowing I was leaving in less than 2 weeks for the East coast, where the seasonal flu is in full swing, I decided to get my shot.
The kids ran away from the tables when the word “shot” was mentioned. But I did get them to sit down once I assured them I would be the only one getting it.
The nurse giving the shot was amazing. It didn’t hurt, not one single bit.
I realized, “This may be the best place to get them their shots on my own.”
We had just passed the toy aisles to make a purchase for a birthday present. The kids had each eyed small toys they liked.
Yup… I made them an offer: “Get your flu shot now and you can have the toy.”
My son VOLUNTARILY sat down in the chair next to the nurse. He held his newly acquired toy. A stranger walked by and helped distract him a bit while the needle went in (and I held his arm).
My thanks to that man. My son didn’t even whimper.
My daughter was a little tougher sell, but I just held her in my lap. Again, no crying.
Last year? They were both SCREAMING in the doctor’s office.
Now, it’s my husband’s turn to get his shot. I’m recommending the same location.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • bribery • flu season • flu shot • toy | Post a Comment »
September 28th, 2009, 9:59 am by Michelle Reese
I meant to report this last week. I have to go through my own cupboards to see if I have any of this medication there. Here’s a bit from the story:
The products being recalled were made between April and June and include nearly two dozen varieties, including Children’s Tylenol Suspension 4 oz. Grape, Infants’ Tylenol Grape Suspension Drops 1/4 oz. and Children’s Tylenol Plus Cold/Allergy 4 oz. Bubble Gum.
The full story is here on the Tribune’s Web site.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • infant medicine • recall • Tylenol Plus • Tylenol recall | Post a Comment »
September 26th, 2009, 8:49 pm by Michelle Reese
A story in today’s Tribune shares the brave tale of a mom who lost a child late in a pregnancy, and then turned her own feelings of despair into a desire to help others in similar situations. Becky Norris is the mom. In 2004, her daughter DeLanee was stillborn when Norris was 24 weeks pregnant. A year later, she created the boxes for moms – complete with a small cameras, a necklace and a journal – to help them go through the tough hours, days and months that follow their own experiences. If you want to learn more about this organization and Delanee’s Legacy, you can read the story here.
Moms can find help and support when sharing their stories. If you have your own tale about receiving one of these boxes, please take the time to share it here.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • Delanee's Legacy • moms | Post a Comment »
September 22nd, 2009, 4:01 pm by Michelle Reese
 In a few weeks, my son has fall break. Seeing as I would have to shell out a bunch of money to put him in camp while I work - and seeing as I have the vacation time - I’m scheduled to be off.
But here’s the catch: we’re taking a trip without daddy.
I took time off during spring break, too, but we stayed close to home. My son has his tonsils out (his sister still went to day care a few days because it’s a month-to-month payment and, well, it was paid for).
But this time around, even with my daughter’s situation, I’m planning a trip to California.
Without my husband.
I have more time off than him, partly because of the structure of each of our companies and partly because I’ve just been here FOREVER.
When my kids where younger and I didn’t work full-time, we took similar trips to So Cal . At the kids’ young ages, daddy’s absence wasn’t so glaring.
But now they’re older and I’m worried about how they’ll respond. And I’m worried about being fair to my husband.
We’re only going for four or five days. The kids are excited about seeing my dad and family. And I have no doubt about taking the trip.
It’s not like my husband will be sitting around. He’ll be quite busy with work and football (he’s a volunteer Pop Warner coach).
I’ll just miss the fact he isn’t there enjoying the beach with us.
But I guess it’ll all even out. During the Christmas holidays, when I don’t have any more time off, he’ll be the one with the kids.
They’ll probably stay home and watch holiday movies.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • Add new tag • Being a mom • family • vacation | 1 Comment »
September 20th, 2009, 1:31 pm by Michelle Reese
 Sometimes moms hear words of wisdom: from other moms, their own moms, or even strangers.
Here’s mine from a Saturday running errands with the kids:
• Before sticking your hand down a garbage can at a local mall food court and asking the cleanup crew to open it for you after your 4-year-old screams, “You threw away my toy,” stick your hand in your pocket.
• Carry hand sanitizer in the car at all times. You never know when you’re going to need it.
• Before heading out of the house, even for five minutes, grab a couple bottles of water. Someone will always say, “I’m thirsty.”
• Someone will also say, “I have to go to the bathroom.”
• It’s impossible to go to a mall with a Lego store without your 7-year-old figuring it out, even if you don’t tell him or plan to go to that particular store. I thought I had it mapped out perfect by avoiding that part of the mall. Then someone walked by with a Lego bag filled with toys.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • Being a mom • busy kids • parenting tips • shopping • words of wisdom | Post a Comment »
September 14th, 2009, 10:45 am by Michelle Reese
 On Sunday, my girlfriend and I pulled off “The Great Mom-Me Escape.”
I didn’t even know I was part of the conspiracy to do this (I swear!).
Earlier in the week my son and her son were BEGGING to get together. Every afternoon there was a request.
So she suggested that on Sunday, her boys come over to my house and then I leave and come to scrapbook at her house. That sounded simple enough.
But honest, by “boys” I figured she just meant her 8-year-old, and that her nearly 13-year-old would like just want to hang at his own house.
I wasn’t sure what to do with my 4-year-old daughter. She’s bit clingy with me, but I figured with the boys there and a computer, she would keep busy.
Sunday morning my girlfriend called while my family was shopping after church. She said the boys would be over about noon to watch football.
That’s when it hit me… she meant ALL her boys, husband included.
PERFECT.
I quickly let my hubby know. His response: “I’m picking up some gameday food!”
Our nearly empty cart got quickly full with pizzas, chips and dip.
The game was afoot.
Two hours later, she and her family came over with MORE food (hey, we have three growing boys between us!). Everyone ate. The three younger kids (4, 7 and nearly 9) ran upstairs to play.
The three big boys (two husbands and a growing teen) plopped in front of the big screen.
My friend and I dashed to the car and out the driveway.
Ahh….
I returned three hours later to half eaten pizza in the office, cold wings on the oven, dirty dishes in the sink …
And eight scrapbook pages done.
One happy mommy.
We took all the kids outside to toss the football around and play at the park.
Next week? My husband invited them all over again.
I can’t wait.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • Being a mom • fall • football • mom time • raising boys • raising husbands • Time for mom | Post a Comment »
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