May 9th, 2009
The funny thing about being a music specialist is that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to create this life as a teacher and entrepreneur without the event that predates everything in my recent history - becoming a mom to my son, 18 years ago this year. I always think of his birthday as my birthday, for on that day, the world tilted on an amazing and challenging and terrifying and sublime axis.
I know I would have continued along, but in retrospect, there was no set direction in the ebb and flow of life. I was happy to be moving along. Motherhood stopped my feet in their tracks, and whichever way they were heading, it all came to a blissful halt right in my son’s eyes. I know I am a better citizen of the world for becoming a mother, though like each of us, I work hard to keep life on an even keel in the day to day.
From the first moment we greet those babies, I believe we are working mothers. Like billions of mothers through human history, we are learning to balance a new little life on our physical and spiritual hips. However, back in my early days as a new mom, if someone had suggested that much self-reflection concerning my own wellbeing, I might have punched them in the nose from sleep deprivation and worry that I might not have been cut out for the challenge after all. For me personally, self-doubt never loomed so large as when I adjusted to my role as center of my son’s universe, and yet, when instincts kicked in, I learned that joy is a very active pathway of communication, and it helped me remember something more ongoing and definite, as opposed to sleep and nap schedules.
So, in honor of RaisingMOM and moms everywhere, I’d like to give a nod to work/life balance and the gracefulness we somehow possess in our inner depths when we are wrung out, tired and needed. I’ve learned so much about work/life balance and life in general because of my own experience of motherhood. But, thanks to my job, which somehow seems to have created itself, I’ve had the honor to meet and greet and and hug and nurture thousands of new moms in their evolving role as center of the universe to their baby, right through to the schedules, concerns, fears, angers, angst and joy that we share when their children take their first social steps….away from us. Shifting balance again, every step of the way.
Dip into the well of your children - remember all that joy when the balance seems impossible! Remember that they can fill our souls with one smile, one tiny hand in ours, a pat on the back, and a new sound from a gummy mouth. Renewable energy 24/7, and it all runs on love.
-by Nanette DeCillis, RaisingMOM Music Specialist
Tags: balance, birthdays, career path, direction, encouragement, fulfillment, inspiration, joy, mothers day, rewarding, struggles, working moms
Posted in Mommy Needs | 3 Comments »
April 27th, 2009
Baby’s Food, My Mouth
When the pediatrician told me that it was ok to let my baby start snacking on “Cheerios”, I let out a yelp.
“But she’ll choke!”
“No, she won’t, Cheerios have holes in them”
That’s when the fun grocery shopping began, and my post-pregnancy weightloss “attempt” ended! Not that Cheerios are a tool of the underworld themselves, just the supermarkets they typically reside in. Up until then I had only breastfeed and before I knew it there were hours of shopping for baby foods, baby oatmeal, baby ‘meat’ sticks. And in my completely thrilled feeling at watching her consume more and more, so did I. Not the baby array of dinner foods, but my own quick fixes. And every time I became scientist and thought “Hmmm, she’s never has chocolate ice cream…let’s see what kind of face she’ll make. Quick get the camera!” I would first think, “I should have some myself just to show her how yummy it can be.”
A stay at home mother for the first few years, I also worked at home, and aside from sitting next to my baby’s highchair for these food fiestas, I found myself sitting at my computer, or sitting on the floor playing with her, or sitting on the couch watching baby videos. Basically a lot of sitting, basically on a behind large enough to masquerade as the seat cushion itself (ok, maybe not that big).
I was 24 when I became pregnant, and in really good shape. But I gained more than 50 lbs. during pregnancy, which meant a lot to my 5’2” frame. For over a year after her birth I felt a heaviness within me that I thought birth and breastfeeding would magically give away to the fat heavens. I felt depressed, aged, tired…and had decided that the doctors accidentally removed any abdominal muscles I may have had during my cesarean.
My daughter is 12 now. In the time of my pregnancy there was little focus yet on maternal fitness and nutrition. Certainly no emphasis on weight training and little on yoga. But there was definitely no umbrella of physical and emotional support after her delivery. My weight came off gradually, but almost by accident. I became addicted to exercise after deciding it was a necessary new mom stress reliever. Cardio made me feel like I was light again, yoga made me feel my body again, and weights made me feel the athlete within. Through this I stopped comparing myself to “Bear” from “Bear in the Big Blue House” and found my woman inside. As a result, I felt empowered, had more energy, became a more fun mom, and lost the weight! I only wish I had started right away. Today having an army of specialists to groom you back to you is not just about fitting into pre-mama clothes. It’s about a whole integral framework of feeling the best you can. Your baby will love you for it.
Tags: feeding baby, maternal fitness, post pregnancy weightloss
Posted in The Trials of Motherhood | No Comments »
April 26th, 2009
You can never have enough kid’s clothes right? Do you ever walk into a high end children’s boutique or the kids section in a high end department store and see the most beautiful and adorable dress for your baby girl or plaid summer shorts for your toddler boy? And then sticker shock…is there a typo on that $295 Little Marc Jacobs dress or $160 for the toddler boy Burberry shorts which will be worn a few times and maybe have some milk or chocolate smeared all over it? You say to yourself, “my husband will kill me” or “I could just pay cash” or “he will never know and I’ll say it was a gift” or “Just this once I’ll buy it because Madison will look fabulous at the neighbor’s barbeque” even though you know it’s way too nice to be crawling all over the grass at the party.
Shop on Ebay. I’ve been buying and selling on Ebay for a few years now and it’s a great way to catch those Juicy Couture dresses, Izod shirts and Diesel shorts for a fraction of the price and avoid that sticker shock. So many designers are making children’s clothing but their prices are not always recession proof. A recent random search on Ebay pulled up 298 items for Juicy Couture infants & toddlers alone, including a $97 bathing suit for $15.99! Use key words in your search for your favorite kids designers and make sure you search for both new or used items. As all moms know, many of our kids clothes get worn so few times they are like new and have lots of good wearings left. Many items on Ebay are new with original tags on them so you know you’re getting a real bargain. And just think, when your child outgrows that D & G Junior or Lilly Pulitzer outfit you bought on Ebay for a steal, you can resell it and use the money towards a new one!!
Please send me your shopping tips, ideas, and thoughts to share with other moms!
Tags: Designer Clothes, Designer Clothes at a discount, Ebay, Kids Clothes
Posted in Great Deals for Moms | No Comments »
