Mom, Tia, Nina

The last 3 years I have added 2 more names to the list of what I am called on a day to day basis - Tia (aunt) and Nina (godmother).

I can't say its the easiest of jobs because its not. It is however very rewarding and gives all those warm fuzzy feelings inside. I spend at least 2 days a week with this bunch and upwards of 5 including an overnight stay. The 2 youngest are 5 months apart so that is a challenge. Add a 3yr old who moves faster than a speeding bullet and can destroy a room in 2.2 seconds and it gets pretty chaotic. Then for a little fun you throw in a hormonal teenage boy who has seemed to become one with his new cell phone and only hears keywords like money, food, and yes, well you have just welcomed natural disasters into your home.

As a WAHM having these 4 on any given day, whether together or separate, that allows presents challenges. These may not be my children but I live a life as though I was a mother of 4 (3 of which are 3 and under). Just when I get a moment to answer an email, pop a binky on the floor. Time to wash! Pop it back in a crying baby and a toddler wants juice and attempting to water the kitchen attempting to make her own concoction. Of course that means stop everything you are doing and hurry before the house floods. After the last drops all soaked up into the dripping towel, someone just set off a stink bomb so they all join in. Start an assembly line of one off to the potty, and 2 on changing pads to ruin my appetite. Then heaven calls (que music here) - NAP TIME! HOORAY! I can answer a email, make a call, and check on inventory shipments. 20seconds later (at least that is how it feels) babies awake, toddler destroying, and its back to pamper patrol. When its time to go home and take care of the understanding man that sometimes forgets what I look like since I can scarce at home, people wonder why am I tired and why can I not get any work done expect late at night? Its simple. I am lazy and do absolutely NOTHING all day long.

Thanks to the makes of 5 hour energy I am happy that I managed to get deliver 3 kids unharmed even if the hair is not exactly brushed to perfection, or the clothes have a drip left over from lunch, or I forget that I didn't wash the last bottle and get ready for the next round of feedings. The balancing act changes from day to day but the tactics and skills do not. They only improve.

This is the life of a work at home mother and I wouldn't change it one bit!

If You're Happy and You Know It!

WAHMs

As a WAHM it has been with a teenager. As my son was a young child I worked outside of the house even going to college for 2yrs while he learned in kindergarten and 1st grade. I never had a young child at home while a full-time WAHM. This week on and off I had a 2 yr old and 3 month old (my nieces) while trying to work. This certainly proved difficult. While I could still accomplish all I needed it wasn't without trial and and error. I don't think some realize how difficult it really is. Even I thought it would be easier than expected and I even expected problems. Next time we come across a WAHM especially one with young children still at home, look upon them with a new found respect. It is not as easy as it looks. As a woman wishing to extend her family with a new baby I have different expectations and plans for if and when this happens.

My Child ID™

Although I do not have young children I am always on the lookout for products that will keep my young nieces and nephew safe. A great item I came across recently is My Child ID™ found on amberalert.com.

Product Description from the site:

The My Child ID™ helps you securely store, organize and manage your child’s vital information, medical information (medications, allergies, physicians, etc.),emergency contact information, activities, friends, family and much, much more. The wireless digital slide show reminds you to never forget it.

You can find the My Child ID™ at http://www.amberalert.com/en/shop/child-id-kit/.

I think this would be a great baby shower gift.

**Life of a Work at Home Mother and its authors are not associated or compensated for suggesting My Child ID™

Teachers make it diffcult for some WAHMs

I am finding my sons teachers do not understand the concept of a work at home mother. I cannot be the only one they have ever come across. The comment I get often is "since you are home all day...". What!? Yes I am physically home but that doesn't mean I can drop everything at any moment. I am a working mother just like those who work outside of the home.

This year seems to be especially difficult with many teachers as it is. My son has ADHD and as he enters puberty it almost amplifies the symptoms making it difficult to work with. Medication can only do so much and I will not over medicate so teachers do not have to accommodate his needs. This is where the comment comes in most the time. As if my being home all day will allow me to take him to school each day and go to every class.

I have never had so many teachers work against me in his moving forward in his studies and personal growth in his 10+ years of schooling. I believe some teachers feel (coming from various other comments) ADHD is something you grow out of by the teenage years and he should be able to better control himself. I am sorry but that is not the case. He is doing far better than I did in school at this age but I sometimes fear he won't be able to complete school in a regular setting with such resistance from teacher thinking old school that overactive, inattentive children have no self control and comes from bad parenting.

The other problem is teachers do not get the education they need to understand and work with such disorders. What about these children with autism? Yes many children with disorders are placed in special education but many are in inclusive classes. We all have the same goal. We just go about it differently. That goal is for our children to be at their best and get the education they deserve. Many other disorders get more exposure for what they go through and receive more accommodations, compassion, and understanding than my child who has a disorder as well. I too suffer from this disorder and every day I struggle to stay focused. I learned to adapt and most do not see what I go through.

Don't misunderstand. I am not saying mothers working outside of the mom need less support or children with other disorders should be ignored. I am just trying to wrap my head around the idea I am seen is a stay at home mother not a work at home mother and my child chooses not to control himself and stay focused and control impulses like other children.

We need ADHD awareness. It is real. It is highly misunderstood and greatly misdiagnosed. This is why we need the education and awareness. We need the funding for better research. We need the funding to better educate teachers, parents, health care providers. Where are our walks to raise awareness and donations. Where is the education so doctors are not passing on a prescription and sending us on our way. Where are the teachers that have been well taught.

There are great doctors out there. There are great teachers out there. There is just not enough. We had one up until about 4 yrs ago. His pediatrician was fabulous. He was well versed in childhood and adolescent ADHD. He worked with us. Never against. We had some great teachers in elementary school who understood and worked with him. He thrived. It wasn't until middle school (7th grade) and the loss of our doctor that he had since birth. Children with ADHD do not do well with too many changes. They like routine and habit. That is why they follow the same patterns over and over. Its what they know.

Now I just need to get next years teachers on board and hopefully squash the resistance we have felt for so long. He will be a 10th grader next school year, learning to drive, following with a job to start in the summer before 11th grade. Maybe I can finally get these teachers to understand I do work. I just happen to work from home. Maybe they will learn I have to schedule meetings just like everyone else. I can't always take their calls at anytime during non-emergencies. I can't do their job with just a phone call putting my child on the phone to tell him please just get through the class without her calling me again. And maybe I can keep teachers from punishing him for what he has no control over and using a zero as punishment. Until then I will campaign to change their thinking of WAHMs and ADHD.

Flour children

One way to get a rise out of your child is to mix up a batch of craft dough he can turn into a family of stand-up dolls and pets. Once they're baked, he can outfit his collection by painting on features, clothes and accessories.

To make the dough, combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of water in a mixing bowl. Knead the dough until it is smooth and rubbery.

For each doll, first form a head by rolling a piece of dough between your palms (it should be roughly the size of a Ping-Pong ball). Make a second, slightly larger ball for the torso. Or, if you want to dress the figure in a skirt, shape a triangular trunk. Press the head onto the torso, applying a few drops of water to make the dough sticky, if necessary.

Next, shape and attach cylindrical arms and legs. Pinch the lower ends of the legs to form feet. Attach ears and a nose, and use a toothpick to etch facial features. Bake the figures on a foil-lined cookie sheet for 1 hour in a 275-degree oven. Remove from the oven and set aside until cool enough to handle.

Now your child can fashion footwear for his dolls by flattening pieces of dough into thin circles and wrapping them around the feet. (Remember, the bottoms of the shoes will need to be level for the figure to stand up on its own.) Use the same method to craft a wig for the doll's head.

Bake the figures for an additional hour. Let them cool before painting (acrylics work best). Unbaked dough will keep in the refrigerator for about a week.

Find this article and more at http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/famf87project/famf87project.html

Faux Fish Sticks

What's for dinner this April Fools' Day? Cookie fish sticks and tart taffy peas.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
	Cornflakes
	Sugar wafer cookies
	Peanut butter
	Green taffy candy (we used green apple AirHeads)
	Seedless strawberry jam

1. For the fish sticks, place a couple of handfuls of cornflakes in a ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Cover 2 sugar wafer cookies with peanut butter, then toss them in the cornflake crumbs to coat.

2. For the peas, tear off and roll small pieces of the taffy candy into balls. If the taffy is too stiff to work with, microwave it for about 6 seconds.

3. For the ketchup, use a fork to stir a few teaspoons of the jam until it's smooth.

Find this fun recipe and more at http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=52139

They grow so fast

My one and only baby is 15 today. He is grown so much this past year especially the last 6 months. Not only is he taller than I am he is looking so grown. The hair above his lip is darkening, his voice is changing. He doesn't look like the boy I still see him as.

When you are with your children daily, you don't see the changes as clearly as others. Just suddenly one day you think my goodness you have grown. Sometimes it takes you back a bit when you suddenly realize they grew before your eyes and you didn't even notice. Doesn't make us a bad parent. We just want to harness those special years.

I think ahead to 1 year from now. In a year he will be driving, have a job, maybe a girlfriend. His 10th grade year will be coming to an end in 1 year and the decisions about his future will begin.

His time as my baby is coming to a close. In 3 years he will be a legal adult and ready to make decisions for himself. That day will come with great pride as well as great sadness. We spend 18 years teaching our children how to be the person they will one day become. We hope and pray we did all we could and hope not to look back in regret for what we were not able to do. We hope and pray they will understand why we said no to so many things. One day they will understand.

Backyard Bird Feeder

Spoon-feed your winged neighbors with this
homemade birdseed dispenser.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Clean 1-liter soda bottle
	Craft knife
	2 wooden spoons
	small eye screw
	Length of twine for hanging
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Start by drawing a 1/2-inch asterisk on the side of a clean 1-liter soda bottle, about 4 inches from the bottom. Rotate the bottle 90 degrees and draw another asterisk 2 inches from the bottom. Draw a 1-inch-wide circle opposite each asterisk, as shown.

2. Use a craft knife to slit the asterisk lines and cut out the circles (a parent's job). Insert a wooden spoon handle first through each hole and then through the opposite asterisk, as shown.

3. Remove the bottle cap and twist a small eye screw into the top of it for hanging.

4. Finally, fill your feeder with birdseed, recap it, and use a length of twine to hang it from a tree.

Find this and more at http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11737

Spring No-Snow Globe

Here's a twist on the traditional snow globe: fabric flowers, plastic figures, and a pinch of glitter in a recycled jar celebrate the coming of the warmer season.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Clean jar with lid
	Fabric flowers
	Small plastic figures
	Hot glue gun
	Floral wire (optional)
	Glitter and confetti
	Teflon tape, also called plumber's tape, found in hardware stores
	Scissors
	Green paper
Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours

1. Turn the lid upside down. Loosely arrange the flowers and figures on it, periodically placing the jar over the items to check for fit.

2. Use the hot glue gun to adhere the flowers and figures to the lid. To attach the butterfly in our globe, we first hot-glued the figure to one end of a piece of floral wire, then hot-glued the wire's other end to the lid.

3. Fill the jar with water to within a half inch from the top and add the glitter and confetti.

4. Dry the rim of the jar and wrap one layer of Teflon tape around the threads to ensure a leak-proof seal. Immerse the decorations in the jar and tighten the lid.

5. Cut and fringe the green paper to make a decorative base and glue it around the lid.

Find this craft and more at http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=12141