Me Time—What’s that and where can I get some? by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

As working mothers we work hard every day to maintain our household, care for our children, and maintain our relationships with our husbands and friends. But what do we do for us?  We are so busy caring for others we forget to care for ourselves, to take a little “me” time.

“Me” time, what a concept!  It should be a daily occurrence, a time we set aside for ourselves.  Set out and plan a block of time, even just 15 minutes, for your “me” time each day. Use this time to meditate, take a walk, take a hot bath, or even just a power nap.

Sit down and make a list of some things you’d like to do for yourself and how much time you need to do them.  Make it a point to schedule in at least one of these things into each day. “Me” time can be shared too, get a group a friends together and take a walk or call a friend just to chat.

I have made it a point to do something to improve myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually each day.  I start my day by writing down what I will do for me in each of those categories and at the end of the day I can review this and see just how much I was able to accomplish. This can be a real boost to the ego! 

I think you will find as I have that just taking a little time for yourself each day can work wonders in improving your outlook on life and your attitude.

I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them! Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com or you can check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

Keeping Your Kids Healthy During Flu Season by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

 

It’s the season.  No, not just the holiday season but the cold and flu season as well. Millions of people will contract or a cold or the flu in the next few months.  So what can we as mothers do to protect our families from the flu? What about flu vaccines? How do we explain to our children why it is so important to stay healthy?    

The influenza virus changes every year. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) evaluate what form of the influenza virus is likely to be most prevalent each year and alter the vaccine to protect the general public from that particular influenza virus.  This year, of course, we have H1N1 to contend with as well. 

Unless your child has allergies to egg, flu vaccines are generally safe for children of all ages.  If you aren’t sure if your child should take the vaccine, contact your pediatrician.  Most children can take the inhaled (live virus) vaccines. It’s painless and quick. There is even an H1N1 vaccine that can be inhaled.

But vaccinations are not the only way to protect your family from the flu.  Something as basic as handwashing can protect you and your children from many viruses, not just the flu.  Hand sanitizer is another great way to kill germs when soap and water are not readily available and you can get one that hangs on your keychain or on your child’s backpack.  

Children need to know that it is important to stay healthy so that they can get the most out of life.  Tell them that a healthy lifestyle is a happy lifestyle. 

Don’t forget the age old adage: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them!  Should have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com  or you can check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

Eating Healthy—It’s All About the Colors by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

Childhood obesity is on the rise. It’s a fact, one that at least for me is hard to swallow.  It is up to us as mothers to do what we can to combat this problem head-on.  Our children will follow our example, whether we like it or not.  So we have to change our own lifestyle in order to get our children to follow suit.

Have you ever noticed that most fast food is brown or tan in color—so blah!  Why not add a little color to your diet and in the process eat healthier. It’s all about the colors.  If it’s pleasing to the eye, it will likely be pleasing to the palate.  Restaurants use this technique all the time—it’s all about presentation.

Vegetables and fruits come in a variety of colors. Make a salad incorporating many different colored vegetables.  For example, a green salad with red,green,and yellow peppers cut up in it as well as radishes, mushrooms, or even squash is not only colorful but healthy.  You could give it a Mexican flair and add black beans, salsa, and sour cream or a sprinkling of cheese.  A fruit salad with grapes (green and red), pineapple, red or green apples, and raisins can be a healthy snack for hungry kids.

Eating healthy by eating your colors can start when your children are infants.  Baby food comes in many different flavors and colors, you can even make your own. Starting healthy eating early in life will likely carry on as your children grow.

So add a little color to you and your family’s dinner plate and reap the reward of building a healthy family.

I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them!  Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com or you check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

The 411 on H1N1 (the Swine Flu)—by Denise Bosey R.N.

By Denise Bosey R.N.

 

H1N1 is the hot topic these days.  Should you or your family get the vaccine? How can you protect yourself and your family from contracting this? What’s the difference between the inhaled vaccine and the injection and which one is best for you and your family?

 

H1N1 (or the Swine Flu) is a very potent strain of the flu. It can be as mild as a low grade fever and a cough or powerful enough to put you in the hospital.  It affects people of all ages, from infants to the elderly.

 

It is suggested that all people from the ages of 6 months to 24 years should be vaccinated as well as pregnant women or people over 24 with chronic medical conditions such as asthma.  The inhaled vaccine is a live virus and can be given to children or adults with no chronic medical conditions.  The injection is a dead virus and is suggested for pregnant women and people with medical conditions.

 

Protecting yourself from getting H1N1 is as simple as washing your hands regularly and using hand sanitizer in between.  Teaching your children not to share food, drinks, or personal items with their friends and classmates will go a long way in stopping the transmission of H1N1.  Staying home from work or school when you are not feeling well can also slow the progression of this sometimes deadly virus.

 

So, get plenty of rest, eat well, wash your hands, and most of all get vaccinated and protect you and your family from H1N1.