ML Interest Tag: monday-morning

Tiny Birth Stories: Can You Relate?

by Danielle Rizzo

Our new series, Tiny Birth Stories, is aimed at sharing real-life stories from our readers to our readers. In just 100 words or less, we’re bringing you the raw, the funny and the heartwarming stories you’ve lived while bringing babies into the world. Here are five stories that will have you laughing, crying and nodding your head in solidarity. 

Interested in telling your birth story? Click here.

I gave birth to two sets of twins by Jennifer S

This still blows my mind. Both were very easy deliveries, as they were both c-sections. Round 1, I made it to 38 weeks and 2 days, my scheduled delivery was 39 weeks. My son decided he was tired of being pushed around by his sister, my water broke at 11pm on September 28, 2011and it was time to go – complete water works in the hospital parking garage, like a scene in the movies. My babies were born at 4:00 and 4:01 a.m. the next morning. Round 2 was uneventful, I made it to my scheduled c section at 38 weeks (I refused to schedule one at 39 weeks again). Babies were born and completed our family on November 13, 2013. Our current lives are much more exciting than my deliveries were!

Photo by Heidi Daniels

I felt like we were both being born by Stevie M

My birthing room in my mother’s home was adorned in hanging affirmation, candles, and pictures of the women who had gone before me. In the quiet of night, a circle of loving support, including my furry guardian, held space as baby and I labored in the tub. Working together…we were both being born. In the water, he was born into the hands of his father and exceptional midwife. Completely at peace and in awe, our new family curled around each other.

Born on her due date by Carrie D

I had very subtle contractions start at 1am Monday morning (the due date). I had a scheduled appointment that morning to see how things were going, which all looked good. I came home and worked a few more hours then by lunch I could not focus anymore. The contractions were growing in strength and I knew I didn’t want to be stuck in the hospital so I hopped in the bathtub. That was amazing! Contractions were getting stronger and by 4:30p I felt like I had to get to the hospital or I’d be having the baby at home. We arrived around 5:30p, I was 7cm dilated so was admitted. After a little waiting and some progress, it was time to push! Our sweet girl was born at 10:20pm

My parents brought me the goods by Sherry B

17 Hours, at home (on purpose), no drugs, back labor (wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy), Lots of massage by my squad. Moaning, breathing, grunting, and yelling at my hubs to turn of the XBOX. Internal dialogue “I can’t do this” the very next contraction “I am a warrior” Daughter born in a birthing tub in the living room. Nursing within 20, with family surrounding. Hardest and best thing I have EVER done. My mom cooked grilled cheese and hand fed me b/c she is the best. Then my dad brought pizza which I also ate.

A stay in the NICU by Cara S

My water broke at 2:30 am, with contractions starting at 4 minutes apart. My alcoholic fiancé was passed out so I walked the dog, watched a little tv, then went to the hospital when they were 2 minutes apart. I was told immediately no pain medication because my daughter wasn’t moving. Nine hours later, they decided an emergency csection was the way to go. I was crushed, and felt like a huge failure. But when they laid her perfect little body on mine, none of that mattered. She was here. Beckett was in NICU for 10 days, the worst 10 days of my life, but the day I brought her home, it didn’t matter how she came to be here. Just that she was.

Disney & Lucasfilms Announce “Mando Mondays”

by Jennifer Swartvagher

Now you will be looking forward to Monday morning! Today Disney and Lucasfilm announced Mando Mondays. This all-new global consumer products, games and publishing program, kicking off on Oct. 26 will debut goods inspired by The Mandalorian.

Mando Mondays

The Mandalorian premiered last fall and quickly took the world by storm. Who doesn’t love Baby Yoda? The series, which won seven awards at the Primetime Emmy Awards, will return for its highly anticipated second season Fri, Oct. 30, streaming exclusively on Disney+. 

Mando Mondays

The Mandalorian and the Child continue their journey, facing enemies and rallying allies as they make their way through the dangerous galaxy in the tumultuous era after the collapse of the Galactic Empire. 

Mando Mondays

After fans experience the latest episode every Friday on Disney+, they can visit MandoMondays.com each Monday to see what new toys, collectibles, apparel, books, comics, digital content and more will be unveiled. Mando Mondays will run for nine weeks, culminating on Dec. 21.

Mando Mondays

“When The Mandalorian debuted last year on Disney+, the show became an instant phenomenon, with fans of all ages expressing excitement for products related to its iconic characters – particularly the Child,” said Kareem Daniel, president, Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing. “This fall, as the world continues to watch the narrative unfold, we will further bring this unique Star Wars story to life through a must-have selection of toys, books, comics, digital content, and more.”

To celebrate this announcement, select pre-orders for the first wave of Mando Mondays products will kick off today at 1:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m. ET across top retailers globally, including shopDisney.com. Products available for pre-order today include the Hasbro Black Series Credit Collection, new Funko Pop! bobbleheads, the LEGO Star Wars The Child construction set and much more, all viewable now at MandoMondays.

The countdown starts now! For more details, visit MandoMondays.com and follow the conversation on social using #MandoMondays.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Disney

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Teacher Uses Stamp to Teach Students How to Properly Wash Their Hands

by Jennifer Swartvagher

In her eight years of teaching, Shauna Woods has seen her share of illnesses run through her classroom. During this time of year, it’s typical for her to experience a higher number of absences due to illnesses. Knowing how detrimental it can be to miss a number of consecutive days, Woods came up with a plan to teach her class the proper way to wash their hands. 

“I began to think of something that I could put on their hands that they would have to wash off,” said Woods, who teaches at Hallsville Public School in Hallsville, Missouri. “On a Monday morning, I saw my ‘Mrs. Woods’ stamp sitting there and I told my students to wash their hands in the classroom sink and then see Mrs. Woods for a stamp.”

Hand stamp teacher

In a now viral Facebook post, Woods explains that the goal was to keep away germs. Each student received a stamp in the morning and if it had been washed away by the end of the day, they would receive a prize. 

“We are doing our best in room 550 to keep the germs away,” Woods wrote in her post. “We are trying.”

Hand stamp teacher

Now that this idea has exploded, the students have recently been challenged to wash off their stamps so that a local radio station could come join our classroom for the day. They have accepted the challenge and can’t wait to have guests in our classroom. 

Once Woods set clear expectations with her class the students have asked for a stamp each day. 

“We discussed how to properly wash their hands and I told them they would earn a prize if their stamp was faded or disappeared altogether,” said Woods. “Day one was training day, as students were motivated to wash that stamp off or rub it off right away. Once we set clear expectations, students have asked for a stamp every day and know how to properly wash their hands. We’ve started a trend for the school and now, after going viral, the nation.”

Woods even stamps her own hand each morning. She says that even as an adult seeing the stamp on her own hand has been a visual reminder to wash her hands more frequently to stay healthy and germ free. 

The class never thought this challenge would go viral. Woods says, “Our cups are full knowing that just maybe we’ve helped keep a few more students safe and healthy during this season.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Shauna Woods 

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Disney’s “Frozen 2” Has the Highest Grossing Debut Globally for an Animated Film

by Erica Loop

Anna, Elsa, and Olaf are back—in a big way. Frozen 2 is now a record breaker, bringing in $358.2 million worldwide, according to Deadline!

Even though the initial international box office estimate was well over the $200 million mark, by Monday morning Disney reported totals topping $228 million. Add that to the $130 million domestic total and it looks like Frozen 2 is the highest grossing debut for an animated film globally.

Not only did Frozen 2 break animated opening records, but it also broke Disney’s own record. The sequel is now the largest opening for any Walt Disney Animation Studios release.

If you didn’t brave the crowds to catch the film during its opening weekend, what can you expect? Kristen Bell, the voice of Anna, recently told PEOPLE, “Whatever you think Frozen is, throw it in the trash because this movie is like an epic adventure where everything is seemingly good in Arendelle.”

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Walt Disney Animation Studios via YouTube

 

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How I Handled My 2-Year-Old’s Separation Anxiety

By Jennifer Landis

While many moms go back to work only a few weeks after giving birth, I was lucky enough to be able to stay home with my now 5-year-old daughter until she was a little older than 2. When I was getting ready to go back to work, I spent a lot of time researching daycare options in my area, until I finally found one I thought would work well for us. They had a small class size, plenty of adults per child and some of the best reviews I could find.

When I went to check out the daycare, it seemed like it lived up to all the hype, so I signed my daughter up and got ready to head back to work.

What I didn’t anticipate was my sweet, outgoing, confident 2-year-old experiencing separation anxiety.

Monday Meltdowns

That first Monday morning, I’ll admit I didn’t handle things as well as I should have. She was happy to get the car with me and even excited to explore the daycare and meet all her new friends—until it was time for me to leave. I called her over to say goodbye and tell her I love her, and the waterworks started. She cried until she nearly made herself sick, clinging to my leg and saying “no” over and over. She didn’t have enough words to express what she wanted, so she just repeated the word “no.”

I didn’t know how to deal with separation anxiety. At the time, I had never handled it in children, though I did have a dog once who would misbehave as the result of the same diagnosis. I didn’t know what I was doing. I handed her to the daycare worker who was standing there with open arms and left for work.

They called me halfway through the day and told me she’d cried so much she was throwing up, and I had to come to get her.

Weighing My Options

I was beside myself. The daycare staff told me not to worry about it, and to go ahead and bring her back the next day. “Separation anxiety is normal in kids her age,” they said. “She’ll adapt.” Despite these comforting words, my daughter wouldn’t leave my side for the rest of the evening, and it made me wonder whether I’d ever be able to send her to daycare.

Having to leave half a day into my first day back at work didn’t look great, either, but I was less concerned about that.

Once I finally detached her from my hip and got her to sleep, I started doing some research into separation anxiety in toddlers. And you know what I found? The daycare workers were right.

Separation anxiety is par for the course in kids her age. Once they hit about 14 months, they start to develop a sense of the familiar. They recognize places, faces, and toys, so when I took her to an entirely new place and expected her to stay there with unfamiliar people, she panicked. Children who spend their infancy and toddlerhood in daycares learn how to handle this transition, and usually outgrow it around 2 years old. If it persists after that age, it can be a sign of separation anxiety disorder.

I didn’t prepare my daughter for this transition. She had stayed for afternoons or overnight with grandparents or other family members she knew, but I’d never taken her to daycare before. No wonder she was so stressed out!

Dealing with My Daughter’s Separation Anxiety

I was hesitant to head back to the daycare center the next day, but missing more work wasn’t an option, so we got dressed, had breakfast and piled into the car. As I had done the day before, I called her over to say goodbye. I told her I would be back to pick her up between her afternoon snack and dinner. We’d been keeping a pretty regular schedule at home, which the daycare followed fairly closely. Instead of saying, “I’ll be back around 5 p.m.,” which would have been meaningless to her, I put it in terms she could understand.

It didn’t stop her from crying, but I made it work. When I called to check on her at lunchtime, the staff told me she was playing happily with the other 2-year-olds, and that she’d only cried that day for around 20 minutes.

I was surprised, but I shouldn’t have been. Separation anxiety is part of growing up. She’s used to daycare now, though she still has trouble sometimes if she’s tired or not feeling good. That’s understandable. When little ones are sick, they want to be with their parents, no matter how often or how much time they spend at daycare.

Lessons I Learned

Today, my daughter is a happy, well-adjusted 5-year-old who happily goes to kindergarten, but our period of separation anxiety taught me a valuable lesson. It’s essential to prepare your children for new experiences, especially when they’re young. If I could do it over again, I would take her to the daycare for a couple of days to play and get to know the facility and the people before her first drop-off. You have to be delicate, and take their feelings into account.

Jennifer Landis is a mom, wife, freelance writer, and blogger. She enjoys long naps on the couch, sneaking spoonfuls of peanut butter when her kid's not looking, and binge watching Doctor Who while her kid's asleep.  She really does like her kid, though, she promises. Find her on Twitter @JenniferELandis.

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Dear Working Moms: I Now Understand

By Sonia Castillo

Every dreadful Monday morning, my coworkers were running in, disheveled to get their classrooms ready for 30 plus kids, every 47 minutes for an 8-hour workday. They seemed distant and detached. I had no idea that some of those colleagues had already fought battles with their children during morning routines. Dressing and feeding two or three kids who are half-cleaned and awake is a challenge even Marie Kondo wouldn’t touch.

I, in contrast, at the time, was single and would waltz in, freshly spritzed with the most current and new season’s soft, floral perfume. My only morning quandary was my disappointment with my chosen ensemble for that day. I pitied some of those mothers and fathers and had no real connection to what they were going through. I had no idea the amount of effort it took to be a working parent until I had my little one in 2015.

My first year as a new mother, I knew that I wanted to be successful at both, and that’s the over-achiever in me. I thought, I’ve been teaching already for a decade and mastered many of the skills as a successful teacher. So, throwing in a kid into the equation shouldn’t cause too much of a disruption in my life. I had already taken care of 150 plus kids every year, this shouldn’t be that difficult. I am highly organized. I can create a system that is conducive for my lifestyle. I got this. I will buy a cute spiral, some cool gel pens, stickers and get to planning my new mom-at-work life.

As a teacher, I went back to work three months after my son was born and was ready to take on my new role by the first fall-sounding bell. Unfortunately, all of the same standards, expectations, and deadlines were still there, this in addition to all of the new challenges new parents face with their little ones required 100-percent more effort. Where was I going to get that effort? For me, green tea and coffee became required concoctions throughout the day. Like taking vitamins or medicine to stay alive. Give me my caffeine fix.

My plans didn’t go accordingly. My sleep was disrupted, my body chemistry changed because I had a new, ever so fashionable “mom-bod.”  Which made sex awkward because I felt like a wilderness safari with all of the movement and sounds. In addition, my eating habits and cravings changed, even my eyesight morphed to near blindness because of hormones. Stupid hormones. There were so many challenges my little spiral couldn’t answer. One evening, after a few glasses of wine, I burned my spiral. Yes, I watched all my little notes, doodles and plans go up in glorious, hot flames. Felt good. Screw it, I’m gonna wing it.

There is no perfect ideal plan. But in the end, I learned to be happy with the job I’ve chosen. Because when you are late to dance recitals, baseball games or dinner, it has to be for a good reason. I will say what you’re not supposed to say, being a mom didn’t fill my cup 100-percent. I needed more than that. Luckily, writing has given the ability to work from home and take on projects that make me feel important. Working makes me happy. It gives me something to feel productive and appreciated. Lately, the workplace paradigm has shifted. I adore the idea that so many mompreneurs have created opportunities for other moms to feel part of a community where they are contributing denizens. I encourage moms to be creative and if you need to work, think outside the box and pick up small projects. With the advent of home-delivery services, there are so many companies that will hire you to work your own hours at your convenience and you don’t even have to wear high heels.

Secondly, there is only one of you. Working in the public school system as a parent is extremely self-sacrificing. There are times when other people’s children come before your very own. This stress can lead to a lot of feelings of guilt and inadequacy as a teacher/worker and even as a mother, which is your most important job and responsibility. It is an extremely fragile dichotomy that can lead to a perplexing state. These feelings can deepen as time goes on can develop into anxiety and depression. Working through those feelings of guilt and inadequacy of not being there every single day is a cognizant process. I personally walk and it helps take those negative chemicals like cortisol and process them out of your system to leave you feeling euphoric and positive.

Lastly, remember that you are a mom first. You are not only legally required to make sure your child’s needs are met, but we have to remind ourselves that we are our children’s caregivers. No one else is going to step up and take care of them like we are. So, when in the face of feeling like you should put something else in front of your own child and feel guilty that you can’t take on those long weekend projects, don’t. We aren’t working moms, but moms at work and being a mom always comes first.

 

This post originally appeared on Midland Moms Blog.

Sonia is a writer and artist living in west Texas. She taught upper levels of writing for over decade and now takes on writing projects as a stay-at-home mom. She develops interesting narratives depicting her life as a modern mother of a toddler. 

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This Is What It’s Really Like to Have a “Weekend” Husband

By Sehrish Qaxi

“You’re so lucky!”

“You don’t have to wake up early to help with breakfast or do that extra load of laundry!.”

“You don’t have to deal with a man-child every single day!”

These are only some of the few things I keep hearing from friends and family on account of how my husband is only home on the weekends.

After almost two and a half years of marriage, I only smile in response. There is of course no benefit in pointing out how I’d gladly trade my husband’s job with their spouse’s, so I could have him home every single day. Only people who live separately are truly able to understand what it means to hug your beloved goodbye every Monday morning, knowing the next time you get to see them is after five long days and nights.

It Wasn’t Always Like This, at First

Even before getting married, I knew I would have to live without my husband because he had switched jobs right after we got engaged. Maybe I should have taken the hint then and there—but the guy truly loves and misses me when we’re apart. Now that we have a beautiful baby girl, going back to work every Monday has become even tougher. The move was necessary for future career success and we both believed it would be temporary.

Sadly, things don’t work out as you desire and my husband has been unable to find another job within the main city. He’s been trying his hardest and applying pretty much everywhere, but we’ve both stopped questioning our circumstances and have left it to fate. That most certainly does not mean it has become any easier.

This Is What It’s Like to Be on Your Own

I’ll be candid: Being on your own during the week is not the piece of cake it may seem. If you’ve been through this, you can relate. It’s not that you just miss the extra help and the free drives everywhere—it’s the small things that tug at you each and every single day: The loving smiles, the bear-tight hugs, the patient listening ear, the sudden playful tickling or the sense of constant comfort and absolute warmth. And let’s not forget the minute arguments and nonsensical fights that generally end quickly because staying angry for too long is almost impossible.

There are also the bigger things: Sitting alone at night, awake with a crying baby because she can’t sleep, little to no free time as because there’s just too much work to do, not getting any outside chores completed because the supermarket is pretty far. (I don’t know how to drive and going alone with the little one is immensely difficult on my own.) The worst parts for me though are those moments when I’m exhausted to the bone and there is no one to hold my hand and tell me how much my efforts mean to our little family. With just a single sentence, my husband is able to charge me back up. But he isn’t there to say them because we barely talk through the weekdays.

When my husband isn’t home, it’s like all the lights have dimmed down. I notice this most when he gets back, because laughing, talking and daily tasks become so much easier and more natural—it’s like all the gloom has been sucked out of the environment and things have brightened up when he returns.

And Baby Made Three

Since our baby birth, it seems letting my husband go after every weekend has gotten harder still—for both of us. He envies how I have the baby with me while all he has are photos and videos of our daughter on his phone. I understand, but even so I believe men simply don’t feel as deeply as women do—so I stick to the mantra of “I miss you more.” He knows I’m right, so he only laughs.

Our daughter is the joy of both our lives, but raising babies on your own is no easy task. They demand the best of you and pretty much drain you of most of your energy. I feel I am not enough as I try to keep up with her growing needs. And I know that for me, doing it all alone is both—and depressing sometimes, too.

It’s the times when I want to simply throw down everything and cry at the top of my lungs alongside my daughter is exactly when I need my husband to be here the most. The times when she refuses to sleep or eat is when I need him to take charge and handle things in his level-headed way. This is the reason why God created parents in pairs: When one has had enough, the other can step in.

I love seeing the two of them together. My husband is the most caring and gentle dad I know and our daughter is definitely the love of his life—after me of course! It breaks my heart to see that she is not as close to him as she could be if he were living with us the whole week. I’m hoping that as she grows up she realizes just how special a place she has in her father’s heart and reciprocates the affection.

This Is What Keeps Us Going

To all those who think life becomes easier when you are living away from your spouse, here’s a little tidbit: The grass seems greener when it’s on the other side. Don’t tell couples like us how relaxed or uncomplicated things are for us. Most have no idea how families like us would change our situation within the blink of an eye.

A marriage is about companionship, support and being there for one another—not just for the big life events but the small daily affairs. It is about laughing together and fighting on the most insignificant of things. It’s about telling each other just how much you mean to the other, whether through words, a simple touch or just a glance. These gestures reinforce that, no matter how tough or unpleasant it may get, you two will stick together every single day. Marriage is about being together—when you can!

My husband and I continue to strive for a tomorrow that enables us to be with each other, raising our baby together. Hope keeps us going. As for those of you who have your spouses with you, be thankful. Show them love and let them know how much their presence matters.

For the ones like me, hold on. You will get through this, too.

Featured Photo Courtesy: Dakota Corbin via Unsplash

Me? A first time mom to an absolutely gorgeous, feisty little madam! These days, it seems like that is the only identity I have. An English Literature graduate, I'm reader by passion and writer by profession. Other than my family and friends, my love extends to food, travel, songs and movies. 

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Tips to Improve Your Back-to-School Morning Routine

by Tinybeans Team
Partner Content

This post was written by one of our favorite moms, Seng Nickerson, and is shared from her blog here.

As summer winds down, we all know it’s time to prep the kids for the return to the back to school routine. At the beginning of summer, everyone is filled with excitement for soaking in those summer rays. As the summer winds down, parents and kids alike are yearning for the return of schedules and routines!

However, what I’m not excited about is trying to remind the kids to pack their homework, lunches and the other supplies for activities teachers add for the week. Not to mention, I have two toddlers going to daycare, so making sure they have a supply of diapers, wipes and their blankets are also on my Monday morning checklist.

Here are some tips I have for improving our back to school morning routine to keep our mornings as simple and efficient as possible as well as teaching our kids skills like independence, prioritization and self-care.

Creating a Kanban board. I wrote all about it in the blog post linked. It helps structure our entire day, not just our mornings.

Cook and prepare breakfast before the kids wake up. I absolutely loathed the days when the kids woke up at 5:00am in the morning and I had no time to prepare. Obviously, kids under the age of 7 couldn’t tell time, so I found this amazing clock that turned colors that taught my kids when it was okay to come downstairs to start their day!

Pack lunches the night before. After the kids go to bed, I typically will pack the Bigs lunches with non-perishable items and add in the refrigerated ones in the morning. I typically pack a sandwich, fruit cup, celery sticks and granola bars, like delicious Jif® Power Ups™ to satiate their hungry tummies during lunch! Jif® Power Ups™ creamy clusters and granola bars come in a variety of flavors for each of my kids’ palates and it provides amazing fuel to help them power through their day of mental toughness.

Use Alexa, Google Home or Apple iPod for milestone music markers. Most kids LOVE routine, so why not add a new morning tradition of playing certain music that provides the crescendo on where they should be with their morning routine? When we get to Paw Patrol theme music, that means that my little boy should have his shoes already on. When we start playing the soundtrack to Annie, the girls know that they should have their bags packed.

Bedtime routine. Get them to bed early if you want to start a great morning routine!

I cannot believe that I have two Bigs already in primary school and am preparing my two Littles to almost start. It’s like time is flying before my eyes. They’ll be graduating before I know it. This was the last day of school this year! Sigh.

 

This post was sponsored by Jif® Power Ups™. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that I love that help make my blog possible!


Seng is a modern, working mom sharing her love for her family, home renovations, product reviews, home management/organizational tips, fun DIY craft projects, and digital scrapbooking.  By sharing her life experiences through her blog, she is able to inspire others to also balance parenthood, goal setting in their careers, and pursuing their hobbies. Read more about Seng on her blog, Sengerson.com.

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