P&K Insider

I’m the recipient of oodles of press releases and news flashes. Some are super cool and relevant, others are more on the whimsical side.

I’ve devoted this blog entry to moms-to-be!

Here’s a round up of the latest:

Time to De-stress: A study released by Dr Rosalind Wright, from Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical in Boston states “Scientists believe if a mother-to-be is stressed it can influence the development of her baby’s immune system. This research adds to a growing body of evidence that links maternal stress such as that precipitated by financial problems or relationship issues, to changes in children’s developing immune systems, even during pregnancy.” As far as I can tell, the study doesn’t account enough for the RAGING hormonal influences during nine-months of sheer exhaustion and anxiety.

Time to Tune In: Will music be a part of your birth plan? According to March of Dimes, many women feel that music can ease the pain of labor — and medical professionals across the country are increasingly embracing this notion. The organization has created Stork Tunes - a new compilation CD consisting of soothing music by Norah Jones, Billy Joel and other top artists that celebrates motherhood and helps women relax while preparing for and giving birth. Proceeds from the sale of the CD will fund March for Babies efforts to give every baby a health start in life.

Time to be like the Aussies: According to the age.com.uk, They’ve got a killer idea for a maternity leave that involves both parents.

PARENTS would share one year of government-funded parental leave between them when they have a baby, including “supporting parent leave” for women’s partners, under a two-stage process proposed by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner.

There were at least 50 women taking copious notes and occassionally nodding their heads in agreement. Women have lots of things in common but this room was full of women on a common mission - returning to the workforce.

Detours & On Ramps: A forum on the issues facing Mothers in the Workplace was held today at Bentley College in Waltham this morning.

The site reads: “The forum was founded to address the needs and issues of mothers, especially those grappling with their choice to work full time, part time, or from home.

Through networking with fellow working mothers, discussions with the companies leading the way in solutions for working mothers, and panels and sessions on some of the most common issues faced by mothers who elect to work outside the home, Detours and On Ramps aims to provide a forum for women to meet, examine their options, and figure out their next steps.”

I attended a panel discussion “Jobs on Your Terms” Here are some highlights:

• There is a general feeling that there are a lot more candidates than jobs out there that offer flexibility but the tide continues to turn. “A business that is open to flex time realizes that it really behooves them to do so,” said Moderator Andrea St. Jean, a career coach. “The benefits include lower employee costs and you hire someone who is hard-working and efficient.” St. Jean can be reached at 603-502-2322. Jane Seibel, founder and CEO of Employmoms agreed, “I think a lot of companies today are seeing baby boomers retire and more and more women are graduating from college with fantastic skill sets. They are recognizing that the work force is changing.”

• An ideal mom candidate “needs to know they are ready to re-enter the workforce bringing whatever skill set and experience they have. And are also willing to be flexible,” said Allison, O’Kelly, founder and CEO of MomCorps, an expert in the flexible employment market.
• Don’t hide fact that you’ve been out of the workforce for awhile. “If you’ve been out only 2-3 years, it’s not a big deal,” said O’Kelly. “But if its longer, it can be a big challenge. Talk about what you did in that time. Very few people stop ‘working’ entirely. You may have headed the Bake Sale at your child’s school or been a member of the PTO, it may impress the prospective employer or it may not.”
• Don’t let money be your motivator. “If that’s your reason for returning to work you need to take another look at your priorities,” said Melissa Sharples of Aquent, staffing for marketing professionals. “You may be able to find a job to satisfy that motivation but in the long run it may not work out.

I encourage you to check out their Web sites - they offer fantastic resources for any moms looking to re-enter the workforce.

Got plans this Saturday? I do…now that I heard about Park Serve Day 2008 on the radio this morning on my way to work. It’s our chance to help spruce up area parks and ready them for the summer months by cleaning coastlines, clearing trails, planting flowers, painting picnic tables, and more.

Last year, more than 1,300 volunteers lent a hand and officials like Governor Deval Patrick, Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles, and Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Rick Sullivan are hoping to break that record with the help of people like you.

Their web site lists more 50 parks, from the Berkshires to Cape Cod, giving you a wide range of volunteer opportunities to choose from. I love the details too. They tell you exactly what you’ll be doing and include any activities that are appropriate for younger age groups.

At Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, participants will perform trail maintenance, including brushing, cleaning waterbars, and removing downed branches and small trees.

At Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Adams, there’s activities for children under 8 with volunteers assisting with landscaping, litter pick-up, raking, sweeping, and cutting brush. Same with Hammond Pond in Newton.

I know weekends can be busy - with T-ball practice, birthday parties and other obligation but Park Serve Day is a perfect opportunity to teach your children about community service. After all, it’s families like yours and mine that will be reaping the benefits of outdoor fun this summer!

Mother’s Day is only a few days away but we’ve got some great gift ideas for you! From sentimental to practical and just plain fun, P&K magazine picked the best bets out there. To take a look at the products, watch coverage from New England Cable New’s Good Morning Live program.

If you’re still on the hunt for some great Mother’s Day gift ideas, be sure to tune in for Good Morning Live tomorrow (May at 7:45 a.m. where I’ll be bringing in some of our best finds - from sentimental to practical - here’s a quick peek of what to expect.

Special Mother’s Day bracelets - these bracelets are unique and beautiful. Letter beads for your children’s names surrounded by 14 karat corrugated gold and silver. A Bradford mom makes them out of her home!

Mother’s Day books including “The Moms’ Book: For the Mom Who’s Best at Everything” and “Made with Love for Mom: With book to illustrate and coupons to personalize” - all under $10, you can find these super cute books at New England Mobile Book Fair in Newton Highlands.

Home-cooked meals from Let’s Dish, with locations in Burlington, Newton/Needham. What mom wouldn’t love delicious dinners made for her and the family! You have to check out their menu today.

Super-stylish Vera Bradley Bags available at Barber’s Collection in Natick. From tote bags to jewelry cases, they are available in sassy summer colors.

Earth-friendly bags that keeps mom’s essentials at her fingertips available at The Paper Store with locations throughout greater Boston.

And of course, gifts made from the heart are priceless. Visit our Family Fun page for craft ideas that mom will cherish.

In case you didn’t know, May is Mental Health Month - a time when families are encouraged to recognize and promote their children’s mental health with increased communication and proper emotional support. Thought I’d share some pointers given by Mental Health America.

Research shows that children who feel warmth and caring from their parents are more likely to be successful in school, less anxious and depressed, and have higher self-esteem than those without.

Give unconditional love.  Children need to know that your love does not depend on their accomplishments.
Nurture confidence and self-esteem.  Praise and encourage your children. Set realistic goals. Be honest about your mistakes and avoid sarcasm.

Encourage play.  Play time is as important to a child’s development as food. Play helps children be creative, develop problem-solving skills and self-control, and learn how to get along with others.

Enroll children in after-school activities.  This is a great way for kids to stay productive, learn something new, gain self-esteem and have something to look forward to during the week. If they are home alone, check in on them after school. Children need to know that even if you’re not there physically, you’re thinking about them, and interested in how they spend their day.

Provide a safe and secure environment.  Fear can be very real for a child. Try to find out what is frightening him or her. Be loving, patient and reassuring, not critical.

Give appropriate guidance and discipline.  Be firm, but kind and realistic with your expectations. The goal is not to control the child, but to help him or her learn self-control.

Communicate.  Make time each day to listen to your children and talk with them about what is happening in their lives. Share emotions and feelings with your children.

Get help.  If you’re concerned about your child’s mental or emotional health, consult with teachers, a guidance counselor or another adult who may have information about his or her behavior. If you think there is a problem, seek professional help right away. For more information, contact your local Mental Health America affiliate, call Mental Health America at 1-800-969-6642.

For some good end of the week humor, thought I’d share some words from a little (by little, I mean smaller than a deck of cards) book that landed on my desk today “Momisms: What she says and what she really means” by Cathy Hamilton.

“I never talked to my mother like that!”

Translation: “I can’t think of a snappy comeback right now so I’m playing the guilt card…again!”

“What did I just say?”

Translation: The child interprets this as a challenge over whether or not they are paying attention. But in most cases, the actual translation is, “I’m not testing your hearing. I have actually forgotten what I just said and I’m hoping you can tell me.”

“I’m not talking to hear my own voice.”

Translation: But every one in a while, especially in families of four or more, moms talk just to hear themselves think.

“When you’re the mother then you can be the boss.”

Translation: Normally used in response to an adolescent girl’s snappy comeback: “You’re not the boss of me!,” this ism gently reminds the little bundle of hormones that only after one endures nine months of pregnancy and several hours of painful labor (after one is married, mind you) will one truly deserve the title of boss.

I flipped through the 100+ pages and sadly I’ve said almost all of it to my kids at one time or another!