DuPage Mamas

Toast and Tunes-WPF

Farrah — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:45:43 +0000

The other day, my boys decided they needed a little entertainment over breakfast. They often want to bring a toy or book to the table. But this particular morning, my oldest decided a little music was in order. So he grabbed my iPod, put in the earbuds and proceeded to eat his yogurt. Ha!! I think he was listening to the Glee soundtrack. At least he didn’t tap into my running playlist full of Britney and JustinTimberlake. Note to self: load some kids songs onto iPod.

New Tunes

From Homemaker to Working Mama

Janelle Aldana — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:10:04 +0000

Today I started working. Well, let me rephrase that. Today I started working outside my home for the first time in six years. I earned my master’s degree in social work and worked as an adolescent therapist for two years until I decided I wanted to stay home full-time. I had my first son, Kaleb, now 6, less than a year after I was married and then added two more to my litter, Elijah who is now 4 and Asher 3.

I love being a homemaker and taking care of my boys. Yes, some days more than others to be sure! The play dates, baby and me classes, library story times, music and art at the local park district, McDonald’s play land for lunch etc… Oh, and the best part has been not having to wake up and get dressed up for work every morning. I have literally spent the last six years in sweats, no make-up and barely combed hair. I had no reason to do these things! My boys do not care what mommy looks like, as long as I am there to cook, kiss boo boos and play Star Wars. It is all part of that stay at home mom world.

Well, today that all changed for me. After a lot of thought, prayer and weighing the pros and cons, I decided it was time to get my social work license. However, this requires hours in the field along with passing a state exam. Taking on this new challenge meant having to put my boys in preschool/daycare. So, this month my eldest entered 1st grade, and my two preschoolers enrolled in a private school in the area. And mom went back to work!

I have anticipated this day all summer. Counting down the days left until all of our lives would change in what I felt was a pretty drastic way. I have been excited for this new beginning and a chance to wet my feet again in the field of social work, which I absolutely love. At the same time, I have felt anxiousness mixed with a sad and mourning heart for what would be the end of an era for my sons and me. As this day drew nearer and nearer, I embraced each moment of this summer with my boys and made as many memories as I could, so I would have these to hold onto.

In preparation for this new day, I laid out my new “work” clothes, packed my lunch, took a shower and set my alarm clock the night before to save some time in the morning. I knew I would also have three little guys to feed and dress, and we had to have this all done by 7:45 a.m.! I thought I was fully prepared and ready and did not anticipate too many kinks in the schedule.

Well, of course, the life of a mother is full of surprises, and I should have known better. My six year old decided he would have the world’s worst case of insomnia and literally was awake from 2 in the morning until we had to get ready. I finally passed out somewhere around 5:30 a.m. and my other two sons woke up for the day at 5:50. My youngest, Asher, complained of a stomach ache and cried all morning saying, “I don’t wanna go to school!” My middle son, Elijah, insisted he had to go poo (sorry for the vulgarity) which made me late getting out the door. I lost my cell phone, got lost trying to take some back roads to the boys’ school and walked into my first day on the job late!

Thankfully, my new supervisor was very kind and understanding. I was shown to my very own office with my very own desk and my very own computer. How exciting! I read a training manual for four hours and loved every minute of it! And when I was all done for the day, I raced to two different schools to pick up my munchkins and then home again.

For many working mothers this may be the battle they face every work day morning, but for me it was a whole new adventure. Am I ready to do this all over again? I think I could do without the morning drama, but I am grateful and optimistic about this new road I am on, the journey of a working mama. If there are any of you working mom experts out there who can share some of your sage advice on getting everyone ready in the morning and saving time, I welcome your words of wisdom.

Shox Scooter Review

Catherine — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:09:52 +0000

Remember that scooter (Shox Scooter) I was getting my son for his birthday? Well, it came.

Its awesome.

I’m the kind of person who likes having both my feet on the ground. Without wheels on or near them. I always have been and probably always will be. But even I have to admit that this scooter is cool. It was pretty easy to set up, its shiny, its fast.

The box says “5 years and up” and my son just turned 4. But there are about 50 different kids who go by our apartment balcony on scooters every day and I know he’d love to join in. So I thought it was worth a shot. As it turns out, it is a bit too old for him. He just doesn’t quite have the balance, coordination, and muscle development. But he’s practicing and he’ll get there.

Part of the reason is that this is truly a very cool scooter. Instead of just having a metal beam to stand on, it has a shock absorber. This makes tricks faster, higher, easier, cooler (or, so the box and internet tells me). Watching my just-turned-four year old boy giving it a go, I already have to shield my eyes for the daring tricks I know are just a few months down the road.

So, yeah, its cool. Made by the makers of the Shred Sled, but for younger kids. My son’s first scooter. One of the kids came up to him yesterday and said “hey, you have a scooter! You can ride with us!” Nice.

In the interest of full disclosure, a PR company sent me a complimentary Shred Sled, valued at $50.00, for me to review. I received no other instructions or compensation.

Because Babies Don’t Come with Instruction Manuals…

Heather — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:40:12 +0000

Farrah Brown and I will be teaching a great new class at Birthing Babes Childbirth and Parent Education Studio in Lombard. Birthing Babes is what I’ve been waiting for to spring up out here in the ‘burbs, but I’ll write more about them soon. Meanwhile you’ll have to settle for a little bit about our Baby Soothe and Settle Class.

Class One:

Learn a simple infant massage routine to improve digestion, ease colic, gas & constipation while promoting bonding, cognitive development and better sleep.

Class Two:

Learn simple proven calming tips and tricks for newborns. Including the tricks from The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp. Then learn how to safely wear your baby in a sling or carrier to promote bonding & sleep and reduce crying time.

The classes will take place September 17th and 24th from 6:30pm to 8pm. You can attend with your baby and a partner or even before your baby is born. The fee is $40. We’ll let one of you readers attend for free! We’ll draw a winner randomly and post it on the blog on September 7th. To enter leave us a comment about why you want to attend this class. Facebook, blog or tweet for extra entries–leave us another comment to let us know you did. Make sure you leave your email if you don’t have a blog for us to in touch with you.

You can register online at www.birthing-babes.com or contact Heather Maynard, LMT at womensmassage@gmail.com with questions.

Heather Maynard is the owner of Massage for Women and Families

Farrah Brown is the owner of Baby Love Slings (and the co-creator of this wonderful blog).

All Abuzz About Bento – New School Lunch Craze

ShawnC — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:25:26 +0000

I remember when my oldest went off to first grade and I got to pack his special little lunch. I would always write notes, add some stickers, sneak in a little treat. Now that he’s going into junior high….let’s just say the novelty (for me) has worn off. Sad part is that he has a younger sister and little brother that might still like a note from mom, some stickers or a special lunch. Well there’s a new trend in packing lunches that just might get me to kick it into gear this school year – heard of Bento lunches? You will!

Here’s the official Bento Lunch definition:

The term Bento is a Japanese art of making a packaged lunch. They have taken a meal and turned it into an occasion, with beautifully designed lunchboxes and food that is so fun it resembles culinary art. Traditionally in Japan a Bento consists of rice, fish, and seaweed. In recent years Americans have taken the concept of the Bento lunch and run with it. New American Style Bento lunchboxes have hit the market and kids all across the country are eating Bentos at school. Gone are the days of boring brown paper bag lunches… here comes the Bento!

Ok, well, hmmm….I’ve never really approached lunch as “art” but if it gets me excited about making cold school lunch and my kids excited about eating cold school lunch, then we’re giving it a try. So, I purchased a cute cute cute lunchbox for my dear daughter at TJ Maxx ($16.99) last week that came with Bento-like containers. She’s my adventurous eater and aspiring chef so I know that whatever mess I make of her lunch, she’ll at least try to eat it.

We just did a test run for the first day of school and my daughter LOVED every minute of helping to create her little lunch. We did the best we could with what we had on-hand.

Our 1st Bento Menu☺

- Heart-shaped watermelon pieces
- Blueberry and cherry fruit kabobs
- Pretzels with cheese cutouts
- PB&J

My dear daughter is so excited and it was fun to work with her to create this little lunch (dare I say) masterpiece!

Need some ideas to get you started on your own Bento lunch creations? Check out these sites. Lunch in a Box and Bento Lunches and OhDeeOh: Bento Toddler Lunches

Tall Ships! – WPF

Catherine — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:46:14 +0000

Yesterday Farrah and I took our kids downtown to see the Tall Ships at Navy Pier. It was an amazing day. Here’s Little B’s take on just how exciting it was…

No related posts.

Will County Fair

Tara — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:35:53 +0000

Every year Will County throws an “Old Time Family Fair” in Peotone, Illinois. I know it may be a drive for most of you guys, but it will be worth it. There is fun for all ages! Some of my personal favorites are the demolition derby, carnival, and the truck/tractor pull. I’m even more excited about it this year since my 18-month old son LOVES trucks.

When: August 25th-August 29th

Usually open from noon to midnight

Where: Located at the fairgrounds 1/4 mile West from Illinois Route 50 on Peotone-Wilmington Road OR 1 mile East from Route 57 (Exit327) to Peotone-Wilmington Road

Cost: General Admission is $4.00 and Children Under 10 are FREE
Fair “events” and/or Grandstand ticket prices vary

Click on this link to get more information!

Brookfield Breastfeeding Debacle

Heather — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:00:26 +0000

This morning I read about a local mom getting harrassed by an employee at our beloved Brookfield Zoo for breastfeeding in public. This is unbelievable to me. I have breastfed all over that zoo without any problem. I’m so sad that this happened to her. I’m also sad this happened at the zoo…a family friendly place where we are supposed to get in touch with nature. A place where there are nursing animals all over the place. A place that is one of the best family friendly outings around!

Are you aware that a woman’s right to breastfeed anywhere, anytime is protecting by Illinois state law? The IL Right to Breatfeed Act states,”

“ A mother may breastfeed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother’s breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding however, a mother considering whether to breastfeed her baby in a place of worship shall comport her behavior with the norms appropriate in that place of worship.”

That's right. a mother can breastfeed anywhere public or private and does not have to cover her breast or nipple. The only exception to this law is in places of worship where basically they tell women to use common sense about what is appropriate. Thanks for trusting us on that one.

Whether or not you chose to breastfeed your babies or chose to breastfeed in public you can still stand up for a woman's legal right to nurse her baby in public. If you would like to send an email to Brookfield Zoo you can use this address: member.questions@brookfieldzoo.org

Do you think the zoo should offer an official apology? Do you think the employee was right to ask the woman to stop? Have you have been asked to cover up or stop nursing? Do you think more men or more women are uncomfortable with public breastfeeding? Why do you think we as a culture are so uncomfortable with public breastfeeding?

We'd love to hear from you, but please refrain from attacking or personal comments. Healthy Debate is welcome!

3 red pens, 6 spiral notebooks, 1 fresh start

LauraM — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:05:31 +0000

I love school supplies.

That day in mid-July when the giant cardboard point-of-purchase displays go up, filled with crayons and pencils and notepads in every shape and size, makes my heart skip a beat.

Even when I had no children (and no school to attend), I would buy boxes of markers, pens, notepads – whatever. I have a small set of drawers in my office in the basement that is chock full of all those awesome doorbuster deals – a penny for a ruler, nickel for a set of pencils.

Now that my kids are in school, I stick to their lists for the most part. But I can’t help my hoarding instinct regarding school supplies.

To me, they represent more than just a new school year. They’re optimism. A clean slate. A fresh start. The promise of worlds to unlock and brilliance put to paper.

In short, it’s another chance.

When the tattered backpack comes home at the end of the school year with stubby, nubby crayons, shredded papers and folders that look like they have stretch marks, I can’t get rid of them fast enough. Oh, but the markers are still good, you might say. You can melt down the crayons.

I don’t care.

I want the promise of that perfectly molded crayon – Crayola, of course –from the pack of 24 purchased for a quarter, or the crack of the spine on a new binder.

It’s a sickness, I know. My stash of notebooks have recorded years worth of to-do lists, party invitation lists, sketches for floor plans – you name it. Each 70-sheet notebook is a built-in creativity spark that only cost me a dime. Who can resist?
My dear husband, who used to shake his head in disbelief as I’d stack 40-50 spiral notebooks in our cart at Staples, now is grateful that when the 6th grader announces he needs a protractor at 7:30 a.m. or else he will fail – we have one. And the teacher who sends home the note about needing more glue sticks gets a big bag full of them the very next day. This is abundance that can be shared without a second thought.

And yet…every year, the siren call of school supplies pulls me in again. Anyone need a Sharpie??

Music Together Demo Classes

Farrah — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:36:55 +0000

I know that we frequently sing (haha!) the praises of Music Together around here. But I wanted to let you know about the free demo classes happening this week and next week so you can try it our for yourself. RSVP is required so look at the list and pick the one that works best for you. I promise you’ll love it! And if you bring a friend, you get a $10coupon towards your semester tuition as an added perk.

Cantigny Gardens – Wheaton
1S151 Winfield Road
Wheaton, IL 60189
630.668.5161

Tuesday, August 31st
9:15AM-10AM, 10:15AM-11AM, 11:15AM-12PM

Glen Ellyn
Glen Ellyn Park District, Main Street Recreation Center
501 Hill Ave., Room 206

Tuesday, August 31st
5:30PM – 6:15PM

Wheaton
Wheaton Park District, Community Center
1777 S. Blanchard Rd., Rathje Room

Wednesday, August 25th
9:15AM – 10:15AM, 10:15AM – 11AM

Saturday, August 28th
9:15AM-10AM, 10:15AM – 11AM

Thursday, September 2nd
9:15AM – 10AM, 10:15AM-11AM

Lombard
Lombard Park District, Sunset Knoll Recreation Center
820 S. Finley Rd, Room 15

Tuesday, August 31st
9:15AM-10AM, 10:15AM-11AM

St. Charles
St. Charles Park District, Pottawatomie Community Center
8 North Avenue St. Charles, IL 60174

Thursday, Sept 2nd
9:15AM-10AM, 10:15AM-11AM, 11:15AM-12PM

To RSVP, call Christy at (630) 927-3028 or send an email.

You can always comment here too and we’ll get you connected with Christy. The classes are really, really great! Try it and I know you’ll agree!