Potty Training: What I Wish I knew Before

By

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September 27, 2015

It’s been an interesting eight months at our house. We’ve been steadily working on potty training our boy/girl twins since Christmas. Notice that sentence is in present tense.

Potty training has been a roller coaster ride. One kid was significantly easier to train than the other in every way. The other kid raged against it—on board one minute, defiant the next. All the while we were feeling like we had failed.

We did everything we were supposed to:

They were showing interest and dry for long stretches.
We made a big deal about buying new undies and letting them pick out which ones (side note: who knew underwear for kids were so expensive?!?!).
Reward charts were hung on the refrigerator with corresponding prizes.
Family members were queued in on being enthusiastic about a potty run.

But still, we were going through multiple changes of clothes a day.

In exasperation and desperation, I reached out to Carnigee Truesdale-Howard, Psy.D., who is board certified in childhood psychology at Beaumont Children’s Hospital. She’s also a mom, so she could relate.

“If you try to force it when they’re not ready, that’s going to make things difficult,” she explains. “With potty training, patience is the No. 1 thing parents have to have. There’s an emotional component to this. Potty training and eating are the two things they have control over.”

Ahhh. The light was coming on for me. Control. Should’ve guessed with this kid.

Then I asked about “revenge pants peeing.” Turns out, it’s a real thing. “Sometimes if kids get angry or if they know it’s something to make you upset, that’s something they might do,” she explains. “That’s where the not pushing the issue comes in and you could create a power struggle. You have to pick your battles.”

We’re back to patience again. Breathe in, breathe out.

Then I sprung this question: So why is it so much harder to get them to poop on the potty?

“Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s a different sensation, or if it’s coming from a different area or because their stomach hurts. But it does take longer for the ‘number twos.’”

Well, that’s a relief. But the best thing Dr. Truesdal-Howard said to me was this: “There’s no specific target age. There’s no, ‘Your kid isn’t potty trained by 3? My goodness! What are you doing as a parent?’

Be patient, be calm and expect accidents,” she continues. “If you go into it expecting there to be accidents, you’ll have an easier time being patient and calm. If it’s not working, you can always try again later. That’s typical.”

And then, in that moment, I decided to stop feeling like a failure. There was no magic bullet. My kid just isn’t one of the others who just started going on the potty one day and hasn’t had an accident since. But that’s normal.

There’s the word: Normal.

I’m relieved and feeling recharged to work on this even more. But one thing hasn’t changed: I’m sick of smelling pee.

Mama, You ARE Amazing!

By

danielleandresen

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September 24, 2015

I have to confess, I was the Mama watching and I was impressed at how much you rock at being a mother! It was one of those early morning runs to Target before our little ones needed lunch or a nap. The store was flooded with moms and kids. I was traveling light since I only had my tiny one with me and she was fast asleep as I pushed my cart slowly through the store. Normally I would’ve had my two year old with me and my Target experience would be a little more chaotic. I would not have noticed you just like you may not have noticed me.

My first Mama sighting made me chuckle because she was juggling three kiddos like a boss. Two were riding in the double cart while she pushed the youngest in a stroller. Yes, that’s right. This mom was maneuvering two sets of wheels throughout Target!

Mama you are amazing and have some serious cart handling skills!

Next I came across a mom picking out books with her daughter. Just the two of them deciding on the next read. It was cute to see her share the love for books.

Mama you are amazing!

Now, I have only been in the store for a few minutes and I have already had two Mama sightings. As I walked down the main isle a very pregnant mother noticed me babywearing my five week old daughter and pointed this out to her son who will soon be a big brother. It wasn’t long ago that I was preparing my son for the soon arrival of his baby sister.

What a smart thing to do Mama, you are one amazing mother.

As I strolled up and down the toy isle looking for the perfect birthday present for my son, I loved how strategically you made your way around the toy section.

Smart move Mama, you are amazing!

It wasn’t long before my little one was waking up and wanted to nurse. I needed to make my way to the checkout. Yes, that was my baby crying in line. We all know that newborn cry. It’s piercing to the ears. I tried to keep calm and carry on. I smiled at strangers as they looked over at us and I made sure I had my card ready for checkout. In my head I was thinking about my next move which would be to dart for the car for a nursing session.

It was while nursing my daughter in my car that I was truly in “awe” at how amazing you Mamas are! A few cars down I noticed a mother changing her child in her front seat. Way to get things done Mama! While looking in my rear view mirror a Mama was loading her children into the car. While buckling one into the car seat I noticed her other child had stood up in the shopping cart which looked scary. But no need to worry, this Mama had eyes in the back of her head. She quickly turned around and grabbed her child and put her in the car.

Whew now that is one amazing Mama!

After my nursing session I needed to strap my daughter into her car seat. As I was doing this, I had my last Mama encounter. I heard the child before the cart went by. Her son was upset about something but this Mom handled the situation like a natural as they headed for the store. That amazing Mom knew her son would pull it together as soon as they entered the store.

Way to stay calm Mama and carry on with confidence!

As I headed home I left Target feeling proud to be part of this community of mothers raising children. No it’s not easy, and sometimes we have to nurse in our cars, change diapers on our front seats, or keep a calm while our children cry, but hey that’s what makes us so amazing. We do what we need to do for our children.

We are simply amazing!

Flying with a Baby and a Budget

By

emiliemaierhofer

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September 23, 2015

We are so fortunate to have the Detroit International Airport (DTW) close-at-hand. For moms on a budget, we are even more fortunate that the DTW houses a budget airline!

My family in Wisconsin has a yearly reunion and as the mother of the first grandbaby, I got a lot of pressure to make the trip this summer. We did the math, and since my husband would be unable to attend, and our baby was small enough to travel on my lap, it was actually cheaper for me to fly than to make the drive. But, I was nervous about what it would mean for me to take a 5 month old on an airplane by myself.

Everyone has heard complaints about screaming babies on airplanes, and recently, a British journalist (and mother) went so far as to say that parents who bring their children on airplanes are selfish and that babies should be banned! After our latest trip, I could not disagree more.

This is my story:

When planning the trip, I looked on the usual discount websites and found that Spirit Airlines consistently had the lowest prices. Since my schedule was flexible I didn’t mind that there was only one daily flight scheduled to my destination. Having traveled on similar discount airlines, I knew that the low price meant a few things: No, and I mean NO, extras: no free carry on, no free checked bag, no free peanuts, no free water. Everything has a price. It is not a high price, but something that you need to plan for.

Each passenger is allowed one ‘personal item.’ I used my diaper bag packed with a few extras: a breastfeeding cover, my own toiletries and medication, a few more pacifiers, diapers, and baby outfits than normal, small toys with quiet, pleasant sounds, my wallet, boarding pass and phone. I brought travel sized diaper cream and hand sanitizer in a zip-loc bag for easy removal during security check. I also chose to check one bag instead of using a carry-on to save a few bucks.

Here are some ways to avoid those extra costs:

Follow the instructions there is little ‘hidden’ as long as you keep your eyes open– print your boarding pass early; say “no” to extra insurance
Bring a reusable water bottle it has to be empty through security, but you will save at least $2.50 by using the water fountain to fill and re-fill rather than purchasing at a vending machine or on board.
Pack healthy snacks fruit, string cheese or trail mix. Its faster than fast-food to skip the lines and eat at the gate.

On my way home from the Minneapolis- Saint Paul (MSP) airport, a baby-wearing mom stopped me from entering security with some beautiful words, “Checkpoint 6 has a family entry.” I followed her there, and like celebrities, the security personnel lifted the cordon and let us past the long lines to the front of the line. I had to turn my head to hide my huge smile from the stand-still we walked past.

Once at security, I watched the well traveled mom and followed her moves: she left her baby in her front carrier, but had to remove the wheels of her stroller so it would fit through the x-ray machine. I was asked to put the carseat upside down and send it through the machine. I carried my baby through the walk-through x-ray area, and showed the TSA personnel my empty hands. We had no problems, but with my arms full, I walked past two families waiting to get the results from a chemical test of the formula in their baby bottles.

By giving myself extra time and letting go of expectations on how we would be treated, we had no problems.

The next thing I did was find my gate. Once confirming that the flight was on time here is what worked for me:

I attempted to stay as close to our regular schedule as possible. For me this meant driving to the airport at baby’s nap time and going through the bustle of security when she would normally be awake. I was surprised to find that my 5 month old loved the lights and action of the airport, and since babies are practically minor celebrities, I had plenty of conversation to pass the time.

Change baby’s diaper this is a lot more fun to do on land than in the air if possible! Find a family bathroom for a little extra room and less pressure to get out of someone’s way. Some have diaper dispensers if you are in a pinch.
Feed baby (optional) it easier to breastfeed in the waiting room than elbow-to-elbow on the plane, but you may also want to wait until you are on the plane.
Make sure your stroller or carseat is tagged and ready to be left at the entrance to the plane to be put below.
Board early, one of the perks of flying with children, and ask a flight attendant to help you put your baggage up if needed.

This was the fussiest time for my baby. She loved to wiggle in the empty seat next to me while possible.

***Pro-Tip: If you can swing it, sit at the front of the plane! Spirit Airline tickets are cheap and it only cost me $20 extra to sit in the extra-wide, extra-leg room seats: a huge perk since baby was in my lap. Plus, with an aisle seat you have easy access to the bathroom if needed, or just space to bounce or pace as your baby requires.

Once seated and buckled, I tried to distract my baby, but the best thing was some food. She fell asleep while eating and remained that way for the entire flight!

Although I boarded and disembarked first, I did have to wait on the hot bridge for my car seat to be hand delivered. From there I said goodbye to the fabulous flight attendants (who love babies, by the way!) and found the baggage carousel. We attempted to save a few extra dollars by skipping the parking garage, but it made this the hardest part of our journey. Everywhere I went, people looked sympathetically at a mother flying solo with her baby. So, instead of being tough and trying to be super-mom, I let them help and pick up my bag off of the rotating belt.

Between kind words, helping hands from fellow passengers, and smiles from airport and airplane personnel, I had a fabulous experience. As long as you give yourself some extra time and grace flying with a baby can be a good experience, even on a budget!

What tips do you have for flying with babies?

**This review is my opinion. I was not contacted or compensated for the article.

The DMB’s of a Multi-Tasking Italian Mama

By

annacenti

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September 22, 2015

Down with Detroit.

Home. Family. Where I’m building a life. I was born and raised in a suburb of Metro Detroit. I have gone to school here, met the love of my life, given birth to my children and started a life here. Detroit is one of those cities that becomes intertwined with your soul and you become protective of it, fall in love with it, and your heart becomes adorned with pride for it. No fans are as loyal as Detroit fans and no city has such a hearty combination of struggle, grit, and passion. Deep within my heart, I too hold a memory box filled with sights, smells, sounds of MY DETROIT. I can still feel the excitement of jumping in the car to go down to Tiger Stadium, the purity, the essence of how life just flowed in slow motion – an embodiment of childhood happiness at its finest.

About Me.

I am a middle-school teacher by trade and recently launched a new business venture with Rodan and Fields. In addition to my full-time job, I am pursuing a Master’s Degree in Bilingual Education with a concentration in ESL (English as a Second Language). Needless to say, this keeps me on my toes, but I would not have it any other way! I grew up as a Bilingual so it drives my interest, my teaching, and my passion for education – especially for these students. I come from a long line of hard-working Italians who sacrificed a lot to make a life here. The struggle was real and it was not always pretty. I’m here to make that transition a little easier for families who come from overseas, struggle with a language barrier, or just simply want to feel like they belong. Education can be such a powerful medium for change.

I am happily married to the love of my life. He also keeps me on my toes with a witty sense of humor that drew me to him from the very moment we met each other. Funny how our parents and grandparents just KNOW things. My Nonna (grandmother) told me, “You’re going to marry that boy one day” when she saw us together for the first time. I was 14 and it was a simple hello (along with a face full of blush – and not the kind you buy at the makeup counter). Even then, she knew. Call it a sixth-sense, call it intuition, call it what you want…it’s REAL folks. So listen to your MAMA…or in my case your Mama and your Grand-mama too! Italian women know best. Don’t attempt arguing. We are officially the most stubborn. I stand by this (because I know them, love them, and I am one). There are a lot of you who know. You’re sitting there nodding, shaking your head right now, and probably snickering too.

In my free time, I love to cook and I have a huge passion for Pinterest. My co-workers tease that I must have stock in it or something…um I wish! The obsession has spread to them too. I am always looking for new and innovative techniques and ideas for my classroom. You can find my boards under the username: centia. Language and culture fascinate me and anything that is aimed at advocating for children – especially in education is of utmost importance to me. Coming from a bilingual home, I am invested in helping ESL students succeed.

Babies and Beyond.

I am a mother of two spunky, bright, beautiful girls, ages 3 and 6. These bundles of sugar and spice have been running (not walking) since approximately 9 ½ months of age and my youngest leaping from her crib at about 11 months of age. Busy is an understatement. They are just as lovable as they are busy and are two of my greatest blessings.

My oldest will be starting first grade in the fall (where did the time go). What is it about sisters that they fight like cats and dogs, but will defend each other to the death? Sometimes I defer to my husband who has two older sisters…I grew up in a house with three boys. It is an entirely different dynamic. Spartacus, our two-year old Beagle/Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (mouthful I know…lol) mix rounds out our house and remains sane despite the giddy girls around him. My poor husband…I’m not so sure. If you want to know what kind of people my husband and I are…we went out on a date…and came home with a dog. Yup. That happened.

Spartacus aka “Sparty”

I am so deeply honored to join the Detroit Moms Blog family and I look forward to getting to know all of you – learning about your passions in life, and your passion for this beautiful city we live in! Detroit is due for a comeback…and you know what, I think it’s in the works. Detroit has a story worth telling and a PEOPLE worth talking about.

I’ll be seeing you!

~Anna~

Brown Bagging It: Packing School Lunch

By

Jessica Maurer

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September 21, 2015

My daughter went into 1st grade this year and even though I only have one year of lunch packing under my belt, I’ve learned a lot and wanted to pass along some tips.

In thinking about my daughter going to school for a full day everyday last year at this time, I already knew that I would want her to take her own lunch every single day. In fact before school started I had told her, my husband and my friends that Anna would not be allowed to buy from the cafeteria. I really strive to feed my children a natural and organic diet and just the thought of cafeteria food makes me cringe. Plus, they only have 20 minutes for lunch and standing in line really cuts into that already short period making it even less likely she will be able to finish her lunch. However, since then I have relaxed {very} slightly. You see, I didn’t count on the “cool” factor of buying lunch. My daughter begged me to be able to buy lunch. I think it was a combination of seeing her friends do it and wanting to feel ‘grown-up’. I tried to match up the opportunities to buy with what I felt was least offensive on the school cafeteria calendar and agreed to letting her get a hot lunch once a month. That system worked well for us – halfway through the year she even stopped bugging me about buying lunch and I actually enjoyed a little break in the morning once a month!

This post, however, will focus on all those other days when she brings her lunch. Last year as I was trying to plan ahead for my first year of lunch packing I did what I normally do to research almost everything in life – I turned to Pinterest. As I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, Pinterest is a great help for food ideas. But at the same time it is extremely overwhelming and creates a feeling of not being a ‘super’ mom like the other moms who create beautiful artwork in their children’s lunches every day. Some of the things I came across were so involved and crazy over the top I honestly couldn’t believe it – didn’t these children need to transport their lunches? I would like to see some Pinterest posts of what they actually look like when the kids open them at school.

While I did get some really great ideas from Pinterest, I also ended up spending quite a bit of money to prep. In terms of supplies, here is what I purchased and their worth:

Bento Style Lunch Box – I do like the Bento Box we got and we have used it, but not as frequently as the tried and true (and cheap) Ziploc container simply because the Bento can’t hold a sandwich. We also have several small containers that fit together in the Bento style
- In case you are not aware, “Bento” style lunches started in Japan and are basically a catch-all term now for individual serving lunch boxes with compartments for several different elements of a meal
Silicone Cups – I use these and like them; however, I bought a pack of 12 on Amazon and really never used more than 3 because they get washed and reused pretty frequently. Also, I found a smaller set at Ikea shortly after I ordered mine that were cheaper so I would recommend looking there.
Veggie Shape Cutters – I didn’t use these as much as I thought I would. They were super cute and my daughter seemed to appreciate her cucumber slices cut into flowers, but maybe not enough to make them worth it, although they are pretty cute and a nice special touch. This was another case where I saw a set of pastry cutters at Ikea that had a wide range of sizes that would work for veggies up to sandwiches, and of course was a much better deal.
Sandwich Shape Cutters – these cut off the crust and supposedly make the sandwich into two shaped halves. I felt like it cut off too much of the sandwich, which is wasteful, and it really didn’t look much like a shape so I didn’t use it more than a handful of times.
Thermos Funtainer – I wanted this for packing hot foods; unfortunately, it never stayed hot until lunch no matter how scalding the food was when I put it in. I have since read from other moms that it varies a lot from container to container how well they perform. I guess that is a result of them being made in China? I am going to try a new one this year {and save the receipt this time!}.

When it comes to lunch packing:

I am just not a ‘night-before’ type. I know a lot of people who do pack lunches in the evening but I always feel things will get soggy sitting for that long. One of the best things I did last year to expedite the process is to create a list of lunch possibilities. I keep it on my fridge for quick and easy reference. To start, I decided that I wanted to make sure Anna’s lunch contained food from 6 main categories every day in order to keep her diet well balanced. I scoured Pinterest for ideas in each category and made a master list that shows ideas of foods we generally always have on hand and that I know Anna likes in the categories of: Veggies, Fruit, Grain, Dairy, Protein, and Treat. My list is shown below, but I highly recommend putting one together for yourself. There were many occasions when I was racking my not-yet-caffeinated-enough brain in the morning while putting lunch together and a quick look at my list gave me ideas needed to round out her lunch.

I found we quickly fell into 4 main lunch types:

Sandwiches – this doesn’t require much explanation – I won’t lie that there were many days when I fell back on the standard PB&J. She likes it, I know she will eat it, and it has protein, fruit and whole grains – still better than the mystery meat being given at the cafeteria counter in my opinion. We varied it up with PB & banana, jelly & cream cheese. Unfortunately, my daughter won’t eat lunch meat or tuna fish right now, but I’m hoping that changes this year.
Sandwich Alternatives – these can frequently contain the same insides as traditional sandwiches but in new ways that keep things interesting for kids. Some ideas are tortilla roll-ups, “sushi” {bread rolled thin, layered with toppings then rolled up and cut into 1-inch slices}, bagel sandwiches – I even did just bagel and cream cheese on some desperate days {it isn’t that different from a grilled cheese really, especially if you use the thinner style bagels}, breakfast at lunch {using waffles or pancakes as the ‘bread’ in a sandwich}.
Finger Foods – this is probably the easiest way to cover all the food groups and is a great use for the Bento Box. I just mix and match foods from each of my categories with no ‘main’ food but a little of everything. This is another way to create your own homemade version of the popular Lunchables, with WAY less chemical preservatives and artificial ingredients!
Leftovers – probably the easiest lunch {especially if you have a properly functioning Thermos}. Last night’s pasta, chicken, meatballs, pizza, and soup all make great next day lunches for your kids.

A little prep goes a long way towards setting yourself up for successful mornings, and there is great satisfaction to be found in knowing your little one is opening a lunchbox packed with love halfway through their day {inserting a little love note is also a nice touch!}. Little things like that can make a big impact in the long run!

What are some of your favorite items to pack for lunch?

Pinterest Parties and Other Tales of Woe

By

Kim C.

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September 20, 2015

Saturday afternoon; I have 2 hours to make puff ball sea turtles for my daughters pink sea turtle themed birthday party while she naps. I am carefully tracing circles on the expensive card stock I bought just for the eyes and feet and muttering under my breath. As I glue everything together and get a head start on rolling the 45 sets of lime green silverware into the pink napkins and tying them with matching green ribbon I curse myself for adding this on to my already jam-packed schedule. I’ve already completed the “Happy Birthday” banner with varying pink designs of scrap book paper glued onto the same lime green card stock and tied with yards of pink ribbon. That doesn’t even include the matching gift bags with Thank You tags, and doorway streamers/balloon set-up for her birthday morning!

Why am I doing this? I didn’t spend this much time prepping for my wedding! When did a toddler’s birthday become an “event?” I’ll tell you when and why this happened. Pinterest. It happened the first day I discovered this wonderfully creative site and got excited by the possibilities. It was too early to know it would turn into the bane of my existence. The project manager in me went into overdrive and so did my daughter’s birthday parties, photo shoots, play dates and room decorations. My love/hate relationship with the site has reached new heights since having a child. Now I feel energized and excited and inadequate about my home, my clothes AND raising my kid.

It’s not Pinterest’s fault. It is me, it is us. It’s our insane notion that we have to be perfect. We have to present this perfect vision of a family and home and career. I’ve seen the other moms at work are racing out at 4:30 so they can stop at the party supply store to get the perfect colored gum balls for their sweets table before they run home to make dinner. I know that my friends who work in the home are racing just as exhaustedly to 4 different stores to find just the right supplies to make hand crafted, color coordinated decorations they saw online.

We are struggling to find the perfect venue to house this shindig, careful not to make the same kids do the same activity twice; bowling, bouncing, swimming, and climbing. My own birthday party at this age consisted of a cake, a few friends and if we were lucky, maybe some hats and kazoos. Some lucky ducks even had parties at McDonalds but mostly it was basements and back yards, and IT. WAS. GREAT.

There is nothing wrong with a delightfully planned and executed party. I applaud the moms who can pull it off. Who doesn’t love matching gift bags and exquisitely displayed veggie trays? It’s priceless to see the look on my daughters face when she sees the pink sea turtles and cake. But somewhere deep inside me, after the running around to multiple stores, hours of planning and crafting and paying; I long for the days with a homemade cake, pin the tail on the donkey and 8 little kids running through the house sweaty from playing. Couldn’t that be our perfect?

FULL DISCLOSURE: My house is usually messy with toys and dishes and the day’s mail strewn across the table not organized into colorful bins and beautifully lined baskets. My clothes are ordinary and not super trendy and amazingly well coordinated. My kid is not perfect and sometimes I opt for watching Frozen rather than homemade puffy paint and shower curtain canvases. Still, there is no need to feel inadequate in my blessed life. Also, I have started pinning for her 3rd birthday….

Back to School, Back to You

By

Carly Goidosik

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September 18, 2015

It’s that amazing time of year when the kids go back to school. This always feels like more of a “new year” than the first of the actual year. I make new schedules, resolutions, and have high expectations for life with the new routine. Even if (all) your kids aren’t old enough to go back to school, it still feels new in the fall.

This fall, I challenge you to focus on yourself. What makes you happiest? What are those must-haves to being sane and focused? For me, it’s making the time for regular workouts, and I know lots of other moms who say the same thing. From running and running groups, to yoga classes, Zumba, cycling, even walking the dog, many of us find peace and sanity in those precious minutes we spend on ourselves.

Of course it makes sense! There are numerous studies showing the positive benefits to regular exercise that go beyond your jeans fitting. And group exercise offers even more: friends, accountability, and social interaction. And for many moms, that time at class is your social time for the day. Not to mention the feeling of success when you follow through on something you commit to doing for yourself.

It is all too easy to let those things you love fall to the bottom of your priority list—there are always other things to fill those slots. But only if you let them. Set your exercise as “appointments” in your calendar, and be careful about letting other items push those appointments around. You can make those appointments for other things too: reading for pleasure, lunch with a good friend, even a nap!

Commit to making yourself a priority, because when you are well taken care of, you can take care of everyone around you.

Hanging with Heroes Event

By

Elizabeth Lewis

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September 17, 2015

We couldn’t be more excited to be hosting an event with the Northville City Fire Station! We are looking forward to honoring our local heroes while teaching children about fire safety. Our local heroes risk their lives every day to make sure we’re safe and what better way to repay them then hanging out with them for a couple hours. Our local heroes aren’t the only heroes you and your family will enjoy. Fairytale Entertainment will be there dressed to impress in their best superhero attire. We encourage you to bring your child dressed as their favorite superhero to hang out. They’ll be photographed by Wildflower Photography in their superhero costumes with their favorite superhero. If that doesn’t sound fun enough what little boy {or girl} wouldn’t love to be up close and personal with a fire truck?! Don’t forget to grab your superhero cupcake from Love & Buttercream!

Join our Facebook event page to keep up with everything going on with this event! All details will be placed in there.

:: Lets get to know our fabulous sponsors ::

Food Sponsors:

Love & Buttercream

This made-to-order, all-from-scratch bakery is located in Royal Oak and is bound to make your mouth water. Brooke, the owner of this amazing little bakery strives to give her customers a one of a kind experience while putting a creative twist on those beloved classics. Get ready to experience Love & Buttercream’s delicious cupcakes at our Hanging with Heroes event!

Entertainment Sponsors:

Fairytale Entertainment

Fairytale Entertainment knows how special birthdays and other events are. They truly pride themselves in being one of the best character party entertainers around. You can find almost any character your child is absolutely in love with. They will do everything they can to make sure your child has an experience of a lifetime. Are you ready to watch your child’s face light up when they meet one of their beloved superheroes?! Click here to see all of the characters they have to offer.

Purchase tickets today!

We only have a limited amount and we’d hate for you to miss out! When purchasing your ticket please let us know how many are in your family so that we can plan accordingly. We look forward to seeing you SOON!

Powered by Eventbrite

Being more than just Mommy.

By

Erica B

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September 16, 2015

As a young child, teen, and young adult, I always knew that at some point, I’d be a mother. My husband and I met in college, so we had several years of NOT considering parenting, though we both knew we wanted kids – somewhere off in that vague potential called the future! After he graduated, and we got engaged, the reality of reaching that stage in my life became more realistic, and we loosely considered the possibility of me being a stay-at-home-mom, as we both felt it would be ideal for our future children.

When our daughter arrived less than two years after our wedding, being a SAHM just wasn’t in the cards financially. I did have an extended leave, taking about 5 months due to nerve damage after her c-section birth. Post-partum was a rough ride for me, thanks to a difficult surgical recovery, post-partum depression, and the totally unexpected feelings of isolation that new motherhood brought. I can still remember very clearly the experience of me disappearing, and being replaced with this new, very tired woman, named Mommy.

After I went back to work, the old me started to show her face again, and it felt good! It was also confusing as I started to navigate this new normal, as I really started to digest how my life and all of my responsibilities and relationships had changed. I struggled to balance my professional life and career with my personal life as a wife and parent. I felt guilt over being away from my daughter, and at the same time freedom from my daughter!

Over the next few years life organized itself into a good place and my career flourished, as did my marriage and friendships. I was loving watching my daughter grow into an awesome little person. Then my husband and I decided we wanted another child. We weren’t “trying” very hard, but we weren’t preventing, and we didn’t expect much, as it took about a year to conceive our daughter. This time, I got pregnant right away, miscarried at 8 weeks, and got pregnant again the following month. It all seemed to happen so quickly, and soon enough we were happily awaiting the birth of our son in March 2013.

This time around we were at very different places in our careers and knew that we wanted me to take a year off to be with the kids. My husband wasn’t sure I’d make a year, and most of my professional peers agreed that I’d be chomping at the bit to go back to work by the time my son was 6 months old. I agreed. I didn’t think I had the makings of a full time mom! I was very pleasantly surprised though, to find that I enjoyed being with my kids every day. I LOVED daily life with a preschooler and an infant, adventuring around town with NO expectation of constant emails, phone calls, texts, and stress that my automotive career used to provide. Being a stay at home parent wasn’t easy by any stretch, but I felt like I was enjoying life and my kids more than I had as a career mom.

My second past-partum recovery was overall a better experience, and making some good mom-friends helped keep that isolated feeling at bay, but I still felt *me* slip away again and that “mommy” lady took my place. As I navigated through that first year of full time parenting, we again found our new routine and as my son grew from infant to toddler, becoming more independent, I started to feel like there was something missing. Me.

My life revolved around my children and my husband, and I wasn’t doing much of anything for myself. As much as I loved them all, I found myself a bit resentful and not very happy in general. With encouragement from my husband, I started going to yoga classes and started making time to see some of my friends, sans children – and it felt GOOD to be active, to do something just for ME, and to reconnect with friends.

I also got a call from my employer about going back to work, but my heart wasn’t in it. I’m blessed that I worked for people who valued me, and I was offered a part time position which I accepted and still enjoy today. It’s a nice balance to have a couple of days each week to use my brain for things other than meal planning, nose wiping, and strategizing how to make nap time last longer!

Around the same time, I also went back to school, to train to become a traditional naturopath. Natural health methods were something that had become part of everyday life in our home, and it just felt like the right move. The first day of class, I knew I had found my niche – and it’s so amazing to know that eventually, I will be doing something I’m truly passionate about and feel proud of.

There are days when I wish that being a wife and mother was enough for me, and days when I feel selfish for needing time to myself. But when I return to my family – whether it be after an hour of yoga, or a weekend at school – I’m refreshed and better equipped to be the best parent and partner I can be. And I know it’s ok for me to be more than just Mommy.

I am a mom. I’m also a wife, a friend, a student, a small business owner, and an employee, among other things – and it doesn’t detract from my parenting, but adds to it.

Tell Me “This Too Shall Pass”

By

Erin Piper

-

September 15, 2015

I’ve dubbed these last few months the “Summer of Murphy’s Law” because it seemed that anything that could go wrong did. I know in the grand scheme of life, I’m still very, very lucky, but in the part-time-professional-full-time-mom world, I feel totally overwhelmed.

If you’ll believe it, this is the abbreviated version of the last few weeks: my childcare situation completely fell apart, both of my parents landed in the hospital, I had to find last minute child care on several occasions, using people who had only just met my kids, my kids have each swapped nights throwing up (mostly in our bed!), we had an ER visit for the baby due to a rough fall from the couch on my watch (cue the mom guilt), and my husband and I have each had to take off work (that I don’t get paid for) to fill in childcare gaps. I had to hire a new nanny to watch my baby very quickly, and she seems lovely, but also called to let me know that the baby had howled for a good hour shortly after I left.

Please, God, I need this to work out.

How in the world do you ever get your footing and make it to work on time, let alone keep up with things like laundry and a semi clean house? Seven months in, and I still haven’t figured it out. Our families are helpful, but none are closer than thirty minutes away, and they work and lead active lives, and can’t come over for every mini crisis. Are we incompetent? Do we have unrealistic expectations? Is this EVER going to get easier? How am I feeling so overwhelmed with two when I know people with four or more kids that seem to have things totally under control? Will I ever remember to thaw meat in time for dinner, or switch laundry without fluffing it three times?

Please, please, please tell me “this too, shall pass.” That it gets easier, that I’ll one day have a handle on this, that I’ll get to sit and talk to my husband about more than putting out the latest fire.

I need to know this will pass.

Surprisingly (or not?) my children themselves aren’t the main source of this stress. Like any baby or (almost!) three year old, they have their moments, but I’m finding that I actually love being a mom of two. It’s just all that other “being a responsible adult stuff” that is so darn hard.

I generally hate posts that rant and rant but then tie things up neatly and say something like “but it’s all worth it and I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” but offer no helpful advice. But I’m learning that’s just the reality. There’s not much helpful advice on this stuff. It just sucks.

And you really would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Detroit Mom