The Manic Mommies are planning their upcoming shows and we'd love to hear from our listeners and other parents of young children regarding topics they are most interested in.
A majority of our listeners tune in because they like the parenting stories and tips. Others enjoy our light-hearted banter. As we plan the weekly shows for June and July, we'd like to give our listeners (and future listeners) a chance to weigh in.
Obviously, moms and dads have a lot on their plates. We know your time is valuable and recognize there is an endless stream of magazines giving advice on how to make your own ice cream or organize a play date. The Manic Mommies do not make their own ice cream. But we do, at times, actually make dinner for the family.
So what would you like to hear in a 40-minute internet audio 'cast for moms juggling work and family or other commitments? Are you looking for advice on how to better manage your time? Looking to dust off your resume and want tips on re-entering the workforce? Do you want to get the house more organized? What about decorating, gardening, or cooking?
Our listeners are our greatest motivation. Please share your thoughts and post a comment to this article. And if you have yet to listen to a podcast, why not start with ours? You can find us at ManicMommies.com and click on the player in the upper right hand corner or subscribe through the iTunes Music Store. Just search for Manic Mommies and you'll find us.
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Comments: 23
This is a good one! I do recall using a lot of infant Motrin when my son Brendan was teething. If he was going through a bad spell I gave him a dose right before bed and it usually kept him from waking. I also remember using a GREAT topical ointment. It's Hylands Homeopathic Natural Teething Gel, an all-natural product so you don't have to worry about using too much. They sell it at places like Whole Foods grocery stores or you could buy it online at Americarx.com. I also fed my son frozen baby peas for dinner. They easily mash in the mouth and the cold helped numb the gums a bit. Believe it or not, he still prefers his peas frozen. Hope that helps. Anyone else have any tips for teething?
First of all, let me tell you how much I love your podcast. I really look forward to the advice, fun, and conversation each week. I am a stay-at-home mom, but so much of your show is applicable to any mom regardless of whether or not she "works". I mean, isn't any mom a "working" mom? :)
Anyway, I am one week off on keeping up with the podcasts (I am too manic!) so I am responding to last week's podcast with Kathy (I love her!). I have to insert my two cents about Dr. Ferber. I am so glad to hear that "Ferberizing" is getting some much-needed clarification. So many folks have the misconception that it's all about "crying it out." This is really not the case since you're going in and attending to your child at regular intervals if she/he is still crying. I am a big believer in Ferberizing -- it saved my sanity when my daughter was about four months old. Prior to Ferberizing our daughter would only sleep in her swing -- obviously this is something that could not go on long term. So, my husband and I bit the bullet and tried Dr. Ferber's method. It worked like a charm -- yes the first few nights were tough, but each successive night was better and within just a week or two our daughter was sleeping on her own without my help. More importantly, Dr. Ferber gave us the tools we needed for the future -- so anytime my daughter regresses, we pull out Dr. Ferber again and get her back on track in no time (she's 22 months old now). I encourage any parent who is having trouble getting a baby to sleep to give it a try -- the key is to remember that even though it might be tough on you for a few nights, you're doing something really good for your child. Helping your child learn to sleep on her own and without fear, confusion or disorientation upon waking is a valuable skill.
Thanks again for all of your great work!
-- Courtney
-- how do/did you find your best mommy friend (like the Erin-Kristin relationship)? is it hard to find that friend? do you ever feel like you're trying to "pick-up" a new friend at the park or playgroup?
Trans-Atlantic travel w/ toddlers....don't get me started!! After a trip to Ireland last year w/ a 2-year-old who NEVER slept, I vowed it was our last trip. But somehow I'm sure it won't be the last. Here are some things I tried:
Pediacare (supposed to be better than Benadryl, but didn't work on Sean - maybe I should've gone for the adult dose.)
Wrapping up little gifts to open throughout the trip (worked well -- sticker books, books, magnet games, stamp set and pad, etc.) It's fun for them to open these "presents" and anything new to them is a good diversion.
Portable DVD player w/ some new DVDs - my salvation, and I'm not embarrassed to admit it. This bought us, and our fellow passengers some welcome peace and calm. Just make sure it's fully charged before you go, and bring the charger. (Bring an adaptor too, to use it abroad.)
For a trip this year we also got Sean a new backpaack and loaded it up w/ stuff - he liked having his own "luggage" and there was plenty of stuff to keep him busy. We packed some of his favorite snacks as well as toys, books, etc.
Check this website for good toys for toddlers - the stacking pegs are great, though they tend to roll off the tray if you're not careful. We used them on a few trips. Lacing cards are a good option for 3-4 yr-olds, and they have good ones for boys as well as girls. https://www.inventiveparent.com/smartshapeslauri.htm
Hope this helps. I'd say staggering out the treats, whatever they are, and drugging if necessary are the best ways to stay sane on a long flight.
Don't let the wee ones keep you from traveling!
(There, Erin, I joined!!)
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. You've included some great information and also confirmed that my worst nightmare is indeed possible (that my daughter doesn't sleep for the entire flight!). I love the idea of wrapping up little presents and giving Sofia her own backpack. These are great suggestions. We aren't going until August, but once we return I'll let you know how it went.
You see? I love this Manic Mommies stuff -- what a great network of moms!
-- Courtney
Great Job with the podcast! I am an addict and have been tellnig many of my friends to log on and take note that they are not alone. My question for the other mommies out there is how do you get a 3-yr old boy to do 2's in the potty. My big guy has totally got 1's down even staying dry all night long, but when it comes to bowel movements-nothing! He insists on a Pull-Up to do his business. If we try refusing, he just lets it build up and then explodes when we finally give in with the Pull-Up. I ha ve tried various reward systems and still no luck. Our newest gimmick is that if he fills up his poo chart with 10 smiley stickers, he gets to go to the pet store to get a goldfish that he wants so bad. With 2 months behind us and only 1 smiley, what do we do next? Do we just say whatever and let him go at his own pace? Help!
I've got a bummer of a topic, probably best for Kathy although maybe Dr. Rob would have some insight too...How do 5 year olds and 2 year olds deal with a death in the family (someone close, like a grandmother who used to babysit them while she was well)? Hmmm...Okay, so much for trying to make that look like a hypothetical topic. I guess I'm confused by how kids of various ages process death as a concept. My 2 year old still thinks Nana is at the doctor's, but my "grown up" nearly-5-year-old claims that he knows all about it and doesn't need to talk about it anymore. He never seemed sad about it, except when he saw that I was sad and tried to cheer me up by suggesting we find a new Nana somewhere. Will they forget about her? Should I try to keep her in their minds so they remember her, or will I just upset them for no good reason? Is it best for them to just remember stories and pictures when they're older? Is that all they'll remember anyway? (If you mention this on the air, please don't mention my name--in case I'm listening in the car with the too-smart 5 year old). Thanks!
This is a great question and one we can certainly pose to Kathy and Dr, Rob. Unfortunately, it will be a few weeks before they are back on the show, so I'd like to ask the other parents in this group to chime in if they have any advice or suggestions. This is not something I have had to deal with yet and it is someething no parent looks forward to, I'm sure. I'll consult with Kathy offline to see if she has any advice. Will gladly post her response here for all to read. Thanks for the good question!
Thanks for the nice feedback on the podcast. Believe it or not, toliet training was one of the topics on our earlies podcast. I don't even recall the episode number and the sound quality was...well, amateurish at best. I do recall Kathy having some good advice for us on this subject. With three boys of her own, I know she's been there, done that. I'll get her on here to tackle your question. In the meantime, I know many people have tried the reward system with success. What you are dealing with is very common, and I still think 3 is yound for a boy to be totally potty trained. If its any consolation, my son is 4 an still wears a pull up at night and I'm wondering when that will end?? Anyone else have advice for Leslie?
I am not an expert on this topic, but I have dealt with it. My grandmother died last year, and my older daughter was 3. We took her to the funeral and talked to her about going to heaven. She asked a lot of questions and still does about what happens when we die. She often asks if I will die. We then went through hurricane Katrina and my dog died. Both were very difficult for my daughter ( and for me). Children grieve in their own way. Sometimes my daughter speaks about how sad she is that my dog died, and she gets angry at Katrina for making such a mess. I try to keep open and honest communication, but I let her take the lead.
I still have a lot of pictures of my grandmother. I want my kids to know who she is. Kids are very in the moment, if something seems important they will let us know.
I think this would be a great topic for the show!
Danette Dollison-Johnson
My father-in-law died when my kids were 18 months old and 3.5. They knew him very well, spent time with him a couple times a week.
Sadly, the younger one has no memory of him at all. Really sad considering what a bond they had even though the little guy was so young. We continue to tell him about his grandfather's favorite thing to do was read to him, since in his final years he had very limited ability to get around. We keep a lot of pictures of FIL around our home and talk about the pictures.
The older one, believe it or not, does remember his grandfather. We do a lot of the same activities for him, so whatever memories he has he can hold on to.
There are a lot of great books for kids dealing with death of a loved one. Check out your local library or go to amazon. My kids were 4 & 6 when we lost a pet and books made a HUGE difference in their level of understanding and acceptance.
Death is such a hard topic for everyone, not just kids. Sorry to hear about your loss.
Thanks so much for the podcast and the gather group! Listening to your show gives me back my sanity! Keep up the great work, Ladies!!!
I wanted to change the subject back to show suggestions. Have you ever thought of interviewing Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, authors of "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk?" My daughter's teacher recommended this book to me at a parent-teacher conference and it has totally changed my relationship with both my daughters (4 and 6 yrs). The book gives you cheat sheets summaries and many of the main points are made in cartoon form -- important for someone with little time. There is so much less yelling in the house (mainly from me) since I read the book. Anyone else read this and liked it?