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Stef Daniel
Stef Daniel is a 38 year old mother of 4 girls who resides in Georgia. She has been a stay at home mother for 10 years. She grew up near the Eastern Maryland Shore and at the age of 21 moved to the outskirts of Atlanta with a friend. She began a career in law enf...Read More
How Long is TOO Long to Breastfeed?
Thursday, May 17, 2012 by Stef Daniel
By now, you likely know the benefits to breastfeeding your child. And while it is recommended, this is not an article intended to debate breast or bottle – or to crucify women who have chosen to bottle feed. I have personally done both. Breastfed two children and bottle-fed two children. And both methods worked out perfect... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Signs Mom's Gone Nuts
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I am crazy. I have decided, finally and completely, that motherhood has truly caused me to go insane. So insane is my new normal. Since I don’t really have a choice, I am going to roll with it, and enjoy the insanity and the bliss of Mommy Brain for as long as possible. Are you crazy yet? (Chances are if yo... Read More
Monday, May 14, 2012 by Stef Daniel
A friend of mine, married for many years and with several children, was confiding in me the other day about her marriage. Her and her husband had become essentially roommates. While there was nothing awful and pressing, abusive or disrespectful about her marriage – she knew that it was essentially over. Still, she could... Read More
What Kind of World Do We Live In?
Friday, May 11, 2012 by Stef Daniel
What kind of world do we live in? I’m going to make a confession here. There are days when I am completely content commiserating about the things that are going wrong in my life. Sometimes I get frustrated waiting in long lines. There are weeks when I don’t know if we will have enough money left over after payi... Read More
Who Fights More: Brothers or Sisters?
Wednesday, May 09, 2012 by Stef Daniel
With an estrogen-laden household, I have to admit that I have refereed my share of arguments, disagreements, and tug of wars over Barbie dolls. I have also been thoroughly surprised at just how much ‘lip service’ sisters seem to give one another. I grew up with just a brother, and although we had spats from time to time &... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Ten Reasons Mom NEEDS Duct Tape
Tuesday, May 08, 2012 by Stef Daniel
You say duck tape, I say duct tape. Truth is we are both correct. Duct tape, invented in the 1940’s, was originally used as a waterproof adhesive for ducts. And in 1942, Revolite, formerly a division of Johnson & Johnson (Yes the same folks who make that incredible smelling baby powder and lotion), originally developed ... Read More
Monday, May 07, 2012 by Stef Daniel
If you are a friend of mine, today – Monday May 7th, would be a really good time to call me. Why? Because today, two of my daughters left home for an entire week. I won’t see them again until Friday night. And this is the longest that I have ever gone without seeing my girls EVER. So understandably, I am a littl... Read More
Saturday, May 05, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Sure, I am biased, but I think that EverydayFamily has some of the best bloggers ever! And when Sara introduced her blog, It All Started with a Meatball, I was admittedly eager to read. Her first post drew me in. Seriously, if you haven’t read it check it out right here. In the post, she talks about how her family bega... Read More
SHOULD Grandparents Raise YOUR Children?
Thursday, May 03, 2012 by Stef Daniel
According to recent statistics from the US Census Bureau, around 2.4 million families in the United States are headed up by grandparents. This equates to 3.9 million children who are being parentally supported by their grandparents rather than their parents. In many of these instances, the parents of the children also live with the grandparent... Read More
Tuesdays Top 10 - Why This MOM Cannot Wait for School to End!
Tuesday, May 01, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Depending on where you live, you are in countdown mode for the end of yet another school year. My children get out of school on May 17th, and I have to admit that I am more in countdown mode than they are. I know that a lot of moms joke about dreading summer vacations and being excited for the return of school, but I have to admit I d... Read More
Monday, April 30, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Don’t lie, just admit it! You do it! Someone asks you to do something for them, or invites you over for dinner, or asks you to a play date, or you were a no-show for your doctor’s appointment and you blame it on the kids. “Oh, I am so sorry – the baby is not feeling well today,” or “OMG, I am j... Read More
Saturday, April 28, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I don’t have the type of disposable income that allows me to get massages anytime that I want to. So, every once in a while, someone will give me a gift certificate for a massage and then I hold on to it for months, scrambling to find folks to watch my kids long enough for me to enjoy the hour. Interestingly, however, during my ... Read More
Thursday, April 26, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Let me start this post by first suggesting that you bookmark it, add it to your favorites, save it to your computer, share it on Facebook and Twitter, and post it to your FB wall. Why? Because it contains some very, very important information about one of the easiest tasks in life: using the trash can. However, my mothering and marital... Read More
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I have four kids. They are all females. And they fight. It amazes me that a 14-year-old would have anything to fight about with a 5-year-old; but still they bicker. And the 5-year-old – well, having been born with three older sisters already intact - I can say, for sure, that she can hold her own in these arguments. ... Read More
Posing Nude While Pregnant Anyone?
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 by Stef Daniel
When Demi Moore posed nude as a pregnant woman, I wanted to slap her. Why? Because she looked fabulous, and gorgeous, and soooooo unlike the way I looked pregnant. Then there was, of course, Britney; and now most recently Jessica Simpson. Sadly, all of these women have faced criticism and a great deal of judgment for their choic... Read More
Monday, April 23, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I never imagined that motherhood would make me crass or grumpy or the least bit uncompassionate. But it has. For instance, the other day when my daughter was whining because she didn’t have a pair of Abercrombie shorts clean to wear to school, I didn’t really care. When my 5-year-old asked me for a toy at the grocery store a... Read More
Friday, April 20, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I have never had boobs. I am one of those girls who was literally jumping up and down with excitement when I discovered during a trip to Wal-Mart that Hanes finally made a bra size called, “Nearly A and Barely B!” No more shopping in the training bra section for me! I could finally get a "real" bra made ... Read More
How Has Having Kids Changed Your Sex Life?
Thursday, April 19, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I recently completed a research assignment that took me into the depths of marital sex. And quite honestly, it appears that sex within the confines of a marriage is a dismal place to be. According to some of the research I came across, the average married couple only has sex once or twice a month. As time is added on to the marriag... Read More
Monday, April 16, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I hate making decisions. If you sent me into a store to buy paint, I would literally be in there for hours ruminating about all the different colors, textures, and brands of paint that I could purchase. Eventually, my choice would come down to price – and I have to admit that I have painted my living room a dozen times becau... Read More
Friday, April 13, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Not that long ago, while cooking dinner and watching the news at the round table event that is my kitchen every afternoon, story after story aired on the news about felons and criminals and otherwise "bad people." I stirred a pot of spaghetti sauce, and helped my three older daughters with their homework, not really listening to the news.... Read More
Monday, March 26, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I am no fashionista. I stay home all day balancing working from home and entertaining my youngest daughter. The rest of the day, I am in my car, chauffeuring the kids between school, ball practice, and home. I have no need for clothes that need to be ironed; and quite frankly, I am most interested in being comfortable throughout my d... Read More
Sunday, March 25, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I cannot sit still. I think that my constant need to be in motion is something that was handed down from my mothers and grandmothers. I remember as a kid, my mom never sat still. She always had something to do. And my grandmother as well. They were always doing something. If it wasn’t a chore, they were knitting,... Read More
Fact or Fiction - Orgasmic Birth
Friday, March 23, 2012 by Stef Daniel
A friend of mine sent me an email the other day with a link to a woman’s story who claimed that she had an orgasm during birth. And of course, (because what mother doesn’t want to actually WATCH someone else give birth (SMH)), a video was included. Lucky me. Needless to say, my curiosity was peaked. W... Read More
Thursday, March 22, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Watching your kids grow up is sort of bittersweet; but it happens so fast. One minute you are in labor, pushing out a baby, and in what seems like a blink of an eye, you are holding her hand to help her walk. All the moments leading up to and in between seem lost in the momentum of motherhood. Maybe a little lost, but certainly not... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Little White Lies
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 by Stef Daniel
It’s Tuesday. And you know what that means - Another Tuesday's Top 10. This Tuesday's Top 10 might make you a little uncomfortable. You might be wiggling around in your seat just a little, because I am going to reveal the Top 10 lies that parents tell their children. Sure, your little white lies may be a necessary evil of pa... Read More
Saying Goodbye to Friends Moose A. Moose and Zee
Monday, March 19, 2012 by Stef Daniel
If your toddler watches television, then you might have noticed a BIG change with Nick Jr. that I didn’t notice right away, but my 5-year-old did. After watching Nick Jr. for a few days WITHOUT Moose A. Moose and Zee, she asked me where they went. The cute little jingles were gone. The anecdotes between Moose and Zee missing.... Read More
Saturday, March 17, 2012 by Stef Daniel
If you were to run into me with my brood of girls, one of the first things you would say to me is, “Are you going to try for a boy?” To which I would answer, “Heck no! I am done!” Then I would scamper away as quickly as possible to avoid the karmic wave of fertility that you might be sending my way. I ... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 (on Thursday) - Keeping Your Sex Life Alive
Thursday, March 15, 2012 by Stef Daniel
How is your sex life? I know, I know, that’s really a personal question and one that rarely, if ever, gets an honest answer (And I don’t REALLY want to know). A few weeks ago, an acquaintance of mine was sort of bragging about her awesome sex life. The rest of us moms sitting there, listening to her stories of romantic ... Read More
Parents Behaving Badly in Youth Sports
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 by Stef Daniel
My children have been involved in competitive sports for many years now. My husband and I are both involved as volunteer coaches and have been since the onset. However, it never ceases to amaze me how badly – hideously, ridiculously - parents behave in the presence of competition. Even when this "competition" i... Read More
Sunday, March 11, 2012 by Stef Daniel
My kids fall down and get hurt all the time. Like every day, there is some sort of injury occurring. We live on a farm, all my kids play softball, and for children, life is a hazardous road. No matter how careful you are with your kids, they are going to get hurt. And sometimes, you won’t even know what happened. &nb... Read More
Friday, March 09, 2012 by Stef Daniel
In one of my recent Tuesday's Top 10’s, I shared with you my biggest labor and delivery fears. One of those fears, which ended up happening to me, was having a C-section. In the Facebook comments that ensued after that post, it became evident that many, many pregnant women are worried about the impending doom of a C-section.&nb... Read More
Update to the Saga of the New Years French Fry
Thursday, March 08, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Back in January, around New Years, I wrote about the Saga of the New Years French Fry. If you missed the post, you can find it here. It is a heartbreaking (and hilarious), warm story filled with disdain about a lone French Fry that fell to its doom in the bottom of my refrigerator. I regret to inform you that today, March 8... Read More
I Don't Want to Play Barbies Today (Or Ever)
Tuesday, March 06, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I found myself hiding from my daughter today. Why you ask? Read on…. She had received a few new Barbie’s for her birthday last week, and has ever since been bombarding me with requests to play. I have changed Barbie clothes, been chastised for using the wrong "Barbie Voice," taken them in the bathtub with me ... Read More
Stef's Number One Parenting Pet Peeve
Monday, March 05, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I have been a mother for a long time now. I still have an immense amount to learn. But one thing I know for sure is that when my kids are sick I don’t want to be one of those irresponsible parents or caregivers that knowingly sends my kid to school - or invites a friend or cousin over for a play date – only to make another kid... Read More
Saturday, March 03, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Moms are a fickle group (complete offense intended). One of the most widespread trends I see among groups of mothers is jealousy. It starts out with snide remarks or comments, often camouflaged with so-called pride, about how their kid walked at 3 months old (umm okay), or said their first word before they could even sit up. I&rsqu... Read More
Thursday, March 01, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I have to admit that I am sort of a sucker for the paranormal. The thought that magic and mystic are all around is both exciting and perhaps a little frightening. But I never gave much thought to ghosts until my husband and I moved into our century-old farmhouse. At first, I sort of wrote off the creaking of the house to... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Ten Foods that Please Kids
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I don’t know about you, but I tend to spend a lot of time brewing over what to feed the kids. It never fails - the minute I prepare a nice, gourmet-type meal that spent hours to make, the kids don’t like it and end up eating sour cream and onion potato chips 30 minutes after dinner. For this reason, I have gotten stuck in a ru... Read More
Thursday, February 23, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Help, I need your advice. If you were in my shoes, what would you do? I have recently received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity from my parents in Florida. As it is on their bucket list in life to swim with the dolphins – they have made plans to visit Discovery Cove in Florida sometime in May for a scheduled swim. Swimmi... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - 10 Labor and Delivery Fears
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I was not a "good" pregnant person. At times, I would get so caught up in worry and anticipation of the delivery that I would break out in a cold sweat. (Which, admittedly, kind of felt good since I was always hot). Point is, the closer I got to delivery, the more I worried about some pretty silly things. I would say t... Read More
Sunday, February 19, 2012 by Stef Daniel
When I was a kid, I never left the house in clothes that weren’t ironed. To this day, my mom irons everything. I think she even irons sheets. My mother-in-law finds it sort of appalling that I don’t iron my children’s clothes. For me to allow them to go to school in jeans that haven’t been ironed is me co... Read More
Friday, February 17, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I don’t know about you, but I have hit a point in my life where I truly think that my kids are crazy. Like, for real crazy! My dreams of having "normal" children are officially over. It seems that as each of them has grown up, they have individually come up with some little quirk that seems totally unreasonable to me ... Read More
OMG, I Left My Baby in the Car!?
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 by Stef Daniel
A couple weeks ago, my daughter’s school held the daddy-daughter dance. So, my husband – being the awesome Dad he is - took the day off work and got all fancied up to take his two youngest daughters on a date. The older girls couldn’t go because the dance was designed for girls 5th grade and younger. This meant th... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 (Or One) - What Was YOUR Favorite Valentine's Day Gift?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 by Stef Daniel
It’s Tuesday, which means that I provide you with a top ten list of some sort. But, today is also Valentine's Day. This means that you will likely be at your child’s preschool serving cupcakes (for which only the icing will be eaten), trying to find a babysitter so you and your honey can go out for dinner ALONE, or dressing yo... Read More
What do You "LIKE" on Facebook?
Sunday, February 12, 2012 by Stef Daniel
It’s hard to be a person these days without knowing about Facebook. I honestly believe that my husband is perhaps one of the only people on the earth who has no idea what Facebook is. In fact, I think he thinks it’s some mysterious dating website or something. Then again, he can hardly turn on a computer because he is a U... Read More
Friday, February 10, 2012 by Stef Daniel
One of the downfalls of having a big family is that when one child gets sick – no amount of Lysol, or cleaning, or separating - can seem to keep them from getting the rest of the kids sick. And, sick children are worrisome enough (not to mention time consuming), but four sick kids!? By the time the last child comes down with the fe... Read More
Wednesday, February 08, 2012 by Stef Daniel
How do you turn bathtime into a horrific event that is prime material for a movie on Lifetime? Take one, clean twin toddler playing on the bathroom floor while mom finishes bathing the other and add a container of Secret's orginal, signature scent deodorant. Seriously! This is how it went down for me. I took my eyes off one of ... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Ten Things You Must Teach Your Child
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 by Stef Daniel
When it comes to parenting, the laundry list of lessons that you should teach your children is endless. Of course, there are things like teaching your child responsibility, consequence, and manners. But I feel that there are lots of other lessons that children need to learn as well in order to have a successful life. You know, like h... Read More
Sunday, January 29, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I started exercising. Again. If I think back to when I have felt the best in my life, it has always been during times that I was remaining physically active. So in order to bolster my health – I decided to start working out again. My plan was to attend the hour-long free class going on right up the street from my d... Read More
Friday, January 27, 2012 by Stef Daniel
My children love to fight and bicker about E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. They will collectively argue the color of the sky just for the sake of the debate. (Either that, or they have conspired together in order push me right over the edge of sanity.) I don’t know how many times during the day I've found myself mediating stupid argumen... Read More
Yummo! How About Eating YOUR Placenta?
Thursday, January 26, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Wow, right? If you haven’t already thrown up in your mouth over just the title of this little blog post, you likely will by the time you are finished reading it. But try and make it through, as it actually has some useful information for you – especially if you have a history of PPD (Postpartum depression). A few weeks back,... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Things My Children Have Taught Me
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 by Stef Daniel
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” (This is one of my favorite life quotes.) I have found it to be truer for motherhood than with any other experiences in my life thus far. My teachers are so often my children. The lessons that we learn from parenting are vast. This Tuesday's Top 10 is the... Read More
Monday, January 23, 2012 by Stef Daniel
“Mom, can you bring me some toilet paper?” How familiar is this? It seems that of late, if we are not out of toilet paper or shampoo or trash bags, we are out of milk, bread, and laundry detergent. And then, of course, there is that constant state of empty that my minivan seems to be running on. Does it ever end?&n... Read More
Saturday, January 21, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Just yesterday, I was pregnant with you. You would kick around in my stomach and I would listen to your heartbeat – hardly patient enough to wait for the day I got to meet you. But I was patient. I had to be, because you were only going to come at the time that was right for you. So I waited. Sometimes in pain, someti... Read More
What is YOUR Favorite Time of Day?
Friday, January 20, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Do you have a favorite time of day? You know, like a certain “o’clock” when the world seems to just click into place and you can retreat to the comfort of your own mind without interruption? For me, this time of day is 4:30 in the morning. I am what you would call a morning person – and I love waking up at 4... Read More
Staying in Touch with Long Distance Family
Thursday, January 19, 2012 by Stef Daniel
I miss my brother. I really wish that his kids could play with my kids on a daily basis. I wish that we could spend Saturday afternoons bowling with our children, or that it would be simple to get closer to my sister in law. I miss my folks in Florida too. How nice it would be to have them here every day, never missing my ch... Read More
Politics, Pregnancy and Motherhood
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 by Stef Daniel
The older I get the more I care about politics. Not really politicians or the politics in play, but the fact that my children are going to be unleashed into this world and could end up paying a very high price for the mistakes of the politics today. When 9/11 occurred, I was pregnant – and it was honestly the first time I felt lik... Read More
UMMM, YES I AM Breastfeeding in Public
Monday, January 16, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Really, what is the big deal? It’s a boob, definitely not as sexy as the ones that you see on Victoria Secrets ads and posters – and a baby. In fact, it’s mostly a baby because when they are nursing they pretty much cover the boob entirely. This means that what is left is a mom, nursing her baby, with the oc... Read More
Saturday, January 14, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Put that down. Pick up your shoes. Brush your teeth. Cover your mouth when you burp. Dont eat your boogers. Get your fingers out of your nose. Eat your vegetables. Get ready for bed. Throw that in the trash. Pick up your room. Do your homework. Look at me when I am talking to you.&nb... Read More
Thursday, January 12, 2012 by Stef Daniel
"Mama, come wipe my butt," my seven year old daughter would holler from behind the bathroom door. Lovely, it was just the thing that I wanted to hear while I was cooking dinner. "Nope, you need to do it yourself," I would holler back. I'm pretty sure that butt-wiping is an all important life lesson, right? ... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Perks of Motherhood
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Being a mother is perhaps the greatest thing on earth. Most of the time. If you check out most of the mom blogs around town, or peek at what Facebook moms are saying, you find out pretty quick that it isn't ALWAYS what it's cracked up to be. In fact, moms complain. A lot. About the lack of sleep and personal hygiene, t... Read More
Monday, January 09, 2012 by Stef Daniel
"Wow, she's so big. She must be eating good!" When my twins were born, there was a huge size difference between them. The size difference still exists today, where one is at least nine inches taller than the other. When they were itty bitty, people would always refer to them as the big one and the little one.&nbs... Read More
Saturday, January 07, 2012 by Stef Daniel
The other day, I saw a newborn. It was the first time that I had seen a newborn in quite a while. Now that I have graduated from the baby phase of my life, and have a couple teenagers under my belt – most of the people I know or see on a daily basis have absolutely no inkling to have or hold a newborn again. (Don’t worry ... Read More
The Saga of the New Year's French Fry
Friday, January 06, 2012 by Stef Daniel
Note to Momspirational readers – This post is not really “Momspirational” at all. But, even so, I bet you $100 (okay, not really) that you can relate! On New Year's Day, the family and I made a big, mouth-watering batch of homemade French Fries for a lunchtime snack. It was the best thing I could think of to get t... Read More
What Are Your New Year's Resolutions?
Friday, December 30, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Hopefully by now you are able to take a breath, relax ,and enjoy the fact that the stress of the holidays is over. And guess what, as your little reward – you have a new year to make even bigger and better plans for the year ahead, and to make your dreams come true. Every year, I tend to have the same New Year's resolutions.... Read More
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 by Stef Daniel
This little blog post is not for the faint at heart. Or the eternal optimist. Or the parent who thinks that what he or she sees on the news will never happen to them or their family. But I believe it is something that all parents need to be reminded of from time to time. Recently, in a suburb of Atlanta, a little girl was abdu... Read More
Tuesdays Top 10 - How Childhood has Changed
Tuesday, December 27, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Remember back in the day, when you were a child? Oh, how childhood has changed. There are so many things that my kids have in their lives that I don’t remember having at all. This Tuesday, take a walk down memory lane and help us think of all the things that make your child’s childhood different from yours! Moms... Read More
Momspirational SHOUT OUT To Doctors
Monday, December 26, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I have to admit, that I haven’t always been uber impressed with doctors. I believe that when it comes to children and adults, that you have to be proactive – and to really push the issues sometimes. I think, especially in a pediatrician’s office, that doctors become so accustomed to strep throat, snotty noses, and throw-... Read More
Friday, December 23, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Every year, I have the same plan. I will have all of my holiday shopping done early (please hold your laughter) so I can enjoy the festivities of the holidays and make sure that all the presents are happily wrapped. That way I can enjoy Christmas Eve and actually go to bed before 3am, which makes the 6am (if I am lucky) wake up call from... Read More
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Here we are a few days away from Christmas, and I cannot help but wonder if I will ever get everything done. I still have a few lingering presents to buy, haven’t really thought about baking cookies with the kids, and have never finished the outdoor decorations as I had planned at Thanksgiving. And now, it seems that in an i... Read More
Thursday, December 15, 2011 by Stef Daniel
"Hello! Where is YOUR Mothering Gene?" I wanted to ask a certain mom I saw whose child was obviously extremely sick, and not feeling well sitting in the emergency room while I was there for testing. By the look on this woman's face and the rigidness with which she dealt with her child, it was obvious that this trip was, for her... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Favorite Things About Christmas
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 by Stef Daniel
'Tis the Season! Obviously, there are hundreds of great things to love about the holidays. From the colors to the lights to the FOOD (Dear Treadmill: I will be seeing YOU in January); there is just something magical about the season. Especially when you are able to see all of this, and engage in the magic of the holidays through... Read More
The Sacrifices of a Stay at Home Mom
Monday, December 12, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I have been a stay at home mother for a really long time now. In the first ten years, I have to admit that I never once thought about anything else that I would rather be doing. I never thought about what it really means to be a stay at home parent. My husband and I just decided that we would afford it, and we dove in head first because... Read More
Saturday, December 10, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Much to my wandering eye did my very worn, comfortable, red cowboy boots catch my attention from the back of my so-called closet. There they were. In hiding. But now, with colder weather approaching and the wearing of flip-flops (or going barefoot) getting a little ridiculous – THEY JUST MADE SENSE. Last night, my ... Read More
Thursday, December 08, 2011 by Stef Daniel
The other night, my family watched a news documentary that talked about all the homeless families and children in Florida. According to statistics, even though Florida is known for palm trees and resorts, there are more homeless children living in Florida than there are in any other state across the United States. My parents live in... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - What Does Mom Want for Christmas
Tuesday, December 06, 2011 by Stef Daniel
What is at the top of your MOM holiday wish list? Oh, come on…just because you are overwhelmed and busy trying to make everything perfect for your family for the holidays doesn’t mean that there isn’t something YOU want as well! It’s really sort of funny. When I look back over my holiday wish lists over ... Read More
Holiday Decorating Made Easy and Cheap
Monday, December 05, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Are you feeling the stress of the holidays yet? A while back, I told you how much I hated the holiday season. I also made a vow that this year – I would not play the part of Scrooge no matter how stressful things got for me. I realize when I am feeling most adult, that ruining the holidays for my children is not somet... Read More
Saturday, December 03, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Do tell….what is the cutest thing your child says? My four year old is somehow caught in a rabbit hole of not wanting to grow up. She knows that with her approaching birthday, when she will be 5, she HAS to start school. And she doesn’t want to yet. She tells me that she wants to stay “tree” (i... Read More
Do YOU Pick Your Child's Friends?
Thursday, December 01, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Do You Pick Your Child’s Friends? Sure you do, right? They are just babies or toddlers at the moment. Logically speaking, your friends' children make the perfect friends for your kids. It’s like killing two birds with one stone. Your kiddos get a play date, and you get to talk to someone who is interested in m... Read More
Thursday, November 17, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I believe people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. (How cliché is that?) The other day, I was having a conversation with a bunch of other moms, all of us around the age of 40. A few of them were literally lashing out at a few younger people they knew that were having children out of wedlock. In all... Read More
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I can remember when I was first told I was having twins. It was quite a shock for me, because not only did I not plan the pregnancy, but I also definitely didn’t expect to see two little fetal poles on the ultrasound. I don’t remember if I was overwhelmed, excited, or just plain stunned (or some combination of all three).... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Myths of Motherhood
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Motherhood is full of myths. From the crazy advice you get from others to the preconceived notions of what you think motherhood will be like – moms are set up from the beginning to feel letdown and frustrated at some point. Don’t get me wrong – there is nothing quite as amazing as being a mom, but the truth is that it ... Read More
Saturday, November 12, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Talk about feeling like a loser mom. A few weeks back, I was at a softball tournament with my daughters. This means, all day at the ball field from sun-up to sundown. Which also means a lot of packing and preparing to ensure that I had everything my kids might possibly need for the day. I thought that I had. But, so... Read More
Thursday, November 10, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I can remember when I was pregnant; trying to come up with names for two little girls was pretty much my constant priority. For the first time in my life, I paid attention to every single name that I heard, and I remember feeling overwhelmed with responsibility. After all, naming a child – that is one very important, once in a lifet... Read More
Not by the Hair on My Chinny-Chin-Chin
Wednesday, November 09, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Confession time. PLEASE DONT LAUGH! I have this little tiny hair (okay so maybe two but really who’s counting) that seems to pop out of my chin and neck (WTH) every couple of weeks. I can be feeling pretty good about myself, complete with make-up and freshly combed hair, headed to the awesome social hot spot of my kid’s schoo... Read More
Friday, November 04, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I recently shared a blog with you all about my miscarriage and the painful residue of memories and feelings that I was left with. There was a tremendous response, and my heart goes out to each and every woman who has suffered through a miscarriage. May you all receive blessings. However, there is good news as well. After... Read More
Thoughtful Thankful Thursdays - A Crock Pot Life
Thursday, November 03, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Yeah, so you know by now that I don’t cook. (Or should I say, don’t LIKE to cook, because I do cook every stinking day.) But now that cooler weather is upon us, I have to admit that I haven’t minded preparing some cozy meals for my family. And, one of my all time favorite ways to cook is to use one of life’s speci... Read More
Tuesdays Top 10 - Motherhood Quotes I love
Tuesday, November 01, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Maybe its because I’m a writer, or maybe it’s simply because I am a sap when it comes to human emotions, but I LOVE (LOVE LOVE) quotes. And, I am also a firm believer that words well said, at just the right time, can often make a huge difference in how you or how someone else is feeling! Since I have become a mother, many quotes... Read More
Food for Thought This Halloween
Sunday, October 30, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Tomorrow, you will be knee deep in Halloween candy and costumes. Your child will be buzzing around like a honeybee in an orchard of daisies, insanely excited about the festivities of the day, driving you nuts - just like they did when you were trying to carve the perfect pumpkin. You will sit in your living room, or at your kitchen table - a... Read More
Friday, October 28, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I recently read a blog from a mother who claimed that it was easier to be a mom and fit into "momish" groups since, in her mind - she was "pretty." Umm, okay? After I got over the sheer shock of such blatant narcissism, I have to admit I thought about the idea for a while. After all, for women this is a Barbie genera... Read More
Thursday, October 27, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Just the other day, I sat and watched my daughters playing with their Papa. It struck me just how much they loved him and what a huge role that he, and the other many loving men in my daughter’s lives - have played thus far. Their papa seems to have endless time for them. After I had played on the hay bales with the kid... Read More
Monday, October 17, 2011 by Stef Daniel
The other day, a conversation with my 4 year old and 13 year old, made me think of one of Jeannie’s blog posts that had me giggling. We have a Great Pyrenees puppy (although he is over 100 pounds) and had given him his first haircut. Shaving the tufts on his back legs revealed his ‘male parts,’ so to speak. ... Read More
Saturday, October 15, 2011 by Stef Daniel
You would have thought that having had three children, I would be a pro at mommyhood by the time the 4th came along. Then she was born. In my hospital room, I unwrapped her from her tight swaddle to take a look at her. I wanted to SEE her, not just her face peeking out from a skullcap and receiving blanket. But ALL of her.&nbs... Read More
Thoughtful Thursdays -You Be the JUDGE – Are We Teaching Our Children to Be TOO Critical?
Thursday, October 13, 2011 by Stef Daniel
American Idol, the X-Factor, So You Think You Can Dance, Cake Boss, and a thousand other shows are turning primetime television into a literal judge fest. And now even Disney is hopping on board with reality television and creating a Shake it Up dance fest featuring kiddos of all ages strutting their stuff in the public eye. And you guess... Read More
Tuesdays Top 10 – Reasons I LOVED Being Pregnant
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Okay, so I didn’t really love, love being pregnant, at least not all the time. The first go around, I sort of felt like my body was being taken over by twin aliens, and the first few months were a tad confusing – because, although I WAS pregnant (very much so with twins), I didn’t feel pregnant. I expected it to b... Read More
Monday, October 10, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I recently undertook an essay assignment to get to the bottom of the whole "spanking" issue in parenting circles. My research took me to some formidable places, where statistics and research were smitten with the new brand of "no spanking" parenting - that essentially equated the occasional smack on the behind as a form of ... Read More
How Many Children do You Want?
Saturday, October 08, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I have four children. And although there are a lot of moms out there with more than 4 children, I have to admit that I feel like 4 is a lot of kids. I am often racked with parental guilt that I am not able to give each and every child the constant and undivided attention that they need and deserve. There are times when I am l... Read More
Thankful Thursdays...Could You Afford to Save Your Child?
Thursday, October 06, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Today, I ask you to be thankful for all the healthy children in your life and to pray for those that are not. When our lives seem to take on frustrating twists and turns, it is easy to lose sight of just how lucky we are. The other day, a friend of mine posted on Facebook the dire needs of a child in her family. He was a heal... Read More
She-Dar-Ma...GRRR - What's in a Name?
Wednesday, October 05, 2011 by Stef Daniel
My children think it’s hysterical. But me, not so much. Nearly each and every time I try to talk to my children or call one of them by name, my brain comes up with a combination of vowels and sounds that mimic some foreign language or cryptic code. I can be looking at one child, and will call her by another’s name.&nbs... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Stupid Things Parents Say
Tuesday, October 04, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Tuesday's Top 10 It’s Tuesday, and you know what that means. This Tuesday I am recounting the Top 10 dumbest things that parents say to their children. My parents said it to me, and I say these euphemisms to my own children. Why oh why do "us parental types" continue to perpetuate nonsense? Probably because ... Read More
Thoughtful Thankful Thursdays - To Our Military Families
Thursday, September 29, 2011 by Stef Daniel
There isn’t a day that passes that we don’t hear about a soldier that has died, or a group of men and women that are being deployed to most uncertain ground over seas. They are fighting a war that, for most families - is completely invisible without the luxury of television and print media. What we don’t see is t... Read More
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Around this time each and every year, for the past 11 years – I am overwhelmed with a sadness of "what could have been." 11 years ago, I had a miscarriage. For me, it wasn’t the run of the mill miscarriage (not that there IS such a thing) that happened a few days after my period was late. I had already seen the baby... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Best Baby Shower Gifts
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 by Stef Daniel
We have all been there. You get invited to a baby shower with the enclosed gift registry, which means you have to spend time shopping for a gift that is nothing more than a token present. Don’t get me wrong, I am not opposed to buying gifts for people – but honestly, how many receiving blankets can one person use? (I h... Read More
Sunday, September 25, 2011 by Stef Daniel
If you have been keeping up with the world today, you know that the economic plight of so many people has become one of trial and trouble. This is a sad time for the United States, and even sadder for the generation of parents that are trying to raise children among such high inflation on every day commodity items such as fuel and food. &... Read More
What I learned from My Horoscope
Friday, September 23, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Okay, I admit it. I love (or loved) reading my horoscope. In my younger years, I couldn’t wait to buy the little miniature, rolled-up, monthly Aries horoscope scroll found at gas station cash registers. And it took nearly all of my self-control to NOT read ahead. Then I got married, had a few kids – and suddenly ti... Read More
Thoughtful, Thankful Thursdays
Thursday, September 22, 2011 by Stef Daniel
If you have been reading my blog, you probably realize that I have a pretty good sense of humor. I feel that laughing at ourselves and appreciating our positions in life is an often-easy way to see the metaphorical cup as half-full rather than half empty. For me, that is what Momspirational is all about! Reminding one another that ... Read More
Thursday, September 15, 2011 by Stef Daniel
In today’s world – everywhere you go you see people attached by the ear to their cell phones. I have to admit that I am one of these people. Whenever boredom hits me, I find myself facebooking via cellular service, looking up random things on the internet, or even, I admit…playing Angry Birds. (If you haven&... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Things That SCREAM Dad
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I saw this joke the other day, and aside from cracking me up – it struck a nerve and prompted this Tuesday’s Top 10! Last Tuesday I poked fun at "us moms" and all the things that seem to magically happen to us after we "breed." You know, saggy boobs and stretch marks. But you know what? Men c... Read More
Confessions. I (Sometimes) Think Motherhood is BORING
Monday, September 12, 2011 by Stef Daniel
More confessions. I Sometimes Think Motherhood is B.O.R.I.N.G. It occurred to me this afternoon, after I had already swept the stupid kitchen floor two or three times, that I was only really sweeping again because I was wrought with boredom. I was bored with blocks, bored with Mickey Mouse clubhouse, bored with playing make... Read More
Saturday, September 10, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Just the other day, my daughter said, "Are you ignoring me?" She had been asking incessantly about some purse she wanted that she found on the internet, and I had already told her, "Maybe for your birthday," a dozen or more times. Obviously, this was not the answer she wanted to hear. So, my response to her sna... Read More
Friday, September 09, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Sticky fingers and stinky feet touch nearly every surface in my home at some point or another. I share my bed with wiggling children, who steal my pillows and - I am always the one person in the house left without toilet paper when it’s my turn to use the bathroom. (Luckily, I know where it’s hidden.) I share a closet, help my chil... Read More
Wednesday, September 07, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Has anyone else looked at the calendar lately? I have, and when I realized we were actually moving forward with September, my thoughts immediately jumped ahead 4 months to Christmas. Holy smokes…Christmas is just around the corner, which for me means I will be fighting a deeply ingrained funk of emotion that ultimately should have ... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Things that Scream I am a Mother
Tuesday, September 06, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Remember back before you had children when you would look at mothers waking around with their toddlers and say, “I will NEVER do that!” “When I become a mother, I will still wear sexy lingerie every day!” “I will be the COOLEST mom in town!” HA! How is that working for you? Especially s... Read More
Do These Jeans Make Me Look Fat?
Monday, September 05, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Maybe it’s because I have girls and my husband isn’t too concerned with what I wear, but I find myself often asking my kids if "this outfit" looks good. Actually, what I say is, “Does this (insert article of clothing) make me look fat?” To which they of course answer, “No mom, you’re not fat &... Read More
Saturday, September 03, 2011 by Stef Daniel
For most of my children’s lives, they were the only grandchildren on either side of the family. Sometimes it was frustrating because with no one else to focus on, it felt like my children were treated by the grandparents like the epicenter of this great big universe that only existed because of them. Then, a few years down t... Read More
The Most MOMSPIRATIONAL Mom I Know
Thursday, September 01, 2011 by Stef Daniel
All of us have people in our lives that we love, honor, and respect. Many of these special people are mothers just like us, who drive us to reach for higher mountains and who give us the strength and willpower to keep on keeping on…especially when we are covered in vomit and smell like peanut butter sandwiches. I know one o... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Things That Will Make Your Life Easier
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 by Stef Daniel
The hamster wheel that is the life of a parent can often make it difficult to accomplish anything. I don’t know about you, but there are days that I feel like I have been up on my feet since 6am, only to go to bed at midnight – with a to-do list that is still a mile along, and a house that looks like it has been taken over by chim... Read More
Sunday, August 28, 2011 by Stef Daniel
In one of my recent posts where I confessed how much I dislike (okay HATE) the perils of cooking, I got a tremendous amount of support from other moms who also hate certain things about motherhood. (Thanks guys!) But one response from a Planning Family reader has sparked today’s posting, and I think the message is momspirationall... Read More
Friday, August 26, 2011 by Stef Daniel
With my first children, I scrapbooked. A lot! I spent endless hours cutting and pasting, creating beautiful little pieces of "art work" out of their pictures. These pictures happily documented their day-to-day lives. Like most new moms, I was pretty much picture happy. Today, not so much! I barely have time ... Read More
Thursday, August 25, 2011 by Stef Daniel
It’s funny, but all over Planning Family, it is evident that your season of parenting is constantly changing. One minute you’re worried about getting pregnant. Then you are looking forward to giving birth. Birth comes, and you enter yet another phase of newborn and baby love and bonding. Your child walks, taking ... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - The 10 Most Annoying Things Kids Do
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Kids. We all have ‘em (thus the reason you are here at Planning Family), and we all love ‘em, right? Even so, there will come a time when you look at your little one, the fruit of your loins – and wonder what the heck you were thinking and why in the world you decided to "expand" your happy little life.&nbs... Read More
Sunday, August 21, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I consider myself a fairly patient person. Having children has taught me that life doesn’t always go as planned, and rolling with the punches is much easier than fretting over every little detail. So, most of the time, I am patient. When it takes my toddler 2 hours to pick out an outfit and put her shoes on, I remain cool.&n... Read More
Saturday, August 20, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Okay, from the title this probably sounds like a pretty boring read. But I promise you, there is a momspirational message here, and I can bet that many of you will be able to relate. As an inside joke, I bought my husband a can opener for his birthday (long, stupid story). As normal, when I shop I was hunting for the can opener t... Read More
Friday, August 19, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Funny, but today of all days, while I was painting my 9-year-old daughter’s room Florida Gator Orange (please don’t hate), my lovely dress-adorning toddler snooped into my closet and brought a dress out for me to wear. It was a thin strappy long black dress with a floral print on the bottom. At first I didn’t recognize it, bu... Read More
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 by Stef Daniel
We don’t talk about them much, but they do exist. (I wonder if they read my blog or have Dad-blogs of their own.) Interestingly, however, I actually know one. A real certified stay-at-home-while-the-wife-goes-to-work-all-day-dad – who actually does everything that I do in the course of a day. (Maybe even more because HE can st... Read More
Reality Check! Watching Television is Not the End of the World
Sunday, August 14, 2011 by Stef Daniel
There is a big lie being told to parents! How do I know? Because I, too, used to share this same lie with others in order to save face and create all those gushy feelings of being the "perfect mom." “My child doesn’t watch television,” I would say. “We do educational things ALL day long, and if t... Read More
Friday, August 12, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Before the family, I have to admit that I was pretty content eating Bran Flakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If I got a hankering for something else, I would just order it out. Occasionally, if there was a boyfriend I wanted to impress, I would put something yummy and comforting in the crock-pot. My green pepper dish may be w... Read More
Tuesdays Top 10 - Ten Reasons Moms Don't Always Get Everything Done
Thursday, August 11, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I feel like I am pretty organized (at least most of the time, with the exception of the inside of my car). The truth is that when raising four kids, I have to be, or else I would get buried beneath dirty laundry, which is not a place that I want to be. Because I work from home, I have been following as many of Tori's tips as possible ... Read More
Tuesday, August 09, 2011 by Stef Daniel
It occurred to me this morning, as I was playing with a fancy Barbie horse that my daughter named Princess, how quickly kids change. It honestly seems like just yesterday I was playing with similar Barbie’s, dolls, and princesses with my twins (who are now 13). One of my daughters wore a crown with every outfit, everywhere we went... Read More
What Back to School REALLY Means to a Mother
Wednesday, August 03, 2011 by Stef Daniel
It’s that time of year again. Stores are filled with brand new pencils, aisles of crayons, the best eco-friendly lunch boxes, and (thankfully) Capri Suns and bagged Frito Lays have magically went on sale. (So if you have a coupon, you’re in really good shape.) I remember when I was a child, shopping for school supplie... Read More
Tuesdays Top 10, Things I LOVE about Being a Mom
Tuesday, August 02, 2011 by Stef Daniel
The past few Momspirational Tuesday’s Top 10 lists have erred on the side of humor - because I truly believe in the benefit of laughter as a way to put things in perspective and help us all to decompress from mother-stress. However, today – I’m feeling sort of nostalgic and sappy (maybe it’s PMS) and figured that I wou... Read More
Boys Versus Girls...Which Is Harder to Raise?
Sunday, July 31, 2011 by Stef Daniel
The debate over whether girls or boys are harder to raise is as old as whether the chicken or the egg came first. (And, admittedly, I still don’t get the latter.) But, from where I sit, my vote would be that, hands down, girls are harder to raise than boys are. This opinion of mine is likely biased because I have been blessed wit... Read More
Saturday, July 30, 2011 by Stef Daniel
A few years ago, I ran across a sign that said, Bloom Where You’re Planted. It was hiding behind a few other inspirational signs designed to be hung up in your house - with such cliché phrases as Live, Laugh, Love and Home Sweet Home. (I’m a writer, so the power of words is important to me). But this particular sign ... Read More
Target, A Screaming Baby, and a Psycho Mother
Friday, July 29, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Yesterday, while school clothes shopping with my kids – the entire store was resonating with the sound of a baby crying. Okay, not really just crying – but rather a hideous rendition of distinct blood curdling, body shattering screams that were obviously stressing the child’s tonsils and taking his or her breath away. ... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Signs Your Mother In Law is Out to Get You!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011 by Stef Daniel
So, accidentally…inadvertently…unfortunately, through words of mouth (that should have never been spoken), I found out from a certain person that my mother in law doesn’t think I watch my youngest daughter well enough. Hold on one stinking minute! Whaaatttt!? Considering that I am a stay at home mom AND she... Read More
Saturday, July 23, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Yea, so by now you likely know that I have teenagers. And it’s amazing how they have gone from thinking I am the coolest, most beautiful mom in the world to worrying about how I look? (God forbid I embarrass THEM, despite the fact that THEY are the ones who gave me this belly roll). So, the other day, as we passed several other mo... Read More
Friday, July 22, 2011 by Stef Daniel
It was 5am on a typical Wednesday morning. I know this because I always wake up at 5am, an hour before the alarm goes off. Perhaps that has been part of my motherhood conditioning, to wake up so early even when I didn’t have to. I remember craving the ability to sleep in until 8am, and now that I can – my body won’t... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 "Signs Mama Needs a Time-Out!"
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 by Stef Daniel
The most common complaint of motherhood is the fact that you cannot escape it. It is the ONLY other job, aside from maybe being President (and I’d love to see HIM keep up for a minute), that doesn’t end. EVAH! It doesn’t matter if the kids are asleep, at Grandma’s, or otherwise occupied – you are co... Read More
Friday, July 15, 2011 by Stef Daniel
It’s hard to imagine with four children (girls at that), but I live in a very small house. It was built sometime during the late 1800’s and is secured to the earth with impressive, massive tree trunks and wooden nails. It’s hard for me to imagine how the folks that built it brought the timbers in, given they didn’t h... Read More
Little Hints for Dealing with "TMI"
Thursday, July 14, 2011 by Stef Daniel
If you have been reading my blog (and why wouldn’t you be?!), you may know that I have a kind of “snarky” opinion about the plethora of parenting books available that are designed to prey on new moms and dads who feel pressured to be the “perfect parents!” First of all, you should know that perfect parents don’t... Read More
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I am not a single mom, but I have to admit that there have been many days over the past 13-years that I have felt like one. My husband works ridiculously long hours in order to provide for our family. When the kids were really little, they would still be asleep when he left for work in the mornings and already in bed when he would get home at night... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Grossest Things Kids and Moms Do
Tuesday, July 12, 2011 by Stef Daniel
It didn’t take long for me to figure out that the business of having and raising children is not for those with weak stomachs. While a newborn may smell clean and fresh after a bath, you can pretty much guarantee that he or she is going to grow into a pretty disgusting creature before too long. It’s funny, but before I had children I ca... Read More
Wednesday, July 06, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Sometimes motherhood feels like a constant battle. There are days that I spend so much time trying to “get ahead” in order to carve out just a few seconds of “me time” at the end of the day. Yet when the end of the day comes, even though dinner is happily cooking in the crock pot, deadlines are met, and the laundry i... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Things You (Apparently) Have to Be a Mom to Notice
Tuesday, July 05, 2011 by Stef Daniel
My children don’t miss a trick. They can hear me unwrapping a candy bar from another room in the house, have a sixth-sense at knowing if I am in the phone or when I have a “secret” to tell my husband, or anyone else for that matter. They are also the first to alert me when we run out of their favorite cereal, are in need of the la... Read More
Friday, July 01, 2011 by Stef Daniel
A Planning Family, Momspirational reader recently shared a story with me. Three weeks after giving birth to her daughter, she suffered from a bilateral pulmonary embolism and was hospitalized for several days. During this time she was unable to be with her daughter. Others thought that she was depressed, in actuality she was profound... Read More
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I consider myself a pretty affectionate person. PDA (Public Displays of Affection) such as holding hands, hugs, and even a nice, dry kiss rank pretty high on my priority list. I am prone to plopping down on my husband’s lap at will, loving the closeness of just being next to him. When it comes to my children, there is nothing I love m... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Ways My Job is Different from My Husbands
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Are you a stay-at-home mom (or dad)? I am, and I can say first-hand that when my husband comes home from work he doesn’t always understand the glazed over look in my eyes that screams, “Calgon, take me away!” (Please, anywhere but HERE). I imagine that there are days he takes one look around the house and wonders if I did a... Read More
Friday, June 24, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I have lots of kids; four to be exact. If you were to see me at the grocery store traipsing around with them you might think I was the nanny, aunt, or anything but related to them. Why? Because my beautiful girls look so much like their daddy. (Although luckily for them they act like me!) Here’s the problem; when my first children were bor... Read More
Thursday, June 23, 2011 by Stef Daniel
According to a Durex sexual wellbeing survey, only 44-percent of married folks are satisfied with their sex lives. Add a baby or two into the mix and the satisfaction levels dwindle down to around 30-percent. Of the complaints among couples with children, men seem to be most disappointed with frequency while women are let down by the quality of sex... Read More
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Did you wear a bikini when you were pregnant? I sure didn’t, but then again I also stayed away from swimming pools or any other situations that would have required me to bear more than most people wanted to see; I figured the bi-weekly OB visits were risqué enough. That said, I have to say that I recently saw a slideshow of pregnant ce... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - List of Books for Mom
Tuesday, June 21, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Do you love to read? I absolutely do and find that it is an awesome way to unwind after a busy day. When I was younger I could curl up with a good book and feel like I was truly in another world where nothing existed except for the book and I. Now, with four children, I find that I am lucky to get through a simple magazine article without being dis... Read More
Thursday, June 16, 2011 by Stef Daniel
From the mouths of babes oftentimes comes wisdom. When a friend’s daughter asked her mother if they could turn this year’s “Father’s Day” into “Other Mother’s Day,” so she could honor her “other Mom,” she was brimming with childlike excitement. This little girl is lucky enough to have two... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - List of Reasons You Might Want to Find Another Pediatrician
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Let me start by saying this; when my twins were born I looked to the doctors as if they were some kind of God, sent from Heaven in their white coats in lieu of wings, which could and would save my children from any germ that came their way. I would sit through appointments while busting at the seams with questions, yet silenced out of ‘profes... Read More
Sunday, June 12, 2011 by Stef Daniel
You become a mother with the silent hopes of finally being able to join in on all of those coveted and “secret” conversations about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and child-rearing only to find that you have entered an extremely judgmental and biased group of women. Moms! It starts early in pregnancy with other moms telling you how much (or... Read More
Friday, June 10, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Just the other day, while playing "kitchen" with my four year old, she was fixing me some delicious, plastic peas when she dropped the pan off her pretend stove. What happened next didn’t really shock me. It made me laugh at first, but then started that roller coaster of worries that often accompanies the process of raising children... Read More
Thursday, June 09, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Before you had children you may have drank wine with dinner or spent a Saturday afternoon sipping beers with friends. Now you are a parent. Is it still appropriate, socially correct, and morally responsible to be drinking in front of the kids? Obviously, if you have a small baby they could care less what is in your glass. However, as your child ge... Read More
Tuesday's Top 10 - Dumb Things People Say To Pregnant Women
Tuesday, June 07, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Momspirational Tuesdays - Top 10 Everyone has a Top 10; David Lettermen, ESPN, every magazine known to humanity (or at least women) has a Top 10! And now so does MOMSPIRATIONAL! Each Tuesday you will get a zany, useful, sometimes funny, other times serious, oftentimes compulsive Top 10 list of things that every (well at least lots) of moms (and d... Read More
Monday, June 06, 2011 by Stef Daniel
If you are a new mom, or your child is under the age of 18 months, chances are this blog post will not apply to you yet; but, one day these words of wisdom will come back to haunt you (despite the fact that right now you believe your child is a perfect, little angel). Child experts stress the importance of expecting the best from your child at all... Read More
Momspirational Money Saving Tips - 2
Thursday, June 02, 2011 by Stef Daniel
In the beginning of this blog, I promised to pass along any money savings tips I have uncovered, directly to you. And today, my very unconventional, somewhat irresponsible, but completely revealing tip is sure to work on many levels of your familial existence! I know it did for me. As you can probably relate, raising a family takes... Read More
Wednesday, June 01, 2011 by Stef Daniel
So yesterday, we talked about girly girls. And most people agreed that girls can, and should, be enabled to experience the duality that comes with enjoying both girly things and not so girly things. I have found in my mothering of daughters career, that that is one of the most amazing things about raising daughters. They really ... Read More
Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice? Maybe Not!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice? Isn't that what girls are made of? The other day while sitting at my daughter’s school, I felt once again, the frequent pangs of worry that have often come from the fact that I (yes ME) am raising FOUR daughters. The operative word being daughters. Yes, count them…4! (And ... Read More
Sunday, May 22, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Oh, no she didn’t! While my husband was enjoying a week off from work on a stay-cation of sorts, my toddler was enjoying the attention of having two parents (and no sisters) at home to over indulge in her every whim and whistle. So, when my husband thought it would be nice to go and have breakfast together, I agreed. (Hey, with three kids i... Read More
Do You Sleep With Your Children?
Saturday, May 21, 2011 by Stef Daniel
In my writing career, I have written a stealth of information about co-sleeping dos and don’ts. I have even been privileged to co-author a book about getting your baby to sleep. I realize, of course, that nearly ALL of the stuff I have written goes against my own personal grain of parenting and has mostly been written to take advantage of the... Read More
Friday, May 20, 2011 by Stef Daniel
The minute (okay, the day) my daughter turned four, the questions from friends, family, and strangers began streaming in. “So, is she starting school now,” folks would ask with an inquisitive stare that screamed… YOU ARE A BAD MOM! I blew the questions off about preschool the same way I have done with my other three children. &l... Read More
Thursday, May 19, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Do you know him? Some days I swear I am married to him and other days I think, "Wow – how did I miss the mark so far on this one?" The older I get and the more parents I meet, the more I realize that before we get married and have children, we don't really know what makes a family work. We might think we do, and we might come to ... Read More
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I have a confession to make, which may come as a surprise to even those who know me well. I am a smoking hot mama! Now, before you simply click away thinking I am being egotistical, hear me out. What I mean is that I smoke cigarettes. Yes, very stupid – I know. In fact, I know so much about the multitude of reasons to quit that it surpri... Read More
Wednesday, May 11, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Up until I had children, I felt pretty invincible. I never worried about things like driving too fast on the interstate, drunk drivers, or swimming out to a sandbar in the ocean, just for fun. Then motherhood becomes you, and suddenly you realize that your life is more important than ever before. Not only do you realize the potential dangers to ... Read More
Friday, May 06, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Apparently, there is someone else who lives in my home that I don't know about. How do I know, you ask? Well.... Every day there are dirty clothes left on the floor of nearly every room in my home. And shoes too. Apparently someone sees no evil in leaving their shoes wherever it is they take them off, which by the way should be at the front do... Read More
Do You Love Your Children All The Same
Monday, April 25, 2011 by Stef Daniel
A few weeks back, I read a blog-posting from a mother who admitted that she loved her son more than she loved her daughter. Yes. Hideous. She even continued her self absorbed guilt ridden rant to say that sometimes in ‘her darkest hours’ she even thinks it would be ‘ok’ if something ‘happened to h... Read More
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I truly try to be a ‘say what I mean, mean what I say, kinda gal.’ When I tell the kids they will be grounded till they are 25, I really do mean it at the time. It’s just harder on me to enforce it once the initial blow out is over, so I don’t always follow through. And when someone asks my opinion on how their c... Read More
Do Gender Roles Exist in Your Home?
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Before I became a mom, I have to say I was all about equal rights. I whole heartedly believed that there was nothing… NOTHING… a woman could NOT do and shouldn’t do in and around the household – and this feeling was mirrored when it came to what men could do around the house. Basically, I felt if somethin... Read More
3 Things I Wish I Had Done Before Having Children
Friday, April 08, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Any mom that sits back and says she has no regrets ABOUT ANYTHING is lying. I say, call her bluff. While there are some moms that are happy (for now) doing nothing else but changing diapers and getting out those pesky biological stains from bibs and adorable outfits (that you never should have put on a 3 month old with reflux anyways), ... Read More
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Let me preface this blog post with the fact that I truly love my children. (I promise I do) And, that in the course of my parenting career (yes, I said CAREER), I never thought I would be one of those mothers who ever lost their patience, became unglued, or decided that at some point completely tuning out to the babbles of my children w... Read More
Are You TOO Old to Be a MOM? Take the Poll
Saturday, April 02, 2011 by Stef Daniel
When my twins started kindergarten, I befriended a woman 14 years my senior, who also had a child just starting school. I remember thinking then, how strange it must feel to be raising a child not much past a toddler, while in your 40’s. Wasn’t parenting designed for the young at heart, the newlyweds in their 20’s, the h... Read More
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 by Stef Daniel
What is the most important ‘mom’ accessory, besides the newborn? A diaper bag, of course! And the funny thing is that sizing up a mom’s diaper bag can give away a lot about what kind of mom she is. So which one are you? The first type of Diaper Bag mom is the Vera Bradley kind. These moms d... Read More
Monday, March 28, 2011 by Stef Daniel
For whatever reason lately, I have felt like I am being followed by a camera crew from the hit ABC television show, What Would You Do? But every time I look around to see where John Quinones is hiding – no one is there to jump out. Good thing too, because in most instances I find that I don’t follow my instincts and react ou... Read More
Monday, March 21, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I spend A LOT of time in my car. Normally this time is spent to the whining and bickering of unhappy kids who are either hungry, too hot, too cold, or are upset that their sister is ‘touching’ them. Suffice it to say that the car is no longer on my list of favorite places to be, unless I am alone – which happens very rar... Read More
What Does Your Facebook Say About You?
Friday, March 18, 2011 by Stef Daniel
According to statistics, surveys, and experience, the most frequent flyers on Facebook are moms. Yes, we all hide our addiction by stealthily staying ‘off line’ so that no one else can see just how much time we spend looking at other people’s profiles and comparing our humdrum lives, of carpools and raising children, to others doi... Read More
Thursday, March 17, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Since my kids were born, it has always been me that they needed. Whether it was a runny nose, headache, nightmare, simple reassurance, or help with their homework – the answers and guidance they needed were just a “Mama” holler away. But, what happens when you don’t have the answer? When you cannot come up with the right w... Read More
How to Lose Post Baby Belly Fat FAST
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 by Stef Daniel
It occurs to me, as I shop for undergarments that are meant to double as modern-day girdles, that, even after several years, I, personally, have not lost that post-baby belly fat. My three C-sections have also left with me with a small flap of skin on my lower abdomen that no stomach crunch or abdominal curl will ever be able to get rid of. Do yo... Read More
Wednesday, March 09, 2011 by Stef Daniel
One of the hottest trends right now is to complain, loudly – about how much it is costing us to fill up our tanks these days. Pumping gas has now become one of those stressful activities, like shopping for designer shoes – where sticker shock can literally stun you into a panic attack. And while ranting about the price of ... Read More
Friday, March 04, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I have spent a lot of time lately complaining on Facebook about play-dough. When my 4 year old received money for her birthday, she opted to buy one of the only things she could afford and didn’t already have. Play-dough! “Oh, okay,” I thought to myself, not sure why I hadn’t thought of providing the colorf... Read More
Tuesday, March 01, 2011 by Stef Daniel
When I gave birth to my twins, I expected an instantaneous miracle to take place. It wasn’t my fault really; it was just that so many people had told me about how in that one singular moment (or shall we say event) my simple life would immediately become EXTRAORDINARY. These people, already moms themselves (which made them trustw... Read More
OMG! My Child WIll Not Wear Shoes!
Friday, February 25, 2011 by Stef Daniel
"Poor little thing; just WHERE are your shoes?” That is by far the most common statement I have heard from strangers for the last 18 months of my life. The thing is, they aren’t talking to me…they are talking to my adorable toddler of a daughter who refuses to wear shoes (Among other things). I, on the ot... Read More
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I expect a lot of things as a mother. But what I didn’t expect was to witness my daughter sitting quietly in her room listening to The House That Built Me, by Miranda Lambert over and over again on her I-Pod. The tune holds a special meaning for me as an adult. It has allowed me to walk down memory lane a time or two, imagini... Read More
Monday, February 21, 2011 by Stef Daniel
As you grow up, your definition of ‘friend’ changes with every passing phase. This is more true during motherhood than at any other time in your life. Suddenly, with the birth of a child or the presence of a toddler, you can satisfy all those inklings to socialize with other adults by simply joining playgroups, setting play ... Read More
Thursday, February 17, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Give a child between the ages of 6 months and 16 years a box - and chances are you will create a vivid platform for their imagination to run wild. All moms know that boxes – big, small, and otherwise - trump the toy that is inside and can magically open the gates to a magical and daring new world for your child that knows no end. But w... Read More
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Car pool lines are definitely not my favorite place to spend my time. With my kids attending school in a district without buses, I literally have no choice. So in order to invest my time spent waiting wisely, I choose to arrive at the school 45 minutes early every day, being one of the first cars in line. The alternative is cree... Read More
Momspirational Money Saving Tips - Part I
Monday, February 14, 2011 by Stef Daniel
Inspired by a television show and the desire to save some money on what is one of the hugest expenses in my life…groceries – I have become slightly addicted to couponing. Okay, I am not one of those people that spend countless hours scouring the computer, online forums, and stealing inserts from dumpsters in order to get a free t... Read More
Thursday, February 10, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I would be a liar if I said I was one of those women who got all giddy and excited about Valentine's Day. I don’t! I think of this particular holiday as more of an annoyance (and waste of money) than anything else. Perhaps I am just bitter that I have never received one of those cheesy and romantic Valentine's Day cards that... Read More
Mom, Are You Going to Waffle House?
Tuesday, February 08, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I am a fan of the morning! Waking up a couple of hours before the kids, and before the sun - allows me to enjoy a cup of coffee in peace (and before it gets cold), walk a mile or two on the treadmill, take a shower, and mentally prepare for a life that is often interrupted by reciprocal noise from children, dogs, the phone, and the television... Read More
Monday, February 07, 2011 by Stef Daniel
I consider myself a jack-of-all-trades. My husband works long hours, which means waiting around for him to plunge the toilet, change a light bulb, switch a fuse, or hang a picture – would mean these tasks (and others) would never get done. I have been able to paint my entire house inside and out several times, plant elaborate (w... Read More
Tips for Being a Successful (And Happy) Stay at Home Working Mom
Thursday, February 03, 2011 by Stef Daniel
There are no doubts about it; all mothers work. Whether they choose to escape to a brick and mortar office free from the dangers of Lego towers and Barbie shoes on the living room floor (and complete with other ADULTS) or not…all moms work. The difference is simply where. But for those of us who try to make a livi... Read More
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 by Stef Daniel
What is Momspirational? One day, while taking a shower with my then 5-year old daughter, I took a quick look down at my toenails. I was rinsing the shampoo from HER hair, as bubbles spilling from my own head were stinging my eyes and disrupting my taste buds. (How metaphoric is that?) Then, to my dismay, there they were…m... Read More
