OC Family Working Mom

No time!

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:02:00 GMT

Well, I am sure you can tell by my lack of blogging activity – I am very busy! I know, who isn't, right? But sometimes (as I am sure we all have experienced) when it rains, it pours! I am very grateful for all the amazing things I am doing, experiencing and accomplishing, but really, I need some stress reduction. So I found 10 tips for reducing stress. I am going to try and do at least one a week. I am actually putting them on my to-do list.

Maybe they can help you, too! Good luck from one crazed mom to another.

1) Walk. A 10-minute walk is a quick way to get some energy to face the rest of your day. And I don’t mean walking from your cubicle to the restroom. If you can, get outside. The fresh air will do you good.

2) Stretch. Whether you’re sitting at a desk all day or always on the go, stress on the job has the tendency to make your muscles tight. Take 10 to stretch out, focusing on your neck and back.

3) Schedule “me” time. Use your “10” to make a massage appointment, schedule a babysitter for a solo Saturday shopping trip or make plans to watch the game with friends. Knowing you have a fun event coming up will brighten your mood.

4) Nap. A 10-minute power nap is a quick way to decompress and reenergize. Get away from your desk if you can – any patch of green grass will do!

5) Laugh. Watch a video clip from your favorite comedian. Call your hilarious high school friend who always has a joke. Or step out for coffee with your favorite officemate who has funny stories about his kids.

6) Journal. Writing for 10 minutes can help you process what’s on your mind. Give yourself free reign – nothing is off limits. You can whine, kvetch, brag or obsess as much as you want.

7) Say thank you. Is someone making your life better, easier or more enjoyable? Whether it’s a family member, co-worker or a friendly barista, take 10 to personally thank the person or send a thank you note. Your mental health will benefit from the karma.

8) Breathe. Taking 10 minutes to focus on your breathing can noticeably reduce stress. Seventy to 90 percent of doctor visits are stress-related. Do your part to make sure it’s not you.

9) De-clutter. Is your desk covered in paper, to-do lists and leftover lunch scraps? A clutter-free work environment will reduce stress and help you focus.

10) Find a therapist. You’re worth it. It only takes a few minutes to visit TherapistFinder.com to find a therapist near you who can help you cope with any issues that are preventing you from living a full and happy life. Whether you’re married, single, in a relationship or in a family, therapists can help you cope with issues like anxiety, stress, relationship problems, work struggles or challenging family dynamics.

The belly laugh!

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:33:00 GMT

It is one of my greatest joys to heat Hunter "belly laughing." (Belly laughing: In the Romiti house it is defined as the laugh that makes you fall over or seem like you are loosing your breath.) But what has become even more enjoyable is seeing the things that make him laugh. It used to be mom and dad making silly faces, now it is "Spongebob" and knock-knock jokes. My how times have changed. The greatest reward from his belly laughing is seeing the pure joy and happiness he has. With all the chaos and stress that surrounds him every day, it is nice to see pure joy! It reminds me to stop and smile.

Here is Hunter full of joy! This is now on my phone, computer and in my office. It is a constant reminder of the amazing little man I have and that life is crazy, but there is always joy!

Summers are the best!

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:56:00 GMT

I remember as a kid counting down the days for summer. Sleeping in, playing in the water all day – but most importantly, NO homework! As a parent, I want the same fun and excitement for Hunter. He is now a kindergarten graduate and will be entering the big (full-day) first grade. But before he ventures off, I want him to remember having a GREAT summer. So, like all parents, we are jam-packing our nights and weekends with walks with the dog, trips to the lake, Disneyland, bike rides (now you can see why I have delayed posting a blog!), and we have been having so much fun.

It is really amazing the amount of stress that is lifted from Hunter, my husband and I with school being out. I find myself not bouncing him so rapidly from one thing to the next, rushing through dinner, planning my next move every second. No, instead we actually have leisure time. And amazingly, it really makes the household much calmer.

Why am I telling you all this? Just to remind everyone that life gets hectic, but kids only get summers as a kid for so long. I am trying to be sure Hunter enjoys them while he has them!

Accepting responsibility

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Yesterday Hunter colored a picture for his dad. It was Spiderman. He also wrote a note to daddy that read, "I am sorry for being mean, I will not do it ever again." Now, please imagine the writing, because he did write it all by himself: Words were spelled incorrectly, but the meaning was the same. He was accepting responsibility and showing remorse for his actions. He had not been instructed to apologize, nor had any incidents happened within the day to require such an apology.

The incident Hunter was apologizing for had happened over the weekend. It was a Sunday filled with Hunter pushing every one of dad's buttons and being extra defiant. Now, again – remember this incident happened Sunday, and he colored and wrote the apology yesterday (Wednesday), which shows me he had been thinking about his actions and felt bad.

I am really proud of him for thinking and reflecting on his actions. And even more proud he is OK with admitting he did wrong. I guess you really never know how much of what you tell, teach and show your kids actually sticks! I am glad this lesson did!

Proud mama!

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:17:00 GMT

Today was my son's end of the year Kindergarten Farm play! He was a goose! He memorized his lines (I called it a part and was very quickly corrected) and did fantastic. As I watched him up there, looking nervous and partially disinterested, I realized my son will no longer be a kindergartener. There are only five days left – and he is out of school for summer. Meaning he will be a first-grader.

He will now be dropped off in a new area of the school campus, not in the protected kindergarten area, and will be in class for a full day. No 11:30 dismissal. The homework will increase, the friends grow and attitude will shift. It is so hard to believe I have a first-grade son. No one can really prepare you for this type of progress and change. You know it is going to happen and want it to happen, but when it does, it gives you a tug at the heart and a turn in the stomach.

I am looking forward to next year and the years to come, but until then, he is still my little goose!

Boys and frogs!

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:35:00 GMT

You always see the catchy saying about "boys will be boys" – and they're standing there all dirty with a frog in their pocket. I never quite understood why it was always a frog. Not a bug, a worm or even a lizard. Well, now I get it! There's a creek where we live near the hiking/running trail. And right now, every night you can hear the frogs talking (I think that is what they are doing) very loudly. It is as if all the tadpoles (like hundreds of them) have grown up. They then come up from the creek to the trail where we walk our dog. So for the last few nights, my husband and son have been going down to "see" the frogs. Well, seeing has turned into catching.

The other night they brought home the largest (and in my opinion ugliest) frog I had ever seen. They placed him in a bucket and were going to release him the next morning. Throughout the evening, I went in and out of the garage (where the frog was staying), and sure enough, I went out to get something and the frog was gone. Yes – gone. Meaning loose in my garage somewhere. As the boys laughed and thought this was hilarious, all I could think was, Great. This frog is either going to end up in my car or jumping out and scaring me. We looked for Mr. Frog for about 30 minutes with no success.

As of today, Mr. Frog has not been found. We like to believe (and hope) he escaped and is safely back at the creek warning his buddies about us! But all in all – I have finally learned my lesson that boys and frogs go hand in hand (literally!).

Oh, and by the way, I checked and NO you cannot get warts from holding a frog.

Overcoming fears!

Tue, 26 May 2009 11:33:00 GMT

This long holiday weekend was more than just relaxing for the Romiti family. While we did relax a little, we also ventured out into uncharted territory. Both my son and I conquered some of our biggest fears.

Hunter – He finally let go of the floaties and dad, and swam by himself. Yes, there were no devices, arms or safety net. He was very scared, but he did it. We have been working with him for two summers, and we knew he had the fundamentals, but lacked the confidence. Well, he is now officially swimming. The look of pride and accomplishment on his face was priceless.

Mommy – I ran a 6.4-mile trail in Whiting Ranch! What fear did I overcome? Heights and mountain lions. Whiting Ranch is known for its beautiful nature and high elevation (for city wildlife). It's also home to hungry mountain lions. I was afraid to run in this environment – period. Afraid of being lunch to an animal and falling down a cliff. But much to my own surprise, I was fine. OK – I did fall once, but nothing a good Advil won't fix. The run was exhilarating, beautiful and challenging. We ran to the top, which is called "Four Corners," and saw a breathtaking view.

The Romiti house was full of pride this weekend. I am so proud of my son for letting go and just giving it a try. And I can honestly say he helped inspire me to "let go and give it a try."

Meet our new puppy

Thu, 21 May 2009 13:03:00 GMT

Well, we did it! We got a puppy! Yes, for all the hemming and hawing – we finally committed. We took her home about two weeks ago. It is amazing sometimes how having a puppy is in some ways – only some – like having a baby. The getting up in the middle of the night, feeding her every four hours, scheduling vaccinations ... but in the end, she is worth it.

Our new puppy's name is Riley, and she has already brought so much joy to our family. Being that my son (currently) is an only child, he now has a buddy. Hunter is learning a great sense of responsibility and patience. And when he starts laughing from Riley's kisses, it is contagious. Now, while my house may be chaotic, I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Meet Riley!

A perfectly pink Mother's Day

Mon, 11 May 2009 14:52:00 GMT

Yesterday, I enjoyed exactly what I wanted to for my Mother's Day. I went to the Angels game with my boys (Hunter and my husband). It was warm, festive, and they won! The game was made even more special because it was Pink Day at Angel Stadium! The ball players used pink bats, wore pink sweatbands, and all moms in attendance received great pink tote bags. All this pink was to support the Orange County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. It's an organization that raises awareness, money and attention for breast cancer.

It was a beautiful and festive reminder of how every little bit can make a difference, and how many women really need help! If you haven't yet, I would recommend you visit the Komen Web site and see what great things the organization is doing here in Orange County, and be sure to sign up for this year's Race for the Cure!

Racing for charity

Wed, 06 May 2009 11:55:00 GMT

This past Sunday, my son ran his first race ever. He did a 1K (1,000 meters) for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. For many years, I have participated in these types of events. He would come out in the stroller or wait for me (with daddy) at the finish line, but this year I invited and signed him up to participate in the kids' race. What an amazing experience for him and I. He was so excited, and he ran hard. You could see in his face and through his words that he felt a great sense of pride – not just for finishing a race and getting a medal, but because he knew he was helping other kids.

Prior to the race, my husband and I told him about the race and what it was for. We explained to him what a "charity race" is and why it is important to help! We used his love of running to teach him about giving back. I know he is only 6 and has a lot to learn, but my husband and I truly believe you have to give back. It may be small, but every bit makes a difference. So on Sunday, Hunter made his entrance into the world of philanthropy as another person wanting to help. Needless to say, our next race is at the end of this month!

Great job Hunter! We are very proud of you.

'Turn off the Tube Week'

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:01:00 GMT

This week is "Turn off the Tube Week" at Hunter's school. We are challenged not to watch TV for the whole week. Now, I must admit we are not a big TV family, but Hunter does usually get about 30 minutes per day. So, starting Monday we have had no TV time – none! We instead went to play handball, caught frogs and ate frozen yogurt. While as a family we do these things sometimes, I really must admit being "challenged" to do something for your family opens up a whole new world. We have been laughing, playing and exploring for three days, and I can honestly say we have talked about more activities, ideas and thoughts recently than ever before.

So, I challenge you: Turn off the TV and find a new family activity.

Are we ready for a puppy?

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:13:00 GMT

Hunter wants nothing more than a dog (and a life-size R2D2 robot, but that's not happening). We have always thought we would wait until we moved into a bigger house. Well, moving right now is not an option. So, when we were approached the other day with an opportunity to get a new (chocolate lab) puppy, I immediately went into "yes" mode. I found every reason in the world we should get a dog and very quickly forgot about all the reasons we may not be ready. But – I am still not sure. OC Family's May issue has an article about getting a dog – and it helped me. If you think you are ready, check out this article first!

Check back next week to see what decision I made!

Lessons from my son!

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:01:00 GMT

All too often we, as parents, try to teach our kids lessons. I try (keyword being try) to teach my son something in everything we do. But yesterday I learned a good lesson from son – patience.

As I hustle from one task to another, I sometimes forget that he does not operate (nor should he) at my pace. Some days it's like I am rushing him from one place to the next. For example: As I was cleaning the other day and preparing to leave for a birthday party, my son had to take his medicine. I poured into the small dosage cup (amoxicillin, bubble gum flavor) and asked him to take it. He stood there staring at the cup (he had already been taking it for seven days), and I said a little tougher, "Just take it now!"

He responded in a very calm voice: "Patience, mom. I don't do everything as fast as you!"

He was right! I need to learn to slow down – everything always gets done. So, thank you, Hunter, for reminding mommy to have patience.

Keeping our kids safe

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:35:00 GMT

I grew up using a typewriter to do my homework. Computers were not something I really started using until late in high school. And when I did, it was as a word processor mostly. Nowadays, my son (again only in kindergarten) has computer lab hours. This push to move our children into the digital age is good preparation for the road ahead, but at the same time, it is another place where they are vulnerable.

Last night I heard an esteemed panel of speakers talk about keeping our kids safe online. And as Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said, "Online predators are like terrorists – they will find any way possible to reach children." This is scary and so shockingly true. As I listened and learned, I found out about some free and easily accessible resources (webwisekids.org) to help educate my child and I about online safety. There is even an online safety tip sheet on the FBI's Web site.

Even if your child is not online yet, that is a must-read. Just like we read all the symptoms and signs when we think our child is sick, we must read all the information to watch and make sure our children are safe.

Take a moment and check out these links: Trust me it is worth the time!

Web Wise Kids
FBI's Internet Safety sheet

'Me time'

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:34:00 GMT

As moms, we spend most of our days worrying about everything and everyone but ourselves, right? Every now and then, we plan a little time alone or with friends to reward ourselves, but mostly we are rushing to and from and planning our next moves. I would even say that we rarely stop and take a deep breath!

So, why am I reminding you of what you already know? Well, this year I want to encourage all of you (and myself) to have more "me time" and NOT feel guilty about it! Funny, I know. No guilt – I am not sure I even know what that feels like anymore. But in all honesty, we need this time. We need to feel relaxed and good about ourselves.

So, start today by nominating a mother you know for Spa Gregorie's & Cox Communications Mom'inations contest: spagregories.com/mominations.

It's a great way to feel guilt free and get that much-needed "me time."

When mom is happy – everyone is happy!

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:40:00 GMT

When mom is happy, everyone is happy – isn't it so true? It is amazing how differently our household functions when mom is in a good mood!

With that said – I know that exercise (particularly running) makes me very happy. So, I thought I would share with you a great 10-minute fitness routine (really only 10 minutes, I did it!) you can do to "work out" and feel good within your busy schedule.

It may make you and your household feel a little bit happier. Enjoy!

The Diet Channel's Quick Fitness: 10 Minute Workout for Busy Moms

Such a big question from such a little guy!

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:48:00 GMT

This weekend my son (almost 6 years old) asked me a very interesting question: "Mommy – is it hard to be a grown-up"? My initial answer was "YES" (with plenty of adjectives that I did not say), and then I thought about it! Is it really hard to be a grown-up, or do we sometimes make things more complicated than they have to be?

Is it harder to be a grown-up or a kid growing up?

Really, being a grown-up does require much more responsibility, but being a kid is all about finding yourself and learning the ways and rules of life. I guess the answer is a matter of opinion, but I think both jobs are hard, and I need to remember that. Sometimes it is so easy to get frustrated by your child and even (dare I say it) a bit envious of their lives (playing, being fed, etc.,) that we forget (at least I do) that what they go through every day is hard.

In reality, there is no comparison, but since my son asked the question, I had to answer! What would you have said?

Money trees

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:16:00 GMT

Does your child think money grows on trees? (Oh, I really do sound like my mother this time!) Well, mine does. We try to teach him the value of a dollar, but we really needed some help! So, here is a great Web site – and article – that I have found to help: "15 Ways to Teach Kids About Money."

Check back with me in a week, and I will tell you how much my son has in his piggy bank!

Too many tater tots

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:31:00 GMT

Being active in my son's school is not something I am able to do on a daily basis, but I did make a commitment to be active in all his class parties, whether this means being in the room, donating supplies or providing food items. So, I signed up to bring tater tots for his St. Patrick's Day Potato Tasting Party. I woke up at 5:30 this morning and baked more tater tots than one person ever should. I placed them in my newly purchased Pyrex warming set (very cool!) and sent my son (wearing his new green shirt) and husband off to school.

I did it! I got it all done and made it to my 8 a.m. meeting early! Yep – you probably have figured it out by now – today is not St. Patty's Day! This is only one example of this busy mom's brain on overload!

So, here's to tomorrow and making more tater tots!

He still needs mommy!

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:05:00 GMT

Yesterday, I gave my son the opportunity to walk to class from my car, all by himself. Now – I could still see him pretty much every step of the way, but still, my little man was walking by himself across campus (maybe 5 feet) with his backpack that is practically the same size as him. He looked so grown-up, and you could see in his face he felt proud. As I drove off, I too, felt proud – and then a pang of panic. I knew I could not turn around and go to the class and check on him. I mean, what would that suggest to my son? That I didn't trust or believe in him? So, another parent I know, gladly texted me when she saw him sitting in his chair. I was elated! I gave my son a "big boy" opportunity, and he succeeded with flying colors.

That night I made sure my husband and I gave him positive reinforcement and praise for what he did.

I asked this morning, "Do you want to walk to class again? His response, "Mom, I need to tell you something." My heart sank. "Yes," I replied. My son continued, "Well when I walked to class by myself yesterday, when I got to class I was sad and cried a little. I really like it when you walk me to class. Will you walk me today?"

So, as I walked him to class this morning, he not only squeezed my hand tightly, but he walked with his head high and a big smile on his face, and I did the same.