The Glow Morning Show - Family Friendly KCFY 88.1 FM

7 WAYS MOMS SHOULD CUT THEMSELVES SOME SLACK

1. Picture perfect homes. Repeat after me: the houses in the magazines (and the blogs) have been professionally styled for a photo shoot, and don’t look like that on a daily basis when real people are actually doing life in them. That home organization blogger? Her label maker may be her only friend. Moms can place a lot of pressure on ourselves to keep up a standard of domestic perfection that isn’t realistic. Chill out. It’s a place to live, not just a place to look at.

2. Nutrition guilt. We all want our children to be healthy and know that good nutrition is a key to that. But what we need to shoot for is a good overall picture, where the majority of your child’s meals are healthy and well-balanced. Beating yourself up because once a week you shoot through a drive-through between a myriad of practices and lessons just to be able to feed them something isn’t necessary. And every meal you cook doesn’t have to be a culinary triumph. Some nights were just made for mac and cheese, and we like it that way. (So do your kids.)

3. The glamour gap. The media loves to laud celebrity moms and the way they make breezing around Manhattan and Beverly Hills with their adorable tots in tow look fashionable and effortless. We even drool over the super-fast pace at which famous moms get back into their skinny jeans after delivery. Hey, guess what? If you had a nanny, a personal trainer, a chef, and a stylist at your disposal, you could, too! Comparing yourself to those who have unlimited resources is a silly and defeating proposition. Out here in the real world, things take time. Strive to be healthy, and your best appearance will follow.

4. Craft deficit. True confession: I am not a crafty person. I hate hot glue guns, felt, colored paper, pipe cleaners...you get the picture. And having children didn’t miraculously change this about me. I’d rather be reading, frankly. So when you’re looking at Pinterest and thinking, “Am I really supposed to make groundhog cupcakes using fondant icing and Chiclets for groundhog teeth for my kid’s class for Groundhog Day??”…the answer is no. I promise you, there’s some crafty mom in the class who’ll be ecstatic to pick up your slack, and will probably make matching construction paper groundhog hats. And that’s okay.

5. “Mommy Wars” guilt. Whether you’ve chosen to pursue a full-time career, work part-time, work from home, or pour all of your energy into your parenting and homemaking, you really don’t owe the world an explanation. There are lots of factors that go into each family’s decision regarding work-life balance, and the only people you’re accountable to are your husband and children. So if your arrangement is one that all of you are happy with (even if it’s hard sometimes—because everything is hard sometimes), don’t waste your time fretting about the opinions of others.

6. Volunteer avalanche. You’re child is a Girl Scout? Great, we need another troop leader! They need a fall festival chairman at the school—why don’t you take it on? You’d be great! Time for VBS at church—calling all moms! It’s great to pitch in around the community, and everyone should find some way to help out. But some moms believe that every need is their personal calling, and wind up drastically overloaded with volunteer work. It’s okay to say no sometimes! Only you know what other commitments you already have on your plate, and whether you can handle anything more. If you find it impossible to say “no” altogether, try starting with, “I can’t commit to that right now—maybe next year/season/semester.” Baby steps, mom.

7. Parenting perfectionist. So you forgot to check your 3rd grader’s homework last night. Trust us, the world will not end. The kids watched a movie that had a scene in it you didn’t expect, even after reading the reviews. It’s unfortunate, but it happens. Even the most committed and faithful parents drop the ball every now and then. If you never do, you may be wound a tad too tight. Parenting is about doing your best at a job in which the target is constantly moving and the variables are constantly changing—and that’s hard for anyone. Do your best, learn from the mistakes, and move on.

SECURING YOUR HOME BEFORE A TRIP

Always make sure your home or renter's policy is up-to-date with any recent big-ticket purchases, and follow these steps before you leave:

Suspend mail and newspaper deliveries, or have a neighbor collect them for you.
Set timers on lamps, televisions, and radios so it appears as if someone is home.
Keep blinds and curtains in their normal positions to avoid a closed-down look.
Set answering machine to pick up after one or two rings.
Move valuables so they aren't visible from the street, and store irreplaceable items in a safety deposit box.
Use an alarm system, and display alarm signage in your yard or windows.
Store all insurance documentation in a safe, centralized location.
Share trip details only with people closest to you, preferably in private.

10 MIND TRICKS TO FOOL YOURSELF INTO EATING LESS

When it comes to food, humans aren’t great with self-control — as evidenced by the fact that more than one in 10 of the world’s adult population is obese. If you can’t muster up the self-control to resist another bite, try tricking your brain into eating less with these 10 tips (no hypnosis necessary).

Click here for the 10 Mind Tricks.

SIZING UP WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE

Protein Foods ¼ – Save a quarter of your plate for lean meats and other proteins such as seafood, beans, peas, and nuts, as well as lean mets poultry and eggs.

Grains ¼ – The remaining quarter of your plate should consist of grains, at least half of which should be whole grains.

Veggies & Fruit ½ – A well balanced meal starts with half your plate filled with brightly colored fruits and veggies like tomatoes, sweet potatoes and spinach. Fruits are a great alternative for desserts and snacks.