Showing posts with label advice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label advice. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Running the Household Fairly
Here is a good article about getting the Hubby to help out once in a while. (Personally, I especially liked the bottom of page 2.) Check it out!
Ivan and Marcia’s 3 Keys to a Great Marriage
Ivan and Marcia’s 3 Keys to a Great Marriage
While each marriage is unique and comes with its own trouble spots and highlights, the following are 3 simple principles we agreed to focus on to keep our marriage strong:
1. Communicate.
Become a really good listener carefully listening before you react.
Be sure to communicate as clearly as you can to your spouse about your feelings. Speak the truth lovingly.
Remember communication should be vertical as well as horizontal (something like and equilateral triangle!D); by this we mean that you should spend time in prayer together. You will be surprised at the connection you will make with your spouse’s heart.
2. Prioritize.
Prioritize how you spend your time and resources. Weigh the urgency and importance of everything on your to-do list (and make sure to leave room for things not on your to-do list).
Study your spouse: find out what aspects of life are most important to your spouse, and put those at the top of your list.
3. Date your spouse.
Show your spouse the respect and courtesy you would show to an acquaintance or stranger. Focus on what you like about them, what you have in common -- listening patiently, being slow to anger and quick to forgive & forget.
Be spontaneous. Lavish your love on your spouse.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). Be the one to get the pendulum swinging.
Consciously decide to show selflessness, physical affection and verbal appreciation in at least one way each day. (The more ways the better.)
“Love must be sincere. Hate what it is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:9-10).
While each marriage is unique and comes with its own trouble spots and highlights, the following are 3 simple principles we agreed to focus on to keep our marriage strong:
1. Communicate.
Become a really good listener carefully listening before you react.
Be sure to communicate as clearly as you can to your spouse about your feelings. Speak the truth lovingly.
Remember communication should be vertical as well as horizontal (something like and equilateral triangle!D); by this we mean that you should spend time in prayer together. You will be surprised at the connection you will make with your spouse’s heart.
2. Prioritize.
Prioritize how you spend your time and resources. Weigh the urgency and importance of everything on your to-do list (and make sure to leave room for things not on your to-do list).
Study your spouse: find out what aspects of life are most important to your spouse, and put those at the top of your list.
3. Date your spouse.
Show your spouse the respect and courtesy you would show to an acquaintance or stranger. Focus on what you like about them, what you have in common -- listening patiently, being slow to anger and quick to forgive & forget.
Be spontaneous. Lavish your love on your spouse.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). Be the one to get the pendulum swinging.
Consciously decide to show selflessness, physical affection and verbal appreciation in at least one way each day. (The more ways the better.)
“Love must be sincere. Hate what it is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:9-10).
Friday, May 15, 2009
Marcia's Nursing-moms-to-be Toolkit
For all those mommies-to-be out there and those who are already nursing, here is my best advice:
1. Buy a copy of "The Nursing Mother's Companion". This has nearly everything you need to know about breastfeeding, pumping, weaning etc.
2. Let those babies air-dry for a few minutes after each feeding to prevent soreness.
3. Buy Lansinoh lanolin and put it on (after drying) after each feeding.
4. Early on, you'll need to switch positions from feeding to feeding to prevent soreness.
5. Buy LOTS of burp cloths. Cloth diapers make amazing burp cloths.
6. Buy NURSING TANKS instead of nursing bras. They hide the tummy and back when you pull up your shirt, or you can wear them without a shirt. You could also use the bella band you wore during pregnancy to hide your tummy, or buy clothes that can be pulled to the side to nurse. (lots of cute stuff for this purpose at maternity stores.)
7. Use Johnson's brand or Avent brand nursing pads. The liners aren't made of itchy, non-breathing plastic. Re-usable cloth nursing pads work if you don't leak a lot and can find time to wash them!
8. If you can stay awake without it, don't watch TV while nursing once the baby starts sleeping through the night. The noise and distraction will keep baby awake.
9. Keep baby from having painful gas by burping every 10 minutes during a feeding and immediately after.
10. Create a "Nursing Tote" for around the house so you can easily move from room to room. Fill it with burp cloths, a bottle of drinking water, nursing pads, wipes (for keeping your hands clean), a watch, your prenatal vitamins (so you remember to take them), the TV remote, and a book to read. Trust me, you don't want to ask hubby to bring you every little thing once you get sat down. Refill often.
11. Don't start bottles until baby is at least 4 weeks old (to establish good breastfeeding bond and prevent confusion). You can still use the pump in the meantime to boost milk production (though I never felt the need) and freeze or throw out the milk.
12. Hold baby in proper position so you don't make his neck or back sore over time!
13. If baby is very fussy at the breast, try to figure out why and try again in 20 minutes.
14. Enjoy your baby!
1. Buy a copy of "The Nursing Mother's Companion". This has nearly everything you need to know about breastfeeding, pumping, weaning etc.
2. Let those babies air-dry for a few minutes after each feeding to prevent soreness.
3. Buy Lansinoh lanolin and put it on (after drying) after each feeding.
4. Early on, you'll need to switch positions from feeding to feeding to prevent soreness.
5. Buy LOTS of burp cloths. Cloth diapers make amazing burp cloths.
6. Buy NURSING TANKS instead of nursing bras. They hide the tummy and back when you pull up your shirt, or you can wear them without a shirt. You could also use the bella band you wore during pregnancy to hide your tummy, or buy clothes that can be pulled to the side to nurse. (lots of cute stuff for this purpose at maternity stores.)
7. Use Johnson's brand or Avent brand nursing pads. The liners aren't made of itchy, non-breathing plastic. Re-usable cloth nursing pads work if you don't leak a lot and can find time to wash them!
8. If you can stay awake without it, don't watch TV while nursing once the baby starts sleeping through the night. The noise and distraction will keep baby awake.
9. Keep baby from having painful gas by burping every 10 minutes during a feeding and immediately after.
10. Create a "Nursing Tote" for around the house so you can easily move from room to room. Fill it with burp cloths, a bottle of drinking water, nursing pads, wipes (for keeping your hands clean), a watch, your prenatal vitamins (so you remember to take them), the TV remote, and a book to read. Trust me, you don't want to ask hubby to bring you every little thing once you get sat down. Refill often.
11. Don't start bottles until baby is at least 4 weeks old (to establish good breastfeeding bond and prevent confusion). You can still use the pump in the meantime to boost milk production (though I never felt the need) and freeze or throw out the milk.
12. Hold baby in proper position so you don't make his neck or back sore over time!
13. If baby is very fussy at the breast, try to figure out why and try again in 20 minutes.
14. Enjoy your baby!
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