Steady Mom

An Invitation :: Love146

Do you have a daughter? Even if you don't, just pretend for a moment.

See her laughing and playing with a favorite toy. See the sparkle in her eyes as she dances and parades in front of you, showing off her best tricks and clapping with delight.

Now, for just a moment, imagine a different scene.

For just one moment, imagine no sparkle in her eyes--instead a hardened, blank stare.

Instead of playing with toys, see her chained to a bed.

Imagine "customers" of every sort lining up to do the unthinkable--with your baby.

Imagine what it would be like if you couldn't get to her, had no idea where she was.

Now take a deep breath.

This unthinkable is happening to many children, girls and boys, around the world.

Each of those children is someone's daughter or son.

I'm convinced that as mothers we can make a difference in the lives of these children--if we're willing to engage and confront an unpleasant, horrific issue that cuts to the very core of our hearts as moms.

Many of us think slavery was abolished after the civil war.

But did you know there are more slaves alive today than ever before in history?

And many of them are as young as the little ones we care for each day.

This issue, and these children, motivated our family to move cross-country and join in the fight for abolition and the rights of children. 

Love146 is an amazing organization, which combats child sex slavery & exploitation with the unexpected and restores survivors with excellence. My husband works as their Director of Operations.

This month I'm inviting all Steady Mom readers to join me in giving to Love146. Let's join together and show that the blogosphere has real power to create change. Let's show that children are worth investing in.

As of today, Steady Mom has 1,662 subscribers (Hello to all of you, old and new!).

So let's see if we can raise $1,662 for Love146 in the month of February.

Just $1 per person.

Some of you can give more, and I hope you will. $5, $10, whatever you can. I hope we'll surpass this goal by far. To help kick it off today, Steve and I are donating $100.

You can visit throughout the month to continue giving and I'll provide reminders of our progress along the way.

I've also made a new page in the left sidebar called "Invitation to Give" where you can check in at any point to get a running total and donate.

Thank you for giving and helping children who want to run, laugh, and play in freedom--just like yours.

We can help them do that, and find their way back to a safe home.

Click here to donate now, then I invite you to watch this uplifting video, which proves that change is possible.

Thank you!

Diana's Love Story from LOVE146 on Vimeo.

Welcome February Sponsors!

A big welcome and thank you to Steady Mom's newest sponsors:

Lisa Leonard Designs - meaningful, unique, inspired handmade jewelry

List Plan It - 400+ printable lists & planning pages to put your world in order

Treasure Basket Play - an insightful ebook providing instruction on using natural objects to stimulate your baby's development

Please check out their stores and support their lovely, helpful work--thank you!

How to Become a Passionate, Balanced Mother

Photo by Stefano

The following post is written by Steady Mom's monthly contributor, Catherine.

Since becoming a mother, have you ever found your passions and interests pushed on the back burner now and again?

Sometimes this is necessary to keep the household running smoothly, but other times we get lost in this new role of ours.

Somewhere between pregnancy, nursing, potty training and homework we suddenly take on a new form of our self--MOM.  

"Mom" is an amazingly powerful title and one not to be taken lightly. Being a mother is by far the most humbling and challenging job I've ever had. I would not trade it for the world. 

Sometimes, however, I would trade laundry, dishes, the never ending picking up of the house, kid-shuttling and cooking for my long lost hobbies of writing, running, scrapbooking, photography and reading.

Why do we tend to put ourselves last? Is it just easier? Does guilt get in the way? Have we lost who we once were?

It's important to continue having aspirations and passions. Yet how can we make our needs a priority along with all our other responsibilities? 

It takes deliberate effort and creativity.  Sometimes it means letting go of control, asking for help or just simply giving ourselves mental permission. 

It can be a sacrifice to pursue your interests.  You may have to rely on others to care for your children at times.  You may have to let a few things go on the home front (short term) in order to take time out for yourself. 

Overcoming that feeling of guilt can be hard.  But remember: Caring for yourself will result in a more energetic, enthusiastic and balance mom for your children. 

I started running in March of 2008 with Team in Training to raise money and awareness for blood cancers.  My son has been in treatment for leukemia since 2005 and I wanted to do a marathon to honor him. I also wanted to challenge myself. 

It was a very large undertaking and I spent many Saturdays away from my kids.  My whole family made sacrifices during my training. 

I learned very quickly that running was an excellent outlet for me. Since then, I've completed two marathons with TNT.  I showed my children that working toward a goal takes hard work and dedication.  There was nothing better than crossing the finish line with my family cheering me on. 

I reclaimed a bit of "me" along the way. I was proud of myself for not giving up and for doing something a tiny bit "selfish." 

Making time for yourself doesn't always mean taking on an activity like running a marathon.  It can be simply a cup of tea and a good book.  Meet a friend for coffee, head to the gym without children in tow, or get a pedicure. 

The struggle is not usually finding what to do with alone time but making the time for yourself a priority.

You deserve to pursue the things you enjoy. Being a mindful parent requires balance. And you can achieve that balance if you take time to reflect and connect with your friends and yourself. 

Embracing your passions and hobbies will make you a more intentional, professional mother.

**How do you make time for yourself and your interests?**

Catherine is a mother of three children who finds strength in simple ideas, inspiring others, and keeping things in perspective. She blogs at The Shoe Box Daily, where you can get tips and ideas for thriving in the midst of life's challenges.

5 Reasons Why You Need Steady Routines

In my book, Steady Days, I describe what I call a Steady Routine--a flexible plan for part or all of your day. When my children were younger, and even now, I've found that having routines has benefited our family in many ways.

For this post I'm honored to team up with Mandi at Organizing Your Way, who is giving valuable tips today on how to add helpful routines to your life. I'd like to share the benefits of implementing routines.

So here are five reasons why adding routines to your day will make you a more effective parent:

1. Routines allow you to go on emotional "autopilot" as a mother.

When you don't have to answer a myriad of questions (from your kids or yourself), you're able to conserve energy. This energy is what you can save to use for the unexpected of life that inevitably happens with children in the home (sick kids, sleepless nights, a blowout diaper, you name it!).

2. Routines provide security for your children.

Kids love a flexible (not rigid) routine. It brings a sense of control to their little worlds when they know what to expect and what comes next. There are no sudden "surprises" that spring up on them--just a calm, comforting order to their day.

3. An effective routine ensures that what's important actually gets done.

This applies to both fun ideas you wish you could make time for as well as the daily grind of chores that keep a house running.

  Photo by ccarlstead

For example, I might not always get around to baking with my children. But because I know (& my kids know!) that Tuesday is Baking Day, there's no way it will be skipped or missed unless we have a very good reason.

By planning for it, I've made it a priority.

4. Flexible routines usher a steady rhythm into your day.

There's a cycle to nature, seasons, and each rise and fall of the sun. Different seasons come into our homes and lives as well, and when we intentionally take the time to plan for them, we reap the rewards of knowing that we've made the most of the moments we've been given.

It feels good to be in tune and know that the choices we're making are the ones we've mindfully chosen.

5. Having a routine relieves stress.

What a mental release to know that the important things have been covered!

If my email inbox is full, I can still play with my children with mindful intention because I know that I have ample time planned later to sort out the emails.

This eliminates scrambling to put out the "fires" of life as they happen--instead you've placed a focus on what you need to do with your time. And that brings peace of mind.

Remember that having a routine doesn't mean that every minute of the day must be rigidly scheduled--far from it. Flexibility matters when considering what needs to be done and when.

No matter what your personality type, you can find a way to make routines work for your family and reap amazing benefits, beginning today.

And if you need a little help getting started, be sure to check out Mandi's post and amazing blog, Organizing Your Way.

Do you have routines in your home? What have you found to be the main benefits?