Tag: Self-help

Resisting the "Mom" Label: Letting Go Of My 20-Something Self

Resisting the "Mom" Label: Letting Go Of My 20-Something Self
              I like to cheer when 5-month-old baby Gertrude burps or poops. I strangely find joy in sucking a booger loose from her tiny nose with a nose aspirator. Am I lacking a social life? No. Short on sleep? Well, of course, but when you have a tiny infant... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
June 15, 2012 at 7:08 am • 

A Birth Story, Part Two: Pain Meds and Pride

A Birth Story, Part Two: Pain Meds and Pride
I am starting to realize I expect too much of myself. And after the debacle of my first week postpartum, I believed  despite my spinal headache, a week off for maternity leave was a reasonable amount of time to recover. Week two of my postpartum recovery seemed less head pain and more lower back pain.... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
February 3, 2012 at 2:20 pm • 

Giving In During the Holidays: When Persistent Whining Gets the Best of Parents

Giving In During the Holidays: When Persistent Whining Gets the Best of Parents
Earlier this month, something went terribly awry with our Advent calendar…(Or, maybe I was lacking sleep December 1st and had no patience for whining.) My mother purchased two Play Mobile Advent Calendars, each depicting a different scene – 1 a dainty forest for my 3 year old daughter, the other a kingly styled layout for... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
December 24, 2011 at 7:59 am • 
Advertisement:

Getting Inspired in the Midst of a Busy Life: How Do You Do It?

Every morning, promptly at 9 am, I sit down at my computer and write. Sufficiently rested from an uninterrupted night of sleep, creativity pours out of me like hot syrup on golden pancakes. As the daydreamy mist fades from my ideal working scenario, I look around at the reality of my life and confirm I... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
August 12, 2011 at 8:05 am • 

A Spineless Parent Responds to CNN.com post: "Permissive Parents: Curb Your Brats"

A Spineless Parent Responds to CNN.com post: "Permissive Parents: Curb Your Brats"
I felt compelled to respond to a post I read yesterday, “Permissive Parents: Curb Your Brats” by LZ Granderson on CNN.com, and stand up for my spineless parenting style. I started out my parenting career with a lot of opinions and what I thought was a lot of patience. As the first 2.5 years of... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
July 6, 2011 at 10:17 pm • 

Patience Takes Practice

Patience Takes Practice
I was not born with patience, although before I had kids I thought I had plenty. I felt like a natural caretaker watching other people’s children, and I often strutted around like a smug, child-friendly professional. Getting the attention of fifteen 12-year-old girls at summer camp was nothing for me. I volunteered to lead eight... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
July 5, 2011 at 12:15 pm • 
Advertisement:

Achieving Domestic Perfection

For those of you who are familiar with my posts, you already know I have stains on my mattress and a knack for embarrassing myself in public.What you may not know is I used to have an affair. A love affair, rather, with house cleaning. I used to love scrubbing floors, cleaning toilets, dusting, and... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
April 24, 2011 at 8:30 pm • 

Puberty and Personal Hygiene: An Embarrassing Flashback

When do kids hit puberty? Well, whenever it is, I remember it well. I was innocently sitting in the back of my parent’s car, sporting a Maggie Simpson t-shirt, when my mother let out the gasp of the century. “What is that SMELL?!” she practically screamed from the driver’s seat. I shrugged my shoulders and... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
March 20, 2011 at 9:30 pm • 

Staying too long at a pity party? How to get out of the funk...

I have been in a real funk lately and I do not like it. I used to like a good pity party, but now I find it distracting and useless. Usually I can work out or get inspired out of a temporary depression, but this time, it is different. I am coming off a rough... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
March 8, 2011 at 7:09 am • 
Advertisement: