Don't Sweat The Small Stuff For Moms

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms: Simple Ways to Stress Less and Enjoy Your Family More.

This title screams out at me and the book isn't even released yet! This title will be released on April 10, 2012 and I can't wait to get my hands on it. 

This is the first new Don't Sweat the Small Stuff book in nine years! I think this book is long overdue. Anyway, the fact that it's late in coming out only means that Kristine Carlson has more to offer us moms who are always searching for greater peace, moms who wants to have harmony in their homes and joy in their hearts.

Since this book is nine years late and with an extra nine years of parenting in the fold, I am sure Kristine can draw upon that experience and provide us with the things we moms have been searching for. 

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms include chapters on ... (Words in bold are the chapters, words in italics are my own thoughts)

• How to be a mom, not a Friend (I was trying to do it the other way around. Guess I  must relook into my style)
• Balance Being a Woman and a Mom (And a sister and A Daughter if I may add)
• Pursue Your Passion, But Not at the Expense of Your Children (Easy though this may sound, it is actually quite tough)
• Reclaim Your Family (Yes! I want to do that)

“Kris Carlson extends the "Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff" series with much-needed advice for mothers, writing with an understanding heart and penetrating wisdom born of her own experience. Like her late husband Richard, hers is a gentle soul backed by a powerful and transcendent fire." —Marianne Williamson, author of A Return to Love

This book is not out yet but you can pre-order it from Amazon.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms: Simple Ways to Stress Less and Enjoy Your Family More will be an excellent Mother's Day Gift this Mother's Day 2012 and beyond.

A little about Kristine Carlson


Kristine Carlson has had 3 bestsellers, "An Hour to Live, An Hour to Love: The True Story of The Best Gift Ever Given," "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff in Love" and "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff for Women"


Her latest book "Heart Broken Open" is a courageous memoir of her personal journey after the sudden and unexpected loss of her husband, successful author Dr. Richard Carlson.

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I Like Kitchens with Bar Counters

I like kitchens with bars. A bar counter makes a kitchen so much more interesting. The extra counter can be used for preparing food. It is also an interesting place to have a quick meal for one or two persons. I am sure my kids would love it too, especially if it comes with extra tall bar stools that can swivel around. I will probably have two of those, one on each side of the counter for my two children.

Unfortunately, both of the houses I have stayed in were bought second hand and the previous owner did not have a bar counter. So I never had one. My previous home was a condominium or apartment. It would have been very nice to have a bar counter because of its limited space.

My current house is a landed property. It is bigger than the older house but the kitchen is smaller! You see, the previous owner probably did not cook so they extended their dining room and living room into the kitchen space making the kitchen much smaller. Now, I would really like a big kitchen with plenty of space to move around. However, I am stuck with my small kitchen. I don't even have enough space for my kitchen appliances, not to mention a bar counter! If I get a chance to renovate my kitchen in future, I will definitely consider a bar counter.

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Acne in middle age?

After I passed the age of 30, I found that my acne troubles had gone leaving behind only scars from the teenage years. I thought that acne troubles were only for the young and once you were older, your skin would become smooth again so it's important not to pinch and create ugly scars. However, recently I have been having acne breakouts again. I'm not sure what is the reason. It could be all those nuts I had been eating lately. I do love nuts even though it tends to make me breakout in acne.

It could also be all those new products I had been trying lately. I had won a whole set of facial and beauty products in a contest and was trying them out. Maybe some of them were not suitable for my skin type. If this acne breakout continues, I may need to have anti-aging light therapy/treatment soon. I also noticed that my tween daughter is starting to have some pimples and I may need to find some suitable products for her soon.

In addition to this, I will also need to look at some other anti-aging creams for the areas around my eyes which constantly looks dark and there are some age spots I would like to cover. Usually make-up can cover some of those age spots but I am still looking for a product to lighten if not erase my aging spots. Hopefully someone reading this can recommend some.

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First Period

Just earlier this week, in my girl's school, they got all the Std 4 to Std 6 girls (aged 10-12) together and spoke to them about periods and sanitary pads and how to dispose of the sanitary pads. They informed them that it was a very natural thing and there was nothing to be embarrassed or shy about.

Then as if with perfect timing, my girl's first period started yesterday. I guess the school did me a favor by giving them that talk. Fortunately I had also prepared my girl for this important milestone when she was around 8 or 9.   At the time, I was reading an article in the newspaper about menstruation and how important it was for parents to inform their child and what are the things to discuss with their growing daughters. I read out the entire article to her and stopped for questions. That wasn't too difficult.

Luckily I did not wait till later thinking that there is plenty of time for later. I like that she is prepared so she is not worried. Still, she wasn't very sure and asked me whether it was just poop stains because it looked brown. I assured her that it wasn't, then all I had to do was show her how to wear the pads, how to dispose them and to practice good hygiene at all times. Good thing I had some slim pads in the house. Maxi pads would probably be too uncomfortable for her. There is a wide range of age for the start of first period and I guess she is on the early side. Hopefully she won't receive a lot of teasing for that.

Well, she is not that worried but I am. I'm now worried about whether she will be teased. I'm worried about whether she will feel discomfort when attending gym class today. I'm worried about whether she will have enough time to eat during recess as well as change the pad on her own for the first time today since she is such a dawdler. I'm worried about whether there will be any leakages.

I guess I shouldn't worry so much. After all, I can't even remember when I had my first remember and I don't remember anything else either. Either I had it very early like her or my memory is really bad. I can't remember who taught me to wear a pad. Maybe it was an aunt or an older sister. I don't remember my mum doing it, I think she must have passed on at the time or was very ill. I can't seem to remember anything about my first period. Probably it was not very eventful. So hey, probably my girl won't remember much either later on.

Ah we mothers. We worry all the time. My baby. My baby is growing up. I feel kind of nostalgic.

Here are some useful resources and links to help you prepare your daughter for her first period.

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Conversation about how babies are made

This morning I had to answer many questions about how babies are made.  Before this I had used my conception and birth book to explain to the kids about how the birds and the bees and how babies are made. Though we've had this birds and bees lesson before, the younger one obviously did not get it and wanted some answers.

Boy: Mum, why do people have to grow fat to have babies?

Mum: No, they don't grow fat, they get pregnant.


Boy: You mean they get pregnant and then the baby pops out from the egg (makes a huge egg gesture with his hands)  


Mum: No, human beings don't lay eggs. We give birth to babies. The babies are formed when the tiny egg meets the sperm.


Boy: Haha. And then they straight away become a baby? And everyone has eggs?


Mum: No, only girls. 


Boy: Then how come cheh cheh (sister) doesn't have any eggs.


Mum: Because she is still young. Older girls have lots of eggs and they come out once a month if it does not meet the sperm.


Girl: Boys have sperm, girls have eggs.


Boy: Wow. Then I can make a baby.


Mum: No, you can't. If you have a baby, you must be able to take care of it. For example, you must have money to buy the baby milk and clothes. 


Boy: I have money in my piggy bank and the bank. I have all those fifty cents in the bank.


Mum: That money is for your studies.


Boy: Then we must get married first then make babies?


Mum: Yes and you wait till you are older, finished your studies, get a job before you get married


Boy: Hmm... then I can make a baby with a girl and make another baby with another girl and have more babies.


Mum: No, you can't do that! One girl is enough.


Girl: Mum,you can't have babies anymore? Because daddy's sperm don't meet yours.


Mum: Well, I have less eggs now and you know they don't come out every month now. Now, hurry up and finish your breakfast both of you or you will be late for school. 

(Then mum pretends to act busy and rushes off because the questions are getting more difficult to answer. Haha. In the background she can still here the two having a conversation about their money in the bank.)

More crazy conversations like these are expected when the children grow up and become curious about many things. Have you had the birds and bees conversation with your child yet? I find that books are the easiest way to help explain such things. Here are some good books on the birds and bees.

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