Staying Super Mom Through Flu Season

Cold and flu season is creeping up on us. 

Which means bad news for the busy mom. 

It's hard enough to keep on track with everything you need to do as a mom, being sick just doesn't help. In fact, nothing comes to a screeching halt when you're sick and you have no choice but to keep on going.

We came up with a few survival tips for the moms out there that are trying to keep up once they've gotten sick.

Make It Easy for Kids to Help Themselves

Keeping snacks and drinks for kids in an easy to reach space can help your kids be a little more independent for different meals throughout the day. Keep snacks in individual bags, and fill up sippy cups with water or juice to hold them over throughout the day. Even if you usually take home the gold with family dinners, have plenty of snacks that your kids can put together a meal with. They'll feel a little more grown up getting to choose and you'll be able to post up on the couch while you battle this cold.

Let the Kids Entertain Themselves

So if you're home sick with the kiddos, you'll have to be okay with the idea of some messes happening. While you're sick with a nasty cold, it's hard to be picky when you don't have the energy to keep your kids entertained. As long as they're safe, this might be the day to let them build forts or use the couch cushions on the floor while they watch TV. It's always a good idea to keep some back up games and projects to entertain your littles for snow days, or when you're feeling under the weather. Your day might not be action packed with activities around town, but we guarantee they'll be able to make their own fun.

Call In Reinforcements

Don't be too proud to call in some reinforcements when you're feeling sick and need a little help. Whether it's a postpartum doula for help with newborn care or a relative to step in as an emergency babysitter, you'll be happy to see their car pull up in the driveway. With some extra help around the house you'll have the opportunity to get some extra sleep or take a hot shower to break up some of your congestion. 

When you're sick, you can't exactly take off your mom hat to rest and relax. 

Don't get discouraged when you get sick or feel guilty that you're taking some time to recover. You're still a super mom if you take it easy and go with the flow for a few days. 

Giving Gifts as Experiences

So the big gift giving season might be over, but at some point in the year ahead you’ll be buying another few gifts.

Whether it be for birthdays, thank you’s or graduations, our culture has a habit to overlook the meaning of gifts and fall into the trap of buying more stuff for our families.

We have plenty of “stuff” lying around and it’s time we change the way that gifts are given.

Instead of a tangible gift, we love to give the gift of experiences.

When you give the gift of a trip, adventure or experience you are giving memories. Tickets that don’t expire or gift certificates to local events can be used on the recipient’s own terms.

Give the gift of fun on a rainy day while stimulating the economy of local businesses.

Here’s some of our favorite experiences to give in place of tangible gifts for every occasion in the Louisville area.

Louisville Zoo

Zoo passes are so much fun and support such an amazing cause. When you frequent the Louisville Zoo or sign up for season memberships,you’re providing local jobs and resources for the animals. Not only do kids love the zoo, but it also makes an adorable date spot for a couple in your life. The Louisville Zoo offers day passes and different membership tiers for any budget. It’s a fun and educational day out that makes the perfect gift for any occasion.

Marengo Cave

Sometimes it’s easy to take for granted all of the awesome natural resources we can adventure in our own backyard. In 1883, Marengo caves were discovered and have been amazing visitors ever since. Explore the caves on different walking tours, mine for gemstones, and bring a little adventure to someone’s weekend with admission as a gift. The caves are illuminated to guide your path through stunning rock and mineral formations naturally occurring for thousands of years. 

Maple Hill Manor Bed and Breakfast

Have your other half’s birthday or anniversary coming up? Schedule a babysitter for the weekend and enjoy a romantic mini vacation away from the hustle and bustle. Maple Hill Manor is a historic bed and breakfast that features traditional country furnishings, beautiful landscape and a short drive from plenty of fantastic local restaurants. This charming bed and breakfast is just what the doctor ordered for some rest and rejuvenation, without traveling too far from your precious littles.

So instead of a tangible gift this year, why not try some tickets to an amazing Louisville area experience?

Life is sweeter when we’re able to take a step back from stress and can celebrate with family and friends in the beautiful city we call home. 

Ideal Birth

We hear the phrase thrown around in every birth book, on every pregnancy website and almost certainly somewhere deep in each Facebook "Mama" page, your ideal birth.

But, what does it mean?? Does it bring images of a young mom in a hospital bed with her husband holding her hand to your mind? What about a woman leaned over her kitchen counter with a doula standing behind her applying counter pressure to her back, all in hopes of getting some relief through her current contraction? Maybe you envision a beautiful woman with a halo of flowers squatting behind a tree with all of the animal kingdom watching on: just for them to erupt in celebration as her baby crowns; a scene straight from Snow White.

Every baby is different. Every birth varies.

Every woman longs for a different variation of her "ideal birth". For some, the ideal birth could be in the comfort of their own home. Or, maybe it is in a hospital, relaxed with an epidural. For others, their ideal experience is working through those tough contractions and going completely natural. Maybe your ideal birth is even in an operating room with your partner standing by your side during a Cesarean.
 

Regardless of what you envision, do your research, be well informed, and decide what is important to you. Then, work towards that goal!

Know that there are no wrong choices, only your choices.

As I lay on my couch being completely smothered by a little girl who first stole my heart just over two years ago,  I want to share with you my version of this "ideal birth". I did my research and was so fortunate to find an awesome care provider. Together, we made a birth plan. I took a great Childbirth Education Class and put together an awesome birth team. In the end, all of the hard work paid off!

The important things in this video are intangible things that you can't necessarily see. It was my confidence, support, and knowledge alongside the respect from my team and hospital staff that made this my ideal birth. I spent time getting to know my providers so that I could trust their guidance and these are things that are so important regardless of the where, who, how and why of any ideal birth.

Birth Facility: Clark Memorial Hospital under the care of the WomenCare Midwives

Louisville Area Holiday Activities!

It’s no mistake that the Kentucky area is one of the nation’s premier destinations for holiday events.

With so much to do in our area for the holidays, weekends are full of family fun.
So get your hot cocoa and Christmas sweaters ready, because we have a list of awesome local events to turn up your holiday cheer!

Santa’s Safari
Have a group of kiddos that have a thing for animals? The zoo doesn’t have to be a summer activity and the Louisville Zoo feels the same way! The Zoo transforms into a Christmas wonderland with plenty of activities and crafts for the kids as they wander through the completely heated animal displays. Santa and Mrs. Claus make a big appearance with adorable photo opportunities for your family’s Christmas card. Have some hot cocoa and some delicious treats and spend a fun weekend day at the Louisville Zoo for their big holiday event.

North Pole Express at the Kentucky Railway Museum
It doesn’t get more holiday spirit than the Polar Express and the Kentucky Railway Museum brings this children’s story to life with their North Pole Express experience during the month of December. Kids are encouraged to wear their Christmas pajamas, and listen to holiday tunes while they take a ride on a real Christmas Train! Santa and characters make their way through the train cars after scooping him up at the North Pole. This awesome holiday adventure has become a family tradition in our area, bringing Christmas magic to kids of all ages and kids at heart.

The Southern Lights Presented by the KHP Foundation
Feeling extra festive but it’s a weeknight? The KHP Foundation presents an amazing drive-through light display that draws crowds from surrounding states for over 20 years. Kids can explore a Christmas train, visit with Santa and check out an amazing petting zoo area. Browse handmade gifts from local artisans after strolling through light displays and cross a few loved ones off your gift list. This event is regularly chosen as a Top 20 Event in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, making this a staple event in our area that we look forward to every year! 

We are always looking to add new holiday traditions throughout the season to bring a little more excitement to family outings and the Kentucky area has plenty to go around.

Whether it’s a weeknight adventure with the kids after school or a whole weekend day of holiday fun around town, our area is filled with Christmas spirit to help you make some sweet memories with your family this year.

How big is my heart

How will I ever love the new baby as much as I love you?

All soon-to-be second time Moms have gazed into their firstborn's eyes & had this thought.  You've devoted every ounce of your being to this person & now you're supposed to trust that in an instant your heart will share an equally amazing love with a whole new being...Scary, right?

It's okay if you don't believe me now--- but I'll go ahead and say it anyways [ and I promise you've heard it before]: YOU WILL LOVE YOUR NEW BABY.

In fact, your love for your first is the very substance of an even greater love and appreciation that you will have for both of your kiddos. You'll compare every inch of your new baby to the tiny newborn features you so fondly remember loving when big brother or sister was born.  You'll pull out hand-me-down outfits and remember how little and fragile your strong, growing toddler once was.

All those tiny details and memories will rush over you in the amazing storm of emotions that can be so bittersweet for mothers.

And that's just it: YOU ARE A MOTHER.

There is a reason that only one title exists for mothers- regardless of how many children they have--- You are a Mother.

You love, kiss, hug, rock, feed, worry, cry, laugh, nurture....The only thing different now?

You'll be loving, kissing, hugging, rocking, feeding, worrying about, crying over and nurturing TWO.