Put down your phone- a confession from a mom who doesn't

This blog resonated with me so much that I just had to copy and share it.  Thank you Heather for posting this.  I WILL live in the moment and PUT DOWN MY PHONE! (or at the very least, try my hardest!) 
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I need to put down my phone.  NOW.  I got a serious wake up call this week, when a video made its way around Facebook and Twitter.  It was a video showing how you can miss all of life's moments, when you are on your phone.

 My truth, if I can stand in it for a minute, is that I always have my phone.  It's awful.  It's an appendage and security blanket.  In fact my greatest fear at our momstown conference last May was to "put my phone down".  It was really hard to admit this silly thing, but its how I feel and it's consuming me.  I even actually get frustrated when my husband or friends are on their phone and not talking to me, so what am I so afraid of? 

I know I started to feel a bit attached to my phone on those lonely days and nights in the hospital with my son, Zack.  It was my lifeline to the outside world when we would be cooped up for several days.  It was how I connected with other moms who had children with special needs and it's also how I stayed close to my family, my husband and friends when we were homebound. I was so proud to tweet and post photos online of my Zackie and I could "manage" his appointments and contacts so easily and now remotely.

I also started blogging and documenting Zack's life, so photos and videos became really important.  I would have my phone poised at every PT and OT appointment, hoping to catch Zack reaching a new milestone so I could snap a photo.  Did I miss out on ACTUALLY being there for those milestones?  It got even worse when I started working in social media and now my phone became a tool for my job.

The habit has gotten worse and it's now something that Paul and the boys bug me about- likely because its bugging THEM.  With more ways to become distracted on your phone, its getting harder to just "put it down".  But I need to do it.  I need to live in the moment and actually enjoy the moments rather than post them on Instagram.  The times I do leave the phone in the car or at home, there is a liberating feeling of freedom and I can actually participate more.  But I do miss it.  Is that awful?


Watch this incredible video called "I Forgot My Phone".  I imagine this is what my boys see...but it's not too late to make a change for me and for my family.  Starting today, I'm pledging to UNPLUG each and every day, when I meet the boys at the school bus at 3pm and take at least 2 hours off (or more)!  So don't text me, what's app me, email, FP message or tweet me during that time....but if you and you catch me?  Remind me to PUT DOWN MY PHONE and live in that moment.

 

*written by Heather Hamilton 
http://momstown-moments.momstown.ca/user/14

 

Halloween already?!? Entertaining some family costume ideas...

It feels like Summer was just yesterday, but its already mid September and... time to think about Halloween!  

Like all new moms, I of course want to do a ‘family themed’ costume.  Something adorable for my 16 month old son, not to humiliating for my pregnant self, and of course super embarrassing for my husband! :) 

Here are some of the ideas I am tossing around! (if you know anywhere in the Greater Vancouver Area that has AWESOME costumes, please share!)

1.  Food!  

Hot dog we have a wiener!  

 An Adorable BLT!

Burger King (and Queen!) 

Who doesn't LOVE smores?

 Does this M&M sack make me look fat?  haha

 

2.  Superheroes!  Might be a little easier to walk around in! 

Avengers! 

 

 The usual suspects

3.  TV Characters 

The beloved Simpsons

All time faves - The Flintstones

4.  Maybe I go super creative?!

The Bones Family?  

Shark Week!?

 Ipods!

So many ideas - the problem? So little time!  Where in Vancouver do I get awesome costumes like these?  I don't dare even entertain the possibility of making them myself.  Unless of course I want them ready for Halloween 2025!  Etsy?  Michaels? Winners?  Suggestions please!  Any moms out there have some other good ideas?  I think the key (other than saftey of course!!) is comfort.  My son is 16 months old.  I don't think he'd be too happy walking around in a cardboard box - although he does seem to have an early obsession with my iPhone.  

Just ideas for now... but remember, Halloween is only 7 weeks to Halloween!  (then its... Christmas?!) 

Trick or treat!!

Getting ready to give birth? Here are some ideas for what to pack in your hospital bag!

Getting ready for the big day and wondering what to pack in your hospital bag?  Here are some items to consider.  Personally, I had them all.  Then again I also packed a hair dryer and a straightener.  Little did I know that I wouldn’t not only NOT use them at the hospital, but for WEEKS after I got home! 

   

• Nursing bra – no point in wearing one of your ‘normal bras’ – you won’t be needing those for a while. 
• Pads – Big ones, just saying
• Outfit – something comfortable and stretchy – and somewhat photo worthy, there will be photos. 
• Night gown/Pajamas  - You might be walking around the hospital and having guests, make sure you have something other than the hospital gown – with no back! 
• Bobby pins – Maybe its just me, but bangs are very annoying when you can’t ‘do them’. 
• Slippers – Hospital floors = gross.  Toss them when you leave. 
  
• Socks – It could be cold and there’s nothing worse than cold feet. 
• Phone Charger – You may feel like updating your profile(s) with your adorable pics a few hundred times
• Moisturizer – Hospitals are dry – you’ll want it for your face and body. 
• Mints – for you, and for your visitors who all want to hug and kiss you J
• Hair brush – you’ll need it
• Tuks – Available at the drug store.  Google them.  You never know – better save than sorry.. 
• Towels – If you shower at the hospital, keep in mind the towels provided are pint sized. 
• Underwear Grannies – like the bra, no point in wearing any of your faves.  For a while. 
  
• Elastics – obviously
• Flip flops – like the slippers, when/if you walk around you’ll want something easy.  You also may walk out of the delivery room to another room... you will want shoes, and you will not want to wear them afterwards. 
  
• Wear home shoes – see above, you might not want to see those flip flops ever again. 
• Toiletries - tooth brush, toothpaste, face wash, deodorant
• Makeup – the basics, there will be pics. 
• Nursing pads – For some these aren’t needed for a couple of days, but again, better safe than sorry. 
• Lip balm – a must! 
• Snacks and drinks – Pack your faves or send someone out to get them.  Hospital food – enough said. 
  
• Magazines – Not like you’ll have a tonne of time, but in the event you have some quiet time, its a nice to have. 
• Headband – again with the bangs. 
• Health card and ID – You’ll need these to check in
• Nipple cream – the ‘latch’ will be a term you will use daily, hourly – and depending on that ‘latch’, you may need nipple cream right away. 

Stuff for the Baby

• Outfit – what will your pride and joy go home in?!  Keep in mind there are also professional photographers on site at some hospitals! (they do at BC Women's in Vancouver and we used them and it was GREAT!)
  
  
• Car seat – The hospital will likely want to inspect your baby in the seat before you leave.  They won’t want any inserts or extra padding.  They will show you how to use blankets to provide all that. 
  
• Sleepers – if you and your little one sleep over, he/she will need something to sleep in.  Keep in mind, the less buttons, the better.  I’d like to have a word with ho ever designed baby sleepers with 100 snaps. 
• Blankets – swaddle blankets, receiving blankets and a special one to take home he/she home in (put over them in the car seat)
• Diapers – you’ll be surprised at how many you go through.
  
• Socks – if you’re take home outfit doesn’t have feet, make sure you have socks. 
• Mitts – your little one will start touching his/her face immediately and he/she will scratch themselves. 
• Hat – if it’s cold or sunny
  
• Wipes

Extras your partner can bring

• Change of clothes – for them.  You don’t know how long you’ll be there or what time it will all happen. 
• Phone charger –for them – same as above. 
• Chain of contacts – make a chain before hand so that he knows exactly who to call with the big news. 
• Good camera and charger – you might want more pics other than cell phone pics. 
• Champagne and flutes – maybe that was just me? :)