The Working Mom by Kay Luna

A lot of us are feeling the pinch in these economic times. And we all know that as more stories come out about business cutbacks and layoffs, the crisis is trickling down to families … and then, as they cut spending, to more businesses.

I just finished reading a great story in the Wall Street Journal that sort of follows that cycle, by talking to real people. They basically write a story about one man, whose job cut rippled out far and wide. It’s a very good read. 

Along the same lines, the economy also is causing a lot of people to rethink whether they can afford things like preschool and daycare. But if you can’t afford daycare, then how can you work? A story in the Christian Science Monitor says grandparents — when they can — are taking extraordinary measures to help with child care, even moving to a new town to live closer to them.

This follows the theme of the first story I read today, which said something along the lines of this: “Grandparents are coming out of the woodwork.”

But some are setting some limits.  I visited today with a very cool grandmother in Fulton, Ill., who e-mailed me back and forth today (which I really enjoyed). She loves all of her 12 children and 36 grandchildren — and more grandchildren are on the way! — but, yikes, a grandma can only babysit so much.  So, she set some rules.

She will babysit when an emergency arises, or if her child and spouse are going on a “romantic getaway” to nurture their marriage (hence, helping the rest of the family by staying together).  But … if the parent is working and making money and she babysits, she expects payment, too.

I asked her to PLEASE not tell my own mom or mother-in-law about this arrangement! Teeheehee! As I’ve said before here and in the print newspaper, I truly am grateful for their childcare help with both of my kids.

And I only have two kids. Fifteen years apart. Nothing like what the Fulton grandma has to contend with.

And by the way, she says she keeps track of all of the family’s birthdays and ages and anniversaries in a master calendar. Yes, I asked.

Our poor dog. He gets nervous when he has to ride in the car … and with bad nerves, what sometimes comes next???

Puke.

And he did, on my cell phone. On my coat sleeve. Into my car’s cup holder area. SO GROSS!

We had almost made it. We were two short turns away from the groomer’s place this morning, and I thought to myself, “He’s done so well today!” So, I rubbed his furry head, hanging near my lap, and told him what a good boy he was being … and then … you know the rest.

What makes it worse is that I’d spread out a blanket for just the reason, but he decided to spew on the edge of the blanket and it rolled off! So gross! Sorry to share too much information, but I figure, let’s ALL be grossed out together!!! haha! It’s more fun that way (at least, for me).

Yep, that’s how I’ve started my work day. Good times to come from here, I hope.

Onto some interesting celebrity news, for those brave souls who have continued to read this post: Did you know super-hottie Ricky Martin has twins, born from a surrogate?! Why??? I’m absolutely puzzled by this. Check out this blog and this People magazine excerpt, which includes photos of him and the babies. All three boys (Ricky included) are gorgeous.

I’m proud to say I was backing the car out of our driveway at an alarmingly-early (at least, for me) 5 a.m. today – all so I could go to an exercise class.

Finally, I’m working out again! Or at least I’m starting to … I seem to always find some reason why I can’t squeeze in a workout around my job, the baby, etc., and end up stopping.

But this time, I’m hoping the new routine sticks. So do my legs, which are feeling just a little tired and wobbly now, but in a good way. That’s something I haven’t felt in a while!

Something different — and very much appreciated! — this time: My husband is helping me out, so I can get up early and exercise before going to work. He has agreed to stay home with Babycakes and get her ready and off to daycare for me two mornings a week, which is just awesome beyond words.

I’ve tried doing workout videos at home, but I’m more of a “I’ve-got-to-go-to-exercise-class-at-such-and-so-time” type of person.

Meanwhile, my husband works six days a week and truly doesn’t get a lot of sleep overall … so I’ve always been the one to get up with the kids and do all the morning stuff.

It’s a change, but so far, so good. I got to exercise class and really enjoyed myself. He got Babycakes ready (in the clothes I laid out last night) and off to daycare at the regular time, and she only asked for Mommy once.

(Of course, I prepped her last night, asking her to “please help Daddy” get her ready to go in the morning! Must have worked!)

Now, if we can just do it all again later this week …

Yesterday was grocery day – for my own family, my Mom AND my Grandma. To make it a little less horrible to force our way through the crush of people at the big-box store we went to, Mom and I decided to go together (it’s more fun with company).

And it was naptime … for Babycakes, not me — although I did wish I could curl up with her instead of dealing with the shopping.

Just wanted to commiserate/pat myself on the back with all of you who also have “mom muscles,” because I CARRIED THAT GIRL all around the store like dead weight for more than an hour. I cheated once and rested her tush on Mom’s shopping cart handle, just to stretch my back. That was it.

She’s 2, people. She’s not light as a feather anymore. Ha!

Yes, I carried her and that was my choice. But I would choose that anyday, and make my back sore, over waking up the beast when she wasn’t ready or … worse … skipping the nap altogether. Shudder.

And today, I’m thinking again about how amazing mothers are in general, after interviewing a local woman today who not only breastfeeds her own baby, but pumps extra — and I’m talking A LOT! – to donate to people who take care of sick/preemie babies!!!! (You can read more about it soon … I’m still working on the story). She’s incredible.

We talked/joked/shook our heads at the state of some public restrooms where we’ve both breastfed or pumped in our time. I still can’t believe the amount of modestly I shed to breastfeed my daughter when she was little … ooooh, do I have some stories I could tell, but won’t right now … teehee!

Anyway, WOO-HOO to all of us who go above and beyond to care for little ones (our own, and others)! What amazing things have you been doing?

Someone gave me a copy of the new book, “How to Talk to Girls,” by Alec Greven.

When I first glanced at it, I assumed the book was about how parents can talk to their daughters. Nope.

It’s written by a 9-year-old boy, a 4th-grader from Colorado, who apparently appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres show and on CNN about his tips for … finding love!!!

Here is some of his best advice: “If you like a girl, comb your hair and don’t wear sweats. You don’t have to try too hard, but just try to look kind of clean.”

Girls always like the smart boys, he says.

“Most girls like polite boys — but not the wild girls. If the girl you like is wild, then act just like her.”

Another good tip: ”Control your hyperness (cut down on sugar if you need to).”

And his parting advice: “Whatever happens, don’t let it make you crazy.”

And this is a New York Times Bestseller!

Don’t you wish you would have kept some of your old diaries from elementary or junior high school and published some of your own advice?! haha!

I’m writing this really quickly, since I’m missing my girl and want to go home and see her — the quicker, the better.

I came into work this morning (Saturday) to cover something for the paper, and am ready to go, except I wanted to say hello to you. See how you rate! You’re right up there, let me tell you.

Remember this blog I mentioned a while back? A lot of you do, because some of you have e-mailed me recently about it. Let me warn you: You might want to read it alone. It’s sad.

The blog is written by a man who lost his wife last year, one day — YES, one day — after she gave birth to their only daughter. He chroniclizes his grief and how he’s been adapting and raising their baby, and it’s riveting stuff. It’s really “real,” with lots of photos and even a video snippet. Go there, it’s awesome.

Anyway, wanted to let you know that Matt was featured recently in People magazine for his blog, and the community it has sparked — and, most importantly, that it has led to the creation of a foundation in his wife’s honor, to help other families who have lost a parent. Cool, huh?!

Have a great rest of your weekend, and I hope to talk to you again Monday.

What a busy week I’m having at work — but in a really good way.

Two days in a row, I’ve been covering some pretty cool things. This morning, I went to a grade school in Moline to talk to little kids — kindergartners, first- and second-graders — about what they knew about the inauguration and the presidency.

I found out that a president “is nice” and “talks to people.” They say a president also is “a leader” and people “like, follow him.”

The youngest kids were sort of vague, but the second-graders were on top of things. They knew Obama was going to be sworn in with the Lincoln Bible, which I thought was impressive.

it was like a party, watching the live TV coverage in one of the school’s classrooms, with these little kids whooping and hollering. When the principal asked who in the group wanted to be president someday, almost all of them — boys and girls, minorities and not — raised their hands, giggling and looking around at each other.

One of my friends on Facebook said something along the lines of this today: “I want to remember where I am today, so I can tell my grandkids about it.” That’s sort of how I felt, watching those kids. I wondered if they were old enough to be able to remember this someday.

Whether you voted for him or not, it’s cool to watch kids “participate” in such a historic event.

Where did you spend your day today? Did your kids get to watch the inauguration?

We don’t have a mini-van … and I highly doubt we ever will. After almost 10 years of marriage and two kids, we haven’t gone this route yet.

But it’s not the look of a vehicle’s exterior that does makes it a ”Mommy car.” Oh, no.

Instead, take a quick glance inside.

You Mommies know what I mean: It’s the old French fries and toys and curdled-milk bottles/cups and splashed Kool-Aid and other nasty stuff you see that tells everyone the driver is the parent of young child.

And I had just a seemingly-short period of time in adulthood that I didn’t have a car like this. In fact, my friends in college would joke about all the stray French fries they could find on my floorboard at any given time (and maybe I shouldn’t blame that totally on my son! LOL!).

Wish I had snapped some photos of the inside of my four-door Mom-mobile to go with this post, but they’re not necessary. You can surely imagine what I’m talking about!

How about you? What’s your car look like inside?

I’ve been watching CNN coverage and reading our Web site and following on Twitter (more about that to come) about the US Airways crash in the Hudson River this afternoon. Very scary stuff.

Immediately, I started to think about what I would do if I was on a plane, sinking in the river on a frigid winter day … with my children in tow.

It’s hard enough to think about saving myself, but how would a person keep their sanity enough to get the little ones out safely, too?! I just can’t imagine trying to hold onto Babycakes during the crash, let alone holding onto her AND the flotation device, etc.

My heart goes out to those people today, hoping everyone got out safely. I hear they did, but not from official sources yet (I heard this on TV when they interviewed a passenger who got out alive).

I was practically raised on Vick’s VapoRub. The smell brings back sickly-but-warm memories of my childhood! teehee!

So, what’s with this new study that says Vicks might actually CAUSE more mucus in young children?

Somehow, I have survived repeated use of Vick’s for probably my entire life (I’m not sure how early my Mom and Grandma started slathering the stuff on me).

So have my own kids, although I bought the milder-and-less-stinky Baby Vick’s version for my 2-year-old girl fairly recently. But my teenaged son had the full-on strength Vick’s and he’s done fine!

And Grandma (almost 91) still slathers the stuff on herself, probably daily. In fact, one of her favorite Christmas presents from us this year were mini-containers of Vick’s that we found at a dollar-store place!

Do you use Vick’s as loyally as my family does? What do you think about this new warning?