There is no doubt in my mind that having a child impacts friendships.  Some new moms discover that even the “best” friendships change once a child enters the picture.  Sometimes kids are the ultimate friendship breaker. 

Are kids really that powerful?  Absolutely.  A child usually changes our priorities and leaves us completely pinched for time.  Often friendships with childless friends are impacted hard.  As understanding as those friends may be, or want to be, you may both come to realize that you’re now operating in seemingly different, unfamiliar worlds.   

While some friendships will withstand the test of time, some friendships will inevitably crumble.  Friendships with friends who are understanding and flexible are probably more likely to hang around.   It’s sad to lose a friendship, especially one that was so important to us in our pre-baby years.  But there is a silver lining. 

With baby comes a new opportunity to expand your circle of friends–from “mommy and me” classes to PTA meetings, you’re bound to make a ton of friends over the years.  Keep in mind, too, children grow fast.  In time, you’ll have more time on your hands for greater scheduling flexibility to reconnect with your old buddies.

Don’t have time to catch up with your friend, let alone change your spit-up covered shirt?  Here are five quick ways you can let your friend know you’re thinking of her:

1.  Pick up a couple of postcards next time you’re out running errands.  Keep them next to your computer.  Next time you find yourself waiting for your computer to boot-up, grab a pen and fill one out!  Even if all you say is “Hi, I’m thinking of you,” you’re sure to make her day.

2.   Send an e-greeting card.  A number of companies offer free e-cards, including the big names like American Greetings and Hallmark. 

3.  Next time you have your cell phone in hand, snap a quick photo of yourself and send it to your friend, along with a quick “thinking of you” text message.

4.  Send her a small bouquet of her favorite flowers–doesn’t everyone appreciate a surprise visit from the florist?

5.  If your friend lives or works nearby, offer to meet her for a ”lunch walk”–bring along the stroller and keep your fingers crossed that junior will enjoy taking in the sights.     

What quick tips do you have for staying in touch with your pre-baby friends?

Gearing up for baby, eh?  If hip is your style (like it is for daddy celeb Hugh Jackman), add something Babylicious to your baby shower wish list, like Babylicious Bedding.  As featured on Parents.com, Canada based Babylicious offers fresh and groovy nursery products, like changing pad covers, sheets, and “fringe” crib bumpers which eliminate the “should I or shouldn’t I bumper the crib” question. 

Oh, in case you’re wondering what’s so cool about “fringe,” let me tell you.  Instead of using a controversial traditional bumper that ties alongside the crib rails, “fringe” ties to the top and hangs like mini flags for an ultra chic look. 

If you like funky, unique designs (think, Zutano), you’re going to fall head over heels in love with Babylicious.  But you don’t have to take my word for it.  Parents.com, celebrities, and baby-Wise’s own Kimberly, also think Babylicious rocks. 

Autism disorders affect roughly 1 in 150 U.S. children.  A child is diagnosed with autism in the United States every 20 minutes.  Fresh news brings hope to those statistics. 

Researchers have “identified two separate genetic defects linked to autism, one that directly causes the disorder in about 1% of cases and a second that may play a role in a much larger percentage of patients by increasing their susceptibility to environmental or other genetic influences.”

Thanks to the Internet, parents have thousands of resources to look at for education about “autism spectrum disorders” and support, like blogs written by real parents journaling about their experiences parenting children with autism disorders. 

To learn more about autism or to get involved with autism awareness initiatives, go to Autism Speaks.

The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of “BabyTown” Pacifiers, which are imported by Shims Bargain Inc. of Los Angeles, CA.  The pacifiers were sold at Dollar stores from March 2004-December 2007.

According to CPSC, the pacifiers fail to meet federal safety standards for several reasons:  pacifier size, ventilation hole size and placement, and lack of appropriate warning instructions.

No injuries have been reported. 

For more information, check out the CPSC News Release.

As far as I’m concerned, a mother can never have too many mom friends.  Frankly, I’m highly suspect when someone says they don’t need anymore friends.  Over the course of parenthood, friendships inevitably come and go. 

There’s simply no guarantee that the girlfriend you met at a “mommy and me” class is going to stick around for the long haul–and just because you share a friendship doesn’t mean your child will also want a friendship with the other child.  Parenting has a terrific, although slightly gut wrenching, article that drives this point home.

Since becoming a mother, I’ve begun to amass a steadily growing network of mom friends.  While I wouldn’t say that every friendship earns the earmark of ”BFA” status, each friendship is special and as unique as the friend herself.  For example, the bond and discussion I share with C* is completely different from that shared with S*.  C* loves to spend our play dates outside, talking exclusively about all things baby.  S* on the other hand, loves to shop and talk about…well, everything non-baby.

Mom friends are more than emergency babysitters.  Mom friends can help ease the lonely, frustrating, scared, or sad moments of parenthood, and share in the happy ones, too. 

When I first became a mom, I remember a time when I wondered, “gee, now that I’m a mom, how do I find ‘mom’ friends?”  Three babies later, I know that finding friends is actually easier than it seems–probably the most challenging part is getting to spend time with them once you become friends (and what mom doesn’t need “girl time” or a mom’s night out)!

New friendships can surface in the strangest places and when you least expect them.  The pediatrician’s waiting room.  The park.  The grocery store.  The library.  Starbucks.  Your child’s school.  Your health club.  Online.

I think the key to finding new friends is being receptive to the possibility of new friendships.  Smiling at a mom, offering to help a mom when it’s apparent she needs a hand, or starting a conversation with a mom are often simple keys to opening the new friendship door. 

Sure, it’s not always easy or comfortable to make new friends, but it gets easier the more you try, especially when you come to realize that underneath it all, there’s not a mom out there who doesn’t need a friend.

What’s the “strangest” place you’ve met a new mom friend?

Kiwi, the Magazine with the “Growing Families the Natural and Organic Way” slogan, has just released a special report, What Moms Want—The Definitive Me-Time Study.

The study reports that “Personal time (79%) and couples time (78%) are the top two activities for which moms feel they do not have enough time.”

Sounds like Kiwi’s right on.  I definitely lack “me” time–as do nearly all of my mom friends.  And, when I actually have ”me” time, I either find myself wondering how I’m going to entertain myself for that precious period of time or wind up watching the clock, wondering how much “me” time is left–not because I’m eager for it to end, but because I don’t want it to!

As for couple time, I hate to ask, but what’s that?  Tell me where to sign up for it, and I’ll be there.

So, Moms, are you satisfied with the amount of “me” time you get? 

Last night I had an opportunity to attend a Mom’s night out event sponsored by Graco.  Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I took a couple of hours to unwind and have pure fun like I did last night.  I actually dressed up and wore heels for the first time in ages! 

At the party, the terrific Graco Reps displayed the brand spankin’ new Graco Newborn Soothing Center–the World’s Only Newborn Soothing Center.  If only this product had come out just a few months earlier, I would have purchased it for my little one.  Instead, I bought the Fisher-Price Butterfly Garden Baby Papasan Swing, which my baby loves–and as far as baby products go, it’s eye candy…simply beautiful.

Wow!  The Graco Soothing Center is truly incredible.  It’s designed to simulate a mother’s motion, with adjustable seating that allows you to custom tailor a position to your child’s unique preferences.  For example, if your child has reflux and needs a particular position, you can actually tweak the position–happy baby, happy mom! 

If only Graco would make a “grown-up” model.  Hey, Graco, what do you think?

The latest news in the baby naming world is that unusual is the new ordinary.  According to data collected by a web site for expecting and new parents, the top 5 names of 2007 include:

For Girls:  Sophia, Isabella, Emma, Madison, Ava

For Boys:  Aiden, Ethan, Jacob, Caden, Jayden

Your turn:  If you’re expecting, do you plan to give your baby a top baby name of 2007? 

Iowa Caucus.  New Hampshire Primary.  Election 2008.  Republicans.  Democrats.  Vote.  Ballots.  Inauguration.  Policy.  War.  Social Security.  Taxes.  Health care.  Budget cuts.  Reform. 

Children are bound to take in an earful of political buzz words this year.  After all, children hear–and absorb–much more than parents often realize.  Talking with children about politics, in an age-appropriate way that makes sense to little ears, can help demystify some of those buzz words, as well as encourage creative and critical thinking.  Talking about politics can also help children get a stronger grasp on the world around them.

Here are some tips for talking with your children about politics:

1.  Choose your words carefully, especially the *bad* ones.  Instead of name calling, explain to your children what you like or dislike in a political candidate or his/her political stance.  Help your child understand how you arrived at your viewpoint.

2.  Talk about core values and beliefs.  Discuss what matters most to you.  For example, if fairness and kindness are fundamental, discuss how they play into politics and your own views.

3.  Talk about winning and losing.  Explain what it means if a candidate wins or loses.  Discuss the implications of that win or loss. 

4.  Keep in mind the age of your audience.  The way you explain politics depends on age.  A conversation about politics with a five year old simply isn’t going to be the same as the one you have with a teenager. 

Talking about politics isn’t always easy.  But teaching kids that they can talk openly with you about politics and values may just help them realize that they can talk with you about life’s difficult topics.  That’s something both you and they will surely come to appreciate as they grow up.

“Wow, exercise is so much fun!”  Those are the words my preschooler uttered when we finished a “run” around the block.  I couldn’t agree more, especially when exercise involves my children. 

As a mom of three, I know that finding time for myself during the day is a rare event–certainly too rare to steal time for a predictable exercise routine.  At least, so I thought until I realized that exercising with my children is entirely possible with a little planning and the right equipment.  For me, planning includes integrating a walk or run into ”afternoon outside playtime”–and setting aside appropriate fitness clothing sometime during the day, so I have fewer excuses to get moving.  Equipment includes good walking/running shoes, but most importantly the double jogging stroller.  I pack my two youngest into the stroller–who usually fall into a deep sleep as soon as I get going–and my preschooler walks or jogs alongside me.

While I know my preschooler gets the bulk of her enjoyment from the energy release of moving about, we add more fun to our exercise activities by engaging in fun conversation (think, “I Spy” games on the run) and learning activities (like shouting out directions, “left” or “right,” and steering the stroller together in the direction called).  My enjoyment comes from knowing that I’m doing something good for “me” (yeah!) and for my children, while spending quality time with them.  Thanks to my children, I’ve learned that exercise really can be so much fun!