Breezy Mama

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How to Parent Tips

The Story of Triton: From the NICU to Amazing Hugs

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Breezy Mama is honored to share Stephanie Lazar Ramseier’s story. From Stephanie:

Today is the day. I sat in a chair and have begun to write. How long have I talked about it? Ten years to be frank. I have said this to numerous people, but I think I am finally ready. I don’t know…. are you ever really ready to tell your imperfect story? I guess it takes time. We smile, we blend in and we think our own thoughts in our head. Isn’t that “normal”. Who knows. I plan to ramble a bit, because that is how I see my life……a slow motion ramble and then it speeds up and you can’t remember what [Read more…] about The Story of Triton: From the NICU to Amazing Hugs

Big Family Tips All Families Can Use

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FullSizeRenderAs a mom of five kids, there are two things I often hear: “Your hands are full!” and “I don’t know how you do it!” Listen, it’s not like it’s easy and I can’t plan next Tuesday when my husband and I are still figuring out tomorrow, but we manage and have come up with some pretty nifty time savers along the way. Here are some tips small families can use as well!

1. Let’s talk laundry.
I don’t care if you have one kid or 9, you have laundry… lots and lots of it usually. A tip a mom of a large family once told me was to [Read more…] about Big Family Tips All Families Can Use

Is It Good Enough?

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Once September hits, life feels like I’m walking a tightrope with me desperately trying to cling to balance. In one fell swoop, school has started, which means a barrage of emails, forms to sign, sports/music/etc. has begun. The breezy days of summer have been replaced with full steam ahead fall and just when I think I have it all together, it’s back to school night! Or minimum day! Or another Evite arrives! And I’m sent over the edge, free falling while trying to grab more coffee on my way down… Lately, every parent I have spoken with is feeling the pressure. And, truthfully, I know that the second I feel like I have the new schedule down, it will be [Read more…] about Is It Good Enough?

Tips For After School Conversation Starters

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After School Conversation Starters

When I was growing up, every evening after my dad got home from work he’d ask, “How was your day?” And I always answered, “Fine.” If you find your self equally as frustrated as my father was with my lack of descriptive language, get these fun tips for making after school conversations fun and informative as discussed on Fox 5 San Diego this morning with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Rachel Goldenhar and Mary of the Mama Mary Show. PLUS! If you want to watch the clip, get tips for staying comfortable during pregnancy (hint: you must try 2XU compression tights!) and the interesting discussion we had on the Lammily doll, a.k.a. the doll who gets her period…

Tips for starting after school conversation:

  1. Mary loves to have her kids [Read more…] about Tips For After School Conversation Starters

How Over-Coddling Has Created Vindictive Protectiveness

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Recently, I saw an article by a mom who said she’s not a helicopter parent – she just enjoys spending the time in the morning before school walking with her son. And I loved it. There’s so much emphasis these days on not hovering over your child that even volunteering in the classroom is suddenly seen as overbearing. For me, this time while our kids are children is flying by too fast and I hope to cherish every moment I can get with them (while trying to juggle work, etc.) and make memories together. I love that I can joke with my middle school child about things that happened when I volunteered for art in her Kinder class. Or that my other kids and I can joke about how grumpy a particular teacher was at their school. That being said, there’s no denying that there’s such thing as over-coddling. In fact, Breezy Mama joined Clinical Psychologist Dr. Rachel Goldenhar and Family Medicine Specialist Dr. Melinda Silva this morning on Fox 5 San Diego for a discussion on the down sides.

First, the basic definition of coddling is over pampering and protecting the child from things that might be “scary” or even upsetting, like hiding the death of a relative, for example, or a tragedy in the news. Never letting them be aware that “bad” things can happen in life, can set them up for major disappointment later.

“A recent article in The Atlantic said that college students are being over sensitive because they were the generation that were over-coddled,” Dr. Silva noted. “They are offended really easily over certain words. For example, there was a law student that didn’t want her teacher to [Read more…] about How Over-Coddling Has Created Vindictive Protectiveness