Itunes Refunds for Child Purchases

iTunes just issued a policy update which allows you to request refunds on apps purchased by your little ones without your permission.  Just thought I would share.
Realest Mother Dearest signing off.

Fatherhood, a Documentary ALL Parents Can Learn From

 Click Here to Watch the Series

I know Mother's Day comes first, but do not let the title fool you.  Although Frank Azaria, voice actor for the animated series , "The Simpsons", takes the angle of fatherhood, the panel of experts and fellow fathers share advice and anecdotes about parenting which could be of use to any parent.   

The 12-part series spans a few years.  Although Azaria intended to use the documentary to investigate parenting and whether or not he wanted to embark on the journey, his girlfriend became pregnant, and we are able to watch his son, Hal, from the beginning.  

From having a premature son (10 weeks early!) to teaching an only child to socialize with others because the whole world doesn't revolve around him anymore, we get to see how Azaria and others deal with each phase.  Heavier subjects such as death and God are even discussed.

It took some doing but I completed all 12 segments, and I feel it is worth the time.

This is Realest Mother Dearest signing off.  

Child Abuse Awareness

               
         I'm not going to go into the gory details of the latest viral video of a man beating his daughter for disappearing for 3 days as well as wearing a slip of a dress in public.  If you are interested, you can watch it here.   I'm also not about to make you gag at the mother of 5 who was imprisoned for neglecting her children in filth, but if you are curious you can click here. What I will say is, it's easy to look at such an obvious outlier such as public abuse and say "that's not right" but there are other forms of abuse that are dismissed every day.
          April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and here are some signs of abuse.  Hopefully if you are guilty of some these behaviors your will seek help.  Psychology Today categorizes child abuse as physical, emotional, verbal or sexual.  The abuse can be the result of neglect.
         I often find myself engaging in thought-provoking conversation about what is acceptable in the way of chastisement for children.  It is hard to know at times if you are doing the right thing for those with older children, but if you don't understand what abuse is, you will exact it on your child, thinking the ends justifies the means.  Verbal abuse is more than just a firm tone of voice; it is berating a child into obedience.  I have witnessed parents using this tactic and I always want to say something but parenting is such a sensitive subject I refuse to volunteer information.  Embarrassing your child in front of his or her friends about a bedwetting problem with not help them get over it any faster, especially if bedwetting comes from a lack of emotional security.
         If there is anything I can say about these horrific tales of neglect and abuse, I would like to say be careful with your words and actions, even in moments of extreme anger.  A child's wrongdoing is not an opportunity to hand out whatever punishment comes to mind.  A heavy hand only provokes wrath after so long.
     
        This is Realest Mother Dearest signing off.

Wi-Fi and Children's Health

As I type this entry, I am using the Wi-Fi in my home.  I am in an apartment, and there are several nearby Wi-Fi ignals.  Each signal carries its own, albeit low, radiation, and although the research on Wi-Fi and health is inconclusive, many people are complaining of a myriad of symptoms ranging from headaches to difficult sleeping.  Some schools ban the use of Wi-Fi in the interest of sparing children from the potentially harmful effects.

The debate still rages on, but I know personally, some of my close friends as well as myself have experienced symptoms that seem to disappear when the wifi is disabled or the ethernet cable is employed instead.  Here are some suggestions to consider when at home:

• Disable the Wi-Fi when it is not in use. 
• Disable the Wi-Fi habitually before bedtime.  
• Limit your use of Wi-Fi during the day, i.e., allow yourself so much time for frivolous games and Facebook, then find other things to do.

After you have done these things for about a week, document how you feel, how your children behave, and how your sleep patterns are affected.  You may be surprised.  There is another claim that plants cannot thrive near wireless routers, which is troubling to say the least.

Investigate for yourself, and tell me what you think.  This is Realest Mother Dearest signing off.

Career Shifts

         Since my daughter came into my life, a lot of issues in this society have come to the forefront of my mind.  One such issue is how kid unfriendly American society seems to be.  From the time that little pee stick turned blue, I sought employment with the awareness that employers do not like pregnant women.

        You can read up on this and other issues in The Shriver Report which features articles by everyday mothers from all over the country as well as superstar mom Beyonce.

                                                             
       This experience got me to thinking: how can I get my career going so I can have the money and time to be a good mom?  As a childless adult, it was easy to just pull a double shift or get a second job when I wanted to pay down a debt or take a trip.  With a child things are a little more complicated.  You can't trust all of your family members to do things properly, and those who will are not always free to look after your little ones.  
        I decided to make myself a more worthy candidate in the job market by becoming fluent in Spanish with the Rosetta Stone program.
                                                               
         It is at a discount right now, but I'm not sure for how long.  The program is downloadable on up to 5 devices, which is perfect for a busy mom like myself.  Also, bilingual jobs are in high demand, since the Spanish-speaking populace has grown more than ever before in the U.S., making it a good choice for me.  Many jobs pay $1 more an hour for entry-level bilingual employees.  The program claims I can be fluent in 6 months if I complete a 30 minute course every day.  To be fair, I am breezing through the first of 5 lessons because I took (and passed!) Spanish in college.  I will keep you guys posted on my experience, but so far so good.

      This is Realest Mother Dearest signing off.  Comment below on how your approach to career goals changed after you had a child.

Breast Is Best

Breastfeeding is the most natural option to feed a child, and it is stirring up controversy yet again.

The mother pictured above is Ashley Nicole, and she is the girlfriend of Miami Dolphin's linebacker Phillip Wheeler.  Her photo went viral on Instagram because her exposed breast was deemed inappropriate by some.  

The world is so upside down and backwards.  How is is that a woman breastfeeding is disgusting but drinking cow's milk is normalized?  I'm confused.

I won't draw out the subject since a lot of my sentiments are expressed in Demetria L. Lucas' blog on The Root website.  

Tell me what you think.

This is Realest Mother Dearest signing off. 

HERBAL Birth Control???

Have y'all ever heard of herbal birth control???
I first found out about this option while incorporating turmeric into my diet as a detox assist.  I research all supplements, because even thought they are from the earth, so is poison ivy.  That is when I discovered it is to be avoided during pregnancy and nursing, and it is said to be a natural birth control.  According to the healthy home economist, there are several herbs that aid in safely delaying pregnancy without the risks commonly associated with mainstream birth control such as breast cancer, osteoporosis and sterility.  Here are some examples.  I am not a doctor folks, and I am not aware of the dosing, so do your own research.


This site and others suggest using Queen Anne's Lace as an herbal supplement to prevent pregnancy.  It is said to have been highly effective in the olden days, and the herb is one of the two plants that yielded the hybrid we know today as the carrot (the other plant is the sweet potato).

Neem oil is another natural birth control remedy.  This oil boasts hair growth properties as well as a potent spermicidal lubricant.  On the other hand, it is said to have a potent and offensive aroma, so try at your own risk.  I don't want to smell like a garbage pail kid, especially not during sex.

There are many more interesting herbs listed for such use, so look into it and seek the advice of a seasoned holistic practitioner if you are sincerely interested in making herbal birth control part of your lifestyle.  Comment below if you or someone you know is already doing so.  This is Realest Mother Dearest signing off.