Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Remembering Fathers

My father worked all day, but he came home with a smile on his face.  He had a great sense of humor
Take a walk with your dad on Fathers' Day.
and used it often. He lost the lower part of his leg in WW II in Northern Italy, and as a very young child I thought all men had one leg. As I grew older, I wondered how he maintained such a good attitude about life. I think he felt lucky that he escaped that war with an injury and not loss of life.

He was a chemist and taught me to use a camera and to develop film in our basement, creating a makeshift darkroom. He loved computers and taught me how to use them and the software, plus he gave me all of his hand-me-down computers. If he had learned how to use Photoshop he would have loved it.

There were times that he made me angry, but I never expected him to be perfect. There were times when he forbade me (unfairly) to do things because he was trying to protect me.

The best thing he did was love my mother and stay with her. They had their differences but he was always there.

Once when I was substitute teaching I overheard a second grade student tell his friend in the lunch line, “My mother’s boyfriend made me cry last night.” My heart went out to that child, and I thought how lucky I was that as a child I didn’t have to move in with another family because of divorced parents.

I understand that people divorce and do the best they can for their children, but it is never the same as
Man relaxing his back with a Maine Warmers' microwave whale, extra large Back Warmer
Maine Warmers' Whale Back Warmers
having two parents. When parents think first of themselves and use children to gain control that is the worst. Thank goodness the majority of parents who divorce make their children’s needs a priority.
As Fathers' Day approaches it is good to remember that fathers bring laughter, fun, toys, love, and more often than not, financial support to children. Fathers are important. If you can't afford to give your father a gift then just be there, call, enjoy an outdoor activity with him, and be sure to tell him you love him.


Remember that fathers love the relaxing heat of a MaineWarmers’ microwave heating pad. Check out their web site, Facebook page, and Instagram photos to find out about a 15% off Fathers’ Day coupon.

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Tips for new fathers

Becoming a father for the first time is stressful. People are focused so much on mother and baby that a new dad can feel left out. Staying involved with daily care and interaction may help, according to health professionals at the Mayo Clinic in an article entitled “New Dad: Tips toManage Stress.”

Man using and Extra Long Neck Warmer to relax tense muscles while doing some financial planning
Extra Long Neck Warmer
Newborns are a huge responsibility and require a lot of attention. They bring changes in routine and activities and stretch the budget with added medical costs, work leave, and day care.  Sleep deprivation, loss of time with partner, and reduced sexual activity contribute to stress and can result in depression.

Financial planning will help smooth the road, talking with other fathers about how they handled the first year of fatherhood and thinking about the kid of father you want to be will help.

Taking turns caring for the baby, playing with him or her, and spending time with your partner and baby at the same time will help. Know that you will get more sleep as time goes one. Be affectionate and find ways to enjoy the time with your new family.  Your new child and your partner need you. Accept help from trusted family members and friends when they offer. If you find yourself in a depression, seek professional help.

A Maine Warmers Cozy Bunny on flowered sheets
Cozy Bunny Warmer for a crib or bassinet
If you are feeling nervous or tense then going to sleep may be difficult. A Maine Warmers Neck Warmer may help you relax at bedtime. You may also want pre-warm a newborn’s bassinet or crib with a microwave heating pad so when you place the baby down the cold sheets don’t wake him/her. 

Thursday, May 05, 2016

Colic is stressful for parents as well as babies

Colic is not only distressing for a baby but is for the parents as well. I recall walking my second child
Painting by Berthe Morisot, The Cradle, 1872, of a mother watching a sleeping baby in a cradle covered with netting
What mothers want to see
for several hours each day wondering how long it would take for his system to mature so he wouldn’t be in pain and would stop crying. A call to the doctor (that was decades ago) relieved my fears that something was wrong. My baby wasn’t always in pain, just in the afternoons. Being told that babies often outgrow colic in three months wasn’t very settling to me or my husband.

I was nursing and didn’t smoke or drink. I walked him to keep his body upright -- as advised. I tried adjusting my diet but I am not sure that did much good. It seemed like I was doing the right things, but little seemed to help except time. I think it was about a week or two, although it seemed like years, and he began to get over whatever was causing the distress.

The Mayo Clinic has an article on the symptoms, causes, risk factors, tests, support, some tips, and home remedies.  I did a lot of rocking and singing but didn’t know that gentle heat on a baby’s tummy may help relieve symptoms.

A Maine Warmer, microwaved for 30 seconds and placed on the tummy, provides gentle heat. A pair
of Palm Packs are small enough for a baby -- or use Maine Ice (pictured at the right) which can be heated. All of Maine Warmers products can be microwaved for heat or frozen for gentle cold therapy. And they all have washable covers.


A bonus! Place it in the baby’s crib to pre-warm the sheets and prevent the baby from waking. As the baby grows, he or she will appreciate some of the cute animal designs.