MIsadventures of a Parenting Yogi - Book Review

I appreciate people who can talk honestly about life, especially when it comes to subjects like childbirth and parenting.  I also appreciate funny people.  I really adore people who can talk honestly about life and make me laugh while they do it, which is why I am happy to share a book I just read!  The book is titled Misadventures of a Parenting Yogi.  The title had me at “Misadventures”.  Any book with a title containing that word has got to be filled with some hilarious stuff, right?  Add to that the words parent and Yogi?  Yeah…I’m in.

Misadventures of a Parenting Yogi is all that it purports to be.  It is, just like I surmised, a candid and humorous look at parenting from the viewpoint of Brian Leaf, a yoga instructor (one of his many titles) from Massachusetts.   Brian has managed to create a memoir/parenting book combo that is neither preachy or self-indulgent.  The glimpses into his family life and his attempts at conscious parenting are both funny and poignant and although I did not agree with all of Brian's parenting choices, I could totally relate to his struggle to find his "happy spot" as a dad.  I love that rather than offering advice, he simply shares his experiences and the lessons he has learned while raising his own children.

Here is an excerpt from one of my favorite chapters: 

It’s 5:00 AM. I have to pee very badly. 

And I’d like to go meditate.

Someone else would simply get out of bed, pee, and blithely head off to their cushion.Not me.

To do this, I must pull off a CIA operation.

I must remove the covers, inch by inch — in the dead of night our comforter sounds like a crinkly bag of potato chips. I must crawl to the edge of the bed (our bed is pinned against the wall to make room for Benji’s changing table). I must step off, and in the pitch-black, follow the border of the bed frame.

I must round the corner of the bed, where someone who designed our bed has very cruelly placed a jutting protuberance at exactly shin height. At five in the morning I forget this every time. I must stifle my cries. Power through the pain. Eyes tearing, I round the corner and toe the balance-beam width between Benji’s changing table and our bed, ever careful, ninja-like, to step lightly.

I am almost out. But now I face my greatest challenge. The small distance between me and the door, maybe five feet, is a minefield of creaky floorboards. Gwen has them memorized. For some reason I do not. At first I pause to consider my options, and then I panic, sprinting the short distance to the door.

My feet land extra heavy, and the floorboards creak like mad...yet no one awakens. Hashtag grateful.On the way out, I shut the door in one motion, careful that it does not squeak, promising to myself that today is the day I will remember to oil the hinges.

Failure in this operation is not an option. Benji is not sleeping more than two hours at a stretch. Neither, therefore, is Gwen. She is grumpy. I must not wake her or Benji.

So totally relatable, right?  Every parent can picture themselves in this exact same predicament!  And here's one of the answers I liked best from his Q and A session:

Q and A with author Brian Leaf

The subtitle of your book is Cloth Diapers, Cosleeping, and My (Sometimes Successful) Quest for Conscious Parenting. What do you mean by Conscious Parenting?

Conscious Parenting is really no different from conscious anything else. It could be conscious Monopoly playing, conscious eating, conscious hiking, or conscious Texas Hold’em. It simply means being aware of whatever is happening – the challenges, the joys, the anxieties, as well as our reactions to all of this. When we are aware of something we are separate from it. So, instead of acting from frustration, elation, or fear, we act from our deeper selves. We see more clearly and are more free to behave as we choose.

And finally, a glimpse of the author in action:

YesWhat he said! You can find Brian's books on sale at both Amazon and on his website. Perfect Father's Day gift!!

Disclosure: I received a copy of Brian's book from publisher New World Library to help facilitate this review, but was not compensated in any way.  All opinions are my own!

Don't Stop Me Now - My Declaration of Action for Summer

I'm not one of those moms that maps out the entire summer of activities so my kids have things to do to keep their brains and bodies occupied.  I want to be that mom, but I am not.  Mostly? I feel like I am this mom: 

This summer will be my attempt at breaking the cycle of procrastination when it comes to getting my kids organized and active while they are not in school. Oh my gosh, how many times have I uttered that phrase?!   Well, this time I'm pretty sure I sort of mean it.  At this moment, as I type this?  I kind of feel like this:

 

So...watch out world!  No.  Seriously.  Could you just move to the side a tiny bit so I can try and do this?  You're kind of in the way.  And I'm a big, unorganized woman, so I need some space to get things done.  Seriously.  MOVE!  Cuz I am sooo doin' this thing.  For Realz.  

Come back tomorrow and catch my Summer Activity post!

Celebrate National Mom's Nite Out with Papa Murphy's #PapaMurphysMNO

Have you heard about National Mom's Nite Out?  It was started 5 years ago by Maria Bailey as a way to encourage busy moms to take a night off by getting together with friends to celebrate Motherhood our way!  The event always takes place the Thursday before Mother's Day. That's May 8th this year.  That's TODAY, people!! 

And to help you celebrate?  I have a fantastic deal to tell you about!  Yes...it really is fantastic.  Both in price and taste. How do I know?  Because as a #PapaMurphysMom, I have had occasion to sample a few pizzas and sides from P-Murph's.  Chicken Artichoke Bacon Pizza?  Freaking. Awesome. Also delicious?  The Cowboy (pictured here all wrapped up for transport) and the Smores Dessert Pizza.  

 

But on to the deal before I start drooling.
 

This year Papa Murphy’s wants to help feed your family on National Mom’s Nite Out! Today only, May 8th, you can take advantage of the Mom’s Meal Deal* at participating Papa Murphy’s locations. For only $12, you can treat your family to any large 2-topping pizza and your choice of 2 sides: Cheesy Bread, Cookie Dough, Cinnamon Wheel or S’mores Pizza. This is a great option for Dad to feed the kids while Mom is out celebrating, or simply a great excuse to take the night off from cooking! Can you say BARGAIN!?!?

You can print this coupon out or pull it up on your phone, but make sure you show it at your Papa Murphy’s location in order to redeem the offer.

*Valid on May 8, 2014 ONLY. Limited time offer. Limit 3. Not valid with any other offers. Valid only at participating locations. Coupons cannot be sold, transferred or duplicated.

Booyah!  Dinner tonight is covered. From Papa Murphy's and Mom's Nite Out and Me -  to you.  Now hand those delicious discs of doughy, cheesy goodness off to Dad or the neighbor or the babysitter to throw in the oven and head out to your local Mom's Night Out event for some fun and entertainment!  Do it!  You'll be glad you did and you can relax knowing everyone at home will have full tummies!

**Disclosure: As a #PapaMurphysMom I have received free samples to try with my family and to share my honest opinion. 

Boymom Parenting Confession: I'm Not Ready for Teenagers

I have major writer's block.  I have had if for like 3 years now.  I keep trying to compose witty or compelling blog content, but nothing coming from my keyboard seems very readable these days. Okay, the truth is, there are lots of things I want to say, but I am kind of self-censoring because I want to make sure I say what I have to say the right way.  It's pretty raw right now.  So I will wait until I can share it in an impactful way.

  

Until then, I will proudly post this photo of my growing boys and share the fact that along with the brain fog that keeps me from being able to create a decent blog post?  I am also kind of having parental paralysis.  I have a teenager and a pre-teen, y'all!  Parenting at this stage is so different than it was when they were little!  I think I was a much better little kid mom than I am a teenager mom.  I am having a hard time engaging with them as they get older and that worries me.  I know these are critical years and I know how important positive parental interaction is for teenagers.  Being a teenager is tough!  And I don't want to be the person making it harder for them than it needs to be.  

I am so lucky that I have good boys.  But I know how quickly things can change.  One wrong choice, whether it be choosing the wrong friend or experimenting with drugs, can have such a negative impact on a kid's life.  So I need to step up and make sure that I am as equipped as I can possibly be to deal with life as a mom of teenagers.  I hear many of you laughing right now.  Not giggling...loud guffaws and head shaking coming from the internets.  And I know why. Because I think the answer to that is that there is no way to be fully prepared and equipped for what's coming. Because it's different for everyone and it changes daily.  And I must be insane if I think I can adequately prepare for what's coming.  Am I right?  I'm pretty sure I am right.  And to your laughing?  I respond with this:  "I know. Shut up."

 

So this is a shout for help to all my mom friends who have teenagers.  How do you make the transition from being a kid parent to a teenager parent?  How have you improved your relationship with your teenage boys?  How do you engage with them in positive ways when their hormones are raging and yours are changing and you both want to scream at the top of your lungs and cry instead of having a calm conversation? What if you have nothing in common with your son anymore?  What tips do you have for a struggling Boymom of teens to help her create a loving, safe environment for her sons?

I'm reachin' out, Boymoms!  Don't leave me hangin.'  Drop some knowledge on me.  I am open and willing to listen. But you should hurry, because the hormones are all over the place and my window of openness might shut without warning tomorrow!  

Celebrate Mother's Day with a Mom's Night Out

Sometimes as moms we get so busy and wrapped up in the care of our family that we forget to take care of ourselves.  And when we start to feel tired and burned out, maybe we start feeling guilty about wanting a little down time.  What helps me when I get to that place?  Is being reminded that I am not alone in the struggle to keep from feeling that I'm not doing a good enough job of raising my kids.

So when something comes along that lifts me up and helps me soldier on in the parenting department and maybe even makes me laugh about it? I wanna share!

Mother's Day is just a month away and this year Moms can celebrate the ups and downs of motherhood by seeing Mom's Night Out, a movie by Provident Films.  It opens in theaters on Friday May 9th, making it the perfect way to take the night off with a group of mom friends for a night of fun!!

The movie stars favorite TV mom Patricia Heaton, beautiful Sarah Drew, Sean Aston and Trace Adkins.  I was privileged to see a special screening of the movie a few months ago and I found it both hilarious and heartwarming.  But more importantly?  The movie reminded me that the most important work I will ever do is within the walls of my own home and that I need to not judge myself so harshly when I feel like the job is hard and frustrating and overwhelming.  Because sometimes it is all those things.  Seriously.  Go see the movie.  You will leave the theater feeling so much better about the work you do in your home.

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Why I Teach My Kids to be Intelligent Consumers

Bad purchases are something we all deal with at one point or another throughout our lives.  Sometimes even our favorite brands have a bad day and we find ourselves frustrated with the quality of something we have purchased.  

I had two of those experiences in one weekend at the end of March.  Depending on the cost and time involved, I will sometimes just take these experiences in stride.  But money is beyond tight right now.  It is kind of non-existent, actually.  Every penny I spend needs to be spent wisely and produce as much good (and volume - I have two growing boys who are hungry ALL THE TIME!) as possible. So when I spend money to purchase food, I expect it to be made well and to be edible.  Otherwise, I am wasting time and money that I don't have and I become a frustrated, angry Boymom.

So when I had two experiences in one weekend with food purchases that did not live up to minimum standards, I did what many frustrated consumers do these days:  I took to Twitter and Facebook and posted photos of the offending food products.  I made sure I called the companies who made the food out by name.  When my son asked me why I was trying to embarrass those businesses on Facebook, I realized it was time for a discussion about how important it is as a consumer to hold companies accountable when what they produce is sub-par.

Illustration by Isabelle Arsenault

Kids are prime targets for brands and marketers who know that a large part of the household budget will be spent on purchases to meet the needs of the children. Teaching kids how to navigate these marketing tactics to become intelligent consumers is so important!  Both of my boys have learned how to be good consumers when it comes to saving money.  We have talked about and practiced comparison shopping so that they learn how to find the best price on products they want to buy.  One of my kids actively seeks out reviews and pricing differences on video games or toys he is interested in purchasing.  The other kid?  Struggles sometimes.  He is an impulse shopper.  We are working on that.  But it dawned on me that while I had taught my boys to look for good deals, I haven't spent much time teaching them what to do if the deal goes bad because the product they purchased is poorly made. 

So back to the question my son asked about embarrassing the company on Facebook.  I thought it was interesting that he saw my attempts to get the companies' attention as trying to embarrass them.  I suppose in reality, that is exactly what I was doing. I could call it reaching out, but really what I was doing by posting pictures and tagging those businesses was showing them and the world what kind of crap they had packaged and sold to me.  I was letting them know, in a very public way, that I was not at all happy with what I received for the money I spent.  "But why embarrass them, Mom? Why not just write a letter or call the company and tell them what happened and ask for your money back?"  

OK, seriously? I love that my kid is so concerned about people.  His main concern was not that we need to get our money back for a really bad product.  His concern is that the company might somehow be hurt by what I was posting.  So kudos, Kiddo, for taking the time to make sure that what I was doing was not going to cause unnecessary pain. 

This is where the meat of the discussion took place. The whole thing came down to these questions:  When is it okay to use social media to call out a company for their shoddy products?  Is that public shaming or is it being a good consumer?  It had never occurred to me that my son might equate my attempt to get the attention of a company with cyber bullying.  We talked a lot about the difference between bullying and using a social media platform to make good things happen.  We discussed the options a person has when a purchase goes wrong. Yep, I could have written a letter or made a phone call.  Would it have produced the results I wanted?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  Then we talked about what happens when a picture of a poorly made product gets posted on the internet.  The answer?  Lots of people see it. Then they wonder if that company is a good place to spend their money next time they want that same item.  Do they spend their money somewhere else now?  Well, if they are good consumers, first they will take the time to see if the company did anything to resolve the original complaint.

And therein lies the difference, at least in my mind, between cyber bullying and being an active consumer when it comes to holding companies accountable.  Tearing a company down and damaging its reputation just because you don't like the owner's political views? That's bullying. Using the internet as a platform to attempt to effect change from a company that is producing sub-standard products? When done right, it is called being an active and intelligent consumer.  Yes, I posted a picture of the offending products.  Why?  Because that will get a business' attention faster than anything! The response I got from both companies came within just a few hours of me posting the photos.  And I am happy to say that both companies took the time to make sure that I was reimbursed for the purchases.  So I posted that information too.  I also want to ensure that people can see that both companies cared enough about their customers to take care of customer complaints. 

It's a tough world we live in.  I want my boys to feel confident in their ability to deal with money and shopping issues. I want them to feel like they have a voice as a consumer and know that it is okay to use that voice to get a product issue resolved.  And more importantly, I want them to understand that there is nothing wrong with holding businesses accountable as long as it is done in the spirit of helping, lifting up, effecting positive change.  That's what being an intelligent, active, informed consumer is all about.

YOUR TURN
How do you teach your kids to be intelligent consumers?  Share your tips with us!

Wordless Wednesday - Well, Just a Few Words, Cuz I Can't Not Talk

My Christmas Poinsettia: Haggard and worn, but not giving up. Hmmm...Life Metaphor?

Monster Jam Comes Back to Nampa, Idaho - March 14th, 2014

Guess what time it is?  Guess. What. Time. It. Is?!  It's Monster Jam time in Idaho, people!!  Time to get out and be amongst your fellow Monster Truck fans for a heart thumpin', fist bumpin' night of Monster Truck action! 

Monster Jam will be returning to the Idaho Center in Nampa on March 14th and 15th, 2014 for 3 shows. There will be an evening show on Friday, March 14th and both a Matinee and evening show on Saturday, March 15th.  And don't forget to go to the Pit Party before the Saturday Matinee!  Kids can get autographes from the drivers and see the Monster Trucks up close!  Pit passes go fast, so you'll want to make sure to get those tickets early!

My boys love the Monster Jam.  It's so fun to see the trucks, support the local racers and be a part of a great crowd! It's one night the boys really get to let loose and get loud and scream at the top of their lungs as they cheer for their favorite truck.  They like to check the Monster Jam website throughout the year to see how their trucks are doing and enter some of the contests.   Little ones will love the activities and coloring pages you can find here! 

This year's Monster Jam features 8 high flying, car crushing trucks, with old favorites like Grave Digger and Captain USA returning to the Idaho Center, while Max-D, Monster Energy, and Destroyer make their Nampa debut!

Photos by Eric Stern - Monster Jam Website

Monster JamTickets are on sale now with Kids tickets starting as low at $10!  You can get your tickets by clicking this link. I Am Boymom readers can use code MOM for a $4 off discount (see discount  

• Valid on Friday 7:30pm and Saturday 2pm only
• No double discounts
• Valid on $22 & $25 tickets only
• Offer expires March 13, 2014  

 Hope to see you there!  Look for us, we will be the crazy ones waving our hands and cheering like mad!

Disclosure:   I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events.  Even though these benefits were received, ALL thoughts and opinions are my own.  No other compensation was provided.