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Juicebox Jukebox: Summer Tunes to Get You Groovin'

Posted on by Angie

What songs screams Summertime to you? Here are some of the ones we are listening to now around the house when we’re in the mood for a dance party, in the car on a road trip or just around town running errands!

Rolling In the Deep – Adele – There is just something about her voice that keeps me coming back for more, my girls love dancing to this song!

Knee Deep – Zac Brown Band (feat. Jimmy Buffett) – Is it possible to have a summer playlist without Jimmy Buffett?

The Edge of Glory – Lady Gaga – Turn this one up and sing it loud!

Rhythm of Love – Plain White T’s – This is just an upbeat, make you feel happy, kind of song

To the Sky – Owl City–  A dreamy world out there… Another feel good song.

Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO (feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock) – This is the ultimate party song. One Mom we know described this song as “turning my Jeep Liberty on its morning commute into the hottest nightclub. One that only serves shots of whole milk and Starbucks.” Shuffle On..

Good Life – OneRepublic – Good life or Great life, this is a great cruising song. Watch for a bad word – we mute or I yell over it.

Relator – Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson Did you know that Scarlett Johansson can sing? She can. Love this song.

Shiny Happy People – REM – Don’t we want our kids all shiny and happy?

California – Phantom Planet– California Here we Come…

Firework – Katy Perry – Had to include this since we’re headed into the 4th of July Weekend

Summertime – Will Smith – I realize we included this on our summer list last year, but as long as I’m putting together summer tunes, this song will be included. It’s like the summer anthem or theme song. It would be a crime to not include it.

What are you listening to this summer?

Harry Potter Read-a-thon

Posted on by Angie

Calling all Muggles!

Harry Potter enthusiasts young and old will be excited to hear about an exciting weekend of magic and storytelling. The Desert Island Supply Co is hosting a read-a-thon at Emmet O’Neal Library in Mountain Brook.
The schedule looks like this:

Also be sure to join them for the Hogwarts Food and Craft Fair on Friday, July 22, 6-8 p.m. We’ll have butterbeer, a wand-making booth and other fun Hogwartsian activities.

Harry Potter Read-a-Thon Schedule

Friday, July 22 @ 6 AM — Harry Potter Read-a-Thon begins with two men appearing out of nowhere, a few yards apart in a narrow, moonlit lane.*

Friday, July 22 @ 6-8 PM — Hogwarts Food and Craft Fair. Free booths and craft tables, including a butterbeer stand and a wand-making booth.**

Saturday, July 23 @ 10 AM-noon — Read-a-thon participants will apparate to the Pepper Place Saturday Market for special reading appearances by Harry, Hermione, Dumbledore, McGonagall and others.

Sunday, July 24 @ 2:30 PM — Harry Potter Read-a-Thon ends with last pages read by mystery reader who shall not be named.

Sunday, July 24 @ 2:30-3 PM — Prizes awarded for top fundraising individual and team, best costumes and reading performance.

*Read-a-thon organizers cannot guarantee that the narrow lane will be moonlit.
**Reminder: By city ordinance, the Emmet O’Neal Library is a spells-free zone.

If you are interested in learning more about DISCO, or about becoming a reader, check them out here.

Register to become a reader– it’s only 10 minute increments and you will be helping to raise money for DISCO’s new facility.
Prizes will be awarded for: Top Individual Fundraiser, Top Team Fundraiser, Best Costumes, Best Reading Performances

4th of July Snack Cups

Posted on by Angie

It’s quite likely that you’ll have a house full of family and/or friends over to celebrate or cook out over the long Holiday weekend, if there are children on your guest list, whip up a few of these festive little snack cups. They’ll be a great party favor or something to take with you when you head out to watch the fireworks.

We found several ways to make these online but since it’s crunch time I went with what I had around the house and the only thing I had to purchase were the cups.

What you’ll need:

  • Styrofoam cup(s)
  • Red and blue felt (we didn’t have blue felt so we used blue construction paper)
  • Red paint, paint pens or markers..
  • Paintbrush
  • White or silver paint pen, or marker if you’re using blue construction paper, silver glitter for blue felt
  • Scissors
  • White craft glue
  • Black marker or pen
  • Silver Glitter

What You’ll Do:

Place cup, open end down, on top of the red felt and trace with a marker.

Cut around the traced circle leaving about a ¾” border around it.

Fold the circle and cut a slit in the center of the circle to allow your scissors to get in. Cut out the inside circle, leaving about a ¼” border around the inside of the trace line. Set felt circle aside.

Paint/draw red stripes all the way around the outside of the cup, stripes should run up and down. Let dry completely.

Cut a strip of blue felt or construction paper about 1.5” wide. Long enough to wrap around the brim of the cup.

For blue felt use glue to draw star shapes then sprinkle with silver glitter, for blue construction paper draw stars with your white or silver paint pen or marker.

Glue felt strip/Construction paper strip around the outside of the top of the cup.

Lay red felt circle on to work surface, black trace line facing up.

Line the lip of the cup with white glue and press down onto black trace line. Let dry.

Turn cup over and place on work surface.

When everything is dry, fill with treats and enjoy!

Happy 4th of July!!

The Scoop on Callaway Gardens

Posted on by Angie
The Butterfly House provided us with lots of "OOH's" and "AAH's"

BirminghamMommy took a week to experience the Summer Family Adventure at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA.  I will sum it up in 5 words, summer camp for the family.

1. Balance: This was the perfect vacation for everyone because there was plenty to do and plenty of relaxation time. There are 2 kinds of vacationers, the do-ers and the relax-ers.  I am a relax-er and my husband is a do-er. All kids, by nature, are do-ers.  This vacation actually changed me a bit, I’m now 25% do-er!  I enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment from tackling the flying trapeze just as much as I loved lying poolside reading a book.

2. Variety: With balance, you must have variety. The schedule for the SFA came out and made me absolutely giddy. The kids and I sat and talked about all of the options we all had. We were all excited and it felt like we were all going to summer camp!

3. Dual purposes: The kids hit the day camp from 9-3 everyday, which means you have a couples vacation for half the day. It’s a great way to spend some time focusing on your spouse. And you miss your kids so evening family time becomes really special. The bonfires, plays, bird shows, circus viewings… all of those things took on an even deeper meaning because I appreciated that time with them. And I will admit, getting a break from one another made us all more appreciative of each other.

4. Unique: This is not your typical vacation- it is very focused on the family aspect while still respecting the individual’s perspective.

We highly recommend the Summer Family Adventure– we loved it so much we stayed an extra day!

A vacation they'll remember forever!

A Mother's Shade of Green: Encourage a Greener Life, Without Preaching

Posted on by Angie

By Kate Agliata:

A few months I met up with a new friend over a cup of coffee. While getting to know one another better we soon realized many commonalities, namely a passion for educating others about the benefits of green living. She was excited to learn about my writing A Mother’s Shade of Green, and commented on the vast amount of green parenting related topics I could cover. I too, was just as excited about the endless possibilities. Yet, it wasn’t long before I also realized a bit of a dilemma—while trying to educate people about green living, I would need to be careful not to cross the fine line between sounding too preachy, and offering a good dose of encouragement. What I needed to figure out was how to convince you, and at the same time, also encourage you to convince your friends, that living a greener lifestyle really does make a difference.

The amount of information about living a more Eco-friendly way of life swirling all around us is frankly, overwhelming. It’s not surprising that many people still just tune out, or have yet to even climb on board with greener approaches. My friend was right, in this day and age, especially among our generation of young parents, there is so much about our environment, health and purchases worth examining, learning, and sharing. But who do we trust, and how do we decide which ideas or methods should fall into our family’s growing list of priorities? I can’t even tell you how many people I have conversed with over the last few months who’ve said to me, “I really want to live greener, but I just don’t know where to start.” My usual response is to offer any pertinent suggestions I’m able, hoping that I too, am not overwhelming my inquisitor. Yet, I am always afraid of walking that fine line I mentioned. After all, I am not a green living “expert” per say, but rather a person and a parent, who probably isn’t that different from you—I’d do anything to keep my children safe and out of harms way. That is the most simple explanation as to why I care so deeply about the environment in which my children live.

I grew up in a family where being mindful about our actions was among top priorities, and where respect for our planet was taught by example, not by lecture. But as I grew older and developed my own passions, I could see how easy it was to get too caught up in defending my beliefs. Over time I’ve tried to soften my approach, and I’ve learned a thing or two about improving my conversation. For me, this “green living” way of life isn’t about politics or trying to change the world, but rather more about common sense, and about working toward keeping my family safe and healthy.

Of course, my approach occasionally comes as a bit of dismay to my poor husband. I am that girl who is constantly researching and saying, “yes, let’s try that! Let’s incorporate that green method into our life as well!” As a result he now has to suffer with less than ideal circumstances such as weeds taking over our lawn, (I say: the chemicals may harm our dogs or worse end up on our children’s bare feet!) and random boxes in our garage filled with empty glass jars and bottles (I can’t help that our local recycling program doesn’t accept glass, and I refuse to toss them in the trash). Once while having new friends over for dinner I got so carried away during a conversation about natural skincare products that I actually brought out my Tom’s of Maine deodorant to show our guests. My husband reminded me for weeks about the odd looks I got that night. Needless to say, they didn’t reciprocate our dinner invitation.

While my husband may be slightly embarrassed, and my children’s teachers annoyed by my continual nagging to set up recycling centers in their classrooms, I continue to fight for my beliefs. Along the way however, I’ve learned that not everyone is going to share my passion for the exact same green living beliefs, and that is okay. My advice to you, is to pick and choose what aspects of it work for you and your family, whether it’s recycling, toting your own cloth bags, or banning plastic water bottles—or even all of it! No one else can decide which green approaches are right for you. My experience has taught me that preaching to others, or even just throwing hard cold facts around won’t do any good in convincing them to engage in greener methods. Instead, I’ve learned to focus on having fun with my own green living, and to share my input about it’s many benefits when asked, or when the circumstances call for doing so. Most importantly, I’ve learned to provide encouragement through example.

About Kate:

Kate, a freelance writer and mother of two, most often finds creative inspiration in writing, but occasionally at the bottom of an empty wine glass. She has hijacked her family’s former lifestyle and is in the midst of creating a simpler and greener approach to life. To follow her family’s challenges and successes in this endeavor, visit her blog, at Kate’s Musings. She and her family have lived in Birmingham since 2009.

Birmingham Events Calendar: June 26th – July 3rd

Posted on by Angie

We’re about halfway through the summer, have you been able to mark a bunch of things off of your summer bucket list?

Ronald McDonald will be at Homewood Library this week, summer reading is still going strong as well as the free and discounted movies! Which ones have you seen?

Don’t miss the Summer Celebration at Wald Park on Thursday, lots of family fun with tons of activities for the kids, including a movie! They’ll be showing Despicable Me.

Enjoy your week, a long Holiday weekend is just around the corner!

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

Sunday June 26th:

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art

Make an African inspired elephant mask!

Haven’t been yet? The Museum now offers a fun and free drop-in art program for kids and families! Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
1pm

Scholastic Chess Club at Books-A-Million Brookwood Village
In our upstairs Kids Nook.  Beginners are welcome, lessons
available, K-12, other mind sport activities are available such as
checkers and GO.  Free to attend!
2PM – 5PM

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Monday June 27th:

Movie Matinee – North Shelby Library
Ramona & Beezus all ages, snacks served, no registration required
2pm

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Tuesday June 28th:

Ronald McDonald – Homewood Public Library
Ronald McDonald is at it again. Come enjoy the magic and comedy of this familiar face. We promise you won’t leave without laughing.
10:30am

LEE BRYAN PRESENTS TRAVELIN’ TALES: ONE WORLD – Emmet O’Neal LIbrary
That Puppet Guy Lee Bryan presents “Travelin’ Tales: One World.”
10:30 am and 3:30 pm. All ages. No registration required.

Aaron Nigel Smith – Hoover Public Library
Aaron Nigel Smith’s simple mission is to share his love for music and movement with the world, through his arts program FUNdamentals of Music and Movement, his two CDs, and his appearances on Between the Lions.  There will definitely be dancing in the Library Theatre!
10:30am, 1:30pm and 6:30pm

Free or Discounted Movies
Amstar Alabaster – Tales of Despereaux
Rave, Lee Branch & Patton Creek – Ramona and Beezus
Regal Trussville – Charlotte’s Web and Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Edge 12 – Anastasia, Shrek

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Wednesday June 29th:

Aaron Nigel Smith – Hoover Public Library
Aaron Nigel Smith’s simple mission is to share his love for music and movement with the world, through his arts program FUNdamentals of Music and Movement, his two CDs, and his appearances on Between the Lions.  There will definitely be dancing in the Library Theatre!
10:30am and 1:30pm

Storytime Science – McWane
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity for your early learner to experience science through literature. Enjoy an enriching story coupled with an intriguing science concept that is sure to spark the curiosity of your child.
COST: Included in cost of admission to the museum, FREE for members
10:30am

Wild Wednesdays – McWane Science Center
Included in the cost of admission to the museum, FREE for members
Bring your little animals for Wild Wednesdays every week this summer. On these special days, your family can take a walk on the wild side and learn about animals from around the world during different programs throughout the day. Join us for the daily line up of educational programs and then roam through the museum in between programs.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
10:30 AM: WILD ABOUT ART
(Recommended for ages Kindergarten and younger)
11:30 AM: Science on the WILD side
1:30 PM: Gulf Tank Feeding in the Aquarium
3:30 PM: WILD About Animals

Wonderful Wednesday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Storytime today! We’ll read this family favorite and listen as Ray Charles reads the story to us on NOOK Color. Snacks and activities to follow!
11am

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

Free or Discounted Movies
Amstar Alabaster – Tales of Despereaux
Rave, Lee Branch & Patton Creek – Ramona and Beezus
Regal Trussville – Charlotte’s Web and Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Edge 12 – Anastasia, Shrek

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Thursday June 30th:

Summer Celebration – Wald Park Vestavia
First Event of the 30th Annual I Love America Summer Celebration Series.
Free Swimming, Children’s Activities, Business Expo, and a Movie in the Park (Despicable Me)
6:30 – 9:30pm

Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar? – Homewood Public Library
Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar? A mystery storytime for all ages. When we find the culprit we’ll make them share.
10:30am

My World Storytime  – Hoover Public Library
My Wiggles – Summer storytime for children under four.  In the programming room with Miss Traci and Miss Shawna.
10:30am

Free and Discounted Movies
Carmike Summit – Madagascar 1

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Friday July 1st:

Wild About Books Storytime – Birmingham Zoo
Join us for story and craft time with Books-A-Million at the Birmingham Zoo!  Every Friday through summer on Grandma’s Front Porch in the Children’s Zoo. We’ll talk about sheep, turtles, elephants, parrots; and we might even get a visit with a few of our furry friends!
10am

Free or Discounted Movies
Homewood Park – Despicable Me
Helena Amphitheater – How to Train your Dragon

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Saturday July 2nd:

Independence Day Celebration – Morgan Creek Winery
Enjoy the music of Tekneek as Morgan Creek celebrates Independence Day. Each Music & Fireworks event at Morgan Creek is family-friendly and includes parking, a winery tour, wine tasting, live music and spectacular fireworks. Guests are welcome to pack a picnic or purchase food on site.
6pm – 10pm

Kids Workshop – Home Depot
This week they will be building a coaster set. Designed for ages 5-12.

The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, this fun time allows for quality one-on-one time between adults and children.
9am – Noon

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
7am – Noon

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
American Flags

Show your patriotism by creating a colorful flag with Bart! The Museum offers a fun and free drop-in art program for kids and families! Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

Saturday Storytime– Barnes and Noble Summit
Olivia is coming to visit Barnes & Noble at the Summit! She will be stopping by to hear us read Olivia by Ian Falconer and to meet you! We will find out what Olivia likes to do every day, and then we will have some fun of our own!
11am

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Sunday July 3rd:

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
American Flags

Show your patriotism by creating a colorful flag with Bart! The Museum offers a fun and free drop-in art program for kids and families! Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
1pm

Scholastic Chess Club at Books-A-Million Brookwood Village
In our upstairs Kids Nook.  Beginners are welcome, lessons
available, K-12, other mind sport activities are available such as
checkers and GO.  Free to attend!
2PM – 5PM

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Imagination Lab – This summer, McWane Science Center invites you to discover the power of your imagination in a collection of new exhibits called The Imagination Lab.

Dive right into the Bubble Room where you can discover the science of suds when you step inside a giant bubble. Try your hand at making all kinds of bubbles in this unique area including square and triangular bubbles.

The Imagination Lab’s zip line offers an exciting experience for adventure seekers of any age. Parents and children alike can fly through the air on the new zip line and have a safe landing at the end of the line! Learning lurks around every turn inside a giant maze in the exhibit as you find your way around dead ends and wrong turns. With a few lessons learned, you will find your way to the end in no time.

The new Imagination Lab also features a Messy Art Studio. Splatter paint, mix colors and experiment with a variety of materials to create masterpieces of your imagination.

Inside the lab you can use giant foam building blocks to construct forts, tall towers, and more.

Eat Well, Play Well – What is in the food we eat? Are fruits and vegetables important? Can everyday activities burn calories? Visitors will find the answers to these questions by exploring nutrition and fitness in this summer’s traveling exhibit called Eat Well, Play Well. This highly-interactive exhibit encourage healthy living by teaching the science of making healthy-food choices and helping children and adults discover that there are many fun and interesting ways to stay active. Visitors will discover what an appropriate serving size looks like, see first hand what it takes to burn off calories, test their flexibility and balance, review the latest clinical research and realize that they can reduce their risk of disease with healthy choices that are within their reach!

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

Kid Picks for Summer

Posted on by Angie

Our picks for keeping your kids looking cool this summer!

Toting the kids around more than normal during the summer can mean more chances for kids to have their sippy cups mixed up at summer Camps, playdates, and pool parties. These will help keep germ swapping to a minimum!

Baby Face Bands: Babies can’t read their names, but beginning at about age 1, they can recognize a picture of themselves.

Baby Face Band is customized with your childs picture and name. Their fun, easy to use website makes it easy! After you’ve designed your perfect label, you can print it from home or save it and print at your favorite drugstore or supermarket.

They come in 5 colors to suit you, and to make these little gems even cooler, they were created and are sold by a local BirminghamMommy…

The absolute most adorable little sun hat, ever! We found this on Etsy! A retro 1950’s style visor that is fully adjustable, it simply ties at the nape of the neck. Available in a variety of fabrics.

Sun Smarties Swim Bags All kids love being able to carry their own bag or back pack, this one is a great choice for the beach or pool. They can be responsible for their own toys and the waterproof liner will help keep wet swimsuits contained. The drawstring straps keep contents secure, while the front pocket is perfect for storing treasures. Available in pink or blue.

What are some of your must have summer products for kids?

Medical Minute: Postpartum Depression

Posted on by Angie

Most women expect pregnancy and childbirth to be times of great happiness and joy, but as many as 60 to 80 percent of women may have bouts of depression or “baby blues”  during the first year after giving birth. These feelings may be caused by a number of factors including a sudden drop of hormones after birth, sleep changes, struggling with the changes of caring for an infant, financial problems or lack of support. The symptoms of baby blues may include:

  • Feeling sad without knowing why
  • Mood swings
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Crying
  • Lack of concentration
  • Problems sleeping

Baby blues generally last only a few days or weeks, but it is important to mention any of these symptoms to your doctor. You can talk to friends and family members about your symptoms and ask for their help. Sometimes, just taking a nap or a walk outside can help with mood changes. You should avoid using alcohol, which can make symptoms more severe.

Post-partum depression is a more serious form of blues that affects about 10 percent of mothers. The symptoms are more intense and last longer than those of baby blues. These symptoms can interfere with a woman’s ability to cope with daily tasks. A mother with post-partum depression may not be able to care for her child and may have problems bonding. The symptoms of post-partum depression include:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Insomnia
  • Intense anger and irritability
  • Overwhelming feelings of fatigue
  • Loss of interest in everyday activities, including sex
  • Feelings of guilt, shame or inadequacy
  • Severe mood swings
  • Problems bonding with the baby
  • Withdrawal from family and friends
  • Thoughts of harming self, the baby or others

Post-partum depression is a real medical condition and should be treated like any other disease. If you or someone you know has any of these symptoms, you should seek medical help. Talk to your doctor about your feelings and work out a treatment plan.

Post-partum depression can be treated with counseling and medication. Your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health counselor. You may need to take antidepressants, which are a proven treatment for post-partum depression. Some antidepressants can be taken while breastfeeding, so talk to your doctor to see what’s best in your situation.

Some research is being conducted on using hormone replacement therapy to help with the symptoms of post-partum depression. Left untreated, post-partum depression can last up to a year or longer and may result in a chronic depressive disorder.

In very rare cases, post-partum psychosis may occur. Post-partum depression requires immediate treatment that may include hospitalization. The symptoms of post-partum psychosis include the symptoms of post-partum depression plus confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, delusions, paranoia and attempts to harm yourself or the baby.

Post-partum depression requires treatment with medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. These medications may be prescribed in combination to treat the different aspects of this disease. These treatments may mean that the mother cannot breastfeed.

Here are some tips for any new moms (and dads) who are experiencing feelings of depression:

1.  Pay attention to your own health. Get as much sleep as possible, including naps during the day. Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Avoid alcohol, which may make symptoms worse.

2.  Don’t overdo. You don’t have to be supermom. Set realistic goals of what must be accomplished each day.

3.  Ask for and accept help. You don’t have to do everything yourself. If a friend or family member offers to help by running errands, cooking or cleaning, take them up on it!

4.  Try to take some breaks. It may be hard to leave your new baby, but taking even a few minutes by yourself can help. Plan a special date night as a couple.

5.  Reach out to other new moms and dads. You’d be surprised by how many people are going through similar issues. Talking to someone about problems and solutions can help.

6.  For new dads, remember that sometimes the best thing you can do is listen. Encourage her to take breaks and give lots of verbal reassurance. Help with housework and baby chores. If you aren’t comfortable taking care of a new infant, check to see if your local hospital has classes in infant care or new dad classes.

Resources for help with post-partum depression:

Jenny’s Light
www.jennyslight.org

National Postpartum Depression Hotline:
1-800-PPD-MOMS

Post-Partum Support International (PSI) – Alabama Chapter
Misty Johnson, Co-Coordinator
205-427-2883

In an emergency: PSI is a volunteer organization devoted to providing social support and resources to women and their families. We will return your call or email as quickly as we can, but we can not provide an immediate response in an emergency. If you do need immediate assistance, please use one of the following resources now:
EMERGENCY: 911
SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Event of the Week: Elephant Week, Birmingham Zoo

Posted on by Angie

We are lucky to be sharing an event of the week, that actually lasts all week long! It’s Elephant Week at the Birmingham Zoo!

The Zoo is celebrating its growing herd of African bull elephants with its inaugural Elephant Week starting Monday, June 20 and ending Sunday, June 26. Elephant Week activities offer members and visitors opportunities to chat with animal keepers and get an up-close look at these magnificent animals, all while learning why African bull elephants are threatened and what the Zoo is doing to help protect this species.

If you haven’t been out to see the new Trails of Africa yet.. (Shame on you) now is the perfect chance to do that, while taking advantage of all the extras this week!

Here are some of the things you can look forward to:

Tuesday: Learn about African elephants through interactive African elephant biofacts.
Wednesday: Get educated on African bull elephant conservation efforts with a keeper talk.
Thursday: Discover the essence of Trails of Africa with animal greetings and enjoy a special treat (while supplies last).
Friday – Sunday: Experience Boma encounters and other activities like Wildlife Shows, Giraffe Feedings and Predator Zone.

Working Mommy Madness: Greener Grass My A- –

Posted on by Angie

By Harmony Hobbs:

I have a confession to make.

Sometimes, I think that my life would drastically improve if my legs didn’t rub together so much when I walk. Or if I had a housekeeper. And a perpetual tan.

So if I happen to interact with someone who doesn’t have to clean her own home, and is

also fortunate enough to have tanned thighs that don’t touch, it takes a lot of effort for me not to hate her … just a little bit. I also confess that I’ve had days when I envied the receptionist at our office. All she does is (it seems) is answer the phone and hit “transfer.” So easy.

Don’t judge. We all have our stuff.  After all, women are, by nature, envious creatures. Now, I’m sure there are plenty of you out there who are very nice women — much nicer than I am. And you might be thinking to yourself “I’m not an envious person!” as you read this.

Good for you. You enjoy your denial.

The fact of the matter is most women are envious of someone, somewhere. I acknowledge that it is not rational. In fact, it’s possible that the person you envy the most is also envious of YOU.  Often – sometimes without even realizing it – we compare our children, our homes, our careers, our choices, our pregnancies, and our bodies. Just writing that sentence wore me out. What is our DEAL?

No matter how much another woman seems to have it together, chances are she feels that someone else has it better. Some working moms envy stay-at-home moms, and some women who stay at home wish they could put on heels and leave their house every morning. Does it always seem like someone on the other side has it just a little better than you? If so, I diagnose you with Greener Grass Syndrome.

Usually this disorder manifests itself in dissatisfaction with your own life and making snide comments about the person or people that you envy. This is supposed to make you feel better about yourself and/or your situation. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really work.

The funny thing about us women is that no matter how many purses we own, no matter how beautiful and smart our children are, how much we are loved, or how much disposable income we have, we always seem to find something that is lacking in our life. We always find someone out there who seems to have that thing that we are lacking, and hate on them. It’s part of our womanly charm.

We all know this in the rational part of our minds, but I still feel the need to say it:  the key to being a happy mom is being thankful for your pasture.  It might need some sprucing up, but it’s YOURS. Own it, water it, and love it. Make it your life’s work to tend to it, and you’ll be too busy to notice the one next door.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to wishing I could trade places with our receptionist.

About Harmony:

Harmony blew into Birmingham after Hurricane Katrina and is a self-proclaimed “never home maker” striving for a balance between her career and family life. Visit her blog Working Mommy Madness to read more!

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