| 6 tried & true ways to put the fun back into being a SAHM Posted: Make time to have fun with your children. Being a stay-at-home mom is no easy task. It can take intellect, skill, and the ability to be a multi-tasking guru. This article explores the ways in which you can enjoy the journey of being a stay-at-home mom. Use the following ideas, suggestions, and tips to both adjust to becoming a Stay-At-Home-Mom (SAHM), and to thrive in your endeavors. The following ideas will work especially well for mothers who have recently left the workforce. Steps - Develop and implement a schedule that includes your daily routines. For example, common routines are breakfast, class, snack, lunch, nap time, and afternoon snack, and it is important to leave time slots open for flexibility, such as for special events and activities. While you might be tempted to see more freedom without having a schedule in place, you'll find it benefits both you and your children to know what is coming up next throughout the day, and it helps remove that feeling of "where did that day go?!".[1]
- Connect with a local mom's group for mothers with children of similar ages.[2] It is helpful to meet other moms who understand your experience, and with whom you can exchange tips and resources.
- Stop trying to do everything. There are only so many hours in a day and no mom is a superwoman. Outsource routine tasks that are important to complete, but keep you from focusing on your children, such as cleaning or ironing (realizing that this "outsourcing" can be to other family members!). If that's not affordable or achievable, sort out a way to get it done so that it won't stress you out. For example, it is a good idea to lower high expectations of a perfectly maintained home and it helps to find clothes that don't need regular ironing or repairs.
- Refuel. If you are a stay-at-home mom, you are in "give" mode the majority of the time. Serving your children and family when your tank is on "E" is dangerous for everyone. Schedule "mom time" on the calendar at least once a week. This could be catching up with friends, going to the movies, having a facial or massage, or taking a hike on your favorite local trail.
- Lighten up and have fun. Children are a ton of work, but they are also loads of fun. Don't allow yourself to get so overwhelmed by the work that you forget to enjoy your children. Watch how they have fun and join in - they'll love having mom share in their games, coming down to their level.
- Remember that you have value.[3] As a SAHM, you have chosen to take out time to teach your children your values and mores in a more hands-on and directed way than might happen if you were working as well.[4] In doing so, you will be helping the next generation carry on what you consider important, and that's as valuable a role as any in this world.
Video Tips - If you can't afford, or simply don't like the idea of, having a cleaner help you out as a SAHM, consider allotting cleaning tasks at varying intervals throughout the week rather than leaving all the chores to one single occasion, to overwhelm you.
- It is vital to be really organized. Everything in its place means that everyone can find what is needed at any time. Less clutter also means more enjoyment of your time with the children instead of dusting, rearranging, hiding it all the time. If it isn't beneficial in your life, give it a new life at the charity store, and free up your space.
Warnings - Take care not to become in a mom's group that is overly competitive about parenting or children, or both! It is hard enough raising children without feeling that you are being compared or judged. If this raises its ugly head in your mom's group, challenge it from the start to prevent it from taking hold. Ask moms why they feel compelled to compare one another and suggest it's better to just accept that you are all managing at your own pace, and that your kids are growing at their own pace too.
Sources and Citations - Original source of article: Season of Motherhood.org. Shared with permission.
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| It's Bike-to-Work Day. Leave the car home & cycle in safely Posted: Riding your bike can be a great deal of fun, and it's a brilliant way to keep fit. Nevertheless, bike riding has its hazards, especially when you're sharing the road with motorized traffic. To keep safe, it is important to have a bike in top condition and to pay attention to some basic but very important cycling requirements when sharing your ride with the general traffic. This article is based on right-hand traffic; if you live in a country with left-hand traffic, please bear this in mind when reading the directions.[1] Steps Checking your bike All checked and ready to ride - Air -- are your tires inflated adequately?
- Brakes - do they work, are they clean?
- Chain - is it clean, free of debris, and able to turn with no problems?
- Check the brakes. Wheel your bike around a flat surface, pulling the brake levers on and off. If they do not work, and you're not sure how to fix them, contact your local bike shop and ask them to help.
- Check the bike's tires. Put the whole tire into a small bowl of water. See if there are any bubbles coming out. If there are any bubbles, it means your tire is punctured and you can get it fixed by a bike shop or do it yourself. Repeat for the other tire.
- See if the bike is the right height for you. This is very easy as all you need to do is sit on your bike and make sure that the tips of your toes touch the ground (and nothing else). Adjust the bike seat as needed, and the handles too.
Dress appropriately -
Bright colors are ideal cycle wear - Wear comfortable shoes. Riding a bike in high heels or flip flops is never a good idea. Wear shoes that fit snugly, are flat soled, and have no dangling pieces that could become caught in the bike structure and spokes.
- Use trouser elastics or ties to hold back long pants or skirts that are threatening to flap into the wheel spokes, or become dirtied by the chain grease.
- Wearing a helmet is always a good idea when cycling. In some places, you have no choice but to wear a helmet by law. Yet, even where this is not legally required, it's a good idea to wear one to augment your safety.[2]
Road rules and road sense Even bikes come with their own rules! - Obey traffic laws. Although the driver hitting you might be technically at fault, you are the one who will most likely be injured or even killed. Follow these basics for your own safety:
- Stop for stop signs, without fail, and watch for traffic. Doing so greatly reduces the chances of a collision.
- Ride with the traffic signals.
- Realize that a lot of drivers are not switched on to seeing cyclists on the road, and some are even irritated by the presence of cyclists and seek to make it harder for you to drive near them. Don't get angry; keep your wits about you and stay focused.
- If you are turning left, use the left turn lane. If you are not comfortable with this, get off your bike and walk or cautiously ride your bike through an intersection based on the crosswalk lights.
- Watch for cars turning right. Drivers generally check only for cars when turning right, not pedestrians or cyclists.
- Know the speed limits. These can impact on whether or not you'll even decide to ride on a particular road (see "Warnings" below for unsuitable roads). It is important for you as a cyclist to avoid speeding, and to obey all speed limits in slow zones (such as around pedestrian crossings, and school zones).
- Know when to ride on the road, or on the shoulder. The rules will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction but generally, if lanes have been designated for safe biking, make use of them! In addition, if there is a bike track running next to the road, it makes good sense to prefer using that over the road itself.
- Ride in the direction of the traffic.
- For roads that have traffic speeds under 35 mph (56 km/h) and/or a large shoulder (for example, many of mid- and up-state New York's 2-lane highways have shoulders that were designed for safe biking), ride on the road, in the direction of the traffic.
- Share the road wisely. If the road is wide enough that traffic can pass you, keep to the side and make it easier for the drivers to leave you room. Always be on the lookout for aggressive driving that could threaten your space.
Obey the signs about sidewalk cycling! - Always carry identification,like a medical ID bracelet or ID card in your seat bag. This can be invaluable to EMS responders if you're unconscious.
Be seen and be clear Motorcycles are required to have a front headlight on at all times, because they are smaller and harder to see than other vehicles. A bicycle is smaller yet. Nighttime riding usually requires a front white light as a minimum, although adding other lights will help to increase your visibility, along with reflective clothing as discussed above. - Use appropriate lighting. Lighting is useful both for day and for night riding:
- During the day, a flashing front light is good because it attracts more attention.
- At night, use a constant front light rather than a flashing one. Its steady stream of light will provide adequate visibility to drivers, while a flashing front light at night soon gets to be annoying as it strobes your view.
- Whenever it gets dark outside, turn on your headlight. This means the moment that you feel your eyes straining to see well, even if the sky is not pitch black; remember too that drivers need to see you during twilight, so err on the side of turning on the light earlier rather than later.
- Put a red LED strobe or beacon on the back of your bike. It is OK for this light to flash or have special patterns, because it disrupts night vision less than the white front lights, and because drivers do not count exclusively on your rear light to gauge their distance.
- Take care at night. Cycling at night can be extremely dangerous. Always travel on a well lit road or path with no debris or potholes. Go slower then you would in the daytime, as you still need enough time to react to danger, and the lower visibility makes night cycling dangerous for this reason.
- Use hand signals properly. Hand signals are vital if you are going to turn. This is especially important for left turns, because they involve crossing traffic. Ignore what you were told in elementary school; instead, if you are turning left, extend your left arm, and if you are turning right, extend your right arm. Signals that were once based on the left arm were devised for driving a car, a situation where only the left arm can reach out the window.
- Give adequate warning. When you are passing pedestrians or other cyclists, it is essential that you warn them of your presence. Not only is this polite, but it reduces the chance of collisions, because pedestrians are less likely to suddenly swerve into your way, and they may move over, keeping you out of traffic. A bell, or a loud voice "On your [Left / Right]", "Passing" are good ways to attract attention.
- Watch for parked vehicles. When riding past parallel-parked vehicles, leave enough room for the vehicle door to swing completely open just as you are about to pass. Getting "doored" can cause serious injury and even death.
Improve your children's bike safety - Teach your children how to ride safely in a completely safe place. Let children learn at their own pace and offer lots of encouragement. They will fall off, so be prepared with hugs and motivational talk to get them back to trying. Be patient at all times.
- Ensure that children always wear a helmet when riding. This should feel like "second nature" to them.
- Explain to older children that riding at high speed could seriously hurt them. Discourage them from doing this and warn them about the dangers of not holding onto the handle bars or going down steep hills too fast.
- Find safe places for children to ride for fun, and safe routes to school and other places. As a person responsible for your children's well being, it is up to you to take the time to scout out good routes and places with your children where they can ride in safety.
Video Tips - Check to see if there are bike education classes in your area. These will teach safe, effective cycling. Look for ones tailored to children if you are teaching children how to ride a bike.
- When getting on your bike, it is safer to wheel it to a sidewalk and get on from the sidewalk side.
- Follow all the precautions you would follow if you were on foot.
- Some bikes don't have brakes on the handlebar. Usually, you can brake by pedaling backwards on this type of bike; check before going out on a ride.
- If you can change gears on your bike, change it to a low number when going uphill, and higher when going down. The higher the number, the heavier the tension.
Warnings - It is really helpful if you are able to recognize the dynamics of handling a car, so that you can better avoid situations where a driver has to make emergency maneuvers to avoid hitting you.
- Most collisions are at intersections. In heavy traffic, it is better to stop and wheel the bicycle through the road, even if there's a traffic light. You never know if a driver will try to run a red light or take off really quickly without noticing your presence.
- Do not ride side-by-side unless you are doing the speed limit. If you don't have a speedometer, make a good guess but it's better to be under than over the limit.
- If you are uncomfortable about riding on the right side of the road because of traffic coming from behind, ride on the sidewalk but always yield to pedestrians. Never ride against traffic, as you will then be dodging cars head-on.
- If you are riding on a bike path or the sidewalk, keep in mind your speed relative to other users of that path. Once you think you are consistently going above 10 mph (16 km/h), or you find yourself in a sidewalk with many pedestrians, it is probably a better idea to ride on the smooth, wide expanse of the street.
- Some roads are completely unsuitable for riding a bike safely. The López Mateos Highway in Guadalajara, Mexico, for instance, is a very, very dangerous place, with buses and fully loaded trucks running at 60 mph (100 km/h), and cars speeding by at 74 mph (120 km/h). Be on the lookout for such roads, avoid them if possible, and if you absolutely have to ride your bike through these roads, then ride on the sidewalk but yield to pedestrians. Many freeways and motorways ban bike riding altogether.
- Know the rules when you travel. Many cities and towns in Europe have bike paths right along the streets. The lane closest to the street is reserved for bicycles; the other lane is for pedestrians. Drivers expect you to stay in these paths and might not be on the lookout for bicycles on the road.
- Highways could be dangerous for anyone unless if they ride on the side.
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