6 Tips to Prepare for Braces

This is a sponsored post. But all thoughts and opinions are mine. Boy do I wish they had Invisalign when I had braces. 

Our two oldest children are almost 11 and 8. Needless to say we are having to grow and adjust with their new developmental phases. We have gone through our first maturation class, my husband and I are not the only ones who wear deodorant in the house, and we make monthly visits to the orthodontist.

I recall these stages in my own life. Maturation class scared the living begeebers out of me. (I don't even know if begeebers is a word. Probably not). Deodorant made me feel grown up, and braces made me feel vulnerable, ugly and made my mouth hurt. But now in hindsight I am grateful for all three, every day.

My mouth was filled with braces for 2 years. They came off when I was 16 and I can still remember how my mouth ached when they were tightened and how smooth and slimy they were when they came off.  I have always loved turkey sandwiches. I remember trying to eat one for the first time with braces. It was horrible and the bread and turkey jammed behind each bracket. I didn't eat another turkey sandwich for two years. It was the first thing I put in my mouth when I got them off.

Our son has already had his first round of braces. He will have to have another round, full mouth, in a few years. Our daughter will be going in to get her first set of braces in the next two months.

Between my braces, my husband, who had braces after we were married, and now our kids, I have had some experience. Here are some helpful tips if you or your children are thinking about braces.

Braces are a commitment
Whether you are going with traditional braces or new technology like Invisalign, braces are a commitment. For parents and for children. Help your children understand the commitment that is being made before you move forward. My husband and I chatted before he got his braces, and then the two of us sat down with our son and talked about the time and energy that go into braces. We talked through the hygiene commitments, the need to keep appointments and how certain foods needed to be cut out of diets. We also talked about the monetary commitment. The conversation gave my husband and our son a chance to ask lots of questions, express concerns, and better understand the commitment. I even had a friend in high school who had to sign a contract with her parents and orthodontist before she got her braces. Whether you write up a contract or not, sit down and discuss that braces don't just magically take care of themselves.

Educate yourself about all your options
When I got braces, there was just one choice. Braces. Metal mouth and all. Now there are lots of different options. Invisalign is a new alternative to braces and even offers options for pre-teens and teens. The system uses a series of clear aligners made of lightweight plastic that sit smoothly on the teeth. They are comfortable and as effective as traditional braces. Plus, there are no food restrictions, they make it easy to maintain healthy brushing and flossing habits, they don't interfere with sports or other activities, and you can straighten your teach there are no metal wires or brackets to break. Kids can even remove the trays when they eat, brush, or floss. Where was Invisalign when I got braces?

Let them know what to expect
Be sure you take time to talk to your children about what to expect. Don't trick them. Braces do hurt a bit. Not always, but when they get tightened. Explain what it will feel like and what they can do to help. Explain food restrictions, what will happen at appointments, and how to protect their mouths in sports and activities.

Help them understand the end result
Braces take time. The end result is usually years away. Help them see the long term.

Be ready to help
Your children will need help with their braces. They will need help flossing, tightening things, even brushing and dealing with pokey wires and brackets that rub on sensitive gums. Prepare yourself to be okay with the "hands on". And let your kids know that you will always be there to help.

Don't complain about what they can't eat
I have heard parents that complain about the things their family can't eat because someone has braces. This just makes our kids feel bad. Don't do it. And don't buy all the tempting treats that have to be given up and keep them in the house, or let the rest of the family eat then while the one with braces can't.

Braces seem to be a right of passage for our children. With some preparations and good communication, we can make the experience a good one for our children and families.

What food did you miss the most when you had braces?
Anyone use Invisalign?

If you want to know more about Invisalign, you can visit their website, follow them on Facebook and catch up with them on Twitter.

This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

How To Deal With Bedwetting

We have had personal experience with bedwetting in our home. I am excited to be able to offer some advice, and tell our story as part of this sponsored campaign from White Cloud Sleep Pants. 

Bedwetting can be a really frustrating challenge to deal with. Especially when our children are a bit older and have been trained for years. Often times a child who has started school and has had dry pants for years, starts to wet the bed. As parents, we have no idea what to do. We might feel ashamed or even like we have failed.

One of our children struggled with this for over a year. The emotional stress was exhausting, not to mention the extra laundry every day really began to take its toll. I went through a gamut of emotions, including blaming myself, and blaming him.

At first, we wanted to respond with frustration, threats and consequences if the bed didn't stay dry. It was very hard to be patient.

My husband and I would sit and talk every night about why it was happening, and what we needed to do to stop it. I knew the research behind bedwetting, and what I needed to do, but it didn't seem to make it any easier while it was happening in our own home.

After it went on for quite some time, we made a visit to the doctor just to make sure it wasn't a medical condition. Everything checked out fine.

We had to come to the understanding that our child was not wetting the bed on purpose. It was not their fault and they were not being lazy. It was just going to take time as their bladder control was taking a little longer for some reason.

Although there could be a number of different reasons for bedwetting, the most common are...

1. Bedwetting is hereditary.
2. Children have a sleep condition that makes them sleep so soundly, they don't wake to respond to their body prompts that they need to go.
3. Bladder control takes longer for some children than others.
4. A medical condition (although it is very rare that this is the cause).

Bedwetting is fairly common. 10% of 6 year olds wet the bed. It is much more common in boys. Children usually grow out of it by the time they are 10.

Luckily, that is what happened to our son. He eventually grew out of it.

What can we do as parents to help our children?

First and most important, we have to be patient. Really really patient. We shouldn't ever shame our children, or punish them for wetting the bed. No threatening or demeaning. It is important we stay positive and supportive.

Then, some basics.

1. Don't let your child drink a lot of fluids within two hours of bed.

2. Keep your child clear of caffeinated beverages. Caffeine is a natural diuretic.

3. Wake your child up and take them to the bathroom right before you go to bed.

4. Look for physiological stresses. A recent move, divorce, new school or trouble in school, etc...

5. Have them wear protective pants at night to help save the sheets and bedding. Some parents feel this is supporting the problem, but it isn't. It takes away the shame for your child, will save you laundry, and  will allow your child to help themselves in the middle of the night when they wake up wet, and can then take care of the situation. The best brand we found was White Cloud Sleep Pants from Walmart. The price was reasonable, they looked like underwear, and they didn't leak.

6. Apply a special sensor in their bed, or on their pants that alerts them the second they start to get wet. The alarm will wake them so they can stop and go to the bathroom.

7. Keep track of how many nights in a row your child stays dry, BUT, if they have an accident, don't get mad. Just start keeping track again. Be careful with incentives. If children don't earn the incentive, it can make them feel like a failure.

8. Consider spending more one-on-one time with your child. Make it a point to strengthen your relationship and spend time together. This will also help ensure that your child isn't wetting the bed for attention.

Above all other things, be patient. Think about how your child must feel, try to see and understand their perspective. They don't want to wet the bed. They don't want to disappoint you either. Be positive, uplifting and don't force, punish or demean them.

For my husband and I, the patience took time. But we got there. We also simplified things. At first I was against any sort of "night time pants". But, after chatting with my mom about the situation, she suggested I stop worrying, get our child some sleep pants, and move on with things. She was exactly right. We tried a number of different brands and were happiest with WalMart's White Cloud Brand. The protection and price were the best. They helped make a tough situation, much easier.

Do you have a child who wets the bed?
Was it hard for you to be patient?

Did you know that over 5 million kids a year experience bedwetting and it is one of the most common experiences during childhood development?

White Cloud Sleep Pants have been developed to provide exceptional comfort and leakage protection while looking like underwear. White Cloud Sleep Pants offer thin, discrete absorbent protection for your child. They have soft, stretchy sides that fit like real underwear, plus leak guards to help protect against leaks. The soft inner liner is hypoallergenic and treated with vitamin E and aloe for skin protection.

Each bag contains two unisex graphic designs and at $7.75, White Cloud offers exceptional value.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud Sleep Pants.

LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER - The Perfect Mother's Day Gift

Things have been very quiet around these parts lately. Why, because I have been frantically preparing for the LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER SHOW!!!!

And it has finally arrived. This Thursday, TOMORROW, at Thanksgiving Point, 7-9 pm in the Amber Room.

16 Women will come together to celebrate motherhood and give Mother's Day a Microphone.

Will you be there to join us?

The cast line up is out of this world. 

Abby Hatch	Aleisha McDaniel
Carly Kerby	C. Jane Kendrick
Jenny Eckton	Jenny Smith
June Haskell	Linsey Redfern
Melody Newey	Polly Scott
Amy Hackworth	Holly Richardson
Julie DeMille	Megan Conley
Shannan Busby	Heather Johnson

The monologues will make you laugh, and cry, and then laugh again.

I promise it will be a night well spent.

You don't have to be a mother, or a woman to appreciate the event. Men and women alike will love the content of the night.

You will find yourself sitting in the audience chanting a resounding "Me Too"! As the pieces touch your heart and your spirit.

You will leave feeling rejuvenated and celebrated.

It would mean the world to me to have you there. And I hope you will come and introduce yourself and say hello.

Are you still looking for a mothers day gift. This would be perfect. And for 10 dollars, you can't beat the price. Bring your mother, your sisters, your neighbors, and friends. 

Plus for today only, use code LTYM2 and get 2 dollars off your ticket.

You can find full show information here. And the direct link to tickets here.

Doors open at 6:15 so be sure you arrive early to get a good seat.

See you tomorrow! Come and help us give Mother's Day a Microphone.

Happy Birthday American Cancer Society - Sponsored Post

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the American Cancer Society.



Last Year I had the opportunity to work with the American Cancer Society. It was a great experience. So when I heard the ACS was turning 100 years old this year, I knew I wanted to be involved again. The American Cancer Society started back in 1913 with only 15 physicians and business leaders who wanted to raise awareness of cancer. Who would have known that it would become the leading fighter in ending disease.

The ACS is all about giving people more birthdays. They have played a role in nearly every cancer research breakthrough in recent history and have made a huge contribution to lung cancer research, helping to decrease the smoking rate by 50 percent. Their influence is monumental and their efforts save lives every.single.day.

Our family has been greatly impacted by cancer.

When I was just 6 months old, my grandfather died of cancer. He fought for 5 years, but his throat cancer came back. It has had a huge impact on my life. I was the only grandchild he ever met, and my parents tell me stories of how he used to bounce me on his knee and make clucking noises with the hole in his throat.

I don't remember him, but I miss him. I wonder what it would be like if he was still alive. I know we would have a lot in common. My grandmother, who has been a widow for the last 36 years, would have had a very different life. I know that with all the developments the American Cancer Society has discovered over the last 30 years, my grandfather would have lived, had he gotten the same cancer today.

A few years ago cancer hit our family again when my aunt was diagnosed with brain cancer. She was young, and fought for 18 months before passing away. Leaving behind three girls. The two youngest were just out of high school. They were forced to grow up too fast, as they put their lives on hold to care for her every need. Watching my aunt and her family go through this horrible time, opened my eyes to all that the American Cancer Society does. They have saved over 1.2 million lives in the last 100 years and fight to make sure that everyone with cancer can get all the help they need. With my aunt, we were so grateful for all they did, and continue to do to fight cancer and give more people a birthday.                                                              

This year the ACS if working with celebrities like Josh Groban and Mary J. Blige. Cancer has a way of touching all of our lives and everyone is getting on board to help fight the fight.

Happy Birthday to the American Cancer Society. Thank you for all you are doing to save the lives of those we love!



This is a sponsored post by the American Cancer Society.

Either Way Its Okay...You Wake Up With Yourself

This week I did something unthinkable for me. I sent emails to two different friends, to tell them I could no longer contribute to their websites.


I politely and graciously "resigned".

I had to keep the emails short. They were painful. These women have become my friends and not only did it make me feel like a failure, like I couldn't handle it all, but I also felt like I was letting them down, and that made me sad.


Everything came to a head a few weeks ago while I was reading "Carry On Warrior" by Glennon Doyle Melton. The book is full of stories from Momastery.com. About half way through I had this overwhelming feeling that it was time to stop hiding and be more honest with myself. Honest about what I can and cannot do. Honest about what I want to do, and honest about who I want to be. The book is amazing that way. I realized what I already knew. Being a wife and mother is hard, and that is okay. Admitting it is hard doesn't make me less or worse.

I have been struggling with this turmoil inside for a while now and didn't even know it. An unsettled feeling that was trying to tell me to get back to basics and actually live. Live side by side my children and love each and every moment. That is what I want. I want to laugh more and play more and be silly more. I want to rush less and worry less and stress less. I want to put my whole heart into the few things that matter most, instead of putting a little heart into lots of things that don't matter.

What really pushed me over the edge was Billy Joel. Yep, Billy himself. You see, I am a huge Billy Joel fan. Always have been. My husband, not so much. So while he was gone I put in "The Best of Billy Joel" and turned up the volume. I have lots of favorite songs, but up there at the top of the list is "My life". I was signing, signing loud when it hit me. Maybe you know the song.

They will tell you, you can't sleep alone in a strange place
They they'll tell you, you can't sleep with somebody else
Ah, but sooner or later you sleep in your own space
Either way it's okay you wake up with yourself. 

Yes, thanks to Billy Joel it all clicked.

Either way it's okay you wake up with yourself.

You see no matter what anyone else says or does or believes, I wake up with myself every day. I have to be happy with me, content with me, and honest with myself. And I have to accept that that is enough. And it is. When I open my eyes each morning, I have to feel good about who I am, because either way it's okay, I wake up with myself.

And for me right now, I am someone who needs to cut back and accept all I give. For it is enough even if it isn't everything.

So I "resigned" from a few positions. And you know what, my friends understood. They were supportive and wonderful.

And then I "re-hired" myself. To the most important position I have ever been blessed with. Being married to my husband and mother to our children.

This doesn't mean that I can't have any other interests. For example I feel strongly about getting back to Family Volley. And I am passionate about the LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER Show that I am producing and directing. But those things still feel right. The other obligations, not so much.

Thanks Momastery.com. And thanks Billy Joel. Thanks for giving me courage to do what needs to be done. Thanks for helping me feel better about "...waking up with myself."

Do you ever feel guilty saying "No"?

Do you feel like you have to do it all?

Who likes Billy Joel?