The Wonder of Ronald McDonald

Last year when our baby arrived early our family was introduced to the Ronald McDonald House in Hamilton, Ontario.

When the hospital’s social worker had first offered me the opportunity to stay at the house I immediately said “No”. I envisioned a hostel(hotel for travelers) style environment where I was sharing facilities with people I had never met before. Once we realized our baby would be staying at the hospital for a long time I decided to check into the house for a few nights just to see. All I have to say is WOW!! My husband and I have stayed at many beautiful hotels during our travels, but none as nice as this house. The rooms were not only spacious, but newly decorated and very clean. The first floor had a huge kitchen with facilities for 3 families to cook at a time plus a patio with a barbecue. There was a huge family room, laundry room, dining room (10 tables) and a games room in the basement. All for $10.00 per day.

Each house is run with the same goal of providing a compassionate and safe “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children who are receiving treatment at local children’s hospitals. They cater to over 600 families per year. Twenty percent of their funding comes from McDonald’s Corporation and the rest is made up with donations from various corporations and individuals. A stay at the house would usually be 75.00 per night but it is subsidized so that families can stay near their children. The cost varies with each location from $10.00 – $15.00 per night. Volunteers are the heart of the house with many assisting guests, cleaning the common rooms and preparing dinner for the families.

During our three months at the RMH we met many families who had babies in the NICU like us. It was comforting to have other people in the same situation to talk to after a hectic day was over. Some of the people we met will be our friend for years to come. Our son was able to have us close to him every day. We were able to spend 12 hours a day with him without having to worry about driving 1 hour there and back. RMH gave us a pager so that the hospital could get a hold of us day or night if necessary. I don’t know what we would have done if this house wasn’t there for us to stay in.

In Canada, there are 12 Ronald McDonald Houses and each one is owned and operated by a local community non-profit with a volunteer board of directors. While each house has the “home away from home” atmosphere amenities may vary from house to house.

You never know when you are going to need to stay at a Ronald McDonald House. Take some time to learn about the charity. Donations keep the house going and each location has a list of amenities you can donate as well. Small things such as gift certificates to local stores, DVDs for the families to watch, or movie passes for a night away are always welcome.

Ronald McDonald Canada
Ronald McDonald U.S.

Moms Want More Help….But Can’t Let Go.

Time.com has an article about moms wanting more help from their husbands. It goes on to say that when they do get help mom is always looking over dad’s shoulder making sure it’s done her way. A power struggle then develops with mom being called a “Gatekeeper”. One dad is even being quoted as saying, “My wife treats me like an au pair she is always on the verge of firing.”

I agree with this article. In our defense, all we do all day is look after the kids. In doing so we have figured out the best and most efficient way to do it. When we see it done a different way we cannot fathom that there could possibly be a better way than the one we have spent months perfecting. Dads, by nature, are not as good with diapers and pablum. With a little practice and some time alone with the kids they will be able to make things happen. What we don’t want to happen is for dad’s to decide to not help at all just to keep the peace.

The Wonder of Ronald McDonald

Last year when our baby arrived early our family was introduced to the Ronald McDonald House in Hamilton, Ontario.

When the hospital’s social worker had first offered me the opportunity to stay at the house I immediately said “No”. I envisioned a hostel(hotel for travelers) style environment where I was sharing facilities with people I had never met before. Once we realized our baby would be staying at the hospital for a long time I decided to check into the house for a few nights just to see. All I have to say is WOW!! My husband and I have stayed at many beautiful hotels during our travels, but none as nice as this house. The rooms were not only spacious, but newly decorated and very clean. The first floor had a huge kitchen with facilities for 3 families to cook at a time plus a patio with a barbecue. There was a huge family room, laundry room, dining room (10 tables) and a games room in the basement. All for $10.00 per day.

Each house is run with the same goal of providing a compassionate and safe “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children who are receiving treatment at local children’s hospitals. They cater to over 600 families per year. Twenty percent of their funding comes from McDonald’s Corporation and the rest is made up with donations from various corporations and individuals. A stay at the house would usually be 75.00 per night but it is subsidized so that families can stay near their children. The cost varies with each location from $10.00 – $15.00 per night. Volunteers are the heart of the house with many assisting guests, cleaning the common rooms and preparing dinner for the families.

During our three months at the RMH we met many families who had babies in the NICU like us. It was comforting to have other people in the same situation to talk to after a hectic day was over. Some of the people we met will be our friend for years to come. Our son was able to have us close to him every day. We were able to spend 12 hours a day with him without having to worry about driving 1 hour there and back. RMH gave us a pager so that the hospital could get a hold of us day or night if necessary. I don’t know what we would have done if this house wasn’t there for us to stay in.

In Canada, there are 12 Ronald McDonald Houses and each one is owned and operated by a local community non-profit with a volunteer board of directors. While each house has the “home away from home” atmosphere amenities may vary from house to house.

You never know when you are going to need to stay at a Ronald McDonald House. Take some time to learn about the charity. Donations keep the house going and each location has a list of amenities you can donate as well. Small things such as gift certificates to local stores, DVDs for the families to watch, or movie passes for a night away are always welcome.

Ronald McDonald Canada
Ronald McDonald U.S.

Moms Want More Help….But Can’t Let Go.

Time.com has an article about moms wanting more help from their husbands. It goes on to say that when they do get help mom is always looking over dad’s shoulder making sure it’s done her way. A power struggle then develops with mom being called a “Gatekeeper”. One dad is even being quoted as saying, “My wife treats me like an au pair she is always on the verge of firing.”

I agree with this article. In our defense, all we do all day is look after the kids. In doing so we have figured out the best and most efficient way to do it. When we see it done a different way we cannot fathom that there could possibly be a better way than the one we have spent months perfecting. Dads, by nature, are not as good with diapers and pablum. With a little practice and some time alone with the kids they will be able to make things happen. What we don’t want to happen is for dad’s to decide to not help at all just to keep the peace.

Can You Spoil a Baby?

Many times you hear people say “Don’t hold him so much. You’re going to spoil him” or “Let him cry a bit. He can’t always get what he wants.” I wonder to myself can I really spoil a baby that is not able to walk yet? I know a lot of people belive in tough love but can you get the same results with lots of love? Dr. Greene.com believes that:

Very young children cannot be spoiled. Some babies have greater needs than others due to their own physical condition, but all babies are very needy! Crying is their only way of communicating these needs to us. If babies didn’t cry when they are hungry, or when they need their diaper to be changed, we wouldn’t know what and when they need something.

As babies grow, they begin to communicate things other than physical needs. This includes the desire to be held or comforted and the desire to be stimulated. These are healthy desires! A child is spoiled only if they express a desire and someone (usually Mom or Dad, but it can be a Grandparent or other caregiver) gives them what they want each and every time.

If your child has a need, you will not spoil them by meeting that need. In fact, it is very important for you to meet their needs in order to build security, love, and trust. You will not even spoil them by giving them what they desire, unless you always give it to them, even when you don’t want to. This is the hard part – it is good to give a baby what he or she wants sometimes, but not all the time.

So how do you know when to do so? A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself if you are giving your baby what they want or if you are giving into what they want. In most cases if you are giving just because you want to give, you will be doing the best thing for your baby.

Can You Spoil a Baby?

Many times you hear people say “Don’t hold him so much. You’re going to spoil him” or “Let him cry a bit. He can’t always get what he wants.” I wonder to myself can I really spoil a baby that is not able to walk yet? I know a lot of people belive in tough love but can you get the same results with lots of love? Dr. Greene.com believes that:

Very young children cannot be spoiled. Some babies have greater needs than others due to their own physical condition, but all babies are very needy! Crying is their only way of communicating these needs to us. If babies didn’t cry when they are hungry, or when they need their diaper to be changed, we wouldn’t know what and when they need something.

As babies grow, they begin to communicate things other than physical needs. This includes the desire to be held or comforted and the desire to be stimulated. These are healthy desires! A child is spoiled only if they express a desire and someone (usually Mom or Dad, but it can be a Grandparent or other caregiver) gives them what they want each and every time.

If your child has a need, you will not spoil them by meeting that need. In fact, it is very important for you to meet their needs in order to build security, love, and trust. You will not even spoil them by giving them what they desire, unless you always give it to them, even when you don’t want to. This is the hard part – it is good to give a baby what he or she wants sometimes, but not all the time.

So how do you know when to do so? A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself if you are giving your baby what they want or if you are giving into what they want. In most cases if you are giving just because you want to give, you will be doing the best thing for your baby.

Daddy’s Little Golfer

These are for the diehard golfer who is grooming their little one to take over the tour!

PGA GOLF CART ROCKING CHAIR – 79.99

LIL DRIVER GOLF CART – motorized -249.95 BIG DRIVER 2- SEAT GOLF CART – motorized – 349.95

Daddy’s Little Golfer

These are for the diehard golfer who is grooming their little one to take over the tour!

PGA GOLF CART ROCKING CHAIR – 79.99

LIL DRIVER GOLF CART – motorized -249.95 BIG DRIVER 2- SEAT GOLF CART – motorized – 349.95

Bits and Bites

Embryos to go to research – A survey of couples who underwent in-vitro fertilization (IVF) at a large Australian clinic found that the majority preferred that their unused embryos go to “some use” rather than be discarded — with most wanting that use to be scientific research. (Reuters)

Study Quashes Birth Month Autism Theory – One of the largest studies to date to look at the issue has found no relationship between the month a person was born and his or her risk of autism. (Reuters)

Pollutants and Pesticides in Cord Blood – In the month leading up to a baby’s birth, the umbilical cord pulses with the equivalent of at least 300 quarts of blood each day, pumped back and forth from the nutrient- and oxygen-rich placenta to the rapidly growing child cradled in a sac of amniotic fluid. This cord is a lifeline between mother and baby, bearing nutrients that sustain life and propel growth. (EWG)

Baby Talk Cover Controversy

I am all of breastfeeding. I am all for breastfeeding in public. I usually wear a cover just so that people don’t stop and stare, but I have seen many women feed their babies without one and I don’t give it a second thought. With this being said I am not sure what all of the craziness is about on the cover of babytalk magazine. The baby is eating and looking up at his mommy. You can’t even see any nipple. What is the problem people?

Baby Talk, a free magazine, received 700 letters concerning their recent cover. Some calling it gross and inappropriate. Most still associate the breast with sex and are not mature enough to realize that a baby also needs it to grow.

I think it’s common knowledge that if you are going to read a Pregnancy or Baby Magazine somewhere within it’s pages you will see a nursing baby. The controversy rests in the fact that with the image being on the cover you will see it weither you plan to or not.

Full Article – CNN