Author: The Mama (Page 29 of 33)

I'm Sarah, a thirty-something music teacher who now is blessed to stay at home with my two lovebugs. I've been passionate about prenatal care, childbirth, and attachment parenting since my first child was born, and now I aim to help other new parents be as educated as possible! You can also find me as a published author at www.amazon.com/author/sarahmarquez.
You'll see that we've gotten backyard chickens and we adore our feathered girls! I write basic content for new chicken owners to help families see that getting a flock of your own is fantastic and fun, for you and your kids. You'll see my egg-laying girls on my YouTube channel, along with toy reviews and other videos, at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGLmwFxSV8zQKLbv3fAzu0A.

Thanks for stopping by, and email me at themama@realsimplemama.com if you have any comments or suggestions.

March 24, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Mamas (and papas), please trust your instincts. Nature gave them to us for a reason. Multiple times this week I’ve been reminded that I need to do my own research, ask questions, and get second opinions when it comes to the health of my children. And my intuition has always been right. Don’t follow any one person’s advice blindly. If it feels wrong, then it is wrong, damnit.

If I hadn’t listened to my mom-sense, my daughter would have had an unnecessary round of meds in her system, and I would have taken an UNSAFE med which would have gotten into my breastmilk and potentially had serious effects on my daughter. Seriously people?!?

I’m shaken, furious, and grateful that I checked the drugs out for myself. And I try not to think about what could happen to my daughter if I hadn’t (“skeletal growths”, among others…).

Follow your heart. Especially when it comes to your kids. And if someone is bullying you to do something you don’t feel is right, kick them outta the way.

Raising a Toddler the AP Way

March 23, 2016 / The Mama / 4 Comments

Attachment parenting doesn’t stop when your kid learns to walk. The concept of AP grows as your child does, and you adapt it over time. My oldest is now two and a half, and I’ve put pen to paper in an attempt to show you what AP looks like from a toddler mom’s perspective.

March 22, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

“A person’s a person, no matter how small.” -Dr Seuss

Can you see how this applies to babies and children as well? All lives matter, at every stage.

Not Now, Mama’s Gotta Color

March 21, 2016 / The Mama / 8 Comments

Ok so the title is not accurate. Of course I would never abandon my babies in a pool of their own filth so I could go scribble. But there’s gotta be some truth to this whole grownup coloring craze. I tried it and I’m hooked: I love to color!

It’s probably also useful for you to know that I have anxiety – not about anything in particular. I just occasionally get panic attacks or just feel overwhelmed. It affects me physically and can be exhausting, although it’s not so severe that I’ve bothered to get medicated or anything. I got some adult coloring books and colored pencils, and without any expectations, started coloring. Continue reading

The Truth About Tantrums

March 19, 2016 / The Mama / 2 Comments

You can usually tell when one is coming. Electricity is in the air and the ground begins shaking. You can practically hear the sound of sirens in the distance. Or maybe there is no warning, and the storm is upon you in an instant. Your child is having a tantrum. The truth is, all kids go through tantrums. It’s normal and healthy. But that doesn’t make it easy (or fun) for anyone involved. Here is some helpful advice from an AP mama who’s in the trenches, just like you. Continue reading

Review: Baby Delight’s Snuggle Nest

March 19, 2016 / The Mama / 2 Comments

When we were expecting our first kid in 2013, we had put the Snuggle Nest on our registry, thinking “this will be perfect when we go spend the day with friends or relatives!” We had no idea how essential it would be to our daily lives; when we unexpectedly decided to cosleep, we were in the dark (no pun intended). The Snuggle Nest was our peace of mind.

Attachment Parenting for the Working Mom

March 17, 2016 / The Mama / 1 Comment

I’m so excited to have Marie Levey-Pabst write the first guest post on Real Simple Mama! Marie helps families on a regular basis with her business, Create Balance. She’s an AP mom and an ex-teacher just like me! We both feel for the working mom who wants to live an attachment parenting lifestyle. Here are Marie’s words of wisdom.

From Marie Levey-Pabst (of Create Balance: createbalancedlife.com) Continue reading

Living with Endometriosis and Infertility

March 16, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Imagine you’ve been praying for the souls of your future children since you were 14. You marry your high school sweetheart and you know you want a house full of kids.

And then you’re told you may never be a mother.

That’s what happened to me. And don’t worry, my story has a happy ending. But I had a long road to walk, often alone, carrying the burdens of emotional and physical pain. My hope is that this article will shine some light into life with endometriosis and infertility, and remind you that when it comes to getting pregnant… Well, it ain’t over till it’s over, sister. Continue reading

March 10, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

I love you more than the sun and the moon,

more than the sea and the sky;

More than all the plants,

all the animals,

all the people,

and all the things on this Earth.

-Mama’s Nightly Prayer with Kiddo

March 8, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Being a mom basically means you’ll be worried about something or other constantly for the rest of your life.