Life

December 8, 2009

How to have an authentic life and pay the bills!

After 40, we start having less tolerance for an empty life.  The routine starts to drag on us and we start thinking of what we should do with our life. This is a good thing. The most questioning starts with our work where we spend the most of our time. We admit our work no longer fits us but we feel trapped, trapped by our bills, society and even our loved ones, who feel threatened every time we discuss our unhappiness.

Not mutually exclusive

Having an authentic life AND paying the bills are both possible. This is hard work. However it will provide the greatest leverage in your life. What is an authentic life? It’s a life which is centered around your work. This is work which feels just right and enables your full natural gifts to emerge. This is work which brings joy, happiness and a sense of coherence to your life. It does not come easy. Initially you will learn to live with a lighter backpack.
 
How to pay the bills and still have an authentic life?

Meet Jill who lives on the east coast. Jill had been divorced almost 5 years and her alimony had just ended. She supported one teenage son at home. She worked in a big city and had a long commute to the bank. She made around $ 75,000 dollars a year. This was barely enough to pay her rent, her son’s activities, and all their bills. She pondered what to do. She was not happy with her life and work. She wanted to be married again and her dream was to work with disabled children. When she was young she had a learning disability and now feels a calling to help other children. Her work at the bank could not be farther from her heart. What should Jill do?

A new plan

After much thought and reflection, Jill had a plan.  First, she decided to meet with the administrator of a local school, which provided support for kids with learning disabilities. She figured out that going back to school to get a certificate would be a good idea. And she  got a student loan for this. Soon she started a small business as an advocate for parents. For a small fee, she worked out with parents how to help their kids. Even though her parents’ meetings and her school started to take up most of her evenings, she felt increased energy in her life. The first $ 100.00 dollars she made at her new business gave her more happiness than the whole money she ever made at the bank.

Jill decided she would stay at the bank 2 more years and then leave.

Fast forward in Jill’s life

12 months later something magical happened. Jill was already making around 1000 dollars a month on the side helping families while still working at the bank. She was half-way through an early childhood certificate program. Through great referrals and testimonials, Jill was offered a role in a local school district close to what she was doing on her own. The pay was around 40% less than what Jill was making at the bank.

Jill makes many life challenges, pays the bills, and lives an authentic life

Jill and her son moved 45 minutes away from the large city and found a place 50% cheaper.
She told her son he would need a student loan for a less expensive college. She continued her small business and raised her fees 30%. She decided to cash in her small 401K which had only around $ 85,000. Even after paying a penalty and taxes, she had a little buffer which would enable her to last another 1-2 years until she could build up more opportunities.

One year later

Jill has a new degree, a new publication for parents, and a bigger customer base. She works 9 months a year for two school districts. Her overall pay is around 80,000 more than she made at the bank.
Things are tight but she and her son are happy. A few months ago, Jill met a man, a teacher, who appreciates her work. She feels a serious connection and a new hope for the future.

What can we learn from Jill’s story?

When you envision what you want and build a plan with small steps, an authentic life is possible and the bills can be paid. It’s not easy. It takes sacrifice but it’s worth it.

What about you?

Is there a part of your life which needs to work better right now? Is it empty work? A lackluster marriage? Start with a vision of what an authentic life would look like for you. Start with a new purpose about your life. Start with a definition of what is most important to you.

It is possible for you

After 40, it is possible to live a life which feels authentic and pays your bills at the same time.
Be self-confident and take a few risks. Build a strong team around you. Take small steps. You can do this. You deserve this now!

I’ll be cheering you as you go!

Criag Nathanson

 

Craig Nathanson is the author of “Don’t JUST retire and die: A new approach to your life and work after 40″ and he is a coaching expert who works with people over forty.

Visit Craig?s online community at http://www.thevocationalcoach.com where you can take a class, get more ideas through Craig Nathanson?s books and CD?s, get some private coaching over the phone or in Craig?s office, or read other stories of mid-life change and renewal.

Craig lives and works in Petaluma, California. His office is located at 921 Transport Way, Suite 3, Petaluma Ca, 94954. You can reach him at or at craig@thevocationalcoach.com.

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December 4, 2009

Life Does not End When the Newborn Arrives

In this article we are going to cover a wide variety of areas in regards to baby products with an emphasis on strollers, yet at the same time make sense of it all.

In a recent article in Business Week Online, Reena Jana says, “Infant-related products are a booming market. A sales survey from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association indicates that retail sales have hit $7 billion in 2006, up from $4 billion a decade ago.”

With baby products being all the rage, how do you make heads or tails of it all. Getting in on the act are active fathers, who still want to stay active, yet be around their child while doing so.

A recent study showed, “men with newborns and toddlers get only four and a half hours less physical activity per week than they did before being a parent.” According to the study out of the University of Pittsburgh, there are three solutions to this. These solutions are, exercising with the children like jogging while they are in a stroller (make sure you have a stroller suitable for this activity), having alternate workout sessions with the wife and taking advantages of free moments to do crunches or wash the car, among others. Basically any downtime you may have (which as I know isn`t much), do some type of excercise.

Ok so we have seen that you can get fit while having a baby using your time wisely and having the right baby gear to do it, but is baby gear easy to assemble? Elizabeth Donovan of Fairfax, Virginia doesn`t think so. “The most challenging baby equipment is the portable play yard. Yes, it looks simple enough, and the directions swear that `anybody` can put it together. But even with a master`s degree, I`m no match for it!” claims Donovan. Many moms agree some of the directions that are included with the products are hard to read. “I didn`t know how difficult it would be to put together a double stroller. I went back to the store to beg them to let me have the display model,” said Katrina Gagliano-Cheek of Chesapeake, VA. A little advice from parents, if you are mechanically inclined, and do not know anyone who is try and get the item already put together.

Ok, so you and the family want to go on a trip, an advernture if you will. Rich Reid, a professional wilderness photographer, says, “The BOB Ironman Stroller has shocks, so one can take the baby even on long walks on gravel roads.” He goes on to mention, “It also has copious space under the seat for storing baby-related things, and also The Pathfinder child carrier melds ergonomic technical backpack features. It has a weight-bearing suspension.”

Of course with all baby products you are sure to get a few recalls, so I wanted to list some of them here that I have found. There is a recall of about 14,300 units of Phil & Teds e3 Strollers with doubles seats by Regal Lager Inc. because children can touch the rear tires when in the stroller`s add-on seat. This can pose an abrasion hazard to children. This recall involves the e3 Buggy which is a three-wheeled stroller with a black steel tubing frame. An additional seat, known as a Doubles Kit, can be added behind the main stroller`s seat allowing a second child to ride in the stroller. You will want to contact the manufacturers of these products to obtain more information. So you now know you can exercise with a baby (giving the right tools), baby products have instructions that may be less then desirable, so get it put together, and you can take that family adventure with the baby included. So get out there and enjoy! Who says life should change once the baby comes along.

By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the Managing Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to list and sell their baby products in 20,000 cities in over 200 countries around the world free of charge.

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December 3, 2009

Native Baby Pouches - A Natural Way of Life

“Wearing” a baby has long been a tradition in many cultures. The mention of a Native American mother almost always conjures up an image of an industrious woman going about her work with her baby swaddled in a papoose wrapped around her back. This was then and is now a very practical way for a mother to accomplish all the many things she has to do in a day while maintaining closeness with her baby and keeping baby happy. Happy babies grow up into happy children and happy children grow into confident happy adults. Since the goal for most parents is to raise their children to become happy, confident adults, native baby pouches are useful tools for this purpose.

Not only will wearing baby in a comfortable, easy-to-use baby carrier such as a native baby pouch make baby feel happier, mom will feel happier and less stressed as well. No longer will she be forced to choose between holding the baby and getting things done, whether those things are at home or out of the home. This is good news to the rest of the family as well since they also need time and attention from the adults in the home.

The uniqueness of native baby pouches as opposed to other types of baby carriers is that they come in different sizes rather than being adjustable with rings or other adjusting mechanisms such as loops, Velcro, drawstrings, or snaps. Native baby pouches are quite simple in their design. You just slip on the pouch, put the baby inside, and go about your business. This makes it a perfect choice for busy moms and those who prefer a no-fuss lifestyle. Native baby pouch wearers find that learning how to wear the pouch and place baby inside is a quick process, unlike some other more complicated carriers which take much time and practice to learn how to use.

While the pouches used by actual Native Americans generally were constructed using animal hides, the baby pouches of today come in a variety of soft fabrics and fashionable colors, and these fabrics are easily kept clean as well.

Another great advantage to this type of baby carrier is that it comes up high on one shoulder and drapes down under mom’s other side. This makes it safe and comfortable for mom to bend over and also provides some privacy if mom needs to nurse baby while out of the home.

There are many rewards for a baby in a native baby pouch as well. Many studies have shown babies in carriers such as the native baby pouch or ring sling spend less time being fussy and more time absorbing their environment. This is because they are more able to achieve what is known as the quiet alert state while in native baby pouches. This state promotes the ability and time willing to learn. This makes for happier babies, parents and siblings!

Having babies is a natural part of life and a native baby pouch can help make taking care of baby while maintaining a busy life feel more natural as well.

Learn more about native baby pouches and find out why a native baby pouch may be the best choice for your child. David Cummings is General Manager of Bustling Baby, a business devoted to providing baby mobility, comfort, and convenience to active families.

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November 23, 2009

Babies: Using a Baby Sling Can Make Life With Baby Simple

The use of baby slings, or “baby wearing” as it’s sometimes called, is very common in many cultures around the world. More parents in the United States are learning about baby wearing from attachment parenting books and websites, and are realizing the benefits are numerous. The sling a comfortable and simple way of carrying your little one, and can be used for infants and toddlers alike. It’s simple to be discreet when breastfeeding if you’re using a sling and it is much friendlier to mom and dad’s skeletons than backpacks and simple arm toting.

Evidence has also shown that babies in slings are less susceptible becoming colicky, and are less likely to spit up excessively. Slings have also been shown to lower mortality rate in premature infants, and that the natural movement and stimulation provided by being in a sling promotes neurological development.

One of the greatest benefits of baby wearing is that either mom or dad can more easily complete daily tasks around the house.

Lastly, babies who are nurtured in a sling realize they are safe, secure and loved, and the sling assists in continuing the bonding process. Parents who use a sling are usually more tuned in to their baby’s needs, and the baby finds comfort in the sling environment which simulates the pressure, motion and warmth sensations they experienced before birth in the womb. It can also reduce fussiness and crying, and can help lull your little one to sleep. They’re more likely to sleep longer and more comfortably while in a sling as well. It can also help reduce the level of stress hormones in your baby. All of these result in a more restful night’s sleep for both baby and parents.

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November 22, 2009

Baby Slings Can Make Life with Baby Simple

The use of baby slings, for “baby wearing” as it’s sometimes called, is very common in many cultures around the world. More parents in the United States are learning about baby wearing from attachment parenting books and websites, and are realizing the benefits are numerous. The sling a comfortable and simple way of carrying your little one, and can be used for infants and toddlers alike. It’s simple to be discreet when breastfeeding if you’re using a sling and it is much friendlier to mom and dad’s skeletons than backpacks and simple arm toting.

Evidence has also shown that babies in slings are less susceptible to becoming colicky, and are less likely to spit up excessively.  Slings have also been shown to lower mortality rate in premature infants, and that the natural movement and stimulation provided by being in a sling promotes neurological development. 

One of the greatest benefits of baby wearing is that either mom or dad can more easily complete daily tasks around the house. 

Babies who are nurtured in a sling realize they are safe, secure and loved, and the sling assists in continuing the bonding process.  Parents who use a sling are usually more tuned in to their baby’s needs, and the baby finds comfort in the sling environment which simulates the pressure, motion and warmth sensations they experienced before birth in the womb.  It can also reduce fussiness and crying, and can help lull your little one to sleep.  They’re more likely to sleep longer and more comfortably while in a sling as well.  It can also help reduce the level of stress hormones in your baby.  All of these result in a more restful night’s sleep for both baby and parents.

The writer operates an online store, Baby Gear Bargains 4U featuring baby strollers, car safety seats, baby carriers and slings and diaper bags at discount prices.

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November 17, 2009

Backpack Diaper Bags Make Life Simpler

A new baby is the smallest member of the family. The average newborn baby weighs around seven pounds and is about 20 inches long. How can it be, then, that this tiny new addition to the family can need more things than the larger members of the family?

Before baby came along, you could grab a jacket, a small purse and perhaps a book and be out the door. Now it seems that a trip to the grocery store requires the type of packing and preparation that used to be reserved for weekend getaways! There are diapers, wipes, extra sets of clothing, blankets, pacifiers, formula and bottles (even if you are nursing these may be needed in an emergency) and even toys to consider. Older babies may need snacks and other items such as books to keep them busy while on the road. The amount of items you need for even the shortest trip dwarfs the trip itself!

Packing the diaper bag is one thing, but having to carry that diaper bag is quite another. Trying to find things in most traditional diaper bags while the baby is screaming their lungs out is enough to make even the most seasoned parents a bit on edge. Backpack diaper bags are a simple solution to this problem. The backpack style of diaper bag allows everything to have its own compartment. For example, you can store items in a side pocket which can be accessed quickly if you are in a hurry. Objects such as bottles or sippy cups can be stored in another area of the bag, the pacifier can be quickly retrieved when it is on a clip on the side of the backpack diaper bag, and a security blanket can be folded and placed in the bottom of the bag. Diapers and wipes can be neatly tucked away in a middle section. Some backpack diaper bags are so versatile they have a cooler compartment for items such as breast milk or formula which need to stay cool for long periods of time.

In addition to helping keep things more organized, backpack diaper bags are much easier to carry than the traditional over one shoulder style of diaper bag. Because they are also backpacks, the weight of the backpack and its contents is evenly distributed over both shoulders, making it more ergonomic than a regular diaper bag. One great feature is that it won’t come sliding down your arm when you bend over to pick up the baby! Another great advantage is that it leaves both hands free which makes caring for baby much, much easier and more convenient.

When you have a baby, you can’t get around having to carry a bag full of items that can weigh more than your baby does, but you can make carrying all the required gear a little easier with a backpack diaper bag. Life with a baby is challenging enough. Why struggle along with a clunky diaper bag on one arm when you can use backpack diaper bags and keep your hands free too?

Learn more about backpack diaper bags and find out why a backpack diaper bag may be the best choice for your child. David Cummings is General Manager of Bustling Baby, a business devoted to providing baby mobility, comfort, and convenience to active families.

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