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Working Mom's 411 is your one-stop resource guide for navigating through the often choppy waters of managing kids, career and home. With extensive experience as a credentialed nanny, household manager and as a working mom herself, Michelle is sure to make you laugh out loud as she shares her expert take on the common dilemmas that working mothers face.
At your fingertips, you will find expert advice, up to date information and tried-and-true tips on everything from choosing childcare to streamlining housework, homework and more. You'll discover super solutions to problems big and small from learning how to let go of that all-too-familiar working moms guilt to dealing with family and friends who have different ideas about home moms and careers should mix. Buy Now!
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America's nanny offers a large dose of healthy parenting advice with secrets for raising happy, secure, and well-balanced babies and toddlers.
Babies don't come with instructions. And since today's parents are so overwhelmed with schedules and demands, they have little time to bone up on their parenting skills. Often removed from grandparents and relatives who in times past lived next door or just down the street, they have no one to guide them through the disorienting world of raising children. Enter Nanny to the Rescue! Michelle LaRowe, 2004 International Nanny Association "Nanny of the Year," gives her tried and true solutions to childcare. Her expertise with chapters titled "Who's the boss?" and "Discipline is not a four letter word" gives confidence to parents who need specific ideas for real day-to-day problems. A proud member of Christian Nannies, Michelle offers foundational truths sure to help encourage moms and dads.
Nanny To the Rescue Again
Faced with multiple choices regarding school, friends, and activities coupled with the ever-widening influence of the outside world, parents of 6-12 year olds need help. America's nanny is back to offer a large dose of healthy parenting advice with secrets for raising happy, secure, and well-balanced children.
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A Few Products That ALL New Moms Will Need
It's an exciting (and hormonal time) to be expecting a first child of my own. Although I've been blessed to love many children along the road to now, I'm still processing that my heart has room for more.
As I've looked back over the past decade plus of my time spent working with families, I've come across many products, gadgets and gizmos for baby. I've furnished more baby nurseries than I can remember, and I've purchased more strollers, diaper bags and other baby gear than most parents will purchase in a lifetime. And because of my niche in working with families of multiples, as you can imagine, I've really done double my share. From Kmart to the Best Baby Boutique, I've seen it all; the good, the bad and the ugly in baby products.
But this time around shopping will be different. I won't be using the company credit card. I'll be dishing out of my (and my husbands) wallet to purchase my new mommy must haves. And unfortunately the wallet isn't big enough to have it all.
So after careful thought and consideration I've paired my list down to the top five items that I, as a new mom will need. These are items that have made life dramatically easier with baby and that I consider to be absolutely, positively worth the investment.
As tempting as it can be to purchase one of the popular all in one travel systems don't. They are bulky, hard to maneuver and very rarely fit well in the trunk of a standard car making them less convenient than you'd think. Instead, opt for the Maclaren Easy Traveler Car Seat Carrier Stroller that is comparable, but of better quality, and design than the all too common Snap N Go.
And when baby outgrows her car seat, invest in a MacClaren Quest Stroller). It's heartier than a traditional umbrella stroller but offers the same convenience. It's light and easy to maneuver (it has dual swivel wheels), has fully reclining seats and hosts a five point harness system. And it accommodates kids from three months to 55 pounds, making it the only stroller that you'll ever need. And if you're having twins, or are in need of a double stroller to accommodate a sibling, forget the tandem seating style and go for the Maclaren Twin Techno. It offers the same features as its singleton counterpart and easily fits through doors and shopping isles.
For fashion and function in diaper bags, it's Petunia Pickle Bottom and her Boxy BackPack all the way . With a chic and modern feel (you have to check out the amazing choice in fabrics!), this diaper bag not only offers a built in changing station (with removable changing pad) but allows you go to from backpack to shoulder bag in a cinch. It even has coordinating valet clips that velcro over the handlebars of your stroller for hands free convenience (purchased separately). And Petunia Pickle Bottom won't let super organized moms down. The outer changing station has lots of room and two pockets for diapers, wipes and all of your other changing needs, while the inside boasts a spacious compartment that has a key clip, dirty diaper pouch and inner (as well as outer) side pockets.
And for the upmost in practicality, a Basic Comfort Ultimate Crib Sheet is a must. This crib sheet has a soft top side with a super absorbent core and waterproof backing that makes changing babies crib sheet easier than ever. The sheet has tabs along the edges that conveniently snap around the crib rails. For moms, this means no more taking out the bumpers or the crib mattress to change the sheets!
And as any mom who has begun introducing solid foods to their baby will tell you, it can be very messy. For that reason, it is essential that every household with kids be equipped with a powerful hand held vac. The Eureka 71A Hand-Held Vacuum does the job and gets up dried Cheerios and fruit bits that have found their way to the floor.
So there you have it. My personal lists of must haves. The products I trust and love that really make life easier. One baby at a time.
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Michelle LaRowe is the 2004 International Nanny Association Nanny of the Year. A career nanny specializing in caring for twins, Michelle has over a decade of nanny experience. Although she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, she has found her true calling, working as a professional nanny.
Michelle is an active member of the nanny community. She is the founder and president of Boston Area Nannies, Inc., a local non profit educational organization and has served on the International Nanny Association Board of Directors for the past five years. During that time she has also served as the associations 1st Vice President. Michelle is also a proud member of Christian Nannies.
She is called on by the media as a nanny and parenting expert, and has been affectionately dubbed America's Nanny. Michelle has appeared on television and has been featured in print. She is the author of the new parenting series, Nanny to the Rescue!, a contributing writer in the Experts' Guide to the Baby Years and a regular columnist in several parenting publications, including Twins Magazine.
To learn more about Michelle and to get your parenting tip of the day, please visit www.michellelarowe.com.
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