On behalf of Shelton Interactive and Chicken Soup for the Soul, I’d like to share with you a free e-book download of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times. 

Chicken Soup for the Soul books are available in e-book format for your e-reader, smart phone or computer! This free e-book works on all e-readers — Kindle, Nook, iPad, Kobo, iPod Touch, iPhone, and others, and all generations of them. Don’t worry, though. If you don’t have an e-reader (or receive one this holiday season) you can still enjoy this free book on your computer. 

The free download is included below. They are only available for a limited time.

To download from Amazon: http://amzn.to/shsW6O

To download from Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/tYS2cB

To download from Apple iTunes: http://bit.ly/tYiaoD

To download from Kobo Books: http://bit.ly/uMSyrX

Enjoy your book!

As a mental health professional, I’m well aware of the high numbers of people with mental illness. As a mom though, I struggle with the idea of mental illness touching my family. I’ve had an uncle who returned from Vietnam with many problems (PTSD & alcoholism) and other family members who dealt with depression, drug abuse, etc. It is much easier to deny that there is a problem rather than to face it head on because we want our family (or even us) to be okay. So if you know of anyone dealing with mental illness, please, please give encouragement and support that person to get help. Be there for them to lean on for awhile.

Parents, also make sure to check in with the kids and with yourselves for support. While not everyone is diagnosed with mental illness, we are all affected by stressors from work, school and/or home. Make sure to take your “me-time” regularly. And make sure to seek help when you need it.

Earlier this year, I made two decisions designed to help me take care of me. I’m an overachiever and have been known to take on more than I can handle at times thinking that I can be everything to everyone. I’ve since learned that I don’t have to be Superwoman all of the time. I decided to stop volunteering as a music minister at a local church after 12 years of playing my guitar there. I also decided to step down from a part-time writing job where I networked with other moms. I loved this job, but my pay was going to be cut in half and being the sole financial provider for myself & kiddo, I chose to move on.

The move from the part-time job was in late January and from the church was at the end of June. When I first made this decision, I felt great. I felt like I was doing the right thing for myself (and for kiddo) by sticking to my gut and doing what made me happy.

Little did I know that by doing that, I also isolated myself from people that I genuinely cared for. Not to say that I can’t communicate with them, but it’s not the same being part of a group after so long with nothing to move forward to. I didn’t have another social group to become a part of and I feel that this has hurt me. Being connected to others is important for people to function (I think) and even more so for single parents. So, I’ve been taking other steps to take care of myself – by talking to my friends, reconnecting and being honest with myself about the things I need. Parents, what do you do for your self-care?

Many parents choose not to vaccinate for a number of reasons. One major reason parents opted out was the risk of Autism. Researchers have proven that there is no link between vaccinations and Autism. While some parents are afraid of the risks, others just don’t like the idea of vaccinations and feel their children will naturally build up immunity.

I have mixed emotions about this topic. I think we need to keep everyone safe by vaccinating, but I have concerns about the number given at on time & how it is given.

Would love for you to share your thoughts..

~Shanta

Mommy of 3 BOYS!

My eating habits are not the greatest.  No matter how hard I try to eat well balanced meals throughout the day, many times I find that it is 3pm and I have yet to eat consume anything all day except the half pot of coffee and whatever leftovers my kids didn’t eat from their breakfast and lunch.  Not only is that sad, that is really not good for my body.  I find myself always running and taking care of everything else that I fail to properly take care of myself!  I have made ME a promise to eat better throughout the day, and I have also made ME a promise to take a daily multivitamin.

When I went into the pharmacy on Sunday to pick up some cough medicine (yes, I have gotten quite a few colds this year, probably because I am so run down!), I decided to pick up vitamins.  I refused to spend $20 on name brand vitamins, so I picked up the generic Women’s Multivitamin the store had for $7.99.

I am not sure if it is all in my head, but it has been four days and I am already feeling a bit better.  This morning, I was able to get out of bed without rolling around for an hour and I’m finding myself doing better through the day getting things done this week.  Can it be the multivitamin?

Do you take vitamins?  Do you think they help?

He gets very excited and it is much harder for him to focus on listening well and being aware of his actions. On the way home that night, we went over everything that he did to have a great day at the party. He had a great time with a lot of hard work. I asked him how he thought his day went. Kiddo said that he had a really good day. Then I asked him to go over the foods and drink he had (which affect his ability to focus/listen well). From the morning until that night, he listed all of the sugary drinks and snacks that he consumed – juice, yogurt, more juice, etc.

He smiled when I told him how proud I was of him for making sure that he did not have too much sugar and for listening well. I also reminded him that I knew he could do anything he set his mind on doing.

I know that everyday will be unique and some days it’ll be a struggle with him, but as he gets older and more independent, I want him to see that he can be in control of things simply by putting in the effort and hard work.

I realize this is the season for it, but it seems worse than ever, in my opinion. The sicknesses also seem to hang on a long time. I know I have toddlers who are notorious for mouthing toys and things that are full of germs so I shouldn’t be surprised. We wash our hands well and use anti-bacterial soap, but it’s not enough. I joked to my Facebook friends that I was going to request that the entire town be fumigated with Lysol via airplane. I got a lot of “likes” on that idea. At least when I’m sick I have an excuse for eating my favorite comfort goods. Too bad I don’t feel like cooking any of them. My hubby is usually the great cook, but even he has been felled by the nasty tummy virus and is bedridden this week.

Being the mom, I have to carry on and keep the family going and make sure there is an abundant supply of white rice, toast, applesauce and tea. It’s my job after all and it didn’t come with a vacation package or sick days. Thank goodness the benefits plan is top notch other than those two oversights.

Have you been as unlucky as us this cold and flu season? If not, tell me your tricks for staying healthy!

I am very fortunate that I never had any negative experiences with vaccines on any of my four children….  I know that there are such conflicting thoughts with what vaccines can do, regardless of what studies have been proven true or falsified.  Personally, even before all of my children were born, I never questioned vaccines…  Yes, we are aware of which vaccines my children get and when, and I do limit which ones to give at each visit, but when all is said and done, my children are all up to date on their vaccines.  I was always more afraid of an epidemic or my children being exposed to deadly diseases that were wiped out decades ago should they return to this country from lack of vaccinations than any other suspected side effect of vaccines.

Yes, maybe if my child was sick and I thought vaccines contributed I might feel slightly different, certainly concerned and angry, but the thought of my child dying from a deadly strain of measles or some other preventable disease really makes this a non-issue for me.

What do YOU think about parents who choose not to vaccinate paying more money for insurance?

Even though the teacher was very supportive and understanding, I had to hold my tears in because of the weight of what she was saying about kiddo’s behavior. His grades are okay, but he really needs to work on his listening and people skills overall. I felt so alone in that moment because I couldn’t fix it. Period. As if the magic wand that I wanted to use was misplaced somewhere. My eyes watered and I pretended that they were itchy so that people couldn’t see that I was crying. It took everything I had not to break down as soon as I got to work. I didn’t think my day (or my outlook) would improve after starting it out this way.

As the day wore on, and friends heard my dilemma, I realized that there really is a village. I have a team backing me up to make sure that I do the best job I can as a mom. A village full of friends, family, teachers, etc all who care about kiddo’s well-being and success. Even if it’s just offering a suggestion or a shoulder to cry on, my village supports me when I feel like my foundations will crumble any second.

I also realized that even though my village is small, it is strong. And once I allowed myself to lean on that village for support, I was okay and ready to take on the challenges of being a mom. I was able to recognize that I have ideas and resources that can help kiddo improve at school so that he can enjoy it rather than tolerate it.

Thank goodness I have my village to help me parent; couldn’t live without it. Who’s in your village?