Although the school year is just starting to wind down for many families, for others, the summer months represent a major change: the final phase before kindergarten. Today, Heather shares ideas for easing the transition to kindergarten, useful for extroverts and “shy bunnies” alike. Please leave a comment if you have other great tips to share!
From Heather:

“My first born, my sweet little girl will start Kindergarten this fall.

Emma is a shy bunny by nature and generally transitions very slowly to new situations. In fact, at the first mention of Kindergarten, her only comment was, 'No! I am not going!' Obviously, starting school will be a big transition for her so we have already started to prepare for this major life event. After soliciting advice from friends who have already made the leap to Kindergarten, the following are some things that we are doing, or plan on doing this summer, to ease this transition for Emma.

Visit the school before school starts. Take advantage of the required MA pre-screening as an opportunity to take a quick tour and check out the classroom, gym, library, and cafeteria. Even give the bathrooms a try. Bring a camera so your child can take pictures. Frequent the school playground on weekends.

Read and discuss books. I am a huge advocate of using books to stimulate conversation. We have taken a few Kindergarten books out of the library and recommend Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner by Amy Schwartz and Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate.

Plan play dates. Many schools will provide a class list upon request so that parents can schedule play dates. This is a terrific way for your child to get to know new classmates prior to school starting. Some schools like ours also host a summer event for incoming students and their parents.

Shop for school clothes and supplies. Let your child select a special item or two for school use like a backpack or lunch sack. Be sure to test these items yourself so you can be sure that they are easy to open and close.

Talk about what to expect. Emma does better in new situations when she knows what to expect. We talk about all the fun things she will learn and experience in Kindergarten as well as the class routine. Emma is comforted to know that that some routines, such as recess and story time, will be similar to what she experiences in preschool today.

Begin the morning routine a few weeks before school actually starts. We hope that practicing the morning routine will help to make the first days of school easier. Together we will make a list of what she will need to do in order to get to school on time: brush teeth, wash face, get dressed, eat breakfast, put on shoes, catch the bus, etc. Even consider making a dry run of the school bus route.

Practice goodbyes. Emma loves to role-play so I hope this actually works. We will plan what the two of us will say and do when it's time say goodbye. This worked well for preschool. At drop off just as I am about to leave, we dramatically run to each other for one more kiss and say at the same time, ‘One more kiss because we just can’t help it!’ I have also heard that if you give your child the job of (affectionately!) pushing you out of the room - or down the street if they take the bus – it literally puts control of the parting in their hands and makes the transition easier. Also, short and sweet goodbyes are typically best for everyone.”

I realize that Laurel’s princess obsession is a phase, but I still periodically fret over the homogenous story arcs and aesthetics of those tales. Luckily, there’s an alternative in JamboKids’ line of multicultural dolls and thoughtfully written and illustrated storybooks. Perhaps it’s not surprising that Laurel attached quickly to the (Asian like mommy) Rachel doll, but I was truly stunned to see how the accompanying storybook makes complex concepts such as destiny, ancestry, and acceptance accessible for kids. Not to mention that it’s refreshing to see inner strength - instead of a prince - fuel a happy ending.

Want to win a JamboKids doll + book set*? Here’s how:

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winner Monique B.!
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Visit the JamboKids collection, then email contests@bostonmamas.com (with ‘JamboKids’ in the subject), and name the JamboKids character that would make a good buddy for your kid.

One entry permitted per person; US entrants only.

Entry period closes at midnight EST, Wednesday, June 4, 2008.

*The winner will receive a JamboKids doll + book set of their choice!

Just the other day, right about the time I was working on the BlogHer post about "the bases" of sex, I had this memory flood of totally immature sayings from middle school come back.  One of them was, "Twat?  I cunt hear you. I have an ear infucktion."

I never said this blog was clean, people.

Anyway, I was thinking about that saying and really how stupid it was, but how after all of these years it still can make me giggle just because? It is so damn stupid.  And my, how middle school boys love anything stupid AND sex-related all at the same time.

So anyway, ear infections were top of mind, and I think I may have jinxed myself.  The little angel woke up this morning at 1:30, SCREAMING in pain.  I have not heard her cry like that in a long time. It was like she was possessed. We finally got her back to sleep with Motrin, but it happened again and again. Finally, at 4 a.m., I drove to Wal-Mart.  As I was standing there in the aisle looking at Swimmer's Ear medicine, I remembered that one of her tubes is still partially in. I wondered if you should pour Swimmer's Ear medicine straight into someone's brain.  I called the on-call pediatrician, who said, NO YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT.

And she couldn't take more medicine yet.  I got home, hoping maybe she'd just fallen asleep, but I could hear her screaming literally outside the house. I got upstairs, took one look at her face contorted in pain, and shoved her in the truck.  It was high time we checked out the local ER.  Before we left, I looked at Beloved plaintively. 

Me: "See you in six hours."

Him:  "Rita, this is the suburbs."

Me: "I've never left an ER in under six hours."

Him:  "Look around.  There are not going to be gunshot wounds like before."

Actually, he was right. We were the only ones there. In and out in an hour.  She got scared when we were inside, and when the doctor started digging around in her ear with a long Q-Tip, she trembled a little, but so brave was my girl that I didn't realize how much it was hurting her until the doctor asked.

The doctor decided that to really determine if it was an inner ear or external ear infection (Swimmer's Ear), she would have to dig a LOT in a very painful way.  Thankfully, she decided just to treat for both and not subject all of us to the sound of a four-year-old already in abject pain having her skull scraped out with a sharp stick.  She gave me two prescriptions and the little angel a shot (glass) of antibiotics mixed with Tylenol with codeine.  Yeah, baby.

So anyway, that's been my day.  The little angel recovered greatly after her second dose of antibiotics and has been treating her stuffed animals to an advanced photography session complete with lighting and staging followed by Group Time while I frantically tried to edit stuff for work.  Still, the sound of her singing instead of screaming is music to my ears. And, Tropical Hello Kitty arrived today from Build-A-Bear. 

I would review it, except that my dear friend Average Jane is the social media expert behind the product, so suffice it to say she knows exactly how to trip my daughter's trigger.  The little angel practically backflipped off the step with joy, and when I pointed out we could go back to Build-a-Bear to get Hello Kitty a new outfit, I think she levitated. I can't figure whether she or Blondie likes that place more. Tropical Hello Kitty and Pink Kitteh promptly switched outfits, as you do.

Credit: Chris Carfi at BlogHer 2007, when Blondie purchased Pink Kitteh for the little angel.

The little angel: "LOOK! NOW THEY ARE SISTERS!!!"

Beloved is going to kill me.

How was YOUR day?

I’m thrilled to announce a new component to the site: Boston Mamas Rock! We’ll be featuring interviews with fabulous local mamas, whether they be entrepreneurs, avid volunteers, stay at home moms who take care of a crazy number of kids, moms who have closet talents (e.g., community theatre, juggling, what have you…), authors, media professionals, politicians, professors, etc. Basically, folks with an interesting story to tell! So go ahead and nominate yourself or someone else! And I’m pleased to introduce our first featured mama: Susan Callahan, a “cookiepreneur” from Westford.

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Susan Callahan – Goodies Homemade Cookies & Treats

Christine: Tell us a little bit about yourself Susan. How did you spend your days before becoming a full fledged cookiepreneur? And now that you’ve arrived, do you have time for anything else?

Susan: I was a stay-at-home mom and baking was something I always did with my daughter, some constructive one-on-one time while her baby brothers napped. When the children were all in school full time I went back to work as an administrative assistant. As the kids grew and required less of my time, I took on more job responsibilities in different positions and ended up as an executive assistant/personal assistant for a CEO.

When my daughter, Julie, went off to college in 2002, she was one of four girls sharing the dorm room. I would send her and her roommates care packages that mainly consisted of store bought stuff. One time when she called to thank me for the latest package, she asked that the next time I send her something, would I please just send her some “goodies.” So, before I knew it, I was sending her cookies, and then the requests came in that I send her friends who were attending other schools cookies for their birthdays, or if they were having a difficult time, just a little pick-me-up. Before, I knew it, I was getting orders from family and friends. Then, I thought I should have at least a business card…

My cousin, who is a graphic designer, designed my business card using Goodies as the business name. When she showed me the proof, with the Goodies logo, I knew in an instant that I could do something with this design.

So, that’s how it all began.

Christine: Your cookies look amazing. Are these long time family recipes, or recipes you have developed over the years?

Susan: I wish I could take credit for the recipes, but they are not old family recipes, just ones that I have found over the years and tweaked a bit.

Christine: Do any of the cookies have a particular history or story associated with them? I’d love to know what inspired those deadly looking Chocolate Chip Reese’s Cup cookies.

Susan: The Chocolate Chip Reese’s Cup – well, who doesn’t like more chocolate chip and Reese’s???

Christine: I see that you basically bake to order – does this mean you are constantly tied to your kitchen? Or do you have helper elves?

Susan: Occasionally I have helper elves, but as the website states, orders must be in by 10:30 a.m. to be processed the same day, which allows me some flexibility.

Christine: Are you planning on getting your cookies in local stores, or do you ever hit the open market circuit? Basically, I’m wondering if there is a way to sample your cookies, but I’m not sure I trust myself to have an entire dozen or so in the house.

Susan: I’d love for my cookies to be sold in local stores, and am working on that. Until then, our cookies can be sampled at the following farmer’s markets this summer: on Tuesday’s in Lexington and Westford, on Wednesday’s in Wayland at Russell’s Farm, and Friday’s in Groton.

Christine: I see that your cookies can make it to New England destinations in a day. Do you ship outside of New England? Where has your farthest flung starving college student been from?

Susan: Our cookies are shipped all across the country. Students at the University of Arizona and Southern CA have enjoyed our cookies.

Christine: Your business had unexpected roots in simply wanting to send your daughter cookies while she was in college. How quickly did your hobby turn to a business?

Susan: For five years it was really just a hobby, I didn’t pay much attention to it. Then, as I became more and more disenchanted with my job as an executive assistant, I realized that I had developed quite a wonderful following, most of whom were repeat customers. And, I thought, what would happen if I actually worked at this like a business…and, here we are!

Christine: Do you have any advice for aspiring mamapreneurs?

Susan: My advice to other aspiring mamapreneurs is, as a mother, you already are working very hard, but if you are lucky enough to find something that you love to do, that you can claim as your own, do it!

Christine: Is your daughter out of college? Do you still send her cookies? Does she share your love of baking?

Susan: Julie graduated two years ago, is living and working in NYC, and, yes, she still loves to receive GOODIES. She does like to bake, but has lots of other things to do instead!

Christine: And I used to teach college kids, so of course I want to know, is there any data (self report or otherwise) about whether your cookies have improved exam scores?

Susan: One of my promotional postcards to parents of boarding students reads, “Send 24 Delicious Reasons to Choose Milk During Exams.” I’d like to think that GOODIES does in fact help kids do better on their exams!

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Know a fabulous local mama? Nominate yourself or someone else to be featured!

During a recent interview with About.com’s breastfeeding expert Melissa Nagin, I was excited to learn about the Playtex Embrace Double Pump - a hospital grade breast pump that retails around $170 (a relative bargain in the pump domain). Playtex was kind enough to provide the Embrace to our pregnancy and postpartum expert Carole Arsenault of Newborn Nurses for evaluation. Read on for Carole’s thoughts on the pump:

“The Playtex Embrace Double Pump is a good option for working moms in that it is very lightweight, and is easy to assemble, take apart, and clean. The drop-in liners are fantastic and make cleaning that much quicker. There also is less chance of contamination and spilling with this system. The carry bag is stylish and easy to organize.

The moms who tested the Playtex Embrace pump with me stated that the shields are more comfortable than the pumps they were used to. The soft shields press on the areola, which is very similar to how a baby nurses. This construction is beneficial because stimulation of the areola, not just the nipple, will help keep milk supply up.

In regards to the actual pumping output, both moms reported a decrease in the power of suction with the Playtex pump, even when set at the highest level. Instead of taking 10 minutes to pump 2 ounces (the approximate output with their current pumps) it took between 15 - 20 minutes. Also of note is that the pump is louder than the Medela pumps. This could be a concern for moms who are trying to pump discreetly at work.

For the price of $170 for the entire Playtex Embrace pump kit, this system is a good value.”

Editor’s Note: Playtex currently is giving away free samples of their Drop-Ins Original Nurser System. Click here to sign up for a free sample.

Does it seem like there is a black cloud hanging around?  I've had a lot of friends and family members with bad news lately.  It seems like everyone's company is laying people off, cutting costs, tightening belts and generally making life miserable.  The gas prices have finally gotten high enough to make people think twice about traveling. The airlines suck ass.  Traveling this summer just doesn't even sound fun.  The weather is insane, and heading into tornado and hurricane season is frightening.  I have a headache like every damn day from the barometric pressure constantly changing.  THE WATER IS TOO WET AND THE ICE IS TOO COLD.

Crabby, crabby, crabby.

Which is bizarre, really, because in my own life things are really good.  A year ago, we moved into Chateau Travolta after a horrible experience selling This Old House and my husband's job was miserable.  My beloved cat Sybil died of kidney failure.  In comparison, 2008 FUCKING ROCKS.  So what gives with my headaches and crankiness?

Here's a lightning bolt: I used to think (I know, I know, rookie) that if I were to get a book published, it would change everything. I would never again have a bad day. I would always be on Cloud Nine.  I would never fight with my husband, my child would flit from flower to flower like a red-headed butterfly.  Everything would be grand, forever and ever, amen.  Ridiculous, right?

But how many people really believe that shit?  That if only you had bigger boobs or thinner thighs or a million dollars or a husband that everything would be all hunky-dory all the time?  I never thought I'd fall prey to that, because after recovering from an eating disorder in my youth I realized that being a size 2 really just meant I was fucking hungry all the time.  It didn't fix anything. So I kind of thought I was immune to this sort of fantastical thinking. 

I'm elated about my book coming out in a few months.  I'm really, really excited about the book tour (widget coming soon with dates).  My beloved has been so supportive and wonderful about this dream of mine as it spun toward fruition that I've fallen in love with him all over again in the past few months.  We're remodeling the house we always wanted to have, cigarette-burned carpets and all. I have a new cat, who, while not Sybil, is a very loud purrer and quite cuddly. My husband has a different job that he really enjoys and whistles a lot.  The little angel has adjusted to her new daycare and is looking forward to going most days. She can draw a rabbit and write any word if you tell her the letters to use. She can read certain names and short words.  Things are good.

But you know what?  There are still bad days.  Tonight I came home with this killer barometric-pressure headache, knowing I had some reviews to do and that I was overwhelmed at work and it was only Monday.  The little angel wouldn't eat her dinner and the old truck wasn't starting very well.  When I went to fill the bathtub, the shower was left on  BY ME and drenched the top of my head.  Not the front, not that back, just the top, which looked totally cool and felt EVEN BETTER.  I couldn't find the Advil.  I tried to find the swimming suit and water shoes for tomorrow's "water play day" at my daughter's school, but she wanted the Crocs and I could only find one goddamn Croc, and she insisted the Dora shoes WOULD NOT DO and I wanted to tell her about all the little children in the world who don't have shoes and get parasites through their feet, but then thinking about those little children made me want to cry and it isn't even that time, seriously.  I'm just low on batteries this week.  And the IRS sent us a letter saying we messed up a box on our 2006 tax return and we owe them $390 yesterday. 

So no, getting a book published didn't fix everything. It just felt really good to achieve a life goal. The end.

In a way, though, it's freeing.  I mean, if that's the case, if realizing a dream I've had my entire life didn't fix everything, that means that nothing will fix everything, and this is as good as it gets, these little minutes, and maybe I should stop worrying about the big, grandiose achievements I always think will finally make me happy.  Maybe I am already happy, or I would be, if I could just find the damn Advil.

Or something.
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Teach your teen to stop hating her thighs.  Read the book review at Surrender, Dorothy: Reviews. Also! I wrote about oral sex today at BlogHer.  Seriously.

Like most kids I know, Laurel will – with trial-to-trial consistency scientists could only dream of – systematically select crunchy carb over veggie snacks. And while I (optimistically) continue to present the veggies, I also keep an eye peeled for snack options with nutritional content above that of cheese crackers. Enter, World of Grains. These natural, high fiber snacks are packed with a blend of whole grains (including all important flax) and come in 5 yummy flavors. Suitable for kids and grown-ups any time of day, I’ve found that including a few of these snack gems in Laurel’s lunch box provides a treat that’s nutrient-dense and spares her teachers a typical dessert-induced sugar rush before nap time.

Want to be one of two winners to receive 5 cartons of World of Grains snacks*? Here’s how:

+ + + + +
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winners Heidi T. & Rebecca A.!
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Visit the World of Grains product line, then email contests@bostonmamas.com (with ‘World of Grains’ in the subject), and name the World of Grains flavor your kid most likely would want to try.

One entry permitted per person; US entrants only.

Entry period closes at midnight EST, Monday, June 2, 2008.

*Two winners will receive 5 cartons (one of each flavor) of World of Grains snacks!

And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:

Clever Parents offers tips to help children cope with separation and divorce. Moms’ Buzz features a last minute family travel deal from Norwegian Cruise Line. We Covet loves the Pin Up Girls handmade clear resin bracelet. And you could win: a Playskool Rose Petal Cottage from Classy Mommy, Kids’ Cobian sandals at MomFinds, “Moms Rocks” tees from One Chic Mama, and gifts for daddy from The Nest Baby.

I've been feeling a little overwhelmed lately. I've noticed I'm not alone -- a lot of folks in the blogosphere have been in a state of malaise for the past month or so.  I think my main problem is that I've been running on adrenaline -- I can almost feel it downloading into my veins on an hourly basis -- for about three months now.  In addition to my lovely full-time job, I've been planning this book tour (soooo not complaining, but let's be honest, it's a lot of work, but still, sooooo not complaining) in my "free time," and our family social schedule has kicked into preschool-ballet-class-recital-coming-up, backyard-barbecues, weddings-and-other-summer-travel, mow-the-lawn-every-week, full-on hypergear.  And my child!  My adorable child!  Who suddenly has started fighting me about every decision, every movement of her little finger, from which toilet to use when she has to pee to what she'll be eating for dinner to which barrette will go in her hair to when she can give Bella her treats.  EVERY DECISION.  EVERY TIME.  And lo, some days I am just NOT UP TO THIS. 

Yesterday I hit a big wall.  I called my husband crying after driving a half hour to my OB-GYN's office for the yearly appointment that apparently hasn't happened since 2005 (gulp - please cervical cancer, do not be there) and has been rescheduled twice, only to wait a half hour, get completely undressed, and then hear my doctor being paged to go deliver a baby as I sat waiting for him.  Ten minutes later, and I would've been done.  So I hopped off the table, rescheduled for the third time, and headed home.  Two hours wasted.  And I had SO MUCH TO DO.  My husband, rock star that he is, gave me a very firm pep talk about finishing strong, and how these book events are like replacing the door hinges and light switches when you remodel a room.  Why would you go to all the work to remodel a room and then ignore the details?  And I know he is so right.  I'm just so tired. 

After that, I was talking to Blondie when she got some bad news, and then my head started trying to figure out how to also fix Blondie's life in addition to attending to mine, even though I know she doesn't want me to fix her life and GOOD LORD, SHE IS AN ADULT AND DOESN'T NEED ME and all that, but I think my concern for her then pushed me completely over the edge.  I forced myself to focus on my job when I got back home (working from home again), and I made good progress, but I'm in the process of doing the technical equivalent of sorting a bale of hay into a new hay bale configuration.   I made like 200 changes and was still not done with even one tiny section.  FRUSTRATION.  Five o'clock came. I realized I hadn't written my BlogHer post for Monday yet.  By the time I was finished with that, I realized the little angel was going to be one of the last kids picked up at daycare AGAIN.  Failing, AGAIN.  Now I know some would say that is not a failure, but I hate how much time she spends at daycare, and if I hadn't had to blow two hours at the goddamn-someone-else's-baby (yes, I was in THAT frame of mind) doctor, MY BABY would've been picked up a lot earlier.

I brought her home.  She was not fighting me.  She wanted green eggs.  We watered the flowers.  She helped me make green eggs.  We ate our eggs, then we sat outside while she ate pudding and watched for my husband to come home from his guitar lesson. We decided to go across the street to the park.  I pushed her on the swing for a while, thinking how nice it was to have a park so nearby, and how much I really do love my new neighborhood, the neighborhood that I guess isn't new anymore, because we moved into Chateau Travolta a year ago next week, and how GOD WHY CAN'T I JUST RELAX ALREADY? 

The little angel broke my revelry.  "Push me higher!"

I pushed her higher.

"Push me higher!"

I pushed her the highest she's ever gone.

"Look, Mommy!  I'm getting lost in the sky!"

And then, like Bailey on Grey's Anatomy, I think I was able to see the big picture.

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Exercise makes you smarter.  Read the review at Surrender, Dorothy: Reviews.