I was very pleased to have two very interesting Dads on this show. Both of these men have careers that do not revolve around being an author, yet each of them felt compelled to write a book about being the best dad possible, and what impact one father had on his son.
My first guest is Tom McManus, who is a former NFL football player with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is now owner and host of a Sports Talk Radio Show in Florida called "The Rumble with Tom McManus" and he recently published his first book "We'll Always Be Pals." He is also a father to three daughters.
This book was written as an ode to his father who passed away due to cancer while in his seventies. Tom shares his close relationship with his father and how his encouragement and guidance helped him play college and professional football. He also points out several lessons he learned from his father, which has molded him into the man and father he is today for his daughters.
Then Tom Sturges, an Executive VP and Head of Creative for Universal Music Publishing Group, and father to two boys 17 and 11, has written his first book entitled "Parking Lot Rules and 75 Other Ideas for Raising Amazing Children." On one side Tom has worked with some of the greatest songwriters of his generation...shortly after our interview I spoke to him and he had just attended Michael Jackson's Memorial. And on the other side Tom mentors at-risk kids at a south Los Angeles school with a learning program that develops creativity in children via song and lyric writing.
When he first became a dad he wanted to be the "best dad possible" and went in search of books to show him how to do just that. When he couldn't find one, he decided to ask parents, grandparents, sports legends and rock starts for their advice, ideas and tips to be the best father. This book is a compilation of "Rules" he had picked up and found effective over the years.
I think you will find them effective too.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Facebook Obsession
I am sorry that I haven't been as current on my blogging as I would like, but I have become swept away in the Facebook obsession. While most people have heard about facebook, and many people are already on it (250 million people) I have only recently signed on to see what all the buzz is about.
As with any new trend like blogging and twitter, I have been asked to sign on to the latest trend with Facebook many times over the past year, and for whatever reason have not. But over the past couple of months I must have had three or four people close to me suggest that I get on to use it as a platform for the business, and to connect with old high school friends. It was only until my husband (who is not a social network person) signed on because his cousin wanted him to, and shortly there after had all of my immediate family and cousins signed on as his friends. Suddenly I knew that I was missing out on something!
Within a day I saw what all the commotion was about....I had reconnected with several people that I had been trying to find for several years, to no success -- but yet I sign onto Facebook and there they are. I also discovered that my 25 year high school class reunion was coming up within the week, that people I hadn't thought about in all that time were suddenly wanting to connect with me, and two old friends of mine had gotten married and were living only 30 minutes from me. (which is amazing in itself because I went to high school in Florida and am now living in New Jersey!
My girlfriend and I met up at a Starbucks for coffee and it felt like we had only seen each other last year, rather than 25 years ago. We picked right back up as if the passage of time had not existed.
Each day I am reconnecting with a new person that I had lost touch with, or someone from my really distant past pops up, and I am keeping up to date on what people are doing on a daily basis!! It has also provided a new platform to provide up to date information for my clients and interested parents, that are looking for information and ideas to help empower their children.
So now I will try to balance my blogging, with facebook entries.
As with any new trend like blogging and twitter, I have been asked to sign on to the latest trend with Facebook many times over the past year, and for whatever reason have not. But over the past couple of months I must have had three or four people close to me suggest that I get on to use it as a platform for the business, and to connect with old high school friends. It was only until my husband (who is not a social network person) signed on because his cousin wanted him to, and shortly there after had all of my immediate family and cousins signed on as his friends. Suddenly I knew that I was missing out on something!
Within a day I saw what all the commotion was about....I had reconnected with several people that I had been trying to find for several years, to no success -- but yet I sign onto Facebook and there they are. I also discovered that my 25 year high school class reunion was coming up within the week, that people I hadn't thought about in all that time were suddenly wanting to connect with me, and two old friends of mine had gotten married and were living only 30 minutes from me. (which is amazing in itself because I went to high school in Florida and am now living in New Jersey!
My girlfriend and I met up at a Starbucks for coffee and it felt like we had only seen each other last year, rather than 25 years ago. We picked right back up as if the passage of time had not existed.
Each day I am reconnecting with a new person that I had lost touch with, or someone from my really distant past pops up, and I am keeping up to date on what people are doing on a daily basis!! It has also provided a new platform to provide up to date information for my clients and interested parents, that are looking for information and ideas to help empower their children.
So now I will try to balance my blogging, with facebook entries.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Being The Best Mom (FM)
On my radio show I wanted to tap into two authors addressing issues for moms. The first is Suzanne Eller, a veteran youth worker, author, parenting and youth culture columnist who wrote the book "The Mom I want to Be." I thought this was such a great book because it unearths a topic that is not talked about very often -- how to be a good mother if you have had a painful past. And how to let that past go and not continue the cycle with your own family?
When I was working with kids in foster care I saw so many families that were caught up in the vicious cycle of abuse and didn't know how to change. It requires a lot to not make the same mistakes that were made to you while growing up because there weren't any positive role models to learn positive ways to parent. I loved Suzanne's book and I recommend it to anyone that is trying to do the best for their family and leave a dysfunctional past in the past!!
Then Brenda Nixon joins me. She is also an author, a speaker and parent educator. She has written articles for more than 100 publications and is a contributing author to 23 books and has published 4 of her own. Her most recent book is "The Birth to 5 Book -- Confident Childrearing Right from the Start." During this interview we talked a lot about a child's temperament and knowing who your child is to be able to parent in alignment rather than conflict. Brenda shares with me how temperament consists of specific traits that determine how your child responds to the world.
These are the nine categories that temperaments fall under:
1. Activity Level
2. Regularity
3. Approach/Withdrawal
4. Adaptability
5. Sensory Threshold
6. Quality of Mood
7. Persistence
8. Distractibility
9. Intensity of Reaction
Tap into the show and learn which categories your child falls into and how to relate to your child better and eliminate many of the battles that you may be running into.
When I was working with kids in foster care I saw so many families that were caught up in the vicious cycle of abuse and didn't know how to change. It requires a lot to not make the same mistakes that were made to you while growing up because there weren't any positive role models to learn positive ways to parent. I loved Suzanne's book and I recommend it to anyone that is trying to do the best for their family and leave a dysfunctional past in the past!!
Then Brenda Nixon joins me. She is also an author, a speaker and parent educator. She has written articles for more than 100 publications and is a contributing author to 23 books and has published 4 of her own. Her most recent book is "The Birth to 5 Book -- Confident Childrearing Right from the Start." During this interview we talked a lot about a child's temperament and knowing who your child is to be able to parent in alignment rather than conflict. Brenda shares with me how temperament consists of specific traits that determine how your child responds to the world.
These are the nine categories that temperaments fall under:
1. Activity Level
2. Regularity
3. Approach/Withdrawal
4. Adaptability
5. Sensory Threshold
6. Quality of Mood
7. Persistence
8. Distractibility
9. Intensity of Reaction
Tap into the show and learn which categories your child falls into and how to relate to your child better and eliminate many of the battles that you may be running into.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tracey's Tip #22 -- Being a Balanced Mom
Find time to get away! The best gift that you can give yourself is to get away for a break -- whether it be for a week long vacation or a short weekend getaway -- time away from the house provides new momentum.
Usually in the summer we go off to Seabrook Island for a week to hang out at the beach, spend the day in the pool, go out to dinner at night and just be lazy. It is the best week because I am not a slave to the house, or the dogs, or an agenda -- I can go at my own pace, and the responsibilities of Zack are shared by both Jeff and myself.
That week away really helps me to clear my head, put the world of work behind, spend quality time with my family and truely enjoy being present in the moment!
I wish the same for you!
Usually in the summer we go off to Seabrook Island for a week to hang out at the beach, spend the day in the pool, go out to dinner at night and just be lazy. It is the best week because I am not a slave to the house, or the dogs, or an agenda -- I can go at my own pace, and the responsibilities of Zack are shared by both Jeff and myself.
That week away really helps me to clear my head, put the world of work behind, spend quality time with my family and truely enjoy being present in the moment!
I wish the same for you!
Tracey's Tip #21 -- Being a Balanced Mom
Try to catch up on your sleep!
With summer upon us life should be going at an easier pace -- the kids aren't having to get off to school, there isn't homework to be done, and activities that have to be attended.
Find some time on the weekends to take a siesta, or sleep later in the morning if you are lucky enough to not have to rush off somewhere....but give your body and your mind a rest.
Your family will thank you for you being happier and more at peace!
With summer upon us life should be going at an easier pace -- the kids aren't having to get off to school, there isn't homework to be done, and activities that have to be attended.
Find some time on the weekends to take a siesta, or sleep later in the morning if you are lucky enough to not have to rush off somewhere....but give your body and your mind a rest.
Your family will thank you for you being happier and more at peace!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wake Up Call
Last week my young, athletic, 44 year old brother-in-law had a heart attack while walking through the Port Authority in New York City. He was leaving work and going to catch a bus to the Park in Ride in NJ to then drive home. We are extremely grateful that he was in the Port Authority and received assistance right way. There was a couple of police officers and the EMT's on the scene immediately. They worked on him there and then rushed him to Saint Vincent's Hospital.
The only way that my sister-in-law knew that something had happened,was when she tried calling him on his cell phone and he didn't answer. However, one of the nurses, while working on him, heard it ringing and called her back. She was then told that Dave was at the hospital because of a heart attack. (Talk about being freaked out).
You hear stories all the time of other people having situations like this happen to them, but when it happens to someone close to you, that you would never expect, it makes you stop and reflect on your life. Since then I have highlighted important contacts in my phone in red, and then next to my husbands name -- I wrote husband. And next to my sitters name I wrote sitter. This way if anything happened to me someone would know who the important people are to contact to let them know that I am currently out of commission!
Life is so fragile, as we know. Especially lately with all the celebrities that have passed away recently due to unexpected circumstances. (Michael Jackson, Ed McMahan, Steve McNair, Arturio Gotti, and although Farrah Fawcett's was inevitable it was still shocking and sad)
Sometimes I reflect on the wake up calls that we get in our lives and wonder what people do with that second chance that they are given? Do they make the changes necessary? Or do they fall into old patterns and soon find themselves facing the inevitable quicker than they should?
For me I am thankful every day for my family, my friends, and the wonders of life!
The only way that my sister-in-law knew that something had happened,was when she tried calling him on his cell phone and he didn't answer. However, one of the nurses, while working on him, heard it ringing and called her back. She was then told that Dave was at the hospital because of a heart attack. (Talk about being freaked out).
You hear stories all the time of other people having situations like this happen to them, but when it happens to someone close to you, that you would never expect, it makes you stop and reflect on your life. Since then I have highlighted important contacts in my phone in red, and then next to my husbands name -- I wrote husband. And next to my sitters name I wrote sitter. This way if anything happened to me someone would know who the important people are to contact to let them know that I am currently out of commission!
Life is so fragile, as we know. Especially lately with all the celebrities that have passed away recently due to unexpected circumstances. (Michael Jackson, Ed McMahan, Steve McNair, Arturio Gotti, and although Farrah Fawcett's was inevitable it was still shocking and sad)
Sometimes I reflect on the wake up calls that we get in our lives and wonder what people do with that second chance that they are given? Do they make the changes necessary? Or do they fall into old patterns and soon find themselves facing the inevitable quicker than they should?
For me I am thankful every day for my family, my friends, and the wonders of life!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Celebration of Dad (FM)
This show I recorded for Father's day is a celebration of dad and how much more involved dads are on a day to day basis with their children. Joining me again is Chris Pegula, founder of Diaper Dude, a masculine diaper bag company that has created a lifestyle and brand with the belief that fatherhood doesn't have to be complicated or uncool. His diaper bags are seen in celebrity magazines everywhere, being sported by such celebrity dads such as Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise.
Chris share how his diaper bag appeals to image conscience men everywhere looking for ease of use. And how he had become a role model for dads helping hundreds of dads get into the groove of parenting by approaching fatherhood from a fun, realistic and relaxed perspective.
Then Melissa and Ellie, The Baby Planners are back talking about products and websites that are developed by dads. These are some of the items we discussed:
Miracle Blanket -- mimics how baby is in the womb (a swaddling blanket)
Belle Baby Carrier -- a front carrier for an outdoors lifestyle
Munchkin Company -- Steve Dunn created this company that makes sippy cups, pacifiers, and baby essentials, with the slogan "It's the little things."
Tote-a-tot -- Created by Doug Bacon -- A Car Seat on Wheels to take through the airport.
A Book -- Daddy's Home & Other Poems -- Created by a Father of 2 Stay at Home Dad.
Chris share how his diaper bag appeals to image conscience men everywhere looking for ease of use. And how he had become a role model for dads helping hundreds of dads get into the groove of parenting by approaching fatherhood from a fun, realistic and relaxed perspective.
Then Melissa and Ellie, The Baby Planners are back talking about products and websites that are developed by dads. These are some of the items we discussed:
Miracle Blanket -- mimics how baby is in the womb (a swaddling blanket)
Belle Baby Carrier -- a front carrier for an outdoors lifestyle
Munchkin Company -- Steve Dunn created this company that makes sippy cups, pacifiers, and baby essentials, with the slogan "It's the little things."
Tote-a-tot -- Created by Doug Bacon -- A Car Seat on Wheels to take through the airport.
A Book -- Daddy's Home & Other Poems -- Created by a Father of 2 Stay at Home Dad.
Summertime Safety (FM)
Now that it REALLY feels like summer in the northeast; after having the month of June filled with rain and chilly weather, this show can now apply to keeping your kids safe while running around outside this summer.
I brought on Debra Holtzman, and internationally recognized safety and health expert and author of the book The Safe Baby: A Do-it Yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healty Living to discuss some of the major concerns of summertime safety. She fills us in on areas to be aware of such as the dangers of portable pools, fireworks and sparklers, as well as drowning prevention and lawn pesticides.
Then Jenna McCarthy, author of the books "The Parent Trip" and "Cheers to the New Mom & Dad", and an internationally published writer with her work appearing in more than 50 magazines and dozens of websites, and mother of 2 daughters, adds humor to the bumps and bruises that our children acquire.
While the first part of my show is more get real, down and dirty information about being an aware parent, the second part of my how is hilarious as Jenna and I discuss how to balance caution as a parent without being afraid of every little thing where our kids are concerned. She dishes on when one of her girls stuck a sharp bead up her nose, when one of the girls fell from the top of a play structure, and once when Jenna was convinced her daughter swallowed a penny and rushed her to the hospital. I on the other hand confess about accidentally locking my son in the car as I got out of the drivers seat to go around to the passenger side to take him out of his car seat and the door locked behind me.
The strangest thing about all of this was, after recording this show, maybe because the discussion of these accidents were floating in the air, later that night is when my son fell 10 feet from our upstairs banister onto the steps below and we thought he had a concussion. (read an earlier blog entry about a parent's worst nightmare.
For all parents out there the hardest thing we can do is allow our children to have freedom to run around and be a kid, while watching that they don't harm themselves in the process. I am constantly trying to figure out that balance.
In the meantime, have a great summer out in the "finally" wonderful weather!!
I brought on Debra Holtzman, and internationally recognized safety and health expert and author of the book The Safe Baby: A Do-it Yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healty Living to discuss some of the major concerns of summertime safety. She fills us in on areas to be aware of such as the dangers of portable pools, fireworks and sparklers, as well as drowning prevention and lawn pesticides.
Then Jenna McCarthy, author of the books "The Parent Trip" and "Cheers to the New Mom & Dad", and an internationally published writer with her work appearing in more than 50 magazines and dozens of websites, and mother of 2 daughters, adds humor to the bumps and bruises that our children acquire.
While the first part of my show is more get real, down and dirty information about being an aware parent, the second part of my how is hilarious as Jenna and I discuss how to balance caution as a parent without being afraid of every little thing where our kids are concerned. She dishes on when one of her girls stuck a sharp bead up her nose, when one of the girls fell from the top of a play structure, and once when Jenna was convinced her daughter swallowed a penny and rushed her to the hospital. I on the other hand confess about accidentally locking my son in the car as I got out of the drivers seat to go around to the passenger side to take him out of his car seat and the door locked behind me.
The strangest thing about all of this was, after recording this show, maybe because the discussion of these accidents were floating in the air, later that night is when my son fell 10 feet from our upstairs banister onto the steps below and we thought he had a concussion. (read an earlier blog entry about a parent's worst nightmare.
For all parents out there the hardest thing we can do is allow our children to have freedom to run around and be a kid, while watching that they don't harm themselves in the process. I am constantly trying to figure out that balance.
In the meantime, have a great summer out in the "finally" wonderful weather!!
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